FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Caia Caldwell
Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties
425.460.8213

Master Builders Association Hires Jeremy Hall as Its New Chief Operating Officer

In addition to having more than a dozen years of business leadership experience, Hall is a graduate of Harvard Business School and holds a Master of Business Administration.

Previously, Hall was principal at Brightspeed Consulting, COO of California Medical Evaluators, and COO of Medical Consultants Network. During his time as the COO of Medical Consultants Network, Hall reduced operational expenses, expanded the number of the company’s call centers, and oversaw the growth of a regional company into a national presence. Early in his career, Hall worked for Arthur Andersen where he focused on business consulting specifically within the healthcare, construction, and telecommunications industries.

“I’m delighted to announce that Jerry will be joining the team,” said Kat Sims, executive director of MBAKS. “Jerry’s extensive COO experience and wealth of financial and operational knowledge will help elevate all aspects of our planning and operations, opening up possibilities and improving our performance in the coming years.”

“It is a privilege to join MBAKS,” said Jerry Hall. “Keeping the Puget Sound region as one of the top places in the world to live is something I am passionate about. I’m excited to be part of the vital work MBAKS does for its members and the Pacific Northwest.”

About MBAKS

Founded in 1909, the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties has grown to become the largest residential homebuilders association in the United States. With nearly 3,000 member companies, the association is dedicated to membership value, housing advocacy, community service, and financial stewardship throughout the Puget Sound region.

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King County home prices hit their lowest point for July since 2012

Is that faint rumbling we hear in the distance carryover from Seafair Weekend and its barrage of air and sea entertainment? Or could it be that ever-elusive housing bubble finally popping and coming back down to normal levels of absurdity?

After all, even the Blue Angels have left town.

Maybe they saw the inevitable spin back down to earth. Or perhaps we’re all just blowing this housing cooldown out of proportion. Whatever stance you take, one thing’s certain: the Seattle-area real estate market has fallen to its lowest point in four years, shedding a crevice of light for homebuyers and inducing a fleeting shock of panic for owners sitting on their plots of gold-laden land.

The number of homes for sale throughout King County rose a staggering 48 percent in July as compared to a year ago, according to the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, which means inventory now exceeds 2015 levels. The 48 percent jump is the biggest we’ve seen in a decade and is mostly due to homes that have been waiting patiently for owners on the market. All signs point to a noteworthy dip in demand, as July home sales reached their lowest prince since July of 2012, when the market was at a low point.

How big was the decrease? King County’s July median home price of $699,000 is down $27,000 from the record highs we saw earlier this year. Last year, July was the most expensive month of the year.

In Seattle, home prices were down $25,000, making the median $805,000. Eastside prices also saw a dip, falling $30,000 in just a month to a median price of $947,000. Snohomish County, not one to be left out, also saw an increase in active listings, up almost 16 percent from this time last year.

Have we finally hit the ceiling? If we have, it’s not just regional; the national trend at the moment is one of a long-awaited inventory uptick just as hotspots like Seattle, Silicon Valley, and Austin are finally cooling off—metaphorically, of course (enjoy 90 degrees this week). Seattle is unique in the fact that its home sales saw the second-biggest jump in the country, according to info gathered from realtor.com, right on the heels of our neighbors down south in Silicon Valley.

Why is this happening?

Those in the know point to stabilized rents, high mortgage rates, slightly less frenetic population and job growth, and waning interest from Chinese buyers.

Many are already shouting, “I told you so!” at the top of their lungs but, as always, time will tell if we’ll continue this down-surge or if we’re all just suffering from a curable case of “buyer fatigue.” In the meantime, inventory levels are still an issue; while King County has doubled its March inventory, we’re still significantly below a healthy four-to-five months of inventory, according to Robert Wassa of the Northwest MLS board of directors. And people still need a place to live in some capacity.

We’ll be hearing a lot more about our region’s housing trends, whichever way they end up going, in the weeks and months ahead. Stay tuned.

Originally reported by Mike Rosenberg in the Seattle Times, “More Seattle-area home sellers lower list prices as market cools way down,” August 6

Data gathered from realtor.com and the Northwest Multiple Listing Service

Q: I bought a house last year and I’m tired of the boring beige and white walls, but I’m intimidated by all the options for paint. How do I pick a color I’m going to be happy with for a long time?

A: Painting walls a new and exciting color is a quick and affordable way to update a space and give it a fresh look. But how do you find the right tone? When faced with a hundred color samples, it can be pretty daunting. In fact, even the experts sometimes get it wrong. Here are some of the best designer secrets to help you with the process:

1. Do not pick your color in the paint store. It can be tempting just to pick a color off the shelf and get on with it. I have done it more than I should admit and have ended up with terrible results. Finding the right color is all about context: the shape of the room, the amount and quality of the light, and how it all plays with other objects in the room. Always test a color in the space you are painting.
   
   
2. Do not look at the color sample at an arbitrary angle. This sounds obvious, but sometimes we forget. Color is all about how the light hits it. If you are painting walls, hold the sample vertically; if it is the ceiling, hold it up above your head. This will give you a more accurate indication of what the color will really look like in the end.
   
   
3. Test against a white background. When you hold a color sample directly against a previously painted wall, unless it is white, it will give you a warped idea of the new color. Because colors influence one another, it is best to test the new color against a white background. A large piece of white paper can be used to blank out the old color. 
   
   
4. Do not rely on a small paint sample. A pretty color on a small sample does not necessarily make a pretty color on the expanse of your walls. To get a better sense of what the color will look like on a larger scale, you will need a bigger sample. A large sample will also reveal the true undertone of the color to test against the undertones of other elements in the room. Some stores have larger samples available or you may have to make your own.
   
   
5. Do not paint your sample on the wall. If you cannot get a large color sample, get a sampler of the actual paint and paint it on a poster board—NOT directly onto your wall. This way you will be able to test your colors on different walls and even in different rooms. You will also be able to block out the existing wall color with something white.
   
   
6.  Move it around. With your large sample boards, you can put some poster putty on the back and stick them on your walls to get an idea of how colors will look. Test them in different spots on the wall and move them around the room to see how the light affects the color. Also look at them at different times of the day.
   
   
7. Find the bossy fixture. If you are working with existing finishes, find the one item that is most prominent in the room; it might be the carpet, the countertop, or even a large piece of furniture. The undertone of that fixture will influence what colors work best for the room.
   
   

This may sound like a lot of trouble just to get the color right, but it is a whole lot less than the trouble you will be in when you realize that the color is wrong after it has been painted on the walls. Here's to your brand-new walls!

Mia Hannom, of In Form Design, is a member of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS). If you have a home improvement, remodeling, or residential homebuilding question you’d like answered by one of MBAKS’s nearly 3,000 members, write to homework@mbaks.com.

By MBAKS Senior Policy Analyst Allison Butcher

The latest Builder’s Bulletin includes annual population estimates recently released by the Office of Financial Management (OFM). According to OFM, the Puget Sound Region’s population as of April 1, 2018 was 4,134,660. Over the past year, the region added 67,860 people, which is down from last year but still strong.

The Builders' Bulletin is intended to provide a convenient way to track housing in our market and includes information from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, State of the Cities Data Systems, Office of Financial Management and the Washington State Employment Security Department.

Download this month's report:

Q: We’re looking for an effective and inexpensive way to add some liveliness to our bare, boring walls. Any suggestions?

A: Nothing increases the appearance of size in your home like a mirror. Big or small, mirrors effectively double light and volume, increasing brightness and giving us a pleasant sense of openness.

Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall

In powder rooms or any bathroom that I wish to make feel bigger, I like to run the mirror from the backsplash all the way up to the ceiling. The larger the mirror, the bigger the impact. In bathrooms, mirrors provide both function and ambiance, brilliantly reflecting the scenes around them.

But don’t make the mistake of limiting mirrors to your bathrooms. Mirrors can be used like windows, creating the illusion that there is another room adjoining the one you are occupying. A mirror is also like a living painting, reflecting a changing picture every time the viewer moves. Always consider the view the mirror will be reflecting. Some views are great to accentuate. Others, not so much.

We recently added a mirror to our dining room where we had also hung a colorful piece of Italian artwork. Below the art, we splashed more color by resting flowers and glass decor on a buffet serving table. But this brilliant scene was only visible after entering the room. Once we added the mirror across from our scenic décor, the colors were carried back through the entrance, enabling us to enjoy it from our home’s entry and living room.

Proper Care

Mirrors are made by applying a thin layer of silver to glass. Yes, that’s real silver—and silver tarnishes easily when exposed to oxygen. Installation is important. Always choose professionals who specialize in this product. The mirror should be sealed after it is cut to fit your home, then well-secured for safety and so the highly reactive silver is well-protected from contact with other metals. A properly sealed edge and installation will help keep your mirror looking great indefinitely. Talk about a lasting impression!

Mirror Magic!

Other good places for a mirror? Aside from adding a decorative-window effect to your home, mirrors are great for your workout room or at a stair landing. And a full-length mirror at your closet is very helpful in providing a full picture of how you look. The same goes for having one at the entry for a last look before you leave.

Dollar for dollar, nothing punctuates and adds pizzazz quite like adding a plate-glass mirror to a room. Mirrors sparkle and brighten, adding dimension and multiplying surrounding features. Bright, brilliant, room-expanding, and easy to maintain, mirrors are a great way to add something special to your home.

Kevin and Terri Kartak, of AAA KARTAK Glass & Closet, are members of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS). If you have a home improvement, remodeling, or residential homebuilding question you’d like answered by one of MBAKS’s nearly 3,000 members, write to homework@mbaks.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Nancy Grygorowicz-Davis
Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties
425.460.8216

Master Builders Association Names Lowe Director of Government Affairs

BELLEVUE, Wash.—June 26, 2018—The Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties announced that it has named Marco M. Lowe as director of Government Affairs.

Prior to joining MBAKS, Lowe served as vice president of Seattle’s renewable district energy system, Enwave Seattle, where he led the system’s growth, government relations and other operational duties. Earlier, he served as department director in Seattle’s Office of Intergovernmental Relations.

Before his role at Enwave, Lowe worked as chief of staff at New York City’s Department of Small Business Services, as director of community relations for Mayor Greg Nickels and as a member of Gary Locke’s gubernatorial staff.

“I am very excited to be joining the team at MBAKS and am ready to help carry on the critical mission of housing the Puget Sound region,” Lowe says on his new role. “The advocacy work at the association is an integral part of this mission, and I am lucky to be working with such a strong group on the Government Affairs team.”

MBAKS Executive Director Kat Sims says, “In our continued efforts to advocate for the builders and residents of our great region, Marco’s experience with city government will be an asset to our association members as well as the cities and homeowners for which they build market-rate, middle-income and affordable housing options.”

Lowe received a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Washington before earning his master’s degree in public administration from Harvard’s Kennedy School.

Lowe begins his tenure at MBAKS June 27.

About MBAKS

Founded in 1909, the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS) has grown to become the largest residential home builders association in the United States. With 2,900 member companies, the association is dedicated to membership value, housing advocacy, community service and financial stewardship throughout the Puget Sound region.

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Wondering who has it best in Western Washington and the Pacific Northwest? Look no further than our phenomenal membership base. 

Every year, Seattle Business magazine puts out their list of the 100 best companies to work for, based on anonymous employee survey responses as picked from 10 categories: corporate culture, executive leadership, benefits, communication, hiring/retention, performance standards, responsibility/decision making, rewards/recognition, training/education, and workplace environment. 

Response scores are then calculated and averaged out, and companies ranked in four categories: small, midsize, large, and those headquartered outside Washington state. 

Which employees are smiling away at their standup desks flanked by exotic popcorn machines and flashy breakroom games where they can count their 401Ks? We’re proud to announce that 21 MBAKS member companies made the grade for 2018. Full disclosure, we were a little perturbed Seattle Business magazine didn’t expand the list to 3,000 and put all our awesome members on the list, but there’s always next year. 

Check out the extensive list of member companies that raised the bar in 2018. 

Large Companies (150+ Employees)

• Bob’s Heating & Air Conditioning
• Clark Nuber
• Edward Jones
• Evergreen Home Loans
• Exxel Pacific
• Redfin
• Sequoya Electric
• Valley Electric
• Zillow Group

Midsize Companies (50–149 Employees) 

• American Income Life
• Andersen Construction
• Berntson Porter & Company
• Gravity Payments
• Pacific Capital Resource Group
• Pillar Properties 
• Sweeney Conrad

Small Companies (15–49 Employees) 

• Board & Vellum
• Carlisle Classic Homes
• Chermak Construction
• Kalles Group
• Pacific Crest Savings Bank

Congratulations to all 21 of our member companies for going above and beyond! 
See the entire list at seattlebusinessmag.com