Permit activity continues to trend downward across the Seattle metro area.

MBAKS members showed up in record numbers for our September 18 General Membership Networking (GMN), making it our largest GMN yet!

The Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS) released two new reports showing how certain local policies are falling short as an effective affordable housing strategy. The reports provide technical information for local policymakers to support successful implementation of state laws aimed at lowering barriers for construction of more homes of all types.

Builder confidence in the housing market slipped to 32 nationally in August, an 18% decline from last year, according to the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index.

A new MBAKS report concludes that Seattle’s Mandatory Housing Affordability fees have cut townhome permit intake by about 87 percent, inflating costs, shrinking middle-housing options, and jeopardizing an estimated $775 million in future construction-related tax revenue, highlighting the urgent need to reform the policy.