Building permit data from the Census Bureau show 8,430 single-family permits and 16,764 multifamily permits issued in the Seattle metro area through November of last year.

Bonnie Geers will serve as the 2019 board president of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties. Geers is currently the senior vice president of community development at Quadrant Homes, where she leads land acquisition, land development and government affairs.

Median home prices fell month-over-month from $613,509 to $605,000 in King County and rose from $445,000 to $450,000 in Snohomish County.

Many businesses will benefit this year from the new 20 percent qualified business income deduction. This deduction applies to "pass-through entities:" partnerships, S-corporations, sole proprietorships, and most LLCs. There’s still time for last-minute tax strategies, so don't neglect to consult your CPA.

Within the three-county metro area, the only county to see a slight increase in single family permits through September 2018 was King County, where permits were up four percent. Meanwhile, multifamily permits are up three percent throughout the metro area.