Government Affairs Brief
Housing takes center stage in this year’s Washington Legislature
CLICK HERE for details on legislation that affects you!
Spokane Council rolls back passes devastating impact fees for housing construction
REALTOR® testimony a key factor
In response to a call from Spokane REALTORS® and the housing construction community, the Spokane City Council has rolled back it’s devastating water and sewer connection fees. A poll showed builders say they will be shutting down more than 2,000 construction projects across the region in response to City Council 10-fold increase in Impact Fees. Instead, the city has now reset the connection fees to $6,000 until March 4th, 2024. The fees passed two weeks ago would have added an additional $19,000 to $27,000 per new house to for water/sewer hookups.
Spokane Renters and Homebuyers to bear the brunt of huge building fee increases
In the face of our largest housing crisis, the Spokane City Council to vote on increase the cost of a new home by adding an additional $38,000 per new house for water and sewer hookups, and transportation impact fees.
The plan, which was unveiled with a few days notice will be voted on Monday, March 13th as an Emergency Measure, so that there is no time for analysis, debate or consideration. Spokane City staff members say plans like this often take 6 months to a year to put together. Instead, they were asked to come up with a plan in just a matter of weeks.
Spokane Council passes potentially harmful legislation for renters/landlords
CLICK HERE to learn more
Spokane REALTORS® Endorsed Candidates for 2022
UPDATE: A judge will hear evidence from a citizen’s group upset with the process.
CLICK HERE for a story in the Spokesman
City Council sets aside citizen rezoning map for one that supports their party
Despite Spokane REALTORS® Hundreds of Emails and Calls
Hundreds of REALTORS® and their customers contacted their council representative encouraging them to support a Redistricting Map that was approved by the Citizen’s Redistricting Committee – who unanimously selected the map we believe does the least amount of harm to residents.
The result? The Spokane City Council has moved to reject the map and substitute one that is more favorable to liberal candidates.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
Planning Director outlines Major Building Changes for Spokane
City of Spokane Planning Director Spencer Gardner came to the Spokane Association of REALTORS(R) to present the major building code changes for Spokane. The City’s Building Opportunity and Choices for All program is a one-year interim zoning ordinance and one-year pilot program that modifies residential zoning to accelerate construction of more housing in neighborhoods, allowing for attached homes, duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes citywide.
Spokane Association of REALTORS® Early Endorsements for Spokane County
With Spokane expanding to five county commissioners, there has never been a more critical time for housing issues. That’s why SAR has offered its endorsements for all five races.
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR CHOICES HERE
Spokane Association of REALTORS® Early Endorsements for State Lawmakers
From voting records, to leadership on housing issues, SAR has formally endorsed those lawmakers and candidates that have demonstrated what it takes to be our REALTOR® champion.
Zoning and Code Changes coming to City of Spokane
The Spokane City Council has made several key changes in its zoning laws, such as making it easier to build an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) to your home, and eliminating transition zones.
Now comes word, the Mayor’s Task Force on Housing is making even more recommendations.
Spokane Co Assessor Tom Konis on 2022 Property Valuation increases
Property owners in Spokane County have seen property values rise 30% in the past year. Those valuations are the county’s estimates as of Jan. 1 and tend to be lower than what a property would fetch on the market.
CLICK HERE for more information
Spokane Mayor outlines Housing Strategies
In her State of the City address, Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward emphasized her Housing Strategies.
2022 Washington Legislative Session Wraps Up
READ MORE HERE on issues that affect you and your customers
Counselors of Real Estate release Action Steps to Increase Spokane’s Housing Supply
A team of experts from across the country tackled the difficult question – “How can Spokane Increase it’s Housing Supply?”
Their 85-page report offers a blueprint for success
CLICK HERE for more information
2021 SAR Endorsed Candidates Score Big in Election
Key issues – Home Ownership, Private Property Rights
Two out of three of our endorsed Spokane City Council races were victorious.
READ OUR ENDORSEMENT STRATEGY HERE
Call to Action leads to City of Spokane making change
The Spokane Association of REALTORS® has partnered with the Spokane Home Builders Association and others to formally reject the City of Spokane’s proposed Housing Action Plan. Our greatest concerns were the lack of data on housing needs, lack of changes to allow for more building and a general lack of any urgency to solve the problem. Thanks to over 300 signatures from Spokane REALTORS® and home builders the council responded with a decent set of housing amendments that answers many of our concerns.
CLICK HERE to read the original City of Spokane’s Housing Action Plan
We look forward to working with the City of make the findings of the council into rules and regulations that can foster real change.
Coronovirus and the Impacts to Business
There are new restrictions on how REALTORS® can do business. Both Washington State and the Federal Government have initiated emergency programs that can help businesses and individuals affected by the Coronovirus Quarantines.
Click here for the latest information
Washington 2021 Legislative Session
CLICK HERE for the latest REALTOR® related impacts
Spokane Region Housing Needs Summit 2021
Housing supply in the Spokane region continues to fall to record low levels at all pricing points. Our summit will help examine the needs of Spokane, what residents want, the influence of buyer migration from larger metro markets, a history of under-supply and the social impacts to our community from a lack of housing
Spokane Regional Health Dist. Director Talks with SAR on Covid latest
Spokane could be vaccinating ten times what they are now, and how new Covid virus variants could be coming to Spokane as early as March.
2020 Year in Review Governmental Affairs Committee report
A review of the National, State and Local Governmental Affairs efforts in support of the Spokane Association REALTORS® and our customers
CLICK HERE to read the report
Coronovirus and the Impacts to Business
There are new restrictions on how REALTORS® can do business. Both Washington State and the Federal Government have initiated emergency programs that can help businesses and individuals affected by the Coronovirus Quarantines.
Click here for the latest information
Election Results for SAR Endorsed Candidates
CLICK HERE to see how your local candidates did that are strong supporters of REALTOR® issues.
Washington REALTORS® 2020 Legislative Session Update
This year’s legislative session has officially wrapped up.
Click here for a close up look at the bills that we tracked in this year’s legislature
The Spokane Association of REALTORS® hits Olympia for Legislative Day 2020
Click here to learn what are this session’s top legislative priorities facing REALTORS®.
2019 YEAR IN REVIEW GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE REPORT
A review of the National, State and Local Governmental Affairs efforts in support of the Spokane Association REALTORS® and our customers
Click here to read the report
New FHA Loan Limits for 2020
As expected, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) has raised the 2020 loan limits. The FHA floor (the lowest FHA limit) for Spokane Count is now $331,760.
For other Counties, click here.
| New Spokane County basic standard mortgage limits for FHA insured loans for 2020: | ||||||||||
| One-family | Two-family | Three-family | Four-family | |||||||
| FHA Forward | $331,760.00 | $424,800.00 | $513,450.00 | $638,100.00 | ||||||
| HECM | $765,600.00 | |||||||||
| Fannie/Freddie | $510,400.00 | $653,550.00 | $789,950.00 | $981,700.00 | ||||||
Spokane Realtors Call to Action a success
New vote scheduled for March 2nd, 2020
Thanks to our REALTOR® members, our recent Call for Action proved to be highly successful.
After receiving dozens of calls, letters and emails, the Spokane City Council has agreed to postpone the vote on two Landlord/Tenant measures until March 2nd. Your Spokane Association of REALTORS will now work to help the council craft better legislation.
4 of 6 SAR City of Spokane/Spokane Valley Candidates elected
Four of the endorsed candidates by the Spokane Association of REALTORS® elected to office.
- Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward
- Spokane City Council member Lori Kinnear
- Spokane City Council member Michael Cathcart
- Spokane Valley Council member Arne Woodard
Click here to read more about our 2019 endorsements