Change is coming to communities across Washington State. Do you need guidance about what middle housing means for your buyers and sellers? Middle Housing - duplexes, triplexes, cottages, ADUs, and increased density - is already impacting what can be built on a property. Knowing where, what, and when these changes are coming to your community will be critically important. The Middle Housing Resource Center, will be chock-full of videos, resources, and more, all designed to help you become an essential expert to your clients.
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If you are not plugged-in to your local, regional, or national housing information centers, you need to be! In other words, where do you get your information to give to your clients about what is happening in real estate, nationally and regionally?
For example, here in Washington State, we recently passed legislation that increased access for building more middle housing. This is creating a big shift in our housing markets. It matters because our market here has become overpriced - our kids can't afford to buy homes because home prices are so ridiculous - making this one space where it is important to be aware of legislation that is changing your housing market.
I am fortunate, I get to represent both our local and Washington State builders when I go to Washington D.C. later this month. While there I will have the honor of talking to senators and congress members, specifically about housing. This is something I've been building a track towards for years.
It started with going to local council meetings, and saying, "What's not right here in our local market?" Then it developed into me needing to develop relationships with a trade group that had an interest in addressing market issues and I started working with my local builder association, then my state builder association, then I became part of a legislative group, and part of the government affairs group. That is important because, I have an opportunity because I not only have an opportunity to hear what is going on, but an opportunity to speak on these issues too.
This month I'm also going to Spokane, WA, where I'll be meeting with other leaders in the Builders Industry Association of Washington gathering there. The issues that we are dealing with are issues that will ultimately help your clients. Issues like how we can make housing more affordable by looking at how government impacts housing.
For example, government impacts housing by making it more difficult to build, the permitting process takes longer, or rules and restrictions are more complicated, or energy efficiency standards are maybe too widespread in their application or requirement. There is a track for simplifying the housing process through government to make it more affordable. So, that's one huge and important thing I'll be involved in this June.
Another example is Middle housing - and it is here to stay. I have never seen more legislative bills come forward for housing than in the last two years, and 2026 is looking just as busy as your leaders continue their work on solving housing issues. Everybody now sees that housing and affordability are crisis issues. But the point I want to make here is that these national, regional, and local housing groups are the ones driving this change - your own local realtor and builder groups. These are housing groups that care about housing and you should become involved in them.
It is important for you as an agent to get plugged-in. Start by going to your local realtor association meetings. Get on their legislative or government affairs committee. Start going to your local city council meetings and become familiar with who is there and start getting involved. Learn what the issues are and don't be afraid to stand up as a local professional and local real estate market expert. You have an important and distinct voice because you are working in the real estate field. Use that voice for the long term benefit of your clients, your market, and your future clients.
This is critical! Do you know that the average age of a first time homebuyer used to be 25 years old? This year, that age is thirty-four! That's a dramatic increase of 9 years because of affordability, not because of a lack of desire. We need to make it possible for our kids, seniors, and buyers who do not have a high-income to afford a place to live.
Get plugged-in! Get involved! I will let you know how things went in Washington D.C. and at BIAW in Spokane when I get back.
By Denise Lones CSP, CMP, M.I.R.M.The founding partner of The Lones Group, Denise Lones has over three decades of experience in the real estate industry. With agent/broker coaching, expertise in branding, lead generation, strategic marketing, business analysis, new home project planning, product development and more, Denise is nationally recognized as the source for all things real estate. With a passion for improvement, Denise has helped thousands of real estate agents, brokers, and managers build their business to unprecedented levels of success, while helping them maintain balance and quality of life.