Real Estate Professionals Classification as Independent Contractors Of the 1.4 million members of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), approximately 87 percent are classified as independent contractors. This classification is essential to the real estate industry, homeowners across the country, and to boosting the economy. The ability to work as an independent contractor is recognized…

CDC Eviction Moratorium Vacated and Stayed On May 5, 2021, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia struck down the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC’s) nationwide eviction moratorium set to expire at the end of June, concluding the moratorium exceeds the limits Congress placed on the CDC’s authority. In response, the Department of…

10 Dos and Don’ts for New Homebuyers with Septic Systems Inspect your system annually. Routine maintenance allows you to catch issues before they become emergencies. Pump your tank every 3-5 years or as frequent as your service provider suggests, based on technology and system usage. Spread out your laundry loads over the course of the…

Changes to Insurance Regulations May Delay Closings At Cross Insurance Agency we believe in “Insurance with no surprises.” With that in mind, we felt it was essential to reach out to our partners and friends in the Mortgage and Real Estate industry with an update on some recent changes in the insurance marketplace in Washington state that may impact you and your clients in securing home and auto coverage…

Yun: Consumer Spending Likely to Spur Economy The economy is at 99% of its pre-pandemic activity, and growth in Americans’ income and savings could propel housing in the second half of the year, Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of REALTORS®, said Thursday at the Residential Economic Issues and Trends Forum during the…

NEW MASK GUIDANCE FOR REAL ESTATE BROKERS, COUNTY PHASE UPDATE, STATE REOPENING DATE ANNOUNCED On May 13th, Governor Inslee announced that Washington will adopt new masking guidance as issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”). This guidance allows fully vaccinated people to no longer wear a face covering with certain limitations. The…

Court Strikes Down Eviction Ban U.S. District Court Judge Dabney L. Friedrich of the District of Columbia struck down a nationwide eviction moratorium Wednesday, calling it unlawful. Friedrich’s ruling applies nationwide. The eviction ban was put in place last year by the Trump administration using public health powers granted to the Centers for Disease Control…

State legislature passes new fair housing education requirements for real estate brokers On April 26, the Washington State Legislature passed SB 5378 which expands training requirements for fair housing clock hours for real estate brokers and managing brokers. The bill is on the Governor’s desk and his signature is expected. The law would take effect June 1,…

New Staff Join TPCAR Sean Martin Sean brings 16 years of experience in the housing industry, including having previously served as Government Affairs Director and Executive Director at the 5,000 member Rental Housing Association of Washington. In his time with RHAWA he oversaw radical transformation of membership benefits and association technology, as well as the…

Tacoma-Pierce County Association of REALTORS®, the voice of realtors for over 100 years, announced the recipients of the 2020 REALTOR® Awards. The REALTOR® awards recognize outstanding achievement and service by member REALTORs® and affiliates. Recognized for his exemplary service and contributions to the Association of REALTORS® during his career, James Fisher is no stranger to…