By MBAKS Senior Policy Analyst Allison Butcher

Low Inventory Driving Home Prices Up

The latest Builder's Bulletin for February 2017 shows a continued decline in the inventory of homes for sale in King and Snohomish counties and prices still on the rise. According to the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, in December 2016, both counties had less than a months' supply of inventory, far below the four to six month level considered by many industry analysts as an indicator of a healthy market. Meanwhile, the December median home price for single-family homes and condos was up 12.2 percent year-over-year in King County and 12.4 percent in Snohomish County.

The Builders' Bulletin is intended to provide a convenient way to track housing in our market and includes information from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, U.S. Census Bureau, Office of Financial Management and the Washington State Employment Security Department.

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A Look Back, A Leap Forward: MBAKS 2023 Strategic Vision

Here is a look at key highlights from 2023, as well as our newly adopted Strategic Plan.

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Seattle Metro Permit Volume Drops in Q1 2025

New permit data show a 33% decline in permits in the Seattle metro area in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year. While single family permits saw a modest increase in King and Pierce counties through March of this year, they fell 43% in Snohomish County. Multifamily permits were down 46% across our metro area during Q1 2025 compared to last year, with the biggest decline in King County. Pierce County was the only county to see an increase in multifamily permits during the first quarter.

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