Contact: data@mbaks.com

The latest end-of-year numbers reveal a downturn in both single-family and multifamily homebuilding from 2022 to 2023. As of December 31, 2023, the number of single-family permits stands at 6,053, reflecting a year-on-year decline of 16% compared to 2022 figures. Similarly, multifamily permits have seen a substantial decrease, with 11,201 permits issued as of the same date, indicating a sharp year-on-year decline of 43%.

Read the full February Builders Bulletin:

Homing in on Our Region's Housing Statistics

Housing inventory remains low and housing prices continue to rise, with a 19.73% and 21.74% increase in median single-family home prices in King County and Snohomish County, respectively. In more optimistic news, construction employment in the Seattle-Bellevue-Everett metro area has hit a record high.

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Months' Supply of Housing Inventory

As of July 2021

	King County had 0.66 months' supply of inventory (down from 1.13 months' of inventory a year ago).
	Snohomish County had 0.53 months' supply of inventory (down from .73 a year ago).

Many industry analysts consider a four-to-six-month level as an indicator of a healthy market.

Source: Northwest Multiple Listing Service

Median Home Price

July 2021

	The median price of single-family homes and condos was $789,000 in King County and $675,000 in Snohomish County.
	For single-family homes only, the median price in King County rose 19.73%, from $727,500 a year ago to $871,000. The median price in Snohomish County rose 21.74%, from $575,000 to $700,000.
	In Seattle, the median single-family home price for July was $896,500, an 11.37% increase from July 2020.

Source: Northwest Multiple Listing Service

Building Permit Activity

Jobs

	The Washington unemployment rate for July 2021 is 5.1%; for Seattle/Bellevue/Everett, it is also 5.1%.
	Construction employment in Washington increased by 1,900 between June 2021 and July 2021. Total construction employment is 226,700 statewide and 110,800 for Seattle/Bellevue/Everett specifically.

Source: Employment Security Department: WA Employment Estimates (Seasonally Adjusted), July 2021 and Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Population

The Puget Sound region's population as of April 1, 2021 was 4,330,400. Over the past year, the region added 66,200 people, as follows:

Source: Office of Financial Management

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By Mike Richards, The Lens News

Washington homebuilders and realtors are praising a new law that would clarify what land is considered buildable under Growth Management Act (GMA) comprehensive plan updates—a move stakeholders say will help address housing inventory shortages across Washington.

The Senate approved SB 5254 in a 47-2 vote on June 29. On the same day, the bill passed the House in a 85-9 vote, with four excused. On July 6, Governor Jay Inslee signed the measure into law.