By MBAKS Senior Policy Analyst Allison Butcher

At the end of the first quarter of 2018, King County is leading the way in building permit activity in the region, with single family permits up 19 percent and multifamily permits up 25 percent compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, single-family permits have dropped 19 percent in Snohomish County and multifamily permits are down 58 percent year-over-year.  For the three-county region as a whole (King, Snohomish, and Pierce counties), permits are up 7 percent and 9 percent, respectively.

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, State of the Cities Data Systems, Office of Financial Management and the Washington State Employment Security Department.

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Contact: data@mbaks.com

While our local inventory is rising, we are still the lowest in Washington State, with the state average at 2.17. Months of inventory in June 2024 were Snohomish (1.37), King (1.94), and Pierce (2.00). As the inventory grows, it is evident that mortgage rates are a large player in affordability regarding housing market worries.

Read the full July Builders Bulletin:

Contact: data@mbaks.com

Puget Sound Population Surge Led by Seattle, King County

As of April 1, 2025, the Puget Sound region reached a population of 4,534,300, growing by 50,400 people over the past year. This growth was led overwhelmingly by King County, which added 33,600 residents—accounting for two-thirds of the region's total increase. Seattle alone contributed nearly 19,000 new residents, surpassing 816,000 and outpacing the combined growth of Snohomish and Pierce counties. While Snohomish (+6,700) and Pierce (+7,300) counties saw steady, modest increases, growth in transit-connected suburbs like Shoreline and Redmond stood out. Kitsap County grew by 2,800, maintaining its trend of stable, moderate expansion. Overall, the region’s growth reflects continued urban and transit-oriented population shifts, even as statewide growth slows compared to previous years.

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