By MBAKS Senior Policy Analyst Allison Butcher

Data on jobs released by the Puget Sound Regional Council recently show the four-county region added 362,800 jobs between 2010 and 2017. At this pace, the region continues to add more than three jobs for every housing unit, placing continued strong demand on housing.

As this month’s Builder’s Bulletin shows, we’re seeing more of the same with a very low inventory of homes for sale and rising home prices in King and Snohomish counties. Meanwhile, King, Snohomish, and Pierce counties experienced a 32 percent decrease in multifamily permits the first two months of this year, compared to the same period last year. Single family permits are up 10 percent in King and Pierce counties and down 22 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, State of the Cities Data Systems, Office of Financial Management and the Washington State Employment Security Department.

Download this month's report:

Contact: data@mbaks.com

Puget Sound Region Sees Population Growth and Housing Demand

As of April 1, 2024, the Puget Sound region's population reached 4,483,900, reflecting an increase of 46,800 residents over the past year. This growth was primarily driven by King County, which added 30,300 people, followed by Snohomish County with 7,300, Pierce County with 6,300, and Kitsap County with 2,900 new residents.

This population surge underscores the urgent need for expanded housing options in the region. As more people move to Puget Sound, the demand for diverse and affordable housing solutions becomes increasingly critical.

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Each election cycle, our Affordable Housing Council (AHC) interviews candidates at the city, county, and state levels to determine their degree of support for our industry.

The following candidates have received an AHC endorsement for the 2021 election cycle. 

Ballots will be mailed out Friday, October 15 and are due Tuesday, November 2. Your vote in support of AHC-endorsed candidates will go a long way toward affecting the outcome of these critical races. 

For dropbox locations, ballot questions, and more, visit King County Elections or Snohomish County Elections.

*Also located in Snohomish County