There’s an old adage, “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu,” which Seattle King County REALTORS® takes to heart. Our advocacy work and that of the State and National associations is the ethos by which our organizations live and breathe.
At the local, state and national levels, Realtors are the voice in decision-making affecting the real estate industry. We’ve earned a reputation as advocates for homeownership and for protecting the interests of home buyers, sellers and property owners.
Value in grassroots political activity
One of the services members of Seattle King County and Kittitas County REALTORS® (which merged in 2024) say they value most is our advocacy work.
Staff and volunteers are active year-round in grassroots political activity. We represent the industry in monitoring legislation, often proposing policies and working with policymakers to increase housing supply and to streamline rules and regulations affecting the creation of new housing.
This year, former Governor Christine Gregoire keynoted the annual Housing Issues Briefing hosted by Seattle King County REALTORS®. This event brings together elected officials, candidates for public office and Realtors to raise awareness and understanding of current and emerging housing concerns. In her remarks, Gregoire, the CEO of Challenge Seattle, emphasized the need for a working partnership between the real estate industry, the business community and local government to build more housing.
Every January, several hundred Realtors from King County and elsewhere in the state travel to Olympia for “Legislative Days” (also known as Hill Day) when members meet with lawmakers to discuss housing-related challenges confronting both consumers and Realtors.
One of this year’s legislative wins included passage of House Bill 1096, known as the “lot splitting bill”. HB 1096 allows dividing a single-family housing lot into two lots through an administrative process, thereby facilitating more housing supply. (Research by the State Department of Commerce shows Washington is the worst state in the nation in the number of housing units per household.)
The Realtors’ work happens in the other Washington as well. As part of the National Association of REALTORS®, SKCR members and staff join counterparts from around the country in the nation’s Capitol every spring. During five days of meetings, we discuss association and industry business, culminating with in-person meetings with congressional representatives and senators on Capitol Hill. The key priorities we promoted this year involved tax measures that are favorable to families seeking homeownership. Three weeks after our visits, many of these favorable tax measures were included in the One Big Beautiful Bill adopted by Congress.
Endorsements and voting guides
Engaging in political activity helps ensure a stable future for the real estate industry. Each election cycle, volunteers from SKCR’s broad-based constituency serve on candidate interview panels to evaluate their alignment with Realtor priorities. Candidates who earn support from the Government Affairs Committee are recognized in the association’s Endorsement Guide.
Champions for fair housing through transparent access for all
Another service SKCR provides is monitoring sign codes in jurisdictions throughout King, Snohomish and Pierce counties. The association’s Housing Specialists and member volunteers work with the policymakers to make sure sign codes are not unreasonably restrictive and promote access for all buyers to available properties without discrimination. SKCR maintains a comprehensive, searchable, up-to-date database of these codes as a handy resource for members.
Comprehensive, one-stop resources
In 2024, in collaboration with Washington Realtors and Kimley-Horn engineering, planning and design consultants, SKCR led the launch of REALTORS®+Housing, a one-stop interactive website for tracking middle housing policy changes and guidance on recent state housing and land-use legislation.
Along with explanations of new laws, the site includes maps and tables to access specific Growth Management Act requirements (initially for King, Pierce, Snohomish and Kitsap counties) for allowing middle housing and accessory dwelling units across the region. The matrixes, arranged in three population tiers, also have links to jurisdiction websites, zoning code updates and other relevant information.
Triple the impact
Membership in the Seattle King County Association of REALTORS® includes membership in Washington REALTORS® and the National Association of REALTORS®.
Together, our three associations have a seat at the table to help members stay current on ever-changing market conditions and advancing core competencies. As advocates, Realtors are unwavering in protecting property rights and the interests of home buyers, sellers and property owners.
Taylor Shanaman is director of governmental and public affairs for Seattle King County REALTORS®.