When people think of REALTORS®, they often picture professionals helping clients buy or sell homes. But there’s another side to their work that’s just as important: advocacy. Across Washington State and in Snohomish County, REALTORS® are actively engaged in shaping public policies which impact housing affordability, availability, and accessibility.
So how exactly do REALTORS® advocate for housing, and why does it matter? At the state level, the Washington REALTORS® lobbyist team works closely with legislators to support policies that create more housing opportunities while also protecting the rights of property owners. Their work in Olympia is focused on long-term, structural solutions to statewide issues related to housing.
Some of the key issues REALTORS® are advancing in the state legislature include housing supply expansion, regulatory reforms, and growth management updates. Some recent legislative wins include:
- A bill requiring urban jurisdictions state-wide to allow homeowners to build up to two accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on their property (HB 1337).
- A bill allowing duplexes and triplexes in single-family zones. This will go a long way to expanding housing inventory, especially the ‘Missing Middle (HB 1110).
- A bill improving the permitting process and speeding up permitting timelines (SB 5290).
- A ‘Right to Cure’ bill, giving developers a chance to correct any building defects in a condominium before a consumer can sue (SB 5263).
Additionally, Washington REALTORS® routinely lobbies in opposition to bills that would increase barriers to homeownership such as increases to property taxes, increases to the Real Estate Excise Tax (REET), and other harmful policy proposals.
These efforts, aimed at removing roadblocks that REALTORS® see every day, represent just some of the ways that Washington REALTORS® is working to promote the real estate industry and protect homeowners from the harsh consequences of bad bills.
Moreover, on the local level, REALTORS® are working to protect and promote the local real estate industry here in Snohomish County.
The policies which are debated in Olympia often come to life long before they hit the House or Senate floor in Olympia. Such policies tend to spring from local areas, where population growth, housing shortages, and affordability challenges are particularly acute. That’s where local REALTORS® step in, bringing advocacy to the front lines of their communities.
Through the Snohomish County-Camano Association of REALTORS® (SCCAR), REALTORS® are participating in the local planning process, actively seeking to help shape the comprehensive plans of cities and the county. The goal of this advocacy effort is to ensure that housing policies support growth while maintaining community character. They provide data, market insight, and homeowner perspectives to help guide these plans.
In Snohomish County, REALTORS® are not just commenting on policy — they’re helping shape it. Every May, SCCAR meets with the members of the Snohomish County Council and lobbies the council to protect the industry and adopt new policies that will promote housing stability and community growth. The goal of these meetings is to create a collaborative relationship with our local leaders and to clear the way for increased homeownership opportunities.
So, why does REALTOR® advocacy matter? It matters because housing policy isn’t just about numbers—it’s about people. REALTORS® bring a valuable perspective to the table, rooted in their daily work with buyers, sellers, and renters. They understand how policies translate into real-life outcomes: whether a family can afford their first home, whether a new development gets built, or whether a retired homeowner can stay in the community that they love.
From state legislation to local planning decisions, REALTORS® are working to make sure housing across Washington and in Snohomish County is affordable and available for all.
For more information about buying or selling a home, be sure to work with a REALTOR®, a member of the National Association of REALTORS®. Snohomish County Camano Association of REALTORS® is the voice for real estate in Snohomish County. If you have questions for The Expert about real estate email us at [email protected], or visit www.sccar.org for more information.
