Recap of the Q3 Development Officials’ Forum
On Friday, August 2nd, Pierce County hosted the third quarter Development Officials Forum in which several building officials from around Pierce County were present.
Blog
Trend Alert: Wet Rooms Are Today’s Choice for Beautiful, Usable Bathrooms
Inviting, accommodating and a feast for the eyes—wet rooms are showing up in more and more homes and wowing visitors at new-home showcases.
New Study Shows Home Building Creates Over 100,000 Jobs, Adds $8.4 Billion Annually to State’s Economy
A new report released today shows the total economic impact of the construction of 24,000 single-family homes built in Washington State in 2018 was $8.4 billion.
Master Builders Association of Pierce County is participating in 2019 Stuff the Bus – Make a donation!
Master Builders Association of Pierce County is collecting donations for Communities in School's Stuff the Bus school supply drive! The collection bin will be located in the Master Builders Association of Pierce County office (3711 Center Street, Tacoma) lobby through August 22, 2019.
Housing Trend: Interest in Accessory Dwelling Units Growing
While single-family homes remain the most desired type of dwelling among home buyers, alternative living spaces are making headway. Accessory dwelling units (ADUs), also known as “granny flats,” “mother-in-law suites” or “secondary dwelling units,” are ideal for individuals seeking out a non-traditional living space.
BIAW Announces 2019 Excellence in Remodeling Award Winners
The Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW) is proud to announce its 2019 Excellence in Remodeling (EIR) Award where we honored 27 winners and honorable mentions. The EIR awards program recognizes outstanding remodeling projects throughout the state.
Fife Considering Increasing School Impact Fee by 72%
Per a Comprehensive Plan Amendment, the City of Fife is currently considering to increase School Impact Fees from $2,640 per single family unit to $4,532 per single family unit. In the Seattle/Bellevue/Tacoma region where Fife is located, a $1,000 increase in home prices out 896 people.
Spruce Up Your Lawn for Summer
Regular yard maintenance will boost your home’s curb appeal. In the summer months, between travel and warm temperatures it can be easy to ignore your lawn. Waiting for the beginning of the fall season for significant maintenance will not only make your home look neglected it could diminish its value.
How to Find a Builder Right for You
If you’re thinking about buying a new home, one key decision you’ll have to make is finding a home builder. Working with an experienced, professional builder can make a difference when it comes to creating your dream home. Here are some steps you can take to find a builder who is right for you...
Prep Your Home to Save on Summer Utility Bills
Summer is a time known for vacations, beaches and higher than usual utility bills. The average U.S. residential customer’s electricity bills will total $412 between June and August this year, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Consuming less energy can help you save money on utility bills. Fortunately, there are several easy ways to reduce your energy costs during the dog days of summer.
Taking the Steps to Find and Purchase a Home
As the home building industry celebrates National Homeownership Month in June, new data from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reveal that starting in 2019, a majority of senior (56 percent) and millennial (50 percent) buyers have moved beyond planning to purchase a home to actually starting the search process.
Top Design Trends for 2019
At the beginning of each year, the Best in American Living Awards (BALA) recognizes dozens of new projects from this past year that showcased the best in home and community design, interior design and remodeling. Whether your looking for inspiration for your next home renovation or you’re ready to start browsing for a new home, here are a few of the top design trends you’ll see in 2019.
Master Builders Association of Pierce County Announces 2019 Remodeling Excellence Award Winners
Master Builders Association Pierce County (Master Builders Association of Pierce County) is proud to announce its 2019 Remodeling Excellence (REX) Awards. The REX awards program recognizes outstanding remodeling projects throughout Pierce County. Categories included residential exterior remodels, kitchen and bath updates, additions, and entire home transformations, among others. This year, a total of 17 winners received awards.
Tacoma’s ADU Legislation Was Effective May 1st. Have you applied for a permit yet?
With Tacoma’s new code package, ADUs builder are able to build ADUs citywide that are consistent with neighborhood scale and patterns.
Development Officials Forum: Q2 Recap
This quarter’s Development Officials’ Forum was hosted by Edgewood. They kicked the meeting off by discussing staffing levels and online permitting. Both topics spurred lengthy discussions between all of the jurisdictions. Below are the individual updates of each jurisdiction shared at the roundtable portion...
It’s a Good Time to Remodel During National Home Remodeling Month
The median age of the American home is 38 years old. Add to that the increasing price of new construction over the last decade and the growing popularity of television programs featuring dramatic home renovations, and it’s no wonder Americans spent an estimated $340 billion on home remodeling in 2018. During National Home Remodeling Month this May, home owners are encouraged to take advantage of a wide range of resources from Master Builders Association Pierce County to help them make the best home improvement decisions.
ICYMI: Condo Liability Reform Passes and is Signed into Law
Condo liability reform, SB 5334, was signed into law by Governor Inslee on April 30. This legislation will help correct overreaching condo warranty liability that has been a problem since the 1990s and will allow for new condo construction.
Master Builders Pierce County Announces REX People’s Choice Award – Voting now open!
For the first time in the history of the association, the Master Builders Association Pierce County (Master Builders Association of Pierce County) is opening the Remodeling Excellence (REX) Awards for public viewing and voting. The REX Awards program recognizes outstanding home remodeling projects throughout Pierce County.
Tom Reier to Earn New Certified Builder Designation
Tom Reier recently completed all the requirements and earned the BIAW Certified Builder designation, considered the preeminent professional certification available to builders within the home building industry in Washington state.
MBA’s 2019 Housing Summit Delivers a Well-Received Legislative and Economic Forecast
A packed room full of elected officials, jurisdictional staff, MBA members, industry experts, Realtors, and the public helped to make our 2019 Housing Summit a huge success.
Master Builders Pierce County rebuilds Puyallup Home on National Rebuilding Day
On Saturday, April 27, Rebuilding Together South Sound hosted more than 650 volunteers to complete 27 major home repair and safety modification projects throughout the South Sound on National Rebuilding Day. One of those homes was sponsored by Master Builders Association of Pierce County (Master Builders Association of Pierce County) and York Enterprises.
Update to Puget Sound Energy Disconnect/Reconnect Pricing for Residential Requests
Effective May 6th, 2019, Puget Sound Energy will be changing the pricing for customer requested Residential Disconnect/Reconnect work. This includes requests for a meter pull to de-energize service to the electrical panel, clipping the service conductor at the weather head or source, and dropping the service wire for work other than tree trimming.
April is National New Homes Month
It’s no coincidence that people are generally happier in springtime. Compared to the colder, darker days of winter, spring is the opportunity for a fresh start – from planting a new flowerbed to starting a new baseball season. And for many Americans, it’s when they plan on buying a new home.
Master Builders Association of Pierce County Hosts a Tour for Real Estate Professionals
Master Builders Association of Pierce County hosted a Real Estate Licensee Tour presented by Community One Financial on April 18, 2019 with several real estate professionals in attendance. Those who joined the tour were able to visit communities of featured builders throughout Pierce County and acquaint themselves with current inventory and start-up projects.