In an extraordinary move, the Legislature banned single-family zoning in Washington in 2023, and most cities have by now been required to allow as many as 6 homes on most lots in what were formerly single-family-zoned districts. This creates extraordinary opportunities for housing development, but it also is likely to encounter continued pushback from cities. At a minimum, the cities are still charging exorbitant fees in an attempt to slow or halt housing development. I'm actively developing and building new homes, and I'm hoping we'll see investors jump into Washington to get more houses built ASAP. Read More…

Cities in Washington State impose all sorts of restrictions on short-term rentals that I think are unconstitutional. These include owner-occupancy requirements, limitations on how many homes an owner can rent for short terms, prohibitions on owners who live out of state from renting out their homes for short terms, prohibitions on detached dwellings (like ADU's) from being rented for short terms. I've sued the City of Bellingham over these sorts of restrictions, and I see them in other cities. I think owners in Washington need to start challenging these bogus restrictions on homeowners' right to decide who comes and goes from their homes. Read More…