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Is Relief in Sight for Spokane Residents? (Click the photo above to view video) With a hot home buyer’s market and ongoing shortage of new construction, home builders are troubled by a growing crisis in housing: People in middle and lower-income brackets are increasingly priced out of the market for home ownership. “Legislators are considering a number of bills this session that will significantly increase the cost of new homes,” said Tracy Doriot, 2021 president of the Building Industry of Washington. “Many of the bills have worthy goals. However, they also have significant consequences. “Every $1,000 increase in the cost…
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This year the Spokane Home Builders Association took home four nationwide Association of Excellence awards from the National Association of Home Builders. They are: Best Public Relations Program Conducted, Best Education Program, Best Local Government Affairs Effort, and Best Service to Members. This is the first time SHBA has won this many awards in a single year. “The recognition from the national association is really special,” Executive Director Joel White said. “This goes to show how hard our team has worked all year on behalf of our members.” SHBA beat out almost 100 other submissions from associations across the country.…
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It’s time for the City to take action on housing, not spark political wars It is disappointing to see city leaders again dodge an opportunity for real dialogue and solutions for hurting families in Spokane. Instead of providing alternatives or explaining the council’s stance, Mr. Beggs’ rebuttal threw political allegations that dodged addressing the real issues at hand. The City of Spokane has only permitted less than 4000 units in the past six years, far outpaced by other areas in the region, including Post Falls. See the chart comparing housing growth in the Spokane area. SHBA’s position is to look at the…
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Why is Spokane’s Housing Crisis Not a Priority to City Council? Housing inventory in Spokane is at an all-time low. Home prices have increased 21% in Spokane County from April 2020 to April 2021. Energy codes that went into effect February 1Â of this year added $20,000-$30,000 to the cost of a home. Lumber prices add an additional $36,500 on average and land prices have roughly doubled in the last two years. Rising costs are not the only issue. According to a study by ECONorthwest and commissioned by the nonprofit Up for Growth, Spokane County as a whole was underbuilt by…
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