More places to build homes families are looking for. That’s possible now that Snohomish County and the City of Everett have adopted new residential lot splitting rules, making it easier to divide a property into two lots and build more housing options. Kudos to local leaders for supporting pro-housing policies. Read more from the @EverettHerald: heraldnet.com/2026/10/14/sno…

The recently passed 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act features major provisions that will help increase multifamily housing options. Here’s how: ▶️The federal government is raising the amount it will insure for multifamily housing loans and adjusting for inflation. This should help align financing with modern construction costs. ▶️Reforming the HOME Investment Partnerships Program will allow more flexibility to use these funds for basic infrastructure. ▶️ Streamlining federal environmental reviews for certain small and infill projects to help reduce delays and costs. Learn more about the benefits of this new law from @NAHBhome: nahb.org/advocacy/top-priori…

Congratulations to @habitatskc for being recognized as MBAKS’s Housing Solutions Partner of the Year! Each year at our Housing Solutions Breakfast, MBAKS acknowledges the incredible contributions of the nonprofit organizations we collaborate with. We proudly honor Habitat for Humanity for the vital work they do providing first-time homeownership opportunities for so many community members and advocating on behalf of housing.

Thank you to all who attended yesterday's annual Housing Solutions Breakfast. And a special shoutout to our featured speakers, including former WA Gov. Christine Gregoire and Gov. Bob Ferguson’s Senior Housing Policy Advisor Em Stone. Read more about highlights from the event on our blog: mbaks.com/news/buildersblog/…

As you’ve probably heard, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is now law, bringing together a broad package of reforms aimed at increasing housing production, improving access to financing, streamlining certain federal environmental reviews, and encouraging land-use and permitting reforms. Many provisions will take time to implement but will create new tools to address housing supply and affordability. This is a positive step in the right direction as we work to address housing shortages and improve affordability nationwide, and particularly in our region. Thanks to the @NAHBhome, who played a key role in securing this important new law.

Housing is about more than homes. Local homebuilders hire from the community, build in the community, and reinvest in the community. When housing is built locally, the benefits extend to local workers, local businesses, and local families.

Current residents, newcomers, and the next generation are being priced out of our communities because there are not enough housing choices. Middle housing is part of the solution. Duplexes, triplexes, townhomes, cottage housing, and ADUs add more options in established neighborhoods at price points that work for more people, making room for what matters most to our communities.

Affordability starts with availability. That's why we work to expand housing options across the region, with more homes at more price points, in more places. The most difficult place to call home is the one that doesn’t exist.

Protecting our region’s tree canopy and building much-needed housing can and do go hand-in-hand. A new op-ed in @UrbanistOrg co-written by MBAKS’s Logan Schmidt makes the case for policies that allow us to advance both our housing and tree canopy goals. theurbanist.org/op-ed-buildi…

The strongest communities include homes for all walks and stages of life. Teachers. First responders. Young families. Grandparents. Having more housing choices allows more people to live close to the communities they serve and love.

If it costs more to build, it costs more to buy. In a new @seattletimes op-ed, MBAKS Executive Director Jerry Hall highlights practical steps policymakers can take to remove barriers, lower costs and make it easier to build the homes our region needs. seattletimes.com/opinion/wa-…

Before a home can be built, it must move through a permitting process. Permitting delays are one of the biggest barriers to delivering new housing. Delays don’t stop demand; they just increase costs and close more doors to housing. When reviews are timely and predictable, builders can deliver homes more efficiently, and communities gain more housing options.

Every new home must absorb the cost of land, labor, materials, financing, local regulations, and permitting before construction can begin. Excessive fees, unnecessary complexity, and permit delays add to the price a family has to pay. If we're serious about housing affordability, we need practical solutions, so we can create more room for what matters.

A light switch exactly where your hand reaches. A hallway wide enough to move through without thinking. Cabinets that open freely. These small decisions add up to one thing: a home that gets out of your way. So you can make room for what matters.

A comfortable home is about more than just the thermostat or a cozy blanket. Builders coordinate insulation, ventilation, windows, and mechanical systems to help maintain consistent temperatures and a healthy indoor environment. When everything works together, you’ll notice fewer drafts, quieter rooms, and comfort throughout every season.

Pacific Northwest builders obsess over water. Rooflines, flashing, grading, gutters, drainage planes, rain gardens, foundation details—every element works to keep water moving away from your home. The best part? When everything's designed right, you'll never have to think about it.

Once drywall goes up, most people never think about what’s behind it. But builders do. Every stud, beam, connection, and opening is carefully planned so your home is strong, durable, and ready to support your family’s daily life for years to come.

Like where rainwater goes. Where the afternoon sun hits. Whether your groceries have the shortest path from the car to the kitchen. And yes, where everyone's going to drop their shoes the second they walk through the door. The best homes don't happen by accident. They're the result of hundreds of thoughtful decisions that make everyday life a little easier for the people who live there.

Building a home starts with careful planning. Long before construction can begin, builders assess drainage, utilities, setbacks, site conditions, and local permitting requirements to ensure the home is designed for both the property and the community. Because when you finally get the keys, you should be thinking about making memories—not wondering whether the groundwork was done right.

Fewer permit applications today mean fewer homes tomorrow. In a new @PSBJ piece, MBAKS Government Affairs Director Jennifer Anderson highlights one practical solution that could address slowing housing production in Seattle—and why that matters for affordability. Read more: bizjournals.com/seattle/news…