Washington’s legislators had their eye on common interest communities (CICs) during the 2023 regular session, which ended on April 23, 2023. Three bills relating to or affecting CICs become effective on July 23, 2023. One...more
The Washington Supreme Court recently published an opinion that appears to invalidate any homebuyer warranty that requires the buyer to file suit in less than six years. In Tadych v. Noble Ridge Construction, Inc., the owners...more
The Washington legislature recently passed a bill expanding affordable housing tax exemptions. HB 1643 was signed into law by Governor Inslee on March 30, 2022 and will exempt from the real estate excise tax a sale or...more
In Brief Court confirms that HOAs in Washington have broad deference when deciding how to allocate assessments. The court ruling could reduce lawsuits challenging discretionary board decisions relating to assessments. The...more
Washington recently enacted SB 5024 (the “Bill”), which allows developers to use earnest money deposits towards construction costs in certain circumstances. The Bill will become effective on July 25, 2021....more
Since the onset of COVID-19, the global landscape has been turned upside down, bringing to light various social issues that have long been plaguing various communities throughout the country. Social issues such as...more
In response to the COVID pandemic, Washington, like many other states, has imposed a moratorium on residential evictions and rent collections. The moratorium prohibits landlords and property managers from (i) serving,...more
In our previous legal alert here, we discussed the changes that SHB 2384 made to the property tax exemption for nonprofit family housing under RCW 84.36.560. On June 11, 2020, the Washington Department of Revenue (the...more
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) recently issued Notice 2020-53 to provide temporary relief for qualified low-income housing projects and residential rental projects financed with...more
The Washington legislature recently passed two bills expanding affordable housing tax exemptions. Governor Inslee signed SHB 2384, revising the property tax exemption for low-income housing. He vetoed SHB 2634 that would have...more
The Washington Court of Appeals recently issued an opinion that may invalidate the cost or voting allocations of many existing condominiums. In Mohandessi v. Urban Venture LLC, the court ruled that the common expense...more
The Washington Legislature wrapped up its 2019 session by enacting much-anticipated reform to the condominium implied construction warranties. The warranty reform bill also included important clarifications of the application...more
Washington currently imposes a real estate excise tax (“REET”) on the sale or transfer of real property in the state at a rate of 1.28% of the selling price. Local governments can also impose REET at the rate of 0.25% or...more
More of Portland’s developers are about to find themselves in the affordable housing business. Whether they like it or not....more
On September 26, 2014, President Obama signed H.R. 2600, which amends the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act (“ILSA”) to exempt condominium pre-sales from the registration requirements of the ILSA. ...more