Member Updates

A Big Housing Win, Years in the Making

After 21 months of advocacy, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act has officially become law.

The package includes nearly 50 housing measures aimed at increasing supply, improving affordability, expanding access to homeownership, strengthening housing finance, and supporting veterans.

It’s a clear example of what can happen when sustained advocacy, bipartisan collaboration, and member engagement stay focused on one of the country’s most pressing challenges. This wasn’t one bill — it was years of work to move meaningful housing policy forward.

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Protecting the REALTOR® Name

The term REALTOR® is more than a title — it’s a federally protected trademark and a defining mark of membership. Using it correctly helps protect the strength of the brand and the value it carries across the profession. A quick compliance check goes a long way. When using NAR membership marks like REALTOR®, REALTORS®, REALTOR-ASSOCIATE®, and the REALTOR® logo, make sure they’re used properly and consistently.

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Summer Check-In: Avoiding Burnout in Real Estate

Summer is a good time to check in with yourself and make sure you’re taking care of your business in a way that’s sustainable.

This YPN Lounge article on burnout in real estate offers practical reminders for agents who need to stay organized, set limits, and make room for rest.

The advice is simple, but important: use systems that support you, lean on broker support when you need it, and don’t be afraid to say no. In a profession that asks a lot, protecting your time and energy isn’t a luxury — it’s part of staying ready for the work ahead.

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Turn Market Data Into a Stronger Story

REALTORS® Property Resource Webinar

RPR’s Stand Out with Stats! Local Market Trends webinar is all about helping REALTORS® make sense of the data and use it well. In just 60 minutes, you’ll learn how to break down local market trends, spot key metrics, and turn that information into something useful for clients and customers.

This class will cover:

Months of inventory.
Sold to list price.
Median days on market.
Median sold price.
Active, sold, and pending listing metrics.
How to use market charts and graphs in client reports.
Ways to share market data through social media.

Perfect for REALTORS® who want to better understand their local market and speak to it with confidence — and a good reminder that you already have access to RPR, you should be using it!

Sign-Up Here →

Why AI Won’t Replace REALTORS®

AI is changing how people work, search, and make decisions — and real estate is no exception. But as this article makes clear, the skills that matter most in a transaction still come down to judgment, trust, and accountability.

The takeaway is straightforward:

AI can support the process, but it cannot replace the human expertise REALTORS® bring to clients, negotiations, and high-stakes decisions. In a market that keeps evolving, those skills remain a real advantage.

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Did You Know?

Wellness Starts with Better Sleep

The Active & Fit Direct™ program gives Washington REALTORS® members access to thousands of gyms, fitness centers, and premium studios nationwide at discounted rates.

As an added bonus, members can also join the upcoming webinar, Sleep Starts Before Bed: Shaping Your Space and Thoughts for Better Rest, on Tuesday, July 21 at 12pm PT / 2pm CT / 3pm ET.

Hosted by Emily Adams, Program Manager-Coach Performance, this session will explore how your environment, mindset, and daily habits can help set you up for better rest. This is a practical way to support your health this season — inside and outside the gym!

Learn More about Active&Fit Direct →

Legal Hotline Q&A of the Week

Question

PSA included the financing contingency (Form 22A) with a revision date of 2/26. Buyer had an option A financing contingency and had not waived the contingency prior to the closing date. Closing was scheduled for April 20. On April 16 buyer broker delivered a Form 51 Rescission Agreement. Seller did not sign. On April 21, Seller sent a 90D Notice of Termination and a Form 50 with earnest money given to the seller. No 90I was sent from buyer broker prior to the scheduled closing date. Buyer had no remaining contingencies other than financing. Did LB handle this situation correctly and is the seller entitled to the earnest money?

Answer

Because buyer had no contingencies other than financing, it would appear that buyer breached the purchase agreement, so long as seller stood ready, willing and able to close.

Buyer used the 2/26 Form 22A, which means that buyer was required to provide notice of termination prior to 9pm on the sale failed closing date. Buyer's failure to do so is fatal to buyer's claim for the earnest money. The Form 22A financing contingency was revised to eliminate the "survival" provision and buyer must now deliver notice of termination (Form 90I) not later than 9 pm on the sale failed closing date. The fact that buyer delivered a rescission agreement (Form 51) prior to the closing date is meaningless. The rescission agreement was merely a request from buyer to seller seeking seller's agreement to rescind the transaction. When seller refused to sign the rescission agreement, the rescission agreement was rendered meaningless.

The Hotline lawyer can never determine with certainty, the party that will prevail in an EM dispute. From the facts presented, however, it appears that listing broker handled the sale fail properly with respect to protecting seller's interests and seller is likely entitled to recovery of the earnest money. If the parties cannot resolve this dispute, broker should advise her client to seek legal counsel.

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