Only in Seattle - Real Estate Unplugged

A LOT OF TRENDS that have been going on since pandemic lockdowns first started are continuing: A central location is less of a priority, and suburbs are heating up more than ever. But as amenities return to denser, urban areas and some return to offices, downtown condos are back on the rise—and the market is likely only going to get more competitive from here.The story is not entirely straightforward, and won't be for a while. Since sales are reliably different each month of each year, year-over-year stats tend to be more telling for things like sales prices and market demand. But 2020 was, to put it mildly, bonkers. There's still plenty to learn from last month's numbers.Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://www.seattlemet.com/home-and-real-estate/2021/10/seattle-real-estate-trends-downtown-condos-september-2021Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

The Spokane County Sheriff's Office is looking to hire deputies, and its recruitment strategy includes telling potential applicants that they do not need a COVID-19 vaccine to work."NO Mandatory Vaccinations Required" is displayed in the middle and end of the 30-second video advertisement on Twitter at twitter.com/SpokaneSheriff.Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich said those parts of the ad are not intended to attract unvaccinated law enforcement officers, such as the 74 Washington State Patrol troopers out of a job because of their failure to comply with Gov. Jay Inslee's COVID-19 mandate.State employees had until the end of the day Monday to submit their COVID-19 vaccination record or lose their jobs.Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://www.chronline.com/stories/spokane-county-sheriffs-office-recruiting-pitch-no-vaccine-required,275699Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

King County is ready to take the lead on revitalizing a park that for years had left courthouse workers terrified.Homeless campers had taken over City Hall Park, which is adjacent to the King County Courthouse, until the mounting crime and violence led to a sweep this summer.The King County Council voted 7-2 this week to acquire the park from Seattle. However, this is more than just a change of ownership. County leaders also plan to tackle the root problems behind the public safety issues that have persisted for years. Another focus will be on helping to connect the homeless in the neighborhood with shelter and services.Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://komonews.com/news/local/king-county-set-to-purchase-long-troubled-park-near-courthouseSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

Seattle police and firefighters who are out of jobs for refusing to comply with Washington's vaccine mandate were seen feeding the homeless in video spreading on social media. "Seattle firefighters and Seattle police officers that were fired for not complying with the vaccine mandate are out feeding the homeless," the Post Millennial tweeted Tuesday, accompanied by video footage of the scene. Video footage from Tuesday also shows dozens of the former cops and firefighters walking up the steps of Seattle's City Hall to return their boots after being let go. Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://www.foxnews.com/us/seattle-police-firefighters-feed-homeless-fired-vaccine-mandateSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

There was a Seattle home listing that was brought to the attention of the Dori Monson Show in which the person who listed the home, and is a landlord, said they're selling it with their tenant it in.“Personally, I'm not interested in being a landlord in our little communist corner of the country anymore when you no longer really own the property you paid for and took the risk to own,” the post says, in part.The person who listed this house is attorney Lincoln Beauregard. He says Seattle is passing laws where he, as a landlord, can't dictate how much he's going to rent his property for, and that he has no recourse if his tenants don't pay rent.Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://mynorthwest.com/3193583/seattle-landlord-sells-rental-with-tenants/Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

Home prices are so high even Zillow (NASDAQ: Z) (NASDAQ: ZG) is throwing in the towel.Zillow just announced it will cease buying homes through its Zillow Offers business, which operates as an iBuyer, or instant buyer. In the second quarter, Zillow bought 3,800 homes and just announced it will not buy any more for the rest of the year. Zillow will honor its commitment, however, to buy all the homes currently under contract.Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://www.millionacres.com/real-estate-investing/articles/why-is-zillow-pumping-the-brakes-on-house-flipping/Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

As of Monday, 127 individuals had separated from employment at the Washington State Patrol because of the coronavirus vaccine mandate, WSP said in a statement released early Tuesday.Among them are 53 civil servants and 74 commissioned officers: 67 troopers, 6 sergeants, and 1 captain, according to the statement.“We will miss every one of them,” said Chief John R. Batiste in the statement. “I truly wish that you were staying with us. You have my utmost appreciation for the hard and successful work that you have provided during your valued WSP careers. You will forever have our respect for your courage and your commitment in all you have done on behalf of the agency.”Earlier this month, the agency's vaccination rate was at 93% as 152 of the agency's 2,200 employees had not submitted paperwork to show they were vaccinated. That was a sharp increase from earlier data showing the State Patrol's vaccination rate as of Sept. 20 was just under 63%.Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/67-troopers-6-sergeants-1-captain-leave-washington-state-patrol-rather-than-comply-with-covid-vaccine-mandate/Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

A group of around 100 "anarchists" caused more than $500,000 worth of damage to businesses and government buildings in downtown Portland Tuesday night, according to the Portland Police Bureau. The destruction happened at a memorial of sorts for Sean Kealiher, an anti-fascist activist who was struck and killed by an SUV after leaving a left-wing hangout on October 12, 2019. Police say the SUV crashed into a commercial building and then gunshots were fired at the vehicle. There have been no arrests in connection with his death. Officers responded about 9 p.m. Tuesday to reports that a group had gathered in the area of Chapman Square Park, and some were blocking Southwest 3rd Avenue. Some fencing from the park was used to barricade the street. Some illegal aerial fireworks were set off, as well as graffiti to buildings. At about 10 p.m., the group began to march.Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://www.kptv.com/news/portland-police-anarchists-damage-businesses-in-downtown-portland-damage-in-excess-of-500k/article_5cfee8e0-2c75-11ec-9bcc-9f690414fd4b.htmlSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

Walgreens said Tuesday that it will be closing another five San Francisco locations, citing the ongoing rampant theft plaguing the city."Due to ongoing organized retail crime, we have made the difficult decision to close five stores across San Francisco," a Walgreens spokesperson told FOX Business in a statement. "Each store will transfer prescriptions to a nearby Walgreens location within a mile radius and we expect to place the stores' team members in other nearby locations.""Organized retail crime continues to be a challenge facing retailers across San Francisco, and we are not immune to that," the spokesperson continued. "Retail theft across our San Francisco stores has continued to increase in the past few months to five times our chain average. During this time to help combat this issue, we increased our investments in security measures in stores across the city to 46 times our chain average in an effort to provide a safe environment."Walgreens has shuttered at least 10 of its stores in the city since the beginning of 2019, according to the San Francisco Gate.Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://www.foxbusiness.com/retail/walgreens-closing-san-francisco-stores-theftSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

The Seattle Fire Department insists public safety will remain a top priority even though dozens of first responders could lose their should they choose to not vaccinate against COVID.Seattle city officials say as of Wednesday, about 88% of the department's employees have been vaccinated, but that means dozens of first responders are at risk of losing their jobs. One firefighter cleared out his locker on Thursday, ending a 16-year long career at the department. Josh Gibbs rushed towards danger during some of the worst crises in our region including the deadly Ride the Ducks crash and the Oso mudslide. Gibbs says he wants to stay with the department, but he says the city won't accommodate his request for religious exemption."I'm very angry but I'm trying to hold it together for my family," he said fighting back tears. "The bitter-sweet part is that it's ending here where it started."Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://www.q13fox.com/news/veteran-seattle-firefighter-empties-locker-after-city-denies-vaccine-exemptionSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

The move by Texas to bar Covid-19 vaccine mandates by businesses sets up a clash between the state and the Biden administration, leaving employers caught in the middle.On one side, Monday's executive order from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott forbids any private entity to require its employees or customers to get vaccinated. On the other hand, the Biden administration is working on requirements that private-sector workers be vaccinated or tested weekly at businesses with 100 or more employees.Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-vaccine-mandate-fight-between-texas-and-biden-has-companies-caught-in-the-middle-11634073605Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

President Joe Biden on Wednesday urged the private sector to help ease supply chain blockages that are threatening to disrupt the U.S. holiday season and said the White House plans a nationwide overhaul of the clogged system.Biden said the Port of Los Angeles would join the Port of Long Beach, two of the country's busiest, in expanding round-the-clock operations to unload an estimated 500,000 containers waiting on cargo ships offshore.Walmart (WMT.N), Target (TGT.N) and other big retailers would also expand their overnight operations at the ports to try to meet delivery needs, Biden said.It is a "big first step" to revamping supply chains in the United States, the world's biggest consumer market, Biden said, adding the government would be heavily involved.Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-cite-progress-unsnarling-supply-chain-meeting-with-labor-industry-2021-10-13/Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

In what the president of Seattle's Police Guild calls an "unprecedented move,” the department moved to "Stage 3" operations Wednesday.That means detectives and other non-patrol units will serve as first responders to 9-1-1 calls.The department has already lost more than 300 officers in the past year, and hundreds more could face termination next week if they don't comply with the vaccine order.The SPD staffing crisis has become so dire, police union president Mike Solan is warning about what's next, as the department mobilizes to "Stage 3"—an emergency scenario because of a shortage of officers.Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://komonews.com/news/local/seattle-police-department-activates-stage-3-emergency-operations-amid-staffing-shortageSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

Millions of retirees on Social Security will get a 5.9% boost in benefits for 2022. The biggest cost-of-living adjustment in 39 years follows a burst in inflation as the economy struggles to shake off the drag of the coronavirus pandemic.The COLA, as it's commonly called, amounts to $92 a month for the average retired worker, according to estimates released Wednesday by the Social Security Administration. That marks an abrupt break from a long lull in inflation that saw cost-of-living adjustments averaging just 1.65% a year over the past 10 years.With the increase, the estimated average Social Security payment for a retired worker will be $1,657 a month next year. A typical couple's benefits would rise by $154 to $2,753 per month.But that's just to help make up for rising costs that recipients are already paying for food, gasoline and other goods and services.Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://www.politico.com/news/2021/10/13/social-security-cola-boost-515878Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

Two of the biggest employers in Texas, American Airlines Group AAL, -1.56% and Southwest Airlines Co. LUV, -0.78%, have said they would not follow the executive order signed by Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday banning COVID-19 vaccine mandates in the Lone Star State, because, as federal contractors, they are bound to comply with President Joe Biden's requirement.The news highlights the clash between the Republican governor, who has accused the Biden administration of overreach for mandating vaccines, and private companies, who require greater certainty to operate safely, as the Wall Street Journal reported. Abbott has said vaccination must be voluntary, even though close to 70,000 Texans have died of COVID, and recent fatalities are almost all among unvaccinated people. The state's vaccination rate of about 50% lags the national average.A coalition of some 900 companies grouped under the Greater Houston Partnership, including such giants as Exxon Mobil Corp. XOM, +1.50%, JPMorgan Chase & Co. JPM, +1.21%, Chevron Corp. CVX, +1.95% and Accenture PLC ACN, +1.91%, said Tuesday that Abbott's order would complicate their efforts to run their businesses safely. The organization has been supportive of Biden's effort to require vaccines for companies with more than 100 employees.Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://www.marketwatch.com/story/american-airlines-and-southwest-to-defy-texas-ban-on-covid-19-vaccine-mandates-as-lines-harden-and-minnesota-becomes-latest-hot-spot-11634137780Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

A Washington State trooper, who was forced to step down after refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine, explained why he told Democrat Governor Jay Inslee to "kiss my a--" after serving the public for 22 years. Robert LaMay joined "Fox & Friends First" on Monday to discuss his decision to resign, the vaccine mandate, and his concern over the future of the state. "When we started off this program, there was several hundred that were willing to get fired," LaMay stated. "Well, then they started looking at their finances."Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://www.foxnews.com/media/washington-state-trooper-quits-vaccine-mandate-jay-insleeSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

Seattle Public Schools (SPS) is planning to suspend as many as 142 school bus routes Monday following the vaccinate mandate deadline for school employees. SPS attributed the reduction in routes to a driver shortage with their third-party vendor, First Student. Third-party contractors working with public schools are also subject to the mandate. Some groups of students will keep their bus routes as required by law, including students receiving special education who's individual education programs call for transportation and students with 504 plans that provide transportation. Students of families experiencing homelessness and foster students will also continue their bus service. SPS said they are exploring alternative transportation options while they wait for First Student to hire more drivers. Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://www.khq.com/news/seattle-public-schools-suspending-nearly-150-bus-routes-following-vaccine-mandate-deadline/article_c2242d0e-301a-11ec-b71e-375e751f61f1.htmlSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

Seattle police patrol cars were photographed with Gadsden flags hanging from their windows ahead of Washington state's vaccine mandate going into effect. "Some officers plan on taking time off to decide what they will do long term. They don't seem eager to stay with SPD. Others explained that they are going to leave the SPD by the end of the year as a result of this," KTTH radio show host Jason Rantz wrote on Twitter, accompanied by the photos. "Officers took these photos in protest of the mandate."Washington state employees are required to submit proof of vaccination by Monday. Seattle Police Officers Guild President Mike Solan said officers won't face immediate termination but will face a "Loudermill hearing," where the officers can publicly state why they refused to comply with the mandate before formal separation from the force. Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

The federal eviction moratorium did little to slow filings amid the pandemic and debt has piled up on both sides. The moratorium may have helped millions of people who lost their jobs during the pandemic, but it did not wipe away their bills. Despite the moratorium, FOX43 Reveals that landlords filed thousands of evictions against tenants who owed rent. However, those landlords may never see the money that they're owed.During this time, rent relief programs were being rolled out and a ban on evictions for nonpayment of rent was still in effect. We set out to learn why landlords filed these evictions. Within this 10-month timeframe, the Harrisburg Housing Authority filed 25 evictions.Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://www.fox43.com/article/news/investigations/fox43-reveals/landlords-filed-evictions-during-moratorium-fox43-reveals/521-e364af7a-c225-46c0-9895-5d8ebfbd8173Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Saturday signed a law that requires large California retailers to maintain gender neutral toy and childcare sections. The new law, Assembly Bill 1084, requires that retailers with 500 or more employees in the state of California “maintain a gender neutral section or area, to be labeled at the discretion of the retailer, in which a reasonable selection of the items and toys for children that it sells shall be displayed, regardless of whether they have been traditionally marketed for either girls or for boys,” according to the legislative counsel's digest. Assemblyman Evan Low, D-Campbell, and Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia, D-Bell Gardens, introduced the bill.Low in an interview with The Sacramento Bee earlier this year said he was inspired to introduce the bill after he learned of Target's 2015 decision to abolish gendered children's sections. The bill was sponsored by gender-free fashion brand The Phluid Project,Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article253949518.htmlSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

The days are quickly ticking down to next Monday's deadline when most Oregon and Washington teachers, health care workers and public employees need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.Especially in more conservative swaths of the Pacific Northwest, elected officials remain fearful of a "mass exodus" of firefighters and health care professionals. They are trying different avenues to get governors Brown and Inslee to back off the vaccination deadline. But there are no signs the governors are open to delays.Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich took to the department's YouTube channel the other day to deliver a 13-minute monologue directed at Washington Governor Jay Inslee."At the height of the pandemic, does it really make sense to terminate our health care workers, our firefighters, our EMS personnel?" Knezovich said.Knezovich said he is vaccinated against COVID-19 and encourages others to get the shot. But the sheriff said he can't stomach dismissals of hard-to-replace emergency responders who refuse the vaccine.Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://www.kuow.org/stories/pacific-nw-governors-hold-fast-on-vax-deadline-as-more-local-officials-warn-of-worker-exodusSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

Business and civic leaders on Thursday called for immediate action and investment to address the mental health and substance abuse crisis in downtown Seattle.Executives from Amazon.com Inc., Vulcan Inc. and Weyerhaeuser Co. were among the approximately five dozen signers of the letter, which the Downtown Seattle Association sent to the City Council and Metropolitan King County Council. It was full of hair-raising tales of assaults, vandalism and other crime.Among other things, the letter asked the city to adopt all of the public safety and housing investments, including increasing the number of Community Service Officers (CSO), proposed in Mayor Jenny Durkan's 2022 budget.Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2021/10/07/business-civic-leaders-downtown-action.htmlSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

A Tacoma resident was sentenced to two years in prison Tuesday for setting fire outside the Seattle Police East Precinct during the CHOP occupation on Capitol Hill in June 2020.Isaiah Thomas Willoughby, who previously lived in Seattle, admitted he used gasoline to soak a debris pile outside the abandoned police precinct on June 12 and set it ablaze, as part of a plea agreement, according to a news release from Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa Gorman.The U.S. District Court in Seattle also imposed a three-year period of supervised release following the two-year sentence, according to the release.Surveillance video showed Willoughby, 36, lighting the fire and walking away. The fire, the U.S. attorney's office said, put some protesters who were camping in the area at risk and scorched the side of the police building before it was extinguished by other protesters.Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/crime/chop-protester-sentenced-2-years-in-prison-for-lighting-fire-outside-seattle-police-east-precinct/Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

Drivers heading south on U.S. Route 183 in Austin, Texas, have become familiar with a billboard urging city police officers to relocate to Spokane, Washington, to become deputy sheriffs and collect a $15,000 bonus. The Spokane County Sheriff's Office has targeted Texas' capital city, already in a personnel crunch as the homicide rate reached a record high, along with other jurisdictions that recently slashed police budgets. Amid the “defund the police” movement in 2020, the Austin City Council cut the police budget by about one-third and eventually lost 150 officers. In August, shortly before the city reached its all-time record for annual homicides, the council restored the funding. “Austin is an incredibly fast-growing city. So we have more people coming in. We are losing about 15 police officers a month,” Lars Trautman, national director of the Right on Crime program for the Austin-based think tank Texas Public Policy Foundation, told The Daily Signal. Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://www.dailysignal.com/2021/10/01/heres-what-happened-to-murder-rates-when-texas-capital-defunded-police/Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

The Seattle City Council on Monday unanimously voted in favor of a resolution supporting the decriminalization of psilocybin and other psychedelics.The resolution, which is nonbonding and serves only as a recommendation to the Seattle Police Department, declares "that the investigation, arrest, and prosecution of anyone engaging in entheogen-related activities should be among The City of Seattle's lowest law enforcement priorities." The council supports "full decriminalization of these activities."Psilocybin, or "shrooms," is a hallucinogenic drug that falls under the most restrictive Schedule I, which the U.S. federal government defines as "drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse."Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://www.foxnews.com/us/seattle-city-council-unanimously-supports-decriminalizing-psychedelic-mushroomsSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

Amazon.com Chief Executive Officer Andy Jassy is open to a reset in his company's sometimes-contentious relationship with Seattle, but made clear that he's hedging his bets with plans to expand in neighboring cities.The world's largest online retailer is by far the biggest private employer in Seattle with more than 50,000 workers. That distinction has proved a headache in recent years, with some residents and government officials blaming the company for exacerbating homelessness and traffic. “I'd say the last five years, the city council has become less enamored with business or with Amazon,” Jassy said during an event hosted by technology news site GeekWire. “It's just been rougher.”Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://www.seattletimes.com/business/amazon/amazon-ceo-citing-rougher-patch-with-seattle-looks-to-burbs/Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

Portland officials are rolling out a novel strategy to curb gun violence: traffic barrels.City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty has ordered the Portland Bureau of Transportation to install the traffic-calming devices across a six-block area in the Mt. Scott-Arleta neighborhood that has been plagued by shootings — some of which have been linked to high-speed drivers.In a statement, Hardesty admitted there is “no simple solution” to the shooting spike recorded here and nationwide. Gun violence is going up even as other types of crime are decreasing. Hardesty said that officials must bring an “all-hands-on-deck” creative mindset to combat the problem.Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://www.koin.com/news/portland/hardesty-barrels-to-calm-portland-high-speed-shootings/Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

Workers at a local Starbucks store said they feel like they are at the mercy of a man who has repeatedly threatened employees and customers, prompting managers to shutter the location for a few days because of safety concerns.According to Seattle police, the workers are worried the man who has been terrorizing them would once again be released from jail and return to the store at First Avenue and Pike Street to carry out his threats to kill them.The most recent incident occurred Friday at the normally busy Starbucks location.The 32-year-old suspect, who KOMO News is not naming, came into the store with a knife and made thrusting motions as he approached employees, according to a police report.Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://komonews.com/news/operation-crime-justice/police-say-repeat-offenders-threats-led-to-closure-of-starbucks-storeSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

Drivers heading south on U.S. Route 183 in Austin, Texas, have become familiar with a billboard urging city police officers to relocate to Spokane, Washington, to become deputy sheriffs and collect a $15,000 bonus. The Spokane County Sheriff's Office has targeted Texas' capital city, already in a personnel crunch as the homicide rate reached a record high, along with other jurisdictions that recently slashed police budgets. Amid the “defund the police” movement in 2020, the Austin City Council cut the police budget by about one-third and eventually lost 150 officers. In August, shortly before the city reached its all-time record for annual homicides, the council restored the funding. “Austin is an incredibly fast-growing city. So we have more people coming in. We are losing about 15 police officers a month,” Lars Trautman, national director of the Right on Crime program for the Austin-based think tank Texas Public Policy Foundation, told The Daily Signal. Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://www.dailysignal.com/2021/10/01/heres-what-happened-to-murder-rates-when-texas-capital-defunded-police/Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

The Seattle City Council on Monday unanimously voted in favor of a resolution supporting the decriminalization of psilocybin and other psychedelics.The resolution, which is nonbonding and serves only as a recommendation to the Seattle Police Department, declares "that the investigation, arrest, and prosecution of anyone engaging in entheogen-related activities should be among The City of Seattle's lowest law enforcement priorities." The council supports "full decriminalization of these activities."Psilocybin, or "shrooms," is a hallucinogenic drug that falls under the most restrictive Schedule I, which the U.S. federal government defines as "drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse."Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://www.foxnews.com/us/seattle-city-council-unanimously-supports-decriminalizing-psychedelic-mushroomsSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

Amazon.com Chief Executive Officer Andy Jassy is open to a reset in his company's sometimes-contentious relationship with Seattle, but made clear that he's hedging his bets with plans to expand in neighboring cities.The world's largest online retailer is by far the biggest private employer in Seattle with more than 50,000 workers. That distinction has proved a headache in recent years, with some residents and government officials blaming the company for exacerbating homelessness and traffic. “I'd say the last five years, the city council has become less enamored with business or with Amazon,” Jassy said during an event hosted by technology news site GeekWire. “It's just been rougher.”Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://www.seattletimes.com/business/amazon/amazon-ceo-citing-rougher-patch-with-seattle-looks-to-burbs/Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

Portland officials are rolling out a novel strategy to curb gun violence: traffic barrels.City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty has ordered the Portland Bureau of Transportation to install the traffic-calming devices across a six-block area in the Mt. Scott-Arleta neighborhood that has been plagued by shootings — some of which have been linked to high-speed drivers.In a statement, Hardesty admitted there is “no simple solution” to the shooting spike recorded here and nationwide. Gun violence is going up even as other types of crime are decreasing. Hardesty said that officials must bring an “all-hands-on-deck” creative mindset to combat the problem.Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://www.koin.com/news/portland/hardesty-barrels-to-calm-portland-high-speed-shootings/Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

Chinese property developer Fantasia Holdings failed to repay a $206 million bond payment due Monday, said the company, just two weeks after it said it had no liquidity issues.The missed payment adds to the already immense strain on China's real estate sector, which has been left exposed to the $305 billion credit crunch from property giant Evergrande, the most indebted company in the world.Fantasia is worth $415 million, reported Reuters, a drop in the ocean compared to Evergrande's crisis. But its bond default contributes to fears that an imminent major collapse in China's property market could destabilize the whole Chinese economy.Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/chinese-property-developer-fantasia-just-025112615.htmlSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

The Facebook whistleblower who leaked tens of thousands of pages of internal company research revealed her identity on "60 Minutes" on Sunday and clearly walked viewers through what she sees as the main problem with Facebook and the actions of its leadership.Her name is Frances Haugen, and she's a 37-year-old data scientist who formerly worked on Facebook's civic-integrity team combating misinformation, a group that was dissolved after the 2020 presidential election.Before Facebook, Haugen worked at Pinterest and Google. She has a degree in computer engineering and an MBA from Harvard.Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://news.yahoo.com/13-minute-video-facebook-whistleblower-143926894.htmlSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

Concerns over crime in downtown Seattle escalated sharply this week after Weyerhaeuser reportedly delayed its return to its Pioneer Square headquarters due to neighborhood safety issues.In an email to employees, Denise Merle, Weyerhaeuser's chief administration officer, said the timber company won't bring workers back to the offices overlooking Occidental Park without “significant and sustained improvements in neighborhood safety,” according to a media report Thursday.  Weyerhaeuser declined to confirm the message or comment on the matter.But Jon Scholes, president and CEO of the Downtown Seattle Association, said that during a conversation with Weyerhaeuser officials in mid-September, “it was certainly made clear to me that they have not made a decision to return and won't until they see some improvement to safety in the neighborhood.”Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://www.seattletimes.com/business/weyerhaeuser-cites-crime-in-pioneer-square-for-delay-in-reopening-its-seattle-headquarters/Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

Interim Seattle police Chief Adrian Diaz is urging department staff to get vaccinated ahead of the city's COVID-19 vaccination deadline for city workers, warning of a possible staffing challenge if they fail to do so.In a letter to staff Friday, Diaz said the agency has to assume it has hundreds of unvaccinated individuals based on current vaccination information submitted to the department.“This could create a disruption to unit of assignments,” Diaz wrote.The Seattle Police Department declined to provide figures on staffing levels and vaccination statuses of employees Friday.Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

Throwing darts is a classic pub game, but many Washingtonians prefer throwing something else: axes.Now the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board is aiming to toss new rules at businesses that mix alcohol with axes.At its recent meeting the board set the process in motion to develop new rules for liquor-licensed businesses that want to offer axe throwing as entertainment.“For the record, I'm not a fan of axe throwing,” said board chair David Postman.Nonetheless, he voted to go through with a rulemaking process known as CR-101. In this inquiry phase, the board is considering new rules to address safety concerns when allowing a high risk activity.“The CR-101 does not commit us to any action in the future,” Postman said. “It allows the process to keep going and would not harm the timeline if, in fact, we end up going forward with this.”Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://www.kuow.org/stories/state-drafting-new-rules-so-patrons-can-safely-throw-axes-and-drink-alcoholSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

Portland firefighters will soon have access to bulletproof vests while on the job.The decision was spurred by a “changing landscape” and more calls that increase the possibility of firefighters being involved with aggressive patients and bystanders, according to Portland Fire & Rescue spokesperson Terry Foster.Purchasing the vests was discussed by the agency's safety committee and supported by Fire Chief Sara Boone, Foster said.Many specifics still need to be worked out, such as when the vests will be worn, how many will be purchased and when they will be implemented.However, the decision is fully supported by the firefighters union, said Isaac McLennan, vice president of the Portland Fire Fighters' Association.Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2021/09/portland-firefighters-to-get-bulletproof-vests-as-risks-increase.htmlSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

Austin, Texas, police are urging the public to call 311 instead of 911 to report nonemergencies, authorities said.  Starting Friday, individuals in the city are asked to use 311 when reporting crimes that are either no longer in process, when the suspect is no longer on the scene, or when there is no immediate threat to life or property, according to the Austin Police Department. "Please understand, if somebody is in danger, we're still going to send a marked unit and a uniformed officer to go handle it," interim police chief Joseph Chacon explained Wednesday, according to KXAN-TV. "But for crimes that may have already happened and are now being reported, we are looking at alternative measures, and that's what we're working on now."Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://www.foxnews.com/us/austin-texas-police-non-emergenciesSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

The White House believes vaccine requirements for large private companies are still weeks away from being implemented, weeks after President Joe Biden announced the new mandates were coming.During a press briefing on Wednesday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the administration hopes to have "more detail" on the regulations "in the coming weeks."Asked if this signaled a delay in their rollout, Psaki said it didn't, and that an exact timeline had never been given."Maybe we should have been more specific at the time," she said. "Obviously it takes some time and we want to make sure when we put these out, they're clear, and they provide guidance necessary to businesses."Earlier this month, Biden announced stringent new vaccine rules for federal workers, large employers and health care staff in a sweeping attempt to contain the latest surge of Covid-19.Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/29/politics/vaccine-requirements-biden-administration/index.htmlSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

The Delta variant of Covid-19 is spreading across the United States, but stores and restaurants that people walk into on a daily basis aren't requiring vaccines for customers.Representatives for retailers and restaurants and HR consultants who work with companies say it's too risky for frontline staff to be put in the position of enforcing vaccine rules for customers. Half of the US population has been fully vaccinated, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and pockets of Americans remain resistant or fiercely opposed to getting the shots. There's also the risk that such requirements would alienate customers.Requiring customers to mask up throughout the pandemic has led to confrontations between customers who oppose mask wearing and store staff. Mandating vaccines would be even more challenging for businesses and jeopardize worker safety, industry trade groups say.Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/09/business/vaccine-mandates-retail-customers/index.htmlSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

YouTube will block all anti-vaccine content, moving beyond its ban on false information about the COVID vaccines to include content that contains misinformation about other approved vaccines, it said in a blog post on Wednesday.Examples of content that won't be allowed on YouTube include claims that the flu vaccine causes infertility and that the MMR shot, which protects against measles, mumps, and rubella, can cause autism, according to YouTube's policies.The online video company owned by Alphabet Inc (GOOGL.O) is also banning channels associated with several prominent anti-vaccine activists including Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Joseph Mercola, a YouTube spokesperson said.Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://www.reuters.com/technology/youtube-blocks-all-anti-vaccine-content-washington-post-2021-09-29/Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

Seattle Police says it was unable to respond Friday after security at the Capitol Hill-located Consulate of Mexico in Seattle called for assistance as protesters reportedly surrounded employees attempting to leave the Harvard Ave diplomatic facility. According to the SPD brief on the Friday incident, consulate security called for help around 4:15 PM saying 20-25 people were protesting outside the building. “Security staff said when they tried to evacuate the building consulate employees were surrounded and prevented from leaving,” the brief reads. SPD was not able to respond, according to the report, because there were “over 50 911 calls waiting and only a handful of patrol units available throughout the entire city” at the time of the incident. There was no information in the report about why the protest targeted the facility but there have been demonstrations around the world in solidarity with actions in Chiapas protesting Mexican president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. CHS reported here on the opening of the consulate in 2018.Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2021/09/911-spd-cant-help-at-mexican-consulate-protest-pike-pine-car-theft-reportedly-caught-on-twitter/Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

The racial gap in home appraisals is a real phenomenon, one that sabotages the wealth-building power of homeownership in Black and Latino neighborhoods, mortgage giant Freddie Mac said.The company released an analysis Monday showing that appraised values are more likely to fall short of the contract price for homes in census tracts with a higher share of Black and Latino households. The conclusion was based on Freddie Mac's examination of 12 million appraisals ordered for purchase transactions from 2015 to 2020.The appraisal gap matters because it creates a barrier for Black and Latino consumers hoping to buy homes.Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://www.seattletimes.com/business/real-estate/black-neighborhood-home-appraisal-gap-is-real-and-persistent-freddie-mac-reports/Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

Gov. Jay Inslee announced last week that he is extending a statewide eviction moratorium “bridge” period another month to Oct. 31. Meanwhile, landlord Don Cullen is trying to rally support and get the attention of lawmakers in the form of multiple full page ads in the Seattle Times.“In this particular ad, I'm trying to get the landlords to band together and refuse to rent anything in the month of October as a matter of protesting and showing what a necessity we are to the country,” he told KIRO Radio's Dori Monson Show. “My second part of the ad was to ask people that if they're selling anything, sell it to private owners, owner occupants, to shrink the rental pool, again to get the attention of the brainless politicians.”KIRO 7 TV reports that the ad in this week's paper was the second Cullen purchased, and that he is planning to purchase a third.One of his goals from the ads is to create a shortage of rental housing.Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://mynorthwest.com/3169559/landlord-takes-out-full-page-ad-refuse-to-rent/Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

Costco has joined Home Depot in renting its own container ships to prevent delays and keep costs down as the global shipping crisis rages on.In a call with analysts Thursday, Costco CFO Richard Galanti said the company had chartered three ships to import products from Asia to the US and Canada. This would help Costco avoid spending six times the normal price on shipping or containers through a third party, he said.Each ship could carry between 800 and 1,000 containers at a time, he said. The company had also leased "several thousand containers for use on these ships," he said.Costco expected to make about 10 deliveries over the next year using these ships, accounting for about 20% of its imports from Asia, he said.Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://sports.yahoo.com/costco-renting-3-container-ships-100115623.htmlSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

Voters have overwhelmingly backed a radical proposal to take properties away from some of Berlin's biggest landlords and put them into public ownership.Just over 56 percent of people voted in favour of a referendum calling on authorities in the German capital to expropriate flats and apartments from all landlords who own more than 3,000 properties. In total 1,749,923 valid votes were cast, with 1,034,709 votes in favour of the referendum's motion, and 715,214 cast against.Although the referendum is non-binding, it creates huge pressure on the state legislature in Berlin to act.Campaign group Deutsche Wohnen and Co Enteignen, which helped organise the referendum, said it could lead to up to 240,000 apartments being bought off mega landlords, which represents around 15 percent of Berlin's total housing stock.Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://www.vice.com/en/article/epnekk/berlin-backs-referendum-to-seize-properties-from-mega-landlordsSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

Seattle landlords will soon have to provide six months' notice of rent increases and, in some cases, pay tenants who move after a significant rent hike.The Seattle City Council approved two bills Monday, the latest in a series of new landlord-tenant regulations including bans on some evictions and the right to an attorney for low-income tenants facing eviction.Councilmember Kshama Sawant sponsored the proposals, saying they will help “to mitigate the harm that is going to be experienced by renters because of skyrocketing rents.”Landlords criticized the proposals, arguing they could push small-scale operators to sell their rentals.The council approved a bill requiring 180 days' notice of rent increases with a 7-1 vote. Landlords are currently required to give 60 days' notice for rent increases.Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/seattle-city-council-approves-requirement-for-six-months-notice-of-rent-increases/Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

Are companies like Zillow ZG, 3.21% and Redfin RDFN, 2.02% manipulating home prices by purchasing properties across the country? That's what one real-estate agent claims in a video that went viral on the social-media platform TikTok — but real-estate experts say the reality is much more complicated.In a video that's garnered more than 2.4 million views on TikTok, Nevada real-estate agent Sean Gotcher criticizes the “iBuying” business model, in which companies buy and sell homes for a profit. In the video, he proposes that a nameless company has a website where many people search for homes “when they're bored,” and he says that same company “uses that information to go into that ZIP code and start purchasing houses.”In other words, he's suggesting that companies such as Zillow are using the data they glean from people's perusal of home listings on their sites to make decisions about which houses to buy as iBuyers.Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://www.marketwatch.com/story/a-viral-tiktok-accuses-zillow-and-its-competitors-of-manipulating-the-housing-market-heres-whats-really-going-on-11632511943Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)

Are workplace vaccine mandates prompting some workers to quit rather than get a shot?A hospital in Lowville, New York, for instance, had to shut down its maternity ward when dozens of staffers left their jobs rather than get vaccinated. At least 125 workers at Indiana University Health resigned after refusing to take the vaccine.And a number of surveys have proven that as many as half of unvaccinated workers insist they would depart their jobs if pressured to get the shot, which has raised alarms among some that more mandates may result in an exodus of workers in lots of industries.Join your host Sean Reynolds, owner of Summit Properties NW, and Reynolds & Kline Appraisal as he takes a look at this developing topic.https://thehackposts.com/half-of-unvaccinated-workers-say-theyd-rather-quit-than-get-a-shot/Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/seattlerealestatepodcast)