News

Starting July 2019, there are three new laws to pay attention to in property management in Washington State: ESHB 1440, HB 1462 & ESSB 5600 ESHB 1440: Landlords must provide 60 days’ written notice of a rent increase. This had previously been 30 days. For more information, please click here: House Bill Report ESHB 1440…

In an effort to balance the budget, the Washington State Legislature submitted multiple bills related to tax increases and changes that would affect real estate. Capital Gains – A capital gain is realized when a capital asset, such as real estate, is sold or exchanged at a price higher than its basis. Basis is an…

Managing investment properties in the Pacific Northwest is like nowhere else on earth. With an average annual rainfall of more than four feet (!!!) here in Olympia each year, property and asset managers need to take full advantage of those dry days. When the rain finally stops in March, I mean April, ok let’s be…

The Rants Group is celebrating its 45th birthday not with a big blowout bash, but rather with a fresh rebranding and groundbreaking project befitting of its longevity and contribution to the community. The rebranding effort has refreshed the overall look and feel of the company’s logo, marketing materials, signage, website, and more. While sticking with…

2017 has been a wild and crazy year for weather & natural disasters – forest fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, flooding. With winter approaching, this a good time to review emergency preparedness at your home and office. It is not uncommon to lose power during winter storms – will you be ready? There is a wealth of…

Many people do not understand that there is a difference between zoning and the designated use of a property. When looking at buying a commercial property, one thing you want to look at is the Property Type listed by the jurisdiction that issues permits for the property. The easiest place to find that is on…

Winter is here and so is the risk of frozen pipes. As soon as thermometers drop into the freezing zone, the following tips will help you avoid unpleasant surprises that may come from broken water pipes on your property. Winters can be harsh on household plumbing so don’t forget to protect the water meter and…

We see it in the larger cities, but we are just starting to see the rise in the desire to live downtown in a more urban environment, here in Olympia. Downtown Olympia is positioning itself to be a prime spot for those eager to live a more urban lifestyle. The demand for housing in downtown…

The New Gold Green Rush; Washington’s Pot Bubble In 2012, the voters of Washington State voted to decriminalize possession of marijuana, and in so doing paved the way for one of the largest growth industries our state has seen in a very long time. In addition to legalizing possession of pot, Initiative 502 also paved the way…

Give Downtown Olympia Another Look I have had people comment that they won’t go downtown because of the people and parking. Well, parking can be a challenge at times but the make-up of folks in downtown Olympia is changing, and downtown businesses are responding. The catalyst for the change is downtown housing. This is not…