Summer 2025 - Message From The President
Fellow REALTORS®,
Every quarter I look forward to opening the pages of our magazine and seeing the talent, tenacity, and heart that run through our organization. This edition is no exception. From the profiles of rising stars like Olivia Statham, Kyle Maple, Haydn Halsted, and Bella Chaffey Lakic to the deep dive on middle-housing rules reshaping our market, the stories here remind us why our profession matters—and why Washington REALTORS® is more than just a pin on your lapel.
We’ve just come through one of the most challenging legislative sessions in memory. Yes, statewide rent control passed despite our efforts, but your advocacy stopped a cascade of new taxes on brokerage services and helped move forward a slate of housing-supply bills that will open the door to more ownership opportunities for our clients. The fights in Olympia are rarely easy, yet time and again your calls, emails, and personal testimony tip the scales. I can’t thank you enough for standing shoulder to shoulder with our Government Affairs team.
That spirit of commitment is captured perfectly in the closing feature, “We Give a &!#%.” The headline may raise an eyebrow, but the sentiment is spot-on. We give a &!#% about your voice—so we lobby every day to protect independent-contractor status and promote housing affordability. We give a &!#% about your success—so we invest in first-class education, legal resources, and business tools. And we give a &!#% about integrity—so we hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards, ensuring the REALTOR® brand remains the gold standard for professionalism.
My challenge to each of you is simple: engage. Read the policy briefs, share your expertise on committees, tap the Legal Hotline before a small issue becomes a costly one, and invite a newer broker to coffee and mentorship. When we all lean in, our collective impact multiplies.
Thank you for the trust you place in this association and in me as your president. Together, let’s keep showing Washington that REALTORS® don’t just talk—we turn passion into action.
In partnership and with gratitude,
John Blom
2025 WR President