Friday Video Update

In this episode, Legal Hotline Lawyer Annie Fitzsimmons is joined by title officer Jake Mensinger to discuss an important but often overlooked topic: special tax classifications in preliminary title commitments. Whether you’re a listing broker or buyer’s agent, understanding how open space, agricultural, or timber classifications affect closing costs is critical to protecting your clients—and your transactions.

In this episode of our legal hotline series, Washington Realtors Legal Hotline Lawyer Annie Fitzsimmons is joined by title expert Jake Mensinger to unpack one of the most misunderstood parts of a real estate transaction: easements and encroachments in title commitments.

In this episode of “You Mean I Actually Have to Read the Title Commitment?”, Washington REALTORS® Legal Hotline Lawyer Annie Fitzsimmons teams up again with Jake Mensinger of First American Title to tackle a highly technical — but incredibly important — issue: insurable access to property, also known as ingress and egress.

In this episode of “You Mean I Have to Read the Title Commitment?”, Washington REALTORS® Legal Hotline Lawyer Annie Fitzsimmons is joined by Jake Mensinger from First American Title to explore a critical but often overlooked topic: Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs).

In this week’s video, Washington REALTORS® Legal Hotline Lawyer Annie Fitzsimmons breaks down the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) Clear Cooperation Policy and its recent amendments, alongside the Northwest MLS (NWMLS) listing policy. Both policies aim to ensure that residential listings receive broad exposure through the MLS, supporting fair housing laws and helping to eliminate discriminatory practices in real estate marketing.

April is Fair Housing Month—and in this powerful conversation, Sandy McKenzie, Chair of the DEA Committee at Washington REALTORS®, sits down with Adria Buchanan, Executive Director of the Fair Housing Center of Washington, to talk about what fair housing means today and why it’s still critically important.

Join us April 23-25, 2025, at Tulalip Resort Casino for the Washington REALTORS® Spring Conference! This is your opportunity to collaborate with fellow REALTORS®, share ideas, and contribute to the strategic direction of our industry.

This week, Annie Fitzsimmons, Washington Realtors Legal Hotline Lawyer, is back with another installment of the latest Legal Hotline series: “You Mean I Actually Have to Read the Title Commitment?” Jake Mensinger, Title Officer with First American Title Insurance Company, joins Annie as they discuss what Brokers need to look for and need to know when it comes to issues with the title commitments. This week: Monetary Encumbrances, figuring out what is owed.

Welcome to another installment of our Designated Broker Video Series: DBrief! Tune in today as WR's Government Affairs Director, Mary Hull-Drury, and our 2025 Washington REALTORS® president, John Blom, give you a rundown of the 2025 legislative session. Learn about where our association’s legislative priorities stand and where the opportunities exist as this biennium session enters its final month.

This week, we’re switching gears a bit as Mary Hull-Drury, your Washington REALTORS® Government Affairs Director, joins us for a Friday Government Affairs update. Listen in as Mary breaks down the 2025 Washington State Legislative session so far and what is coming up in the home stretch of session.

This week, Annie Fitzsimmons, Washington REALTORS® Legal Hotline lawyer, reiterates the fact that not only are brokers responsible for using the statewide form system, but the selection of specific forms within the statewide system is equally important, especially when you consider the fact that real estate brokers are held to the standard of care of a lawyer and that forms selection constitutes the practice of law in Washington state.

This week, Annie Fitzsimmons, Washington Realtors Legal Hotline Lawyer, is back with another installment of the latest Legal Hotline series: “You Mean I Actually Have to Read the Title Commitment?” Annie is joined by Jake Mensinger, A Title Officer with First American Title Insurance Company. Join them as they discuss what Brokers need to look for and need to know when it comes to issues with the title commitments. This week: Figuring out who holds the title if the title holder(s) are recently deceased.

This week, Annie Fitzsimmons, Washington Realtors Legal Hotline Lawyer, is back with another installment of the latest Legal Hotline series: “You Mean I Actually Have to Read the Title Commitment?” Annie is joined by Jake Mensinger, A Title Officer with First American Title Insurance Company. Join them as they discuss what Brokers need to look for and need to know when it comes to issues with the title commitments. This week: identifying who is the correct Fee Simple Holder of Title.

Check out Washington REALTORS®' current legislative efforts and achievements over the past few years, emphasizing our bipartisan approach to advancing housing and real estate policies.

Watch Washington REALTORS® Lobbyist Nick Streuli give testimony to the House – Housing Committee on House Bill 1022, Creating a Homes for Heroes program.

Watch Washington REALTORS® Commercial Government Affairs Director, Riley Benge give testimony to the House – Housing Committee on House Bill 1081, Establishing consumer protections for owners of solicited real estate.

Watch Washington REALTORS® Director of Public Policy, Bill Clarke give testimony to the Senate – Housing Committee on House Bill 5129, Concerning common interest communities.

Watch Washington REALTORS® Commercial Government Affairs Director, Riley Benge give testimony to the House – Housing Committee on House Bill 1217, Improving housing stability for tenants subject to the residential landlord-tenant act and the manufactured/mobile home landlord-tenant act by limiting rent and fee increases, requiring notice of rent and fee increases, limiting fees and deposits, establishing a landlord resource center and associated services, authorizing tenant lease termination, creating parity between lease types, and providing for attorney general enforcement.

Watch Washington REALTORS® Government Affairs Director Mary Hull-Drury give testimony to the House – Housing Committee on House Bill 1108, Creating a task force on housing cost driver analysis.

Watch Washington REALTORS® Director of Public Policy, Bill Clarke give testimony to the House – Housing Committee on House Bill 1096, Increasing housing options through lot splitting.