Friday Video Update

Watch Washington REALTORS® Government Affairs Director, Mary Hull-Drury, give testimony to the House Finance Committee on House Bill 2442, Concerning providing local governments tax resources and fund flexibility.

Watch Washington REALTORS® Lobbyist, Nick Streuli, give testimony to the House Committee on Housing on House Bill 2452, Modifying requirements for service of rent increase notices.

Watch Washington REALTORS® Director of Public Policy, Bill Clarke give testimony to the Senate Housing Committee on Senate Bill 5470, Establishing limitations on detached accessory dwelling units outside urban growth areas.

Watch Washington REALTORS® Government Affairs Director, Mary Hull-Drury, give testimony to the Senate Business, Trade & Economic Development Committee on Senate Bill 5928, Concerning wildfire risk models and score disclosure.

Watch Washington REALTORS® Government Affairs Director, Mary Hull-Drury, give testimony to the Senate Senate Committee on Housing on Senate Bill 6026, Concerning residential development in commercial and mixed-use zones.

2025 President John Blom shares an update on the Member Benefit Presidential Advisory Group's recommendations to the WR Executive Committee.

Buying or selling a home can get complicated when multiple sales depend on each other. In this episode of Legal Hotline, we answer a critical question: Which form should a buyer’s broker include when the buyer must close their own home sale before purchasing, and that sale is already pending, but contingent on yet another buyer’s home sale? Washington REALTORS® Legal Hotline attorney Annie Fitzsimmons breaks down: The difference between Form 22Q (Pending Sale Addendum) and Form 22B (Home Sale Contingency Addendum) • Why Form 22Q is the correct choice when the buyer’s sale is already pending • The risks sellers should consider when accepting contingent offers • Practical advice to help brokers guide their clients through complex transactions Members: Ask a question or explore more legal resources: Visit: warealtor.org, log in, and follow the links to the Legal Hotline Don't forget to share with other agents and subscribe!

In this episode of the Washington Realtors® Legal Hotline, we answer a key question: Can a seller require a buyer to obtain pre-qualification or pre-approval with a specific lender before granting a financing contingency? Learn why financing contingencies matter, how they protect both buyers and sellers, and what’s legally permissible when it comes to requiring lender involvement. We break down the difference between pre-qualification and underwriting pre-approval, and clarify how sellers can safeguard their transactions without violating the law. Whether you’re a broker, buyer, or seller, this video provides essential legal insights for navigating financing contingencies with confidence. Members: Ask a question or explore more legal resources: Visit: warealtor.org, log in, and follow the links to the Legal Hotline Don't forget to share with other agents and subscribe!

In this Washington REALTORS® Legal Hotline episode, we address one of the biggest misconceptions in real estate: whether a pre-approval means the buyer must use that lender. Discover how pre-approval letters fit into the financing process, why they don’t create binding commitments, and what happens if a buyer wants to finance with a different lender. Key takeaways: • Pre-approval letters are not contracts with lenders • When a new loan application counts as a lender “switch” • How the five-day financing contingency deadline applies • Why sellers who care about the lender must negotiate it • Best practices for brokers guiding clients through financing Members: Ask a question or explore more legal resources: Visit: warealtor.org, log in, and follow the links to the Legal Hotline Don't forget to share with other agents and subscribe! Starring Annie Fitzsimmons (WR's Legal Hotline Lawyer)

In this episode of Legal Hotline, Washington REALTORS® Legal Hotline Lawyer Annie Fitzsimmons unpacks a pivotal 2025 court case involving a downtown Seattle condominium. The decision reinforces and expands the long-standing agency law duty, requiring brokers to advise clients to consult experts in areas beyond the broker’s own expertise. Annie revisits the landmark Jackowski v. Borchelt decision. She shows how courts continue to interpret this duty, even when both the client and broker have similar knowledge of a potential issue. Learn how this obligation plays out in scenarios involving roof leaks, reserve studies, and common area defects in condo sales.

• How a buyer’s failure to include the required agreement can create legal uncertainty • The limits of your license authority—what is and isn’t your responsibility • How a misstep could lead to accidentally selling the home twice • Why your role in spotting issues and guiding clients to legal counsel is so important Brokers play a vital, front-line role in real estate transactions—but only a lawyer can interpret legal consequences. Learn how to navigate that boundary with confidence.

In this episode of the Legal Hotline, Washington REALTORS® Legal Hotline Lawyer Annie Fitzsimmons is joined by Mary Hull-Drury, Director of Government Affairs, to explain the recent changes to the Washington Residential Landlord-Tenant Act, most notably the newly enacted rent control policies.

In this episode of our latest legal hotline series, Washington REALTORS® Legal Hotline Lawyer Annie Fitzsimmons is joined by Jennifer Hohnstein, attorney at Williams Kastner, and Mary Hull-Drury, WR’s Government Affairs Director, to walk you through the correct legal process for delivering a rent increase notice under Washington’s updated Residential Landlord-Tenant Act.

In this episode of Washington REALTORS® Legal Hotline, Annie Fitzsimmons (WR Legal Hotline Lawyer) is joined by Jennifer Hohnstein (Attorney with Williams Kastner) and Mary Hall Drury (WR Government Affairs Director) to explore critical updates to Washington’s Residential Landlord-Tenant Act following the 2025 legislative session.

Join 2025 Washington REALTORS® President John Blom and Government Affairs Director Mary Hull-Drury as they break down the highlights of the 105-day legislative session. From major housing supply wins to new rent stabilization laws and tax developments, this episode delivers what broker-owners and designated brokers need to know.

In this episode of our Legal Hotline series, Washington REALTORS® Legal Hotline Lawyer Annie Fitzsimmons is joined by attorney Jennifer Hohnstein of Williams Kastner and Mary Hull-Drury, Director of Government Affairs, to unpack the major changes to the Washington Residential Landlord-Tenant Act enacted during the 2025 legislative session.

Learn why relying on the seller for disclosure isn’t enough, how to interpret deed of trust exceptions, and what steps to take when foreclosure is a factor in a transaction. This episode emphasizes the importance of timing, communication with title and escrow officers, and recognizing when to escalate issues to managing brokers or legal counsel.

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.