BOLD Summit 2024 Recap

During a gathering of brokers and owners at an event dubbed 2024 BOLD Summit (Broker/Owner Leadership Discussion), the leadership of Seattle King County REALTORS® (SKCR), emphasized that the association remains dedicated to its mission and delivering results for members. Their message: “We are focused on getting the job done.”

President Michael Orbino stressed the three principles of his administration: transparency, accountability, and accessibility. He referred to his theme for the year: “Every member matters or no member matters.”

“My focus is always on the longer-term outlook,” he said, mentioning while “Realtors are really good at industry issues such as signage, our current biggest issue is public safety. We need Seattle . . . to succeed.” He commended Realtors who are serving in public office, on school boards, and in other aspects of community service.

Orbino also spoke on the recent litigation involving commissions and the NAR settlement. He acknowledged the sometimes-slow response of NAR, saying it could be frustrating but added the settlement amounted to around 8 cents on the dollar.

Joining SKCR President Orbino at the event, which drew nearly 90 association and industry leaders, were SKCR CEO Russ Hokanson, Washington REALTORS® (WR) CEO Nathan Gorton and state president Jeff Smart, Bellevue Councilmember Jared Nieuwenhuis, State Senator Mark Mullet of Issaquah (WR’s endorsed candidate for governor), and Dan Wingard, SKCR’s 2024 VP of Member Services and Communication, who emceed the event.

Hokanson told the audience the association is focused on three key pillars:

• Quality education
• Never ending advocacy for housing
• Building quality leadership for now and the future

“Our goal is to complement what you do,” he stated, noting six classes on Agency Representation have sold out. “Realtors want to be absolutely comfortable in their conversations with clients,” he reported. Other popular offerings have included classes on zoning and ADUs.

On the housing advocacy front, recent efforts around 2023’s “Year of Housing” drew national attention. Hokanson credits strategic partnerships with contributing to legislative successes and the “sea change” in City of Seattle elections.

Turning to fiscal integrity, SKCR’s CEO said while membership is down about 8.2%, the association planned on it. “We will weather the storm,” he assured the leaders. He also credited the foresight of previous boards, noting directors’ decision to purchase the SKCR building 19 years ago. A new anchor tenant recently signed a 10-year lease. A recent merger with the Kittitas Association of REALTORS® enabled a doubling of SKCR’s territory, prompting Hokanson to say, “We will continue to look for other growth opportunities.”

The next speaker, Nathan Gordon from WR, told the leaders the state association is “focused on things we can control,” such as stopping property tax increases, permit reform, and helping people add ADUs. They’re also working on messaging to news media to boost understanding of Realtors and what they do.

Gorton introduced Tri-Cities broker Jeff Smart who spoke on the “health and welfare” of WR. “While we are down in membership, we prepared for it, and we expect to come back stronger than ever,” he stated, adding nothing is being cut and dues won’t be raised. A recent video WR produced on “Top Takeaways from the NAR Settlement” surpassed 10,000 views in record time.

Bellevue Councilmember Nieuwenhuis gave a “State of the City” address, describing Bellevue as thriving, but not immune to nationwide impacts of concerns like inflation and the challenges of rapid growth. Nonetheless, 750 new businesses have recently launched in Bellevue, which is on pace to break a record.

He also briefed the audience on Bellevue’s affordable housing strategy consisting of five strategies and 21 actions to increase the availability and access to affordable housing over the next decade. Some goals have already been surpassed.

Crime continues to be a concern to elected officials and businesses. Nieuwenhuis spoke of the city’s strategic approach to reducing crime and its transparency dashboard. “Ninety percent of crimes committed in Bellevue are by people outside the city,” he stated.

The final speaker, gubernatorial candidate Mark Mullet, offered his perspective as a small business owner and father of six kids, and his anxiety on whether they’ll be able to afford to live here. “Getting more housing built is one area where Realtors and elected officials have aligned,” he commented. “Any bill that passes in Olympia that deters housing is a bad bill.”

Improving the permit process [for more housing] is a priority for Mullet. Another concern he highlighted was the inability of the Investment Board (of which he is a member) to invest in housing in our own state, calling that a “wake up call.”

Mullet said we’re also not getting public safety right in the state, blaming “silo thinking” as a big impediment. The state needs to be a better financial partner to cities, he believes citing $480 million collected in marijuana taxes las year, yet only $20 million has been shared.

To close the information-packed meeting, Wingard, one of SKCR’s VPs, reminded audience members “this is the place where we can make a difference.” He encouraged attendees to get engaged with the association. “We are leading the nation on how we do things.”