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WHRC Partner Network Newsletter
Paving Pathways to Homeownership
| | This Month in Housing & Legislation | | For a short legislative session, it is sure jam-packed with bills related to our homeownership work. Here are a few that are on our radar at WHRC. Stay in the know and involved by looking out for our advocacy alerts and weighing in on bills this session! Additionally, we are members of the Housing Development Consortium (HDC), which has some great resources and alerts going out to network partners. We highly recommend signing up for HDC’s emails and following their legislative tracker as well the BHI policy framework. | |
HB 1464 (Support)
This bill concerns the need to regulate Home Equity Sharing Agreements, or HESAs. It has been reintroduced from last year and does not have a hearing scheduled yet this session. Several of our network partners have sounded the alarm about these financial agreements and the consumer protection concerns they raise. Recently UW, WSU, and the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions teamed up on a research study and report regarding HESAs. No companion bill in Senate.
Learn More
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HB 2445 (Support)
“Ending Probates for Profit.” This bill had a public hearing earlier this week on Jan 27 and is scheduled for executive session in the House Civil Rights/Judiciary Committee on Jan 30. This bill aims to put an end to “probates for profit” after the Attorney General’s office recently won a case against a group using probate law loopholes to seize control of about 200 estates.
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SB 5938 (Support)
A trailer bill for last year’s SB 5686 Foreclosure Fairness Program bill. Makes targeted, technical updates to ensure the policy operates smoothly, equitably, and exactly as intended, without creating unnecessary barriers for homebuyers. Would also result in a feasibility study for the creation of a homeowner assistance fund to support households facing foreclosure. Was pulled from Rules on Jan 28 and is now available for a floor vote. No companion bill in Senate.
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HB 1732/SB 5496 (Support)
“Preserving homeownership options by limiting excessive homebuying by certain entities.” Reintroduced from last year. Scheduled for executive session in Senate Ways and Means on Feb 3. No hearings have been scheduled.
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HB 2621/SB 6162 (Support)
Property tax reform bill that would expand and strengthen tax relief for homeowners who are most at risk of displacement. This bill had a hearing in the Senate Ways and Means Committee on Jan 22. In the House it has had a first reading and subsequently been referred to Finance.
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HB 2512/SB 6091 (Support)
“Prohibiting real estate brokers from marketing residential properties to an exclusive group of prospective buyers or real estate brokers.” Hidden home housing listings are exclusionary listings, and pose fair housing concerns. This bill would stop that practice. This bill had a public hearing in the Senate Housing Committee on Jan 23 and is scheduled for executive session there on Jan 30. It also had a hearing in the House Consumer Protection/Business Committee on Jan 28.
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HB 2153/SB 6167 (Oppose)
This bill would restrict homebuyers from combining/layering multiple state down payment assistance programs. Had a hearing in the Senate Housing Committee on Jan 28, with substantial “CON” sign-ins and testifiers. Housing Committee heard this bill at the end of the hearing. Does not have a hearing scheduled in the House.
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| | Welcome Our New Board Members | | We’re excited to welcome our new board members and grateful for the experience, leadership, and perspective they bring to WHRC. We look forward to working together to advance our mission and strengthen homeownership support across Washington State. | | With 25 years in the mortgage industry, Titus has built a career that goes beyond helping clients buy homes, specializing in supporting real estate professionals and fellow lenders in growing their businesses. Read More | | Garrett Kalt is the co-founder of People First Communications, where he helps housing nonprofits build sustainable support through people-centered storytelling and relationship-based fundraising. Read More | | Louis Howard has been an Ambassador in the Housing industry for over 25 years. Louis’s focus has been in the areas of development, homebuilding, commercial, marketing, affordable housing organizations, and promoting homeownership initiatives. Read More | | Heather Lyons is the Homeownership Services Director at Community Frameworks. Read More | | Emily Northup is a grants administrator with the Washington State Housing Finance Commission where she manages programs that support housing counseling services, prepurchase education, foreclosure prevention, and mortgage assistance to homeowners across the state. Read More | | Jacquelynne Sandoval is a local business owner and Realtor in the Spokane Area. She works with local organizations and nonprofits by teaching classes to help people achieve their goals of understanding budgeting and credit, first time home buying and benefits of community involvement within business. Read More | | Join us for two upcoming opportunities to connect and learn—the Washington State Affordable Homeownership Forum and the 2026 Tri-Cities Homeownership Fair. | | | | 2026 Tri-Cities Homeownership Fair | |
Mark your calendar! The upcoming 2026 Tri-Cities Homeownership Fair will be dedicated to connecting Tri-Cities–area residents with trusted homeownership programs, services, and industry professionals.
Interested in sponsoring or getting involved? Contact partnerships@homeownership-wa.org.
| | | | 2026 Washington State Affordable Homeownership Forum: Closer to Home | |
This year, we are intentionally taking our work closer to communities. We are centering the Washington State Affordable Homeownership Forum on real, meaningful engagement with homebuyers and homeowners across the state.
Join us for our interactive anchor event on Tue, June 2, from 9 AM - 2 PM live on Zoom, designed to ensure accessible, robust statewide participation.
Registration and full details coming soon—please save the date!
| | New Pages On Our Website! | | Check out these new website additions, designed to expand resources and better support the communities we serve across Washington. | |
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Spanish Resource Page
This dedicated resource page expands our website with Spanish-language resources to better support homebuyers and homeowners across Washington.
Explore Page
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Manufactured Housing Communities Page
This page highlights resources for manufactured housing communities and residents and includes FAQs to address common questions and concerns.
Explore Page
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Natural Disaster Preparedness Page
This new addition offers guidance and tools to help homeowners prepare for and respond to natural disasters.
Explore Page
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Our new virtual assistant, Holmes is now LIVE!
This interactive chatbot, available on all WHRC resource pages as a blue message icon, gives clients another way to access housing counseling information, referrals, and resources—especially for those who prefer not to call the hotline.
For our partners, the referral process stays the same: clients can either have their referral sent directly to your organization or receive it themselves to follow up independently. This soft launch is low impact, and both Holmes and the existing portal will remain operational as we monitor feedback and continue improving the experience. To check it out, visit our website at homeownership-wa.org and look for the message icon in the bottom right corner.
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Conversations like these are happening right now on Slack:
Slack member: "Question - I'm currently in the Homeownership Through a Racial Justice Lens training (fantastic BTW). I thought CHP was only for Pierce and King Counties, has it opened up to the whole state?"
Elizabeth: "Yes is is a statewide program and has been from inception!"
Slack member: "Dang, I was way off then! Thanks for the confirmation."
Elizabeth: "I think that is a common misunderstanding so I'm glad you mentioned it here - we need to get the word out!"
We want you to be part of conversations like these and more to help us grow our network and keep everyone informed. Sign up today!
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Housing counselors are a critical resource for helping families achieve and maintain housing stability as affordability challenges grow. See why this support matters and how to get involved.
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“Homeownership is getting further and further away from us." Read about advocates in Clark County as they advocated for change in Olympia this week.
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Commerce awards more than $63 million for affordable homeownership projects statewide. Find out more about their efforts and the push for additional funding and solutions to address the housing crisis.
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As households face persistent inflation, housing supply challenges, high borrowing costs, and more, American consumer confidence has dropped significantly. This decline reflects growing economic uncertainty across the country.
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Washington lawmakers are moving to close a probate loophole that allowed strangers to take control of hundreds of estates and sell homes for profit. Learn more about the proposed fix and efforts to better protect families and heirs.
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Does shared equity homeownership build assets? Shelterforce provides a helpful explainer in this FAQ.
Read More
| | | | WHRC Homebuyer Information Session (Spanish) | | Help aspiring homeowners statewide take the first step—invite them to join our homebuyer information session and start their journey to homeownership! | | Thur, Feb 5 | 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM | Online | | WHRC and BSF: Homeownership Services with a Racial Justice Lens Training | | Join us for a virtual training experience where you will learn about homeownership inequalities and explore a brave space of new homeownership opportunities! | | Mon, Feb 9 - Weds, Feb 11 | 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM | Online | | Join us at the BHI Partner Summit! This in-person convening brings together partners across the BHI network to connect, learn, and align around shared priorities for the year ahead. | | Tue, Feb 10 | 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM | Federal Way Performing Arts and Event Center (PAEC) | | WHRC Homebuyer Information Session (English) | | Help aspiring homeowners statewide take the first step—invite them to join our homebuyer information session and start their journey to homeownership! | | |
Thur, Feb 12 | 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM | Online
Thur, Feb 26 | 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Online
| | WHRC Homebuyer Information Session (English) | | Help aspiring homeowners statewide take the first step—invite them to join our homebuyer information session and start their journey to homeownership! | | |
Tue, Mar 3 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Online
Wed, Mar 18 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Online
| | WHRC Homebuyer Information Session (Spanish) | | Help aspiring homeowners statewide take the first step—invite them to join our homebuyer information session and start their journey to homeownership! | | Tue, Mar 10 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Online | | HDC 18th Annual Celebration of Affordable Housing | | This inspiring opportunity to recognize our collective accomplishments, hear from new leaders in the sector, and create the connections necessary to address the critical need for affordable housing in our region—all while supporting the HDC movement! | | Tue, Mar 31| 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM | Seattle Convention Center | | |
NCRC Just Economy Conference and Hill Day 2026
WHRC’s Elizabeth and Raquel are excited to attend this year's annual event. They’ll be joining affordable housing and homeownership advocates from across the country. Will you be joining us too?
| | Tue, Apr 14 – Thur, Apr 16 | Washington Hilton | Washington, D.C. | In-Person | | Educating and empowering current and future homeowners in Washington State. | | | | |
