Good urbanism should transcend politics. Socialists and capitalists can walk the same neighborhood and agree it's a pleasant place to live. They can each appreciate the tree canopy, the corner café with people spilling onto the sidewalk, the mix of ages on bikes and on foot, the architectural details of older buildings, and so on.
Ginsburg stated that treating builder business as a core pillar rather than a side channel reflects a broader industry shift. He believes a healthy balance of builders should be around 15% to 20% of the overall retail book of business.
One of the biggest takeaways is that from a national perspective, the largest investors account for a really small proportion of single-family home purchases and that share has decreased in recent years. So the ban is going to have less of a bite now than it would have had it been enacted a few years ago. It is attacking a trend that is already decreasing as opposed to one that is becoming increasingly part of the market.
During the fourth quarter of 2025, residential revenue was up 8% annually to $428 million, mortgage revenue rose 39% on a yearly basis to $57 million and the rentals sector recorded a 45% year-over-year increase in revenue. For the full year 2025, the residential sector generated $1.704 billion in revenue, up 7% annually, while the mortgage operation generated $199 million in revenue, up 37% compared to the year prior.
In December, Seattle dazzled with an active listing count of 1,566, showcasing an impressive 27.8% surge compared to the same month last year. This was more than double the national growth rate of 12.1%. The number of newly listed homes in Seattle edged up by 0.7% year-over-year, bucking the national decline of 1.8%. This significant rise in inventory unveiled a more balanced market, providing buyers with an enticing array of home selections.
Our top KW-affiliated agents tell me continually that real estate has always been a relationship business. What's changed is where those relationships are formed, nurtured and reinforced. Today, social media is one of the most powerful relationship platforms for building and sustaining relationships in real estate. But despite constant platform changes, algorithm updates and new tools, the agents and businesses seeing real growth aren't chasing shortcuts. They're building trust through each connection, which leads to scale.
As investors become more sophisticated and debt service coverage ratio (DSCR) lending continues to grow, the appraisal has moved from a back-office requirement to a central risk-control mechanism, especially for income-driven loans. STR income does not behave like traditional rental income; yet, it is often evaluated using tools and assumptions designed for long-term leases. When nightly pricing, seasonality, operational intensity and regulatory exposure enter the equation, the old appraisal playbook starts to break down.
