Forget Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, I’ve got More Important Political Issues to Worry About…

Universal health care, immigration policy, federal taxes…don’t be fooled by the political rhetoric. As we approach the political season, be aware that the choices we collectively make in the Puget Sound region will affect your wallet even more than the upcoming Presidential election. Don’t get me wrong, all the issues just mentioned are important for their own reasons and some may very well affect your life, but as you pay attention to the national campaigns this political season, keep in mind your biggest financial asset – your home – may be affected by other chads which hang from your ballot as well. 

While Tim Eyman fights over $40 car tabs , I’m left wondering why more attention is not paid to issues affecting local real estate.  You do not have to look far to see the serious impact from past election cycles. While the populous argued about whether to build monorails, Ron Sims introduced and passed a county land use provision which severely limited how Eastside property owners could build on the land they already owned. While we discussed a replacement plan for the Alaskan Way Viaduct, a property tax freeze enacted as part of initiative 747 was overturned by the state surpreme court, requiring a special session of Congress to enact some reform to limit regional jurisdictions from broadly raising taxes well beyond the means of many individuals to pay. And now Governer Gregoire releases a proposal to convert Highway 520 and Interstate 90 into toll bridges, charging $6-$7 to cross.

As we head into the November Presidential election and passionately debate Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama, don’t forget that the decisions we make on the rest of the ballot can affect our lives and our pocketbooks just as much–or even more.  

What issues do you think are most likely to affect your life, your home, and the local Seattle housing market?