Oct 28, 2010

State Housing Finance Commission

Bill Hobson, executive director of the Downtown Emergency Service Center in Seattle, was award a lifetime achievement award by the state Housing Finance Commission. DESC, a nonprofit that serves Seattle's homeless, and Sea Mar Community Health Centers, which offers health and human services to diverse communities, also were honored. Cathie Griffith of ARC Spokane, Maureen Howard of Habitat for Humanity of Washington State, and Paul Lambros of Plymouth Housing Group in Seattle received achievement awards.

LIHI, Matrix Real Estate

Nova, a 15-unit townhouse project in South Seattle, has sold out. The Low Income Housing Institute developed Nova and Matrix Real Estate marketed the property. Buyers had to be first-time buyers and make no more than $55,000. The units cost $272,800. Matrix's Carrie DeBruler, an agent, and Steve Snider, a developer agent, worked with project partners to keep buyers' loans moving ahead. The units all sold in two months.

GVA Kidder Mathews

Marjorie O'Neill, vice president and corporate controller for GVA Kidder Mathews, earned her certified public accountant designation.

Jones Lang LaSalle

Real estate company Jones Lang LaSalle formed an alliance with a tax services company called Ryan to help clients manage real estate tax budgets, which usually comprise 4 percent to 6 percent of a company's overall real estate budget. Jones Lang LaSalle has a Seattle office.

Kinzer Real Estate Services

Kinzer Real Estate Services of Seattle has launched a new website: Kinzer.com. It includes case studies about some of the company's largest deals, including Starbuck's and Russell Investments headquarters, the Gates Foundation and Safeco Field.

Seattle King County Realtors

Forty volunteers from the Seattle King County Realtors participated in a work project at Seward Park in Seattle. They removed ivy and blackberries, and planted more than 400 native plants.

GMA conference Nov. 3-4

The 19th annual Growth Management Act Conference will be Nov. 3-4 at the state convention center in Seattle. The program will look at whether it's time for lawmakers to tweak or rewrite the landmark act. The conference is for attorneys, real estate professionals, government officials and others involved in development. Continuing education credits are available. Law Seminars International is the host. Register at lawseminars.com.

Hara to address rental housing group

The Rental Housing Association of Puget Sound said King County Assessor Lloyd Hara will talk to the group about property tax issues at 6 p.m. Nov. 4 at the Millionair Club, 2515 Western Ave., Seattle. Register at rha-ps.com, or e-mail hclausen@rha-ps.com or call (206) 905-0605.