Real estate investing can be fun and lucrative, either as a full time career or a casual investment strategy. The "get rich quick" schemes are more the subject of late-night infomercials than reality; real estate investing takes hard work, time, ingenuity, education and integrity. There are many creative approaches that we all use as real estate investors, but creativity should never cross the line of deception or anything less than completely ethical, legal business dealings.
As in any industry, we have our share of scammers and con artists. Our elected officials are likely doing everything they can to improve consumer protection and for that they should be applauded. They do, however, appear to be in the unenviable position of writing laws without knowledge of many of the ways that we real estate investors do business every day and the resultant benefit that we bring to neighborhoods and communities. Nor could they conceivably know that consumers lose by passage of many of these laws.
Our legislators have proposed, and in many cases passed, legislation that impacts all of us. Making our voices heard, including contacting our State Legislators by email and letter, along with attending public hearings, is vital to help us support and educate our lawmakers about what we do as real estate investors. These efforts are not just the responsibility of REIA; they are the responsibility of ALL OF US. Check back often, contact lawmakers, attend hearings and GET INVOLVED to keep real estate investing a viable industry in Washington State.
Updated information on changes, or proposed changes, in our State Legislature, Federal Government, law and rules will be updated on this website periodically. As always, consult your attorney for additional information about legislation, laws and rules and how they affect you and your business.
REIA was founded and is managed with ethical real estate investing as our foundation. As we all know, not all who profess to be "investors" do the same. It is up to us who invest legally and ethically to remain diligent in our business practices and moral obligations and do all that we can to make our industry shine.
Fox and Shirley Henderson
REIA Founders