Lee McIntyre

Guest commentary:

Real estate market expectations after wildfires

Recovery to include strong competition, challenges due to insurance, permits, costs

August 27, 2026

Spokane’s tight real estate market is about to get even tighter. After years of underbuilding, the Spokane area fires destroyed 719 homes, a record for fire damage in Washington state.

Rethinking affordable housing in Spokane County

Building low-cost homes over apartments builds better lives

July 16, 2026

Lee McIntyre

Spokane County's housing crisis is now at a tipping point that demands bold thinking.

Single-family residential permit totals concern market leaders

Limited workforce housing, high costs, cash buyers are driving economic anxieties

April 23, 2026

Lee McIntyre

The housing crisis in the city of Spokane has now reached a dangerous level. The total number of permits for residential housing for 2025 was only 146. The last time we built that few homes was in 1970, around the time the Beatles were still a band.