Housing Issues Briefing Connects State Policy, Local Market Trends, and Future Growth
The Chamber’s annual Housing Issues Briefing, presented in partnership with the Mason County Association of REALTORS®, brought together business leaders, housing professionals, policymakers, and community members for a closer look at the policies, market conditions, and development activity shaping housing in Mason County. The annual program provides an opportunity to connect perspectives from across the community around one of the issues most directly affecting the county’s future growth and vitality.
Housing availability and affordability affect far more than the real estate market. They influence workforce recruitment and retention, economic development, infrastructure planning, and the ability of employers to attract and keep workers. This year’s briefing connected statewide housing policy with local market data, helping attendees better understand the factors influencing housing supply, growth, and future development throughout Mason County.
Bill Clarke, Director of Public Policy for Washington REALTORS®, opened the program with an overview of housing policy developments in Olympia. As an attorney and lobbyist, Clarke works on legislative and regulatory issues affecting real estate and property ownership across Washington. His background includes serving as a member and chair of Washington’s Pollution Control and Shorelines Hearings Boards, bringing extensive experience in public policy, land use, and regulation.
Clarke explained that housing has become one of the Legislature’s most significant issues in recent years as affordability and housing supply challenges have expanded beyond major metropolitan areas and increasingly affect communities across Washington, including rural counties.
Clarke reviewed housing-related measures adopted since 2021, including legislation related to accessory dwelling units (ADUs), middle housing, permit streamlining, condominium construction, and residential development in commercial areas. With many of these policies now moving into implementation, he suggested the Legislature may shift its attention from additional land-use mandates toward evaluating how recent policies are working at the local level.
Clarke also explored the balance between state direction and local decision-making, the availability of land within urban growth areas, and the need to expand homeownership opportunities alongside rental housing. Looking toward the 2027 legislative session, Clarke identified several priorities for Washington REALTORS®, including down-payment assistance, permitting costs and timelines, wildfire-related insurance concerns, and greater transparency in real estate transactions. He also discussed the potential creation of a statewide Department of Housing, emphasizing that its value would depend on whether it could meaningfully improve housing supply and affordability.
Following the statewide policy update, Andy Conklin, a REALTOR® with Windermere Real Estate/Himlie, Inc. and a fifth-generation Mason County resident, provided a detailed look at the Mason County housing market and its position within the region. With more than 30 years of real estate experience spanning residential properties, land, waterfront homes, investment properties, and commercial real estate, Conklin brings a deep understanding of Mason County’s market. He also holds the Certified Residential Specialist designation.
Conklin reported 397 active residential listings in Mason County in September 2026, compared with 307 in 2024 and 388 in September 2025. With 97 sales closed during the month, the county had approximately 4.1 months of inventory, up from roughly three months two years earlier. He noted that, while inventory has increased, homes that sold in September spent an average of just 34 days on the market, illustrating the differences between properties attracting buyers and those remaining available for longer periods.
Conklin also examined housing prices across Mason County’s various market areas, highlighting significant differences between communities. The countywide median home sale price was $424,000, with median prices ranging from approximately $345,000 in the Hoodsport/Lake Cushman area to $555,000 along the south shore of Hood Canal. The NWLMLS market area encompassing Shelton had a median sale price of approximately $375,000. While Mason County’s median sale price remains below those of several neighboring counties, affordability continues to be challenged by mortgage interest rates and household incomes. That pricing difference also makes Mason County attractive to buyers seeking housing options they may no longer be able to afford in surrounding markets.
Following significant price increases experienced during the pandemic-era housing market, Conklin noted that Mason County home values have remained relatively stable since 2022. He also reviewed trends in waterfront, recreational, and luxury properties, which experienced particularly sharp appreciation during the pandemic before settling into a more uneven market. Higher-end sales remain active, with 38 homes selling for more than $1 million through Q3 of 2026, compared with 33 during all of 2025.
The briefing concluded with updates on residential development activity currently underway throughout Mason County.
Within the City of Shelton, several residential developments collectively represent approximately 1,102 proposed housing units or lots in various stages of planning, approval, and construction.
Attendees also heard about longer-term development concepts in the Olympic Heights and Alpine Ridge area. The developer’s broader vision could eventually include approximately 1,200 to 1,600 residential lots, along with multifamily housing, a future school site, and commercial development. While those plans remain long-term in nature, they provide a glimpse into the scale of future residential growth being considered in Shelton.
Additional updates highlighted development activity elsewhere in Mason County, including a 99-lot single-family subdivision in the Belfair Urban Growth Area that has received preliminary plat approval and a proposed four-phase subdivision consisting of 184 single-family units that is currently under review. County officials also noted that approximately 30 to 40 previously approved lots in Allen have yet to see construction activity.
The program also included a look at recent permitting trends. Mason County recorded 420 single-family residential permits in 2024 and 451 in 2025, with only 200 permits to date in 2026. The figures offer another indicator to watch as the local development market evolves.
Together, the presentations highlighted the connection between statewide housing policy, local market conditions, and Mason County’s development outlook. For employers, housing availability directly affects the ability to recruit and retain workers. For families, affordability influences where they can settle and build their futures. And for the broader community, residential growth brings opportunities alongside important questions about infrastructure, services, and long-term planning. As new developments move forward and recent state legislation continues to be implemented, housing will remain an important part of conversations about Mason County’s economic future.
The Chamber appreciates the partnership of Mason County Association of REALTORS® in presenting this annual briefing and thanks Northwest Multiple Listing Service for generously sponsoring the event.
Watch the full Housing Issues Briefing, recorded by MasonWebTV, online on YouTube. To learn more about the speakers and view the slides from the presentation, check out the resources below.
About our Speakers:
Bill Clarke
Bill Clarke serves as Director of Public Policy for Washington REALTORS®. An attorney and lobbyist based in Olympia, he works on legislative and regulatory issues affecting real estate, housing, land use, and property ownership across Washington state. Clarke previously served as both a member and chair of Washington’s Pollution Control and Shorelines Hearings Boards, bringing extensive experience at the intersection of public policy, environmental regulation, and growth management. He is a graduate of Whitman College and the University of Montana School of Law.
Andy Conklin
Andy Conklin is a REALTOR® with Windermere Real Estate/Himlie and a fifth-generation Mason County resident. With more than 30 years of experience in real estate, he has worked extensively throughout Mason County and the surrounding region, assisting buyers and sellers with residential properties, land, waterfront homes, investment properties, and commercial real estate. Andy holds the Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) designation and is widely recognized for his knowledge of the local market and long-standing connection to the community. Through decades of experience tracking market trends and development activity, he brings valuable insight into the factors shaping housing in Mason County today.
Email: conklin@hctc.com
Phone: (360) 481-0207