The Northwest Multiple Listing Service plans to introduce new guidelines later this week which will allow homeowners to decide whether to allow blog posts and automated home valuations (like those from Zillow.com) next to online real estate listings, reports Kirsten Grind from the Puget Sound Business Journal. Grind notes that if an agent breaks the rules — and writes a nasty comment or offers an unflattering opinion of a home — they could be fined thousands of dollars.

Thinking about doing a weekly live-streamed call-in Seattle real estate podcast. Thoughts? Software suggestions? # Wow, that’s a lot of empty, anchored cargo ships: http://is.gd/3gKMA # Good thing about the “recession is over” nonsense: it makes it much less likely the misguided $8k homebuyer tax credit will be extended. # Interesting story about a Tacoma non-profit housing agency that went down while the director made six figures: http://is.gd/3iWb5 # via Mish: Boeing, Airli

Susan Feyder – Minneapolis Star Tribune The Minnetonka building was sold to an affiliate of CR Richard Ellis Realty Trust. Aug 23, 2009 St. Louis Park project caught in economy’s grip The Shops at West End in St. Louis Park was envisioned in superior times. Developers are struggling to fill IRS Issues Rules To Ease Mortgage Refinancing – BayInsider WASHINGTON — The IRS issued new rules Tuesday designed to make it easier to refinance some commercial real estate loans in an effort to curb t

The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency this week notified five Washington-based businesses that they will receive 2009 ENERGY STAR awards at a ceremony on March 31 in Washington, D. C. The energy conservation efforts of Advantage IQ, Kennedy Associates, Providence Health & Services, Puget Sound Energy and Seattle Lighting all received EPA national recognition. The EPA gives ENERGY STAR awards annually to organizations that have made outstanding contributions to protecting the environm

Thanks to PAX and the holiday weekend, our regular schedule is all messed up. So here’s the reporting roundup a couple days late. First up, an excerpt from the NWMLS press release: Northwest MLS brokers report brisk activity, multiple offers, “irrational delays” by lenders Pending sales around Western Washington during August jumped nearly 21 percent from a year ago and inventory dropped more than 18 percent, according to new figures from Northwest Multiple Listing Service. MLS member-br