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The Homeownership Chronicle |
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Homeownership Unit springs forward: Legislative, programmatic and staff updates
Session updates
Cliff Cawthon, the Homeownership Unit’s policy manager, shares his reflection on this year’s legislative session:
This legislative session moved the needle forward for homeownership despite ongoing budgetary and political challenges. The supplemental capital budget received an additional investment of $55 million for competitive homeownership funding, in addition to millions in direct appropriations for projects across the state. Commerce is working on the upcoming Housing Trust Fund (HTF) competitive funding Notice of Funding Availability for both the traditional and tribal funding rounds.
In addition to the HTF investments, the HOU successfully proposed competitive funding for manufactured housing preservation and infrastructure support. The Legislature also passed several bills focused on easing the housing crisis, including Chapter 233, Laws of 2026 (House Bill 1974), which authorizes the creation of land-banking authorities; Chapter 143, Laws of 2026 (HB 2523), which provides support for the Community Reinvestment Program; and Chapter 57, Laws of 2026 (Senate Bill 6091), which fosters transparency in the housing market by prohibiting homes from only being listed on private listing networks. Heading into the 2027 legislative session, HOU is working with subject-matter experts to identify how barriers to affordable homeownership opportunities can be eliminated to speed up the production of housing.
Commerce joins Habitat for Humanity luncheon
New staff and promotions
David Brocious (they/them) joined Commerce on Feb. 17 as the new homeownership support program specialist in the Foreclosure Fairness Program and Manufactured Housing Program. |
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Angela Snow (she/her) was promoted to capital programs investment manager in March. |
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Program spotlight: Compliance
The Homeownership Unit recently established a dedicated compliance and monitoring team to support our growing portfolio of investments. The team includes Becca Satterlund, Daniel Song and Jason Davidson. We are reviewing and aligning existing compliance monitoring procedures, defining roles and responsibilities for providing technical assistance, analyzing contractor reporting, and resolving non-compliance issues.
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Staff spotlight
Cristy Kraus
Pronouns: She/Her
Title: Contracts Specialist
Time (years with Commerce): 3.5 years.
Can you tell us a bit about your career journey?
The majority of my career has been spent in the title and escrow industry. I also spent time working for an appraiser and a custom home builder.
When you are not working, how do you like to spend your time?
In my downtime, I enjoy traveling to Mexico with my family. I love exploring the Pacific Northwest and can usually be found watching several baseball games during the season. I try to attend a few concerts a year as well.
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Timi Harris-Leach
Pronouns: She/Her
Title: Program Manager
Time (years with Commerce): 4 years
Can you tell us a bit about your career journey?
I came to Commerce after nearly a decade in real estate, and while I had a successful career, I was wholly unfulfilled in the work. Having spent much of my early career specializing in first time homebuyers, it was getting harder and harder to watch the market become so unaffordable for people entering the homeownership market. After much soul searching, I decided to take a few months off work entirely and re-evaluate what I wanted the rest of my working life to look like. When I found Commerce and the Housing Division specifically, I was shocked to see the many ways we touch the housing market, and I knew this was where I wanted to be.
When you are not working, how do you like to spend your time?
On a boat in the sun! Playing in the dirt, digging clams, crabbing, creating new herbal potions, lapidary, jewelry design … I have too many “likes” to pick just one thing.
What is one piece of advice you would give yourself starting out in this field?
To expect the unexpected. This is definitely a field where even the best laid plans are subject to change.
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News and upcoming events
Capital Programs
Capital Programs is gearing up for the 2026 Housing Trust Fund (HTF) competitive funding round and tribal HTF competitive funding rounds. The team will hold a series of webinars and round table discussions over the summer. Stay tuned for more information on the upcoming Notice of Funding Availability.
The Community Reinvestment Project recently finished reviewing applications for the 2025 Notice of Funding Opportunity. Awardees will be announced soon. You can find more information online.
Foreclosure Prevention
The Foreclosure Team is implementing Chapter 156, Laws of 2026 (SSB 5938), which included amendments to clarify certain aspects of the Foreclosure Prevention Fee. The fee takes effect on June 11.
The Foreclosure Prevention Fee is an $80 charge on each residential mortgage loan related to property within Washington, whether or not it originated within Washington state.
SSB 5938 amends the existing exemption and creates additional exemptions to the fee. Official guidance will be shared in the coming weeks and will be available on our website.
HOU joins celebration for new homes
HOU team members Jay Chand, Bekah LoBalbo and Whitney Raines attended the ribbon cutting for Homestead Community Land Trust’s new Woodland View condominium community in Seattle.
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