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It’s not just about houses…. It’s really about people and community. In most cases the only time we think of a Realtor is when we need to buy or sell a home. What goes on in the background? Many Real Estate Agents belong to an organization called a Board of Realtors. Or in our case it is the Kitsap County Association of Realtors (KCAR).
One of the issues that is nearest to the heart of all Realtors is private property rights. As an organization; locally, statewide and nationally we work toward balancing the needs of government with the needs of property owners to use and enjoy their real property. Over the coming years you will hear about a Realtor program called “Quality of Life.” This is a national program designed to encourage that delicate balance and focuses on the following items: Preserving our Environment; Building Better Communities; Ensuring Economic Vitality; and Providing Housing Opportunities.
If these items are in balance we have a healthy, viable, sustainable community. Though “Quality of Life” is a national program it could have been written specifically for Kitsap. We have challenges on all 4 points. Lets spend a moment with that:
Preserving our Environment: Salmon is the hot issue and is very much apart of our culture and environment. Our environment is what sets Kitsap County apart from other parts of the country. If we don’t work to protect it in a common sense way we will loose one of our major attributes.
Building Better Communities: Infrastructure supports and sustains our quality of life by providing the framework for accommodating residential, commercial and industrial growth and facilitating economic development. This means an affordable and reliable ferry system as well as a safer, smoother drive over the Tacoma Narrows.
Ensuring Economic Vitality: Planning for economic development is necessary to ensure economic vitality, provide job opportunities, increase public revenues and enhance our quality of life. In Kitsap County we need to focus on providing new homes for business — developed, ready to go facilities that will support environmentally friendly business that will bring revenue to our community.
Providing Housing Opportunities: Every citizen should have affordable housing choices near where they work, shop and play.
For more information on the Realtor® Quality of Life program please contact the Kitsap County Association of Realtors at (360) 692-8852.
(Editor’s Note: Frank Wilson is the broker at Windermere Real Estate in Silverdale and is the 2001 President of the Kitsap County Association of Realtors.). | 
