Seattle moves to block unwanted home buying pitches

The latest: An ordinance the City Council passed last week will create a citywide "Do Not Solicit" registry for homeowners who don't want to receive calls, texts, emails or mail from prospective buyers.

• Solicitors who contact homeowners on the registry can face civil fines of $1,000 for a first violation and $2,000 for subsequent violations within a year.
• The proposal draws on similar programs in New York and Philadelphia.

What they're saying: "I've heard from homeowners all across the city who describe feeling preyed upon by these incessant calls, texts, and mailings," Councilmember Dionne Foster, who sponsored the ordinance, said in a news release.

• Such tactics "push homeowners to sell their homes for less than they are worth," Foster said.
• That in turn contributes to the displacement of seniors, low-income people and those from marginalized communities, she added.

Case in point: Chukundi Salisbury Sr., executive director of Black Legacy Homeowners, told a City Council committee that many Black homeowners receive frequent lowball purchase offers, creating both anxiety and pressure to sell.

What's next: Should Mayor Wilson sign the ordinance as expected, the new rules are set to take effect next June.