Economist Joe Cortright of City Observatory joins us to unpack the U.S. economy's slowing growth, Oregon's dependence on migration and trade, and the risks posed by costly infrastructure projects and volatile tax revenues.

Amy Vander Vliet, regional economist for the Oregon Employment Division, discussed Portland's economic status. The metro area's economy has experienced four phases: pandemic loss, recovery, stagnation, and some recent decline. Construction and manufacturing sectors have been the hardest hit. National trends, federal job losses, and migration policies influence the economy. Future challenges include uncertainty, tariffs, and immigration policies, which could impact employment and economic growth.

For today's episode, we will be discussing the Fall 2025 Multifamily NW Apartment Report. I will be summarizing the highlights from this year's report: where we've been, where we're heading, and what the numbers suggest about the state of multifamily housing across Oregon and Southwest Washington.

Today's episode takes a closer look at the ripple effects of the ongoing federal government shutdown here in Washington State—and specifically, how missed paychecks and halted programs are impacting renters and landlords in our region.

Isaac Jones, CPA with Perkins & Co., discusses the evolution and benefits of Opportunity Zones, highlighting the initial confusion caused by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and the subsequent impact of the pandemic. The new Opportunity Zone Act 3 (OZ 3) makes the program permanent, providing more clarity and certainty. Investors must recognize a capital gain within 180 days and invest in a Qualified Opportunity Fund. Key benefits include deferred tax on capital gains, potential reduction of gains recognized, and tax-free appreciation if held for over 10 years. The program incentivizes investment in low-income communities, with ground-up development or substantial rehabs being ideal projects.

In this episode, HFO Partner Greg Frick interviews Tom Rinehart, executive director of Oregon Smart growth. Oregon Smart Growth focuses on ways to help solve the state's housing supply crisis. The organization promotes solutions elected leaders, including Portland's mayor and the City Council.

In this episode, HFO Partner Greg Frick interviews Andrea Bell, the director of Oregon Housing and Community Services, who provides the latest update on what is happening at the agency charged with measuring accountability and statewide progress on Oregon's goal of building 36,000 housing units per year.

Our focus this week will be on the highlights, including vacancy and rent trends, new construction activity, and investor insights across the Portland metro, Willamette Valley , and Southwest Washington markets.

In today's episode we're diving into the Q3 2025 update for Washington's multifamily market by submarket. Whether you own a handful of units or manage thousands across the state, this episode is for you.

With office vacancies soaring, the idea of converting commercial buildings into housing sounds like a win-win—but is it feasible? In this video, Ezra Hammer unpacks the legal and logistical hurdles of office-to-residential conversions, from zoning and building code constraints to floorplate challenges and financing gaps. While popular in theory, conversions often face major headwinds—especially in cities like Portland where planning code changes lag market needs. Developers exploring adaptive reuse or value-add multifamily opportunities will find this discussion a must-watch primer on turning empty square footage into livable density.