HFO Multifamily Marketwatch for Oregon and SW Washington

This week: Oregon Housing and Community Services plans to open the first application round for the state's landlord reimbursement fund by the end of January; Oregon's unemployment rates rose for the first time since April; President Biden's stimulus plan includes $350 billion in aid to municipal governments.

This week: a Federal Judge in Washington State allows a statewide eviction moratorium to stand as a lawsuit against it moves forward; the Oregon legislature seeks ways to help renters and landlords as a potential eviction crisis looms.

This week: Oregon’s special legislative session will consider $200 million in relief funds for landlords and tenants; Moody’s Analytics estimates that renters nationwide could owe billions in back rent by next month.

This week: Oregon’s legislature undecided on a pandemic special session; Washington’s Governor announces COVID-19 restrictions to January 4, and The Atlantic publishes a piece predicting the future for cities in 2021 and beyond.

An Oregon support fund for landlords could begin accepting applications in January; counties in Washington State are distributing $120 million in federal rent assistance despite fears it will not be enough.

Oregon's unemployment rate has dropped to 6.9%, but legislators fear recent lockdowns could spur a new round of layoffs; the state of Oregon will provide free debris cleanup to all homes and businesses, including mobile home parks, in areas impacted by this year's fires; investors nationwide are buying up student housing from struggling universities and converting it into market rate units for young professionals.

Oregon Governor Kate Brown issues orders a pause for all Portland metro area counties; Planetizen reports on potential impacts of Biden win; federal unemployment benefits will expire at year end, and it appears unlikely that Congress will take action before then.

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler won re-election; Oregon Democrats maintain supermajorities in both legislative chambers; Washington Governor Inslee is re-elected, and CityLab reports the potential impacts of climate change are increasingly important for real estate investors.

This week: Oregon’s COVID-19 Emergency declaration is extended to January 2nd, 2021, the Portland area’s apartment sales have declined in 2020, but one analyst expects ongoing demand as Seattle-work-from-home employees move to Portland.

This week: Portland has seen mixed job news with tech and industrial sectors faring better than other industries; Rose city voters still place homelessness at the top of their list of concerns; experts call for electrifying all new building systems to help combat climate change.