Oregon Becomes First State with Statewide Rent Control

The Oregon House on this week approved new eviction protections and a first-in-the-nation statewide rent control policy. After the 35-25 vote, Senate Bill 608 now heads to a supportive Gov. Kate Brown after speeding through the Legislature with the backing of Democratic leaders in both houses. It will take effect as soon as she signs the bill.

With Brown’s signature, Oregon would become the first state to enact a statewide rent control program. In other states with rent control policies, cities enact and administer local programs. The bill would cap annual rent increases to 7 percent plus inflation throughout the state. It exempts new construction for 15 years, and landlords would be free to raise rent without any cap if renters leave of their own accord. Subsidized rent would also be exempt.

Backers characterized the bill as unlike the rent control policies common in some of the nation’s most expensive housing markets and dimly viewed by many economists. Studies have found those policies can be effective in reducing displacement of current tenants but result in a reduction in rental housing units and higher rents for new renters.

Democratic leaders have described their bill as an anti-price gouging measure that offers landlords and developers much more flexibility than policies elsewhere. But opponents said it would slow investment in housing, adding to the rental shortage that’s contributed to rising rents in the first place. The vote split mostly along party lines, with three Democrats breaking ranks to vote “no.” The bill would keep in place the state’s ban on cities implementing their own more restrictive rent control policies, which was passed by the Legislature in 1982 in response to several local rent control pushes.

Senate Bill 608 also would require most landlords to cite a cause, such as failure to pay rent or other lease violation, when evicting renters after the first year of tenancy. Some “landlord-based” for-cause evictions would be allowed, including the landlord moving in or a major renovation. In those cases, landlords would have to provide 90 days’ notice and pay one month’s rent to the tenant, though landlords with four or fewer units would be exempt from the payment.

In a hearing earlier this month, renters from across the state told lawmakers about how evictions and big rent hikes had affected them. Landlord groups had mixed views on the legislation, with some taking a neutral stance and others staunchly opposed. But many landlords told lawmakers they felt unfairly targeted by the bill. They said the bill could drive Oregon landlords out of the business, worsening the housing shortage.

Below are highlights of the most recent City of Portland ordinance as well as the proposed statewide House Bill 608:

A Successful 2019 Winter Coat Drive!

Thanks to everyone who came out to our 2019 Winter Coat Drive! Thanks to all of you, we left this year we left with the biggest haul we’ve ever had! This year we chose to donate to JOIN, a fantastic organization that strives to help Portland’s homeless community transition out of homelessness into permanent housing. We’d also like to give our thanks to Hopworks Urban Brewery for being our host. Check out a few photos from the event below as well as some photos from dropping off everything at JOIN this morning.

See you all next year!!

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Top Trends In Kitchen Remodel for 2019

Bathrooms, move aside — 2019 is the year of the kitchen!

HomeAdvisor’s Smart Home Strategist and Home Expert Dan DiClerico said homeowners (especially first-timers) in 2018 focused their renovation efforts on bathrooms to accommodate the needs of a growing family. But homeowners are now moving their attention to the kitchen, where they’re aiming to create an in-home oasis that reduces stress and boosts wellness.

“Wellness is going to be a huge theme for 2019,” DiClerico said. “Many people are living longer, healthier lives, and they’re looking to the kitchen to support those efforts.”

DiClerico says homeowners are creating their wellness retreats by purchasing appliances such as blenders and steam cookers, connecting indoor and outdoor spaces with sliding glass walls and playing with earthy tones such as blue and green to create an overall sense of calm.

“The more muted emerald greens, almost like an earthy green, are taking off too [alongside blue],” H-Millard. “I spoke to someone else about those colors, and they read as neutrals because we see them so much in nature, and they come across as very positive optimistic colors.”

“When we have times where we’re uncertain with political things or whatever may be happening, we have the opportunity to then change [those feelings] up with design,” she added.

A seller doesn’t have to do a full renovation, but statistics show that small upgrades in areas such as the kitchen or bathroom can help a home sell faster, and blue rooms (including kitchens) can boost a buyer’s bid by as much as $5,000.

Here’s how your seller can create a wellness wonderland that will have buyers in nirvana:

Create blended spaces with sliding glass walls
“For years it’s been about the great room, and we’re seeing the pendulum swing away from that,” DiClerico said. “So instead of connecting inward, I’m starting to see a connection with the outside.”

Homeowners can create a blended space by installing a sliding glass wall that connects the kitchen to an outdoor entertainment area, which increases the livable space and is sure to impress guests. Beyond the “wow” factor, DiClerico says the natural light can help regulate sleep cycles and improve moods.

Maximize food storage space with a column refrigerator
Column refrigerators, which allow you to pair any size refrigerator column with any size freezer column, have been popular at the luxury end of the market, and they are finally gaining market-wide popularity.

DiClerico says these refrigerators allow homeowners to maximize food storage based on their needs. Want to focus on eating more fresh foods? Choose a larger refrigerator column that can accommodate large quantities of fruits and veggies. Do you rely more on frozen options? Then, up the column size of your freezer. Easy peasy.

Create a serene scene with blues and greens
DiClerico and H-Millard say the all-white kitchen isn’t gone, but blues and greens are gradually taking over. H-Millard says homeowners are slathering their cabinets with denim, navy and washed-out blue hues and accenting them with ombre metal finishes, such as a gradient from brass to stainless, create a stunning visual.

If you need an extra bit of color, both experts say manufacturers are producing plenty of bold-colored stoves, fridges and accessories to punch up the space.

Use technology to create a fully-integrated space
H-Millard says homeowners are still obsessed with voice-activated technology, but they’re using the technology to help facilitate their wellness goals. Need to instantly wind down? H-Millard says homeowners can install voice-activated blinds and lights to instantly create a certain mood. “You can tell your blinds and lights to make it feel like 5 o’clock,” she said. “It’s really amazing.”

Furthermore, she says baby boomers, in particular, can use voice-activated lighting to help change the temperature of kitchen lights to help reduce glare and even boost their appetite.

“As you age, your eyes [process colors differently] so blue reads more as an aqua, and you see more yellow tones, so meat starts to look very unappetizing,” she said. “So we’re looking at warming up the space so that food looks appropriate and appetizing.”

What’s on the way out (sort of)
Marble, granite and stainless steel are losing their popularity, but they’re not gone just yet. Instead, homeowners are using quartz and black stainless steel, which are easier to maintain and keep clean.

“There’s always going to be a market for them,” DiClerico said.

(Inman)