The Fair Housing protections enforced by the federal agency of Housing and Urban Development have been expanded to include protections for those experiencing discrimination based on sexual orientatin and gender identity.
HUD is the first to follow President Biden's mandate that all federal agencies respond to a ruling by the Supreme Court last June that includes gender identity and sexual orientation in the civil rights law prohibiting sex discrimination.
The Oregon Climate Change Research Institute was comissioned by the state of Oregon to compile a climate assessment for our state. The report was released earlier this year and is a detailed analysis of the challenges we, and all of the members of our ecosystem, face on our current trajectory. While this information can be disheartening, we can't effectively address an issue that we do not fully understand.
Planning and acting in the best interest of future generations is difficult to do, especially when the challenges we face in our daily lives are also urgent and in need of our attention. Climate issues live at the intersection of economics and culture, we need only look at the history of the timber industry in Oregon–give OPB's Timber Wars podcast a listen–to remember that changes in policy and practice impact individual lives and communities deeply.
If the full report feels overwhelming, reviewing the executive summary will give you a sense of the biggest considerations we face as Oregonians.
For Conservation: Check Toilet for Leaks
The City of Portland has got you covered here with their handy tutorial for identifying a quietly leaking toilet. If you find out that yours is leaking, learn about what to do next here.
For Safety: Test Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Winter is high season for house fires. This is the season of the hearth whether that's a fireplace, candles or just your furnace. Spending more time at home means heavier use of appliances and electronics too. All of this adds up to greater risk making it more important than ever for smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to be in good working order. Follow instructions on your devices to test and, if you don't have any, now is the time to install them!
For Fun: Map Out Your Garden
Spring is coming! Maybe you've noticed crocuses pushing up through chilled soil or buds at the tips of all of the bare branches? Planning a garden or dreaming about what you'll plant in the pots that flank your front door is a great way to remind yourself that there are more colorful days ahead. There are many wonderful garden shops and in Portland and regional seed companies (Adaptive, Uprising and Siskiyou to name a few) that can help you get started.
People often talk about the hidden costs of home ownership. I'm not sure that the costs are truly hiding somewhere, they're just not wrapped into the listing price we see posted on the internet or even the big number on our mortgage loan documents.
In the same way that it's important to understand the terms–interest rates, annual fees, late fees–of any credit card you keep in your wallet, you want to be crystal clear on all of the costs associated with your home loan(s) including tax obligations and transaction fees for both purchase and sale of the property. Even if you're just refinancing or taking out a home equity loan as many people are inspired to do right now because of low interest rates, you want to be sure that you understand the tax implications of any financial rearranging.
This primer on the tax advantages and burdens of home ownership is a great way to get up to speed on current tax regulations related to homeownership.
As always, I'm here to answer questions. Just give a call!
Effective February 1, 2021, Multnomah County rescinded Ordinance 1287, also known as Multnomah County COVID-19 “Renter Protection Measures.” The county will now follow the statewide eviction moratorium guidelines, the details of which are outlined thoroughly here.
If you are a landlord, now is a great time to make sure that your tenants understand their rights and are aware of the actions they need to take to protect themselves (like documenting any failure to pay rent as a result of financial hardship).
As a landlord you may qualify for compensation for unpaid rent if your tenants have submitted documentation of their financial hardship in writing. This simple graphic outlines the process for landlord (and ultimatley tenant) compensation.
There are exemptions to the no cause eviction moratorium for certain circumstances which require specific notices and actions. If you have questions about selling your investment property, give us a call and we can point you in the right direction to make sure you adhere to the current laws.
Find up to date information for tenants and landlords here>>
The January stats aren't out yet, so we are left still staring at the December stats which paint a pretty grim picture for buyers and a rosy one for sellers. With record low months of inventory, hopefully the trend of new listings that I am seeing on the ground will continue and we will start to see a slow return to a more balanced market.
One trend of note is the higher appreciation in the suburban areas. As folks look to get more distance and have more land to recreate, entertain and socially distance, the typically red hot urban neighborhoods are taking a back seat to suburban and even rural areas.
The Love Portland Group | Cascade Hasson Sotheby's International Realty
Lee McKnight, Principal Broker | 1500 NE Irving, Suite 110 - Portland Oregon 97232
