The Importance of Equity in Historic Preservation /  by Lee McKnight

Thanks to the individuals behind the Anti-Racist Daily newsletter, we learned a little over a month ago that National Trust for Historic Preservation committed 3 million dollars in grants to help preserve, maintain, and build programming for Black American historical sites. In addition, the news this week that the Virginia Supreme Court affirmed the power of Governor Ralph Northam to have the statue of Robert E. Lee removed from Monument Avenue in Richmond reminded us of the influence public markers of history have in our communities and our country.

The people whose stories are documented and taught and the places preserved and heralded as important historical places inform our understanding of who we are as a people and a nation. With debates raging in school board meetings about critical race theory, it is important that we carefully consider the criteria used to decide what's valued, what is worthy of protection, and thus what is remembered.

The next time you see a name on a placard in a park or a designated historic site, take a moment to consider not only the story being told but why it's being told– who and what was included, and who and what was left out. In the meantime, if you want to learn more about Oregon's Black History, the Oregon Historical Society has information to share.

We are giving away copies of Clint Smith's book How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America to the first five people who write to tell us about their favorite historic monument>>

FHFA Waives Mortgage Refinancing Fee! /  by Lee McKnight

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In response to a pandemic-induced spike in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgage holders going into forbearance, the FHFA required those organizations to charge lenders a 50 basis point fee for any refinanced loans. That fee, of course, was passed on to borrowers.

The waiving of this fee is good news on two counts: it represents cost savings for lenders that will be passed along to borrowers, but it also means that the fee is no longer needed because many of the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac borrowers that were part of the spike are now out of mortgage forbearance.

Read the announcment>>

Where Can I Gaze Longingly at Old Homes? /  by Lee McKnight

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If you pretty much always feel like clicking through pictures of an old house would boost your mood, I've got the perfect link for you.

Circa scratches the itch to know how people live in homes built many decades ago and to know how much it costs to do so. They've even got categories (yes, they see you and your bed and breakfast dreams). You too can find out what you need to save before you can move into that stunning Greek Revival Fixer!

Dream old and big right here>>

Real Estate Love Letters Are Officially Illegal in Oregon /  by Lee McKnight

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Remember in our last newsletter when we answered someone's question about love letters that buyers might send to woo sellers in a competitive market? We frowned on the practice because of the potential risk to violate the principals of the federal Fair Housing Act by disclosing the kind of information that can lead to conscious or subconscious bias.

And now buyer love letters are prohibited by law in the state of Oregon.

Learn more here>>

Who All Is Moving to Portland? /  by Lee McKnight

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Maybe you've noticed more out of state license plates on cars in the ever-increasing traffic around town? Or you are in the market to buy a house and noticing how much real estate is going for over the asking price, sometimes to a cash offer.

United Van Lines condusts a movers study each year and shares state by state migration patterns. According to their survey results, we were the third most moved to state in 2020. You can dig into the data a little bit to get a sense for what is making Oregon appealing, and to see the ages and incomes of those coming and going.

As always, please reach out if this raises questions>>