As of late January 2026, HB 4136 is fresh off the press, sitting at the House Desk awaiting first reading. No committee assignment yet, no sponsors explicitlyListed on the overview, and no amendments. The full introduced text is available via PDF on OLIS, and the catchline spells it out clearly: the bill disallows the mortgage interest deduction for a residence that isn’t the taxpayer’s principal residence—unless the taxpayer is actively selling the property or has it on the

The 2026 legislative session is just getting underway, and House Bill 4123 has already landed on our radar. Introduced in late January 2026, this bill is titled "Relating to landlord disclosure of confidential information; prescribing an effective date." Its core purpose, as stated in the official catchline, is to limit the circumstances under which a landlord may disclose confidential tenant information...

I’ve gone through our Lobbyists' reports, pulled the official digests and introduced texts where available, and compiled neutral one-paragraph summaries for every single bill mentioned—no skipping, no combining. Some are direct hits for landlords, others more tangential for investors or the broader housing market, but you asked for the full rundown, so here it is....

If you've been keeping an eye on the local housing scene (and let's be real, who hasn't?), you've probably heard whispers about the City’s Portland Social Housing Study. It’s picking up steam, and as someone who’s been in the trenches with you all for years, I figured it’s time we chat about what this actually means for us private-market folks. Is it a game-changer? A potential headache? Or just another report that’ll gather dust? Let’s break it down together, with some real-

As we roll into 2026, things feel a bit uncertain. Back in September 2025, HUD withdrew its key 2020 guidance (FHEO-2020-01) on handling these requests. No replacement has dropped yet, so we're back to case-by-case evaluations under the core FHA rules. Oregon follows the federal lead here—no major state changes in 2025 or 2026—and Portland aligns too. The obligation to accommodate remains firm, but the old checklists are gone. My advice? When in doubt, approve and manage the

In December 2025, Governor Kotek unveiled her "Prosperity Roadmap," a plan aimed at accelerating economic growth, creating good-paying jobs, and making Oregon more attractive to businesses. A key part of that roadmap is the newly formed Oregon Prosperity Council, an advisory group of 16 business, labor, and industry leaders tasked with providing recommendations on short- and long-term strategies. The council held its first meeting just recently, and they're set to deliver a r

But here's something that's got a buzz going among us providers: ideas for HUD reforms that could shake things up, including one that directly eyes rent control. Our friends at the National Real Estate Investors Association (NREIA) shared a legislative update highlighting a bunch of these concepts—things aimed at making subsidized housing more efficient, curbing abuse, and easing burdens on private landlords like you and me. They discussed these as potential changes that "cou

If you’ve been scrolling through industry news lately (or dodging panicked texts from colleagues), you’ve probably heard about Portland’s new ordinance banning algorithmic rent-setting software. Yes, the one that went after tools like RealPage and similar “AI-powered” pricing platforms. As of January 2026, it’s in full effect, and enforcement has already begun. Don’t worry—I’m not here to debate the politics. I’m here to help you stay compliant, keep your properties filled,

You've probably seen the headlines buzzing about President Trump's new executive order targeting big institutional investors in the single-family home market. Signed just a couple days ago on January 20, 2026, it's got everyone from first-time buyers to seasoned rental owners talking. Is this the game-changer that's going to level the playing field for us small-time folks? Or is it more smoke than fire?....

I've been poring over the latest previews from advocacy groups, caucuses, and business allies. Full bill drafts aren't public yet (that's normal for even-year sessions—no pre-filing), but the signals are coming in loud and clear. And folks, let's start with what I know keeps many of you up at night: the tenant advocacy side. Because honestly, that's where the biggest question marks—and potential surprises—lurk right now.... Click the link to read the full article

Why now? Well, late 2025 brought a big shift when HUD withdrew its key guidance document, FHEO-2020-01, on assessing assistance animal requests. That old notice spelled out pretty strict rules on what landlords could ask for in verification. With it gone, we've got more breathing room to dig into questionable requests—think those sketchy online ESA letters that seem to pop up overnight. But here's the big caveat, and I can't stress this enough: the core Fair Housing Act (FHA)

We're barely two weeks into 2026, and already one of the big changes from the 2025 legislative session is hitting us right where it hurts: the reliability of those fixed-term leases we all count on for steady cash flow. I'm talking about HB 2134, the new law that gives tenants a fresh way to end a fixed-term lease early—without penalties—if we issue a non-renewal or certain termination notice first...

Speaking of which, there's a draft bill floating around in Salem right now, LC 222, this big housing omnibus package from early January 2026. Most of it focuses on funding tweaks and permitting shortcuts, but one section caught my eye: new rules around Oregon natural disaster tenancy termination when a rental unit gets severely damaged or destroyed by events like wildfires or major storms...

You see, Sherwood isn't just sitting back while recent state housing laws chip away at local control. The city council, led by Mayor Tim Rosener, called this emergency vote to put two charter amendments on the ballot. These measures aim to push back against laws that streamline housing development by limiting public input and notifications. If they pass, Sherwood would mandate at least one public hearing and expanded notices for major residential projects, and reaffirm the ci

Thanks to House Bill 3522, which kicked in on January 1, property owners like you and me can now use the faster Forcible Entry and Detainer (FED) eviction process to boot out true squatters—often with just a 24-hour notice. Finally, a pro-landlord win in a state that's seen plenty of the opposite lately. It's like the legislature woke up and said, "Hey, property rights matter too." Don't get me wrong, I'm all for fair housing and good tenant relations, but when someone's ille

But here's something that just landed on January 1st: House Bill 3521, bringing some fresh rules around holding deposits for rental applications. Don't worry, I'm not here to scare you—think of this as a friendly heads-up from one landlord to another. These changes are manageable, and getting them right actually helps you run a smoother, more professional operation. Who knows, it might even weed out the flaky applicants faster! Let's break it down conversationally, because no

But for those properties in unincorporated Multnomah County—those spots outside Portland, Gresham, or other cities—the county steps in on health and safety enforcement. It's limited compared to the big state and city rules, but ignore it and you could face inspections, notices, and fines faster than you can say "habitability violation." Let's break it all down, with extra time on the county specifics since that's where a lot of you have questions.

If you rent to Housing Choice Voucher (HCV, better known as Section 8) holders through Home Forward, you've probably already seen the letter dated December 3, 2025, announcing a full pause on approving any rent increases effective on or after April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2027. Yeah, that's a full year with no bumps allowed, even on lease renewals.

That is not a rounding error. That is not “west-coast cities are struggling.” That is the collective verdict of ≈2,000 sophisticated investors, developers, lenders, and brokers who were asked, “Where would you put your money in 2026?” and almost everyone said anywhere but here.

Portland has launched a groundbreaking loan forgiveness program to convert vacant office buildings into housing. Learn eligibility requirements, incentives, and how to apply.