Chuck Slothower
@chuckslothower.bsky.social
Reporter and editor, Daily Journal of Commerce, Portland. Interested in housing, development, CRE, design, construction, public policy. Oregonian. Typing at my kitchen table.
Reposted by Chuck Slothower
The Federal Housing Finance Agency is increasing the size of home loans that the government can guarantee against default as it takes into account rising housing prices.
Federal agency boosts size of most single-family loans the government can guarantee to $832,750
The Federal Housing Finance Agency is increasing the size of home loans that the government can guarantee against default as it takes into account rising housing prices.
bit.ly
November 26, 2025 at 6:00 PM
The Federal Housing Finance Agency is increasing the size of home loans that the government can guarantee against default as it takes into account rising housing prices.
A proposal for a vampiric nightclub at Centennial Mills raises questions about a recently approved plan to build three new multifamily, mixed-use structures at the long-jilted waterfront property.
Vampire-themed nightclub proposed at Centennial Mills
A commercial project is proposed for an existing building at Centennial Mills in Northwest Portland, raising questions about the site's long-planned redevelopment.
djcoregon.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:04 AM
A proposal for a vampiric nightclub at Centennial Mills raises questions about a recently approved plan to build three new multifamily, mixed-use structures at the long-jilted waterfront property.
Reposted by Chuck Slothower
Good news: New data suggest that Portland's inclusionary zoning program is finally working as intended, after being fully funded in 2024 www.sightline.org/2025/11/25/p...
Portland’s Inclusionary Zoning Program Is Finally Performing, New Data Suggests | Sightline Institute
Because for the first time, the city fully funded it.
www.sightline.org
November 25, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Good news: New data suggest that Portland's inclusionary zoning program is finally working as intended, after being fully funded in 2024 www.sightline.org/2025/11/25/p...
Reposted by Chuck Slothower
Delistings Jump 28% as Sellers Pull Homes Off Market Rather Than Settle For Low Prices www.redfin.com/news/delisti...
Delistings Jump 28% as Sellers Pull Homes Off Market Rather Than Settle For Low Prices
The number of home listings that were pulled off the market rose to a historically high level in September. Delistings are also rising as a share of all listings: Nationwide, 5.5% of total listings we...
www.redfin.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Delistings Jump 28% as Sellers Pull Homes Off Market Rather Than Settle For Low Prices www.redfin.com/news/delisti...
Ah, yes, the biannual tradition of Phil Knight setting millions of dollars on fire trying to elect Republicans in Oregon.
Phil Knight has broken his own record for political spending.
Phil Knight Writes Record Check to Republican Legislative PAC
Nigel Jaquiss
www.wweek.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Ah, yes, the biannual tradition of Phil Knight setting millions of dollars on fire trying to elect Republicans in Oregon.
I said mayyybe
you're gonna be the one that saves meeee
you're gonna be the one that saves meeee
November 23, 2025 at 4:30 AM
I said mayyybe
you're gonna be the one that saves meeee
you're gonna be the one that saves meeee
The Portland City Council followed through with a ban on rent price-fixing algorithms Wednesday night. Large-scale landlords face heavy penalties if caught using them. djcoregon.com/news/2025/11...
Portland bans use of rental pricing algorithms
The Portland City Council on Wednesday passed a measure that bans corporate landlords from using rent-fixing price algorithms in the city. Regulated affordable housing is exempt.
djcoregon.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:00 PM
The Portland City Council followed through with a ban on rent price-fixing algorithms Wednesday night. Large-scale landlords face heavy penalties if caught using them. djcoregon.com/news/2025/11...
The $1.1 billion Hood River-White Salmon bridge replacement has won federal approval. djcoregon.com/news/2025/11...
Hood River–White Salmon bridge project wins federal OK
Federal officials approved the $1.12 billion Hood River–White Salmon Interstate Bridge replacement project, allowing final design and permitting to begin.
djcoregon.com
November 21, 2025 at 5:56 PM
The $1.1 billion Hood River-White Salmon bridge replacement has won federal approval. djcoregon.com/news/2025/11...
I agree with you that seniors buying multiple homes acts to crowd out younger home buyers, as do seniors downsizing and using their existing home equity to outcompete potential first-time buyers for smaller, more affordable homes. Great point by you.
Also your chart shows the median age of first time home buyers is 40. The median age for all buyers is driven up by people over 50 buying a second home and seniors selling their homes. This graph is not very useful in the discussion about affordability.
November 21, 2025 at 1:11 AM
I agree with you that seniors buying multiple homes acts to crowd out younger home buyers, as do seniors downsizing and using their existing home equity to outcompete potential first-time buyers for smaller, more affordable homes. Great point by you.
Put simply: The old people own all the homes. The young and, increasingly, middle-aged are forced to rent. First-time home buyers are at a record low proportion of all home buyers. The crisis, Will, is there's no way in if you don't already own a home.
www.nar.realtor/newsroom/fir...
www.nar.realtor/newsroom/fir...
In actual fact the share of income Americans spend on housing appears to be fairly stable over the medium term, a fact it is inconvenient to acknowledge on Bluesky because everyone will yell at you, but isn’t any less true because of that. Which gets us back to the whole “what’s the crisis” thing
Americans are exorbitantly wealthy & consume more than anybody else in the history of the world
and
an insane portion of that wealth is sucked up by housing costs, the recent explosion of which is absolutely due to longstanding policy issues but still constitutes an acute crisis worth addressing
and
an insane portion of that wealth is sucked up by housing costs, the recent explosion of which is absolutely due to longstanding policy issues but still constitutes an acute crisis worth addressing
November 20, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Put simply: The old people own all the homes. The young and, increasingly, middle-aged are forced to rent. First-time home buyers are at a record low proportion of all home buyers. The crisis, Will, is there's no way in if you don't already own a home.
www.nar.realtor/newsroom/fir...
www.nar.realtor/newsroom/fir...
The 1803 Fund, led by Rukaiyah Adams, is purchasing a series of properties in Albina. The former grain silos will be known as Albina Riverside, and the fund has also acquired several properties in the area known as The Low End.
November 20, 2025 at 10:14 PM
The 1803 Fund, led by Rukaiyah Adams, is purchasing a series of properties in Albina. The former grain silos will be known as Albina Riverside, and the fund has also acquired several properties in the area known as The Low End.
The @djcoregon.bsky.social is running an interesting house ad leaning into the human element.
November 20, 2025 at 9:46 PM
The @djcoregon.bsky.social is running an interesting house ad leaning into the human element.
This is really bad. TV news groups should not be firing anchors to please the White House.
Larry Ellison discussed axing CNN hosts with White House in takeover bid talks
Exclusive: Senior officials indicated favorability toward Paramount Skydance acquiring Warner Bros Discovery
www.theguardian.com
November 20, 2025 at 6:43 PM
This is really bad. TV news groups should not be firing anchors to please the White House.
The office vacancy rate in Portland is well over 30%.
November 20, 2025 at 12:07 AM
The office vacancy rate in Portland is well over 30%.
The $1.12 billion Hood River-White Salmon bridge replacement received its federal record of decision Tuesday. Story to come.
November 19, 2025 at 10:25 PM
The $1.12 billion Hood River-White Salmon bridge replacement received its federal record of decision Tuesday. Story to come.
Reposted by Chuck Slothower
No worse business in the world right now than a supplier for the residential construction industry:
November 19, 2025 at 7:50 PM
No worse business in the world right now than a supplier for the residential construction industry:
This is my primary concern with Waymo. In the end, it's more cars on the streets.
Almost half the Waymos on California streets are driving around empty. They're either waiting for the next customer or en route for a pickup.
If robotaxis scale, anything close to that level of deadheading would create crushing gridlock.
www.thedriverlessdigest.com/p/what-cpuc-...
If robotaxis scale, anything close to that level of deadheading would create crushing gridlock.
www.thedriverlessdigest.com/p/what-cpuc-...
November 19, 2025 at 7:27 PM
This is my primary concern with Waymo. In the end, it's more cars on the streets.
Sometimes the NYT's reflexive resort to horse-race journalism causes them to miss real underlying change.
The Epstein files are coming out not because Trump's grip is loosening. They're coming out because the more the public knows about their contents, hiding them has simply become indefensible.
The Epstein files are coming out not because Trump's grip is loosening. They're coming out because the more the public knows about their contents, hiding them has simply become indefensible.
November 18, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Sometimes the NYT's reflexive resort to horse-race journalism causes them to miss real underlying change.
The Epstein files are coming out not because Trump's grip is loosening. They're coming out because the more the public knows about their contents, hiding them has simply become indefensible.
The Epstein files are coming out not because Trump's grip is loosening. They're coming out because the more the public knows about their contents, hiding them has simply become indefensible.
Vega Pederson endorses the City Council's rent algorithm ban push as the council gets close to final passage.
I support a City of Portland ordinance prohibiting raising rents through algorithm-driven price fixing services. Protecting tenants from rent increases that do not take into account local, individual needs is a policy we need to decrease evictions, safeguard tenants, and promote fair competition.
November 18, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Vega Pederson endorses the City Council's rent algorithm ban push as the council gets close to final passage.
Reposted by Chuck Slothower
This is so cool. Love this for the kids and the building.
Nation’s oldest youth orchestra buys landmark Portland church
Central Lutheran Church members found a new steward for their architecturally significant building.
www.oregonlive.com
November 18, 2025 at 5:19 PM
This is so cool. Love this for the kids and the building.
Inside Portland Art Museum's $116 million Rothko Pavilion expansion. The museum reopens to the public on Nov. 20.
djcoregon.com/news/2025/11...
djcoregon.com/news/2025/11...
November 14, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Inside Portland Art Museum's $116 million Rothko Pavilion expansion. The museum reopens to the public on Nov. 20.
djcoregon.com/news/2025/11...
djcoregon.com/news/2025/11...
Portland's city council appears poised to ban algorithmic rent-fixing software. The proposed ban is backed by council President Angelita Morillo and other left-leaning City Council members.
djcoregon.com/news/2025/11...
djcoregon.com/news/2025/11...
Portland poised to ban use of algorithmic rent-fixing software
The City Council is considering a proposal to ban the use of rent-fixing software by major landlords in a bid to curb anticompetitive pricing and protect tenants.
djcoregon.com
November 14, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Portland's city council appears poised to ban algorithmic rent-fixing software. The proposed ban is backed by council President Angelita Morillo and other left-leaning City Council members.
djcoregon.com/news/2025/11...
djcoregon.com/news/2025/11...
Every now and then I think about this comic.
November 14, 2025 at 2:12 AM
Every now and then I think about this comic.
Journalist problem: That thing where I have one quote that's clearly the best in the story, and whether it should be the first or last quote. Who am I kidding? The good Lord smiles upon an excellent kicker.
November 14, 2025 at 12:28 AM
Journalist problem: That thing where I have one quote that's clearly the best in the story, and whether it should be the first or last quote. Who am I kidding? The good Lord smiles upon an excellent kicker.
A state layoff notice for Intel just hit my inbox: 669 people at four locations in Oregon.
November 13, 2025 at 11:50 PM
A state layoff notice for Intel just hit my inbox: 669 people at four locations in Oregon.