Multifamily NW

Get to know the MFNW team! Each month we are featuring a staff member or volunteer that makes Multifamily NW great. Meet the Natalie Osorio, our Financial Operations Manager. Natalie has been an integral part of the team since 2015.

Let's learn more about Natalie:
1. What is your favorite Multifamily NW event?
I enjoy the member BBQ’s. We get to mingle with members and it’s one of the least stressful events.

2. Which app do you rely on the most, either for fun or for work?
I heavily rely on Spotify at the moment. I need background music, but then I also have access to podcasts if I need to switch it up.

3. If you could swap roles with anyone in the organization for a day, who would it be?
No one. I like my role. Everyone else’s role is important, and they have more or less mastered their role and are good at it. Why ruin a good thing?

4. What’s your secret talent or hobby that most people at work don’t know about?
That’s a tough one! I’m great at so many things! LOL I am good at drawing/sketching, but I don’t like to do it. I’ve won art competitions so I’m decent.

5. If you could instantly become an expert in something, what would it be?
Knitting! I try to learn it now and then, but I find it quite difficult to pick up.

Who would you like to learn more about at MFNW?

Last Saturday, Gary Fisher, Valerie Mabie, and Laura Webb spent the day at the Oregon Paralyzed Veterans of America - OPVA TRI-STATE GOLD CUP GOLF TOURNAMENT at McNary Golf Club . Multifamily NW sponsored a hole supporting the organization's important work with our veterans. Thank you to the PVA Tri-State chapter for a fantastic event!

"It comes as Portland’s once-tight rental market has seen some loosening, with vacancies rising to 6.2 percent, according to Multifamily NW’s spring 2024 report.”

Glad to see more units coming on-line in Portland, however, significant regulatory and economic barriers remain. Our member HFO Investment Real Estate · Member of GREA points to high interest rates, labor shortages, and other challenges in this article as well.

After seven years, a multifamily building opens A project team has delivered the 126-unit Merx building in Northwest Portland after successfully navigating various challenges.

When the call goes out, our members step up. Thank you to everyone who came by Multifamily NW to donate blood to the American Red Cross Cascades Region. A huge thank you to the MFNW Service Committee and staff who organized this important event.

Summertime is when many donors are on vacation or have activities that keep them busy. It can be challenging for the American Red Cross to meet the need across the nation. MFNW members are honored to help our community. If you weren't able to make it today, please consider making a donation this month. Learn more at redcross.org/local/oregon.html

The Multifamily NW Service Committee is excited to welcome members who have signed up for tomorrow's (July 17) blood drive. Your contribution will help save lives this summer and help our community.

If you weren't able to grab one of tomorrow's donation times, you can still donate blood to the American Red Cross! This season the need is great. Those who come to give blood, July 1-31, 2024, will get a Fandango Movie Ticket by email – which they can use to see the big-screen thrill ride TWISTERS. Visit rcblood.org/Twisters for details.

There is still one spot available for tomorrow's drive, register today! https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=MFNW

Salem-Keizer area Multifamily NW members - Come join us at Minto-Brown Park in Salem on August 13th for some delicious BBQ, cold drinks, prizes and games for the whole family! Be sure to bring your donations of new school supplies to earn extra raffle tickets and support kids in the Salem-Keizer school district! There will be gift bags for the kids, face-painting artists, and shaved ice treats!
RSVP today https://www.multifamilynw.org/events/mwv-summer-bbq-2024
See you there!

The Multifamily NW Portland Charity Golf Tournament is one of our largest and most popular annual events. Every year, teams challenge each other on the greens and through their generosity. This year we saw a new level of dedication as golfers came out despite the triple digit weather. Langdon Farms Golf Club provided a beautiful backdrop to raise funds for three community organizations, a little networking, and a lot of friendly competition. This year the golf committee selected Kathy’s Place, Partners In Careers, and Share of Vancouver WA .

Learn more about their community work:
- sharevancouver.org/
- kathysplace.org/
- partnersincareers.org/

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all of our members, participants, volunteers, and sponsors who made this event a resounding success. Your generous support is the reason we are able to give and drive our advocacy efforts forward.

Come prepared and stay hydrated. The 2024 Multifamily Portland Charity Golf Tournament is going to be a hot one. We look forward to seeing everyone on the greens as we break records, in more ways than one.

The Multifamily NW Service Committee invites you to join us in saving lives this summer by donating blood. Make your appointment online and join us on July 17th at the MFNW office to make a donation and help the community.

Those who come to give blood, July 1-31, 2024, will get a Fandango Movie Ticket by email – which they can use to see the big-screen thrill ride TWISTERS. Visit rcblood.org/Twisters for details.

Register today! https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=MFNW

Happy Fourth of July from all of us at Multifamily NW. We hope your holiday is filled with wonderful time with family and friends, good food, and celebrations. Stay safe!

The Multifamily NW office will be closed Thursday, July 4th.

The summer's first hot spell will be here in a day or two. Many residents are not prepared and many people in the Pacific NW do not have air conditioning, but there are resources available. Check out the Multifamily NW blog to learn about cooling shelters, recommendations to beat the heat, signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, and more. Please share this important information with your communities.

Learn more at

https://www.multifamilynw.org/news/hot-weather-is-forecasted-this-week

Multifamily NW member Tom Brenneke explains why the addition of affordable housing buildings won't solve homelessness and how voters can help fund critical social services.

Thank you to Jim Redden and the Portland Tribune for shining a light on an often misunderstood piece of the housing puzzle. Read the full article -

Affordable housing won’t end homelessness: Portland developer sets the record straight Tom Brenneke wants Portland area residents to understand that government-supported affordable housing projects will not end homelessness.

We are very proud of our Multifamily NW team. They make everything run smoothly behind the scenes. Each month, we are going to highlight a team member or volunteer as an opportunity to get to know them better. This month we would like to introduce Valerie Mabie, MFNW Administrative Assistant. Valerie just celebrated her two year anniversary with the team and this year has taken on an expanded role in MFNW marketing.

Learn more about Valerie:

What is your favorite Multifamily NW event, and why? I love all golfing events. I love being outside, interacting with all the members, and driving the golf cart!

Which app do you rely on the most, either for fun or for work, and why? I would say Instagram, I am posting about my hobbies or horoscopes.

If you could swap roles with anyone in the organization for a day, who would it be and why? Events. I love seeing the process of all the hard work going into our events and seeing them come out so beautifully!

What’s your secret talent or hobby that most people at work don’t know about? I am a HUGE gamer! I spend my whole weekend gaming for 12+ hours a day.

If you could instantly become an expert in something, what would it be? I am stuck between gaming and calligraphy.

Who would you like to meet next?

74 bowlers making up 9 teams participated at the 2024 Mid-Willamette Valley Charity Bowling Tournament at AMF Firebird Lanes. Everybody had a fantastic time hitting pins and raising funds for the Paralyzed Veterans of America. Congratulations to Comcast for taking first place, the I&E Construction, Inc. team took second place, and Pg Long Floorcovering LLC rounded out the prizes taking third home.

Thank you to the MWV Council for coordinating the event, and to Tom Hurt, Executive Director of Paralyzed Veterans of America, for joining us.

Philadelphia Museum of Art was the perfect backdrop for the Apartmentalize 2024 Thursday Night Party. It was the perfect way to wrap up a busy day and to catch up with colleagues, especially our friends at Washington Multi-Family Housing Association .

National Apartment Association

We are wrapping up another incredible day at National Apartment Association's Apartmentalize 2024. Gary Fisher and Kristen Davies, hit the exhibitor floor to catch up on the newest trends and technology, as well as see some familiar faces. It is exciting to see so many members including - Pg Long Floorcovering LLC; The Liberty Group ; Cloudastructure; Engineered Floors; AppFolio; SWTCH; and BELFOR Property Restoration.

The Multifamily NW team headed to Philadelphia for an education packed week at the National Apartment Association's Apartmentalize 2024.

Members will spend time connecting with property management professionals from across the country, sharing ideas and information, participating in committee meetings, and attending classes lead by top industry leaders and inspirations speakers.

It has been a session filled day, but they were able to wind down this evening attending a party hosted by Pg Long Floorcovering LLC.

Joining the Multifamily NW team of Kristen Davies, Ericka Hargis, and Gary Fisher, are the 2024 Deborah Imse Apartmentalize Scholarship recipient, Heather Kelly from Legacy Property Management ; Brent Ellifritz, Randy Camat, Jon Girt and Matt Butenschoen from PG Long - Flooring | Cleaning | Restoration; Leah Sykes and Marcel Gesmundo from Andor Law; Tracey Stoppelmoor, Amanda Edwards, Lynda Sanchez, and Margo Rams from WPL ASSOCIATES.

Be sure to follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram to be part of the experience!

Yet another example of the need for improvements in local rent assistance programs. This put a vulnerable renter at risk of losing housing and put the property owner at risk of not being able to make mortgage payments. This story is common within our industry, yet is often dismissed when local media cover eviction trends.

https://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2024/06/readers-respond-public-agencies-share-blame-in-rent-assistance-woes.html

Happy Father's Day to our favorite fathers and father figures! Thank you for all of the lessons you have taught us, jokes you have shared, and advice you have given. We hope your day is full of laughs and joy.

Portland's apartment numbers are still well below where the city needs to be and there are grey skies on the horizon as construction slows. David Howard, director of RHC, was interviewed by Axios and shared, "Given the fact that financing has become more challenging over the past 12 to 18 months with rising interest rates, etc., developers may be more cautious [in these] markets."

https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2024/06/13/built-to-rent-home-construction

Salem area MFNW members, we are heading your way! Come join us Thursday, June 13th, for a friendly, but competitive charity bowling tournament!

Take a turn and support the Multifamily NW Foundation and the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA). Strike, spare, hit, or gutter ball, everyone is a winner by helping us raise money and awareness for these incredible programs.

Learn more and register at multifamilynw.org/events/salem-charity-bowling-tournament-2024

Multifamily NW board member Brent Ellifritz and Principle Property Management's Hillary Gammon made a trip to Greenhill Humane Society yesterday to drop off the first ever Spring Pet Drive donations and a $600 check. The SWV Service and Social Committees chose the organization as the benefactor of the SWV's spring social. Sarah Bouzad, community outreach director, and tour guide Herron, were incredibly grateful to receive the generous donations of our members. If you are considering adding a pet to your family, be sure to check out Greenhill Humane Society.

You can read more about this project at multifamilynw.org/news/swv-service-committee-celebrates-successful-spring-pet-drive-at-green-hill

Learn more about Greenhill Humane Society at green-hill.org/

Navigate your career path and learn how to map your future. Whether you are a rising star looking to advance your career in the property management industry or an established leader interested in sharing your knowledge and experience, this event is for you.

Join us Thursday, June 6th for our next ASPIRE Mixer and meet other professionals interested in developing personal skills and advance the property management industry.

RSVP https://www.multifamilynw.org/events/aspire-june24

Thank you to our event sponsors 1-800-Plumber + Air Pacific NW, Andor Law, and PuroClean Restoration Services !

The solution to housing instability will be increased investment in rent assistance, expanded education about these programs, and meaningfully addressing the root cause of rent increases: Soaring housing costs. Thank you to Alex Zielinski and OPB for covering this issue.

https://www.opb.org/article/2024/06/03/eviction-defense-programs-reach-few-multnomah-county-tenants-in-need-research-study/