Senior Economist and Director of Housing and Commercial Research at the National Association of REALTORS^® Gay Cororaton, CBE, and Dr. Michael Wilkerson, partner and director of analytics with ECONorthwest, addressed economic and housing supply policy. Policies impacting housing supply at the local level were tackled during a panel discussion with City of Tigard’s Community Development Director Kenny Asher and Sightline Institute’s Senior Researcher Michael Andersen.

For an on the ground perspective, industry representatives discussed trends and barriers to housing development, financing, and homeownership. Panelists included Susan Brown, senior vice president and construction production manager at Umpqua Bank, Chad Harvey, principal broker at Harvey Realty Group, and Justin Wood, vice president of Fish Construction NW.

Oregon Speaker of the House Tina Kotek (N/NE Portland) and two members of the House Interim Committee On Human Services and Housing, Rep. Ron Noble (McMinnville), and Rep. Alissa Keny-Guyer (NE/SE Portland) concluded the program with a discussion about recent housing legislation and their views about solving Oregon’s housing crisis. The Representatives fielded audience comments and questions from various industry perspectives.

The Summit succeeded in bringing together key stakeholders for a collaborative and productive dialogue surrounding the challenges and potential solutions to housing affordability and availability in Oregon. The three industry groups plan to hold next year’s Oregon Housing Economic Summit in Salem on January 14, 2021. More information will be available at https://oregonhousingeconomicsummit.com.