The record-setting number of cranes visible in the Seattle and Bellevue skylines reflect a construction boom that began in earnest in 2015. Companies such as Amazon, Google, Facebook and other IT darlings are hiring like crazy. Like San Francisco, Seattle is a hot area to live, bringing thousands of new residents each month. With all of this growth, construction, and demand for housing, you may wonder why more condominiums are not being built in King County. read more

In what appears to be the final word on claims for negligent construction, the Oregon Supreme Court ruled last week that such claims must be brought within two years of "discovery." In Goodman v. Kingman Plastering, Inc. (2016), the Supreme Court effectively overruled Riverview Condo. Ass'n v. Cypress Ventures (2014), a recent (lower) Court of Appeals case that ruled that negligent construction claims needed to be brought within six years of discovery. read more

Interest rates have never been better. As a result, many owners have jumped at the chance to refinance their homes or condos at seriously low rates. Yet, individual owners are not the only ones who can benefit from these low rates. Community association loan rates are probably lower than you think. Some of our associations have seen rates in the 4% range, and they may be going even lower if recent economic trends continue. read more

The lien priority that associations enjoy and regularly rely on is being threaten. Both Washington and Oregon have laws in place that give condominium associations a lien priority for unpaid assessments when a unit goes through a foreclosure. RCW 64.34.364 and ORS 100.450. In addition, some associations attempt to establish lien priority in their governing documents. These super-priority liens are vital to each association's economic well-being, which is why it is so surprising that they are being attacked by the federal government. read more

At the end of the month, our Portland office will be moving to a new location. Like any move there is always an element of joy and a modicum of pain. We are overjoyed with the new location and the new space. As many of you can relate, moving comes with a fair amount of work. Offices can accumulate as much junk as any homeowner can and weeding through can be a painful task. In my effort to help clean up the office, I found a package of ramen noodles that expired in 2012. That is two full years before I even started working at Barker Martin! (I apologize to any former employee who was saving those for a special occasion). read more