Why Portland, OR, has so many tiny homes
A story on Portland ADUs built around one of my clients and their property.
In the Media
Erik Leland in the media
I work with reporters on stories about the housing market, mortgage rates, home design and HOA governance. This page lists every article where I have been quoted or published since January 2026, newest first.
Articles
50
Publications
36
Quoted in
CNBCNewsweekMarketWatchForbes AdvisorRealtor.comMansion GlobalTravel + LeisureThe IndependentU.S. NewsInman
Quoted in
CNBCNewsweekMarketWatchForbes AdvisorRealtor.comMansion GlobalTravel + LeisureThe IndependentU.S. NewsInman
In their words
Selected quotes
“Amateurs see a discount, pros see a trap. Don’t look for a home, look at the math.”
“The data centers did not create the desirability. They locate where it already exists.”
“Board members are volunteers, and they respond the same way anyone would. Attack them publicly and they shift into defending themselves and the association.”
By and about Erik
Op-eds and features
Buying a New House Is Too Expensive. Homeowners Are Staying Put and Renovating Instead
Why I renovated my own Lake Oswego home instead of trading up.
Opinion: Lake Oswego home sellers should prioritize digital curb appeal
My opinion column on why listing photos and online presentation now do the work a front yard used to. Also ran in two sister papers.
The archive
All coverage
Showing 50 of 50
October 20261 article
Home sellers are slashing prices across the country as soaring mortgage rates and higher inventories give buyers room to negotiate
“The biggest problem right now is that sellers are comparing the current market to the rapid appreciation we had around pandemic times, so the flat market feels disappointing.”
September 20262 articles
July 20261 article
The Real Price of HOA Rants: How One Viral Post Can Trigger Costly Lawsuits
“Board members are volunteers, and they respond the same way anyone would. Attack them publicly and they shift into defending themselves and the association.”
June 20269 articles
Aging in Place Outdoors: Budget-Friendly DIY Accessibility Upgrades That Don’t Hurt Resale Value
“A pair of these in a 4-by-8-foot size runs about $800 in materials.”
Real Estate Experts Reveal 8 Money-Saving Negotiation Tactics Homebuyers Overlook
“A $5,000 to $10,000 credit is more impactful than a lower sale price, which might only reduce your monthly payments a few dollars.”
Why Portland, OR, has so many tiny homes
A story on Portland ADUs built around one of my clients and their property.
Essential Revealing Questions to Ask a Realtor Before You Hire Them
“How an agent presents other people’s homes tells you a lot about how they will present yours.”
May 202611 articles
A Design Hack for a Happier Marriage? Separate Bathrooms.
“The couples I know who have two bathrooms in their bedroom all say… they have a better relationship because of it.”
Thinking Ahead: 7 Things to Consider When Buying a Home to Live in Now and Rent Out Later
“This option usually works best if you’re buying a home to live in for a few years but not planning to stay in it forever.”
Boomers Can’t Stand These 11 Millennial Home Design Trends
“Younger buyers find the finish to be sculptural and spa-like. Older buyers are unfamiliar with it and worry about durability and water resistance.”
How Data Centers Are Set To Impact The Value of Your Home
“The data centers did not create the desirability. They locate where it already exists.”
These Fence Colors Make Any Yard Look More Expensive, and the Upgrade Is Easier Than You Think
“Warm, neutral tones blend into the landscaping and make the home the focal point. Your fence should frame the yard, not compete with it.”
Your Fence Color Really Can Decrease the Value of Your Home, Experts Warn: These Are the Worst Colors to Choose
“Fence colors are one of the first things buyers notice from the street and in listing photos.”
Buying a New House Is Too Expensive. Homeowners Are Staying Put and Renovating Instead
Why I renovated my own Lake Oswego home instead of trading up.
April 20265 articles
More apartments, more deals: Why nearly 40% of landlords are offering concessions right now
“The most common ones are a free month on a 12-month lease, plus waived application or move-in fees.”
We Asked Real Estate Pros If Hardscaping Matters as Much as Landscaping. They All Said the Same Thing
“A well-built patio or retaining wall can look just as good in January as it does in July.”
A Change Could Be Coming for Almost 30 Million Homebuyers and Their Money
“Farm labor housing is a common bottleneck on lots of farms.”
The Best (And Worst) Paint Colors for Selling Your House
“Paint is the single highest return-on-investment (ROI) change a seller can make when preparing to list.”
March 202613 articles
Building community in your new home: 25 tips from those who’ve done it
“I ran to be on the HOA Board of Directors about three months after moving into my new place.”
AI cannot read the room: Agents weigh in on the promise and limits of artificial intelligence
“Overusing AI seems like a good way to kill trust.”
The truth about AI in real estate (according to agents)
“Most of it is hype.”
Iran war impact on mortgage rates: Buyers still $30k better off than 2025
“When investors are worried about inflation, they sell bonds, which pushes treasury yields higher, and mortgage rates follow right behind.”
More homes are for sale now than in 2025, and median list prices are down 2.4%. 6 pros on whether now is the time to buy
“Buyers have leverage they have not had for years… That is not a crash, that is breathing room.”
What Is Escrow? Everything You Need To Know
“Picture a lockbox that nobody owns until the deal closes.”
How to choose the right builder for a custom home
“You should also look for a builder with a history of working on projects in the area, or what I call local longevity.”
The Equity Boom: Why Homeowners Can Borrow More Today
“If you zoom out, the findings represent a massive change in how we look at middle-class household wealth.”
Homeownership in 2026: Is It Cheaper to Build or Buy a House?
“Construction loans run one to two percentage points higher… currently landing in the 7% to 9% range.”
9 Best Places to Live in the U.S. for a Healthy Lifestyle
“They’re picking up eggs and produce from a farmer they’ve been buying from for three years.”
February 20265 articles
3 Steps to Take If You’re Underwater on a Home Mortgage
“It’s an algorithm with a healthy margin of error.”
Here Are the Top 3 States Attracting New Residents, and the 3 States Where People Are Leaving
“For many West Coast buyers, Oregon still feels like the best value.”
Opinion: Lake Oswego home sellers should prioritize digital curb appeal
My opinion column on why listing photos and online presentation now do the work a front yard used to. Also ran in two sister papers.
What Is a Net Listing in Real Estate? Here’s Why You Don’t Want One
“Net Listings appeal to sellers because of the simplicity.”
What Is an Exclusive Agency Listing in Real Estate?
“No agent is thrilled to spend money on photos, marketing, and time only to have the seller find a buyer and pay nothing for their effort.”
January 20263 articles
Foreclosure filings are up 14%. 8 pros tell us how to smartly buy one
“Amateurs see a discount, pros see a trap. Don’t look for a home, look at the math.”
Trump Proposes Change on Who Can Buy Single-Family Homes: How Could That Affect the Housing Market?
“If you ban the big funds, who buys the fixer-uppers?”
For journalists
Working on a story?
Send me the topic and your deadline. I cover Lake Oswego, West Linn and the Portland west side, plus national housing and mortgage questions. I usually reply the same day.
Bio for reporters
Erik Leland is a real estate broker with Realty First who works with buyers and sellers in Lake Oswego, West Linn and the Portland west side. He came to real estate from wealth management and serves as treasurer and secretary of the Mountain Park HOA, one of the largest homeowners associations in Oregon with about 3,600 units. He also manages his own woodland and takes on home building projects of his own.
Short version for captions
Erik Leland is a real estate broker with Realty First in Lake Oswego