Owner occupied multi's are a great way to get started in the rental industry.

According to Brad Doremus as senior analyst with Reis this anticipated growth is largely related to the fact that many of the economies in these secondary markets are dependent on rapidly growing industries such as tech and energy.

So far this seems like a great place to start and learn the industry. 

It is all apartment's surrounding and some industrial. 

I might be wrong on that, but I see it in other industries as well ie internet marketing, sales training, Amazon FBA.

Construction Industry Licensing Board).

My wife and several friends work in the industry.

I did a quick google search and found this: http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2012/0...Portland has heavy industry and an active port, along with the environmental quality issues that come with that.

Who handles vendor contracts in the multifamily housing industry?

Much of the rest of the economy consists of hospitality or service industries that serve the military population and their dependents, as well as all of the civilian govt employees/contractors that work on the base of course.