Pacific Northwest ‘Zoom Towns’ Fall From Grace After Rapid Expansion During Pandemic

Many areas in the Pacific Northwest that saw the greatest increase in apartment rents last year were located in smaller secondary markets that saw an influx of remote workers from major coastal cities. Sometimes referred to as 'zoom towns,' these typically scenic places experienced a surge in housing demand from remote workers freed by the pandemic to work from home long term. Often lacking the available units to support such a rapid increase in renters, these areas saw a drastic uptick in rents.