In 1990, 5 Portland area property managers met in Beaverton for lunch to discuss mutual concerns over Landlord Tenant Law and sought solutions to improve the quality of service of residential property managers of single family homes in Oregon. Since there were no professional associations meeting the needs of single family fee managers, a loose association was formed, the Oregon Property Managers Association (OPMA).

In 1993, the newly formed National Association of Residential Property Managers was sought to advance OPMA's objectives whose membership had then increased to 12 property management companies. The Greater Portland Chapter became the 11th local chapter to form in the United States. Today, the National Association has over 60 chapters with more than 5,200 members from the United States, Canada, Argentina, West Indies, and Australia. Each member manages an average of 240 units. The Greater Portland Chapter represents the management over 19 property management firms managing over 5000 housing units in the tri-county area. This association of the Oregon Chapter with the National Association has been a good marriage greatly benefiting the community and the profession.