From Bula to Flex: Controversial Trail of Corvallis Landlords Kip and Michelle Schoning
Same gamble? Different sign on the door?
For decades in Corvallis, the names Kip and Michelle Schoning have circulated through rental listings, court filings, and tenant warnings, often resurfacing under new business names.
Now, a new name is drawing attention: Flex Realty. And Zane Schoning is running the show.
A Familiar Pattern, A New Name
Public real estate listings show Flex Realty LLC, based on NW 4th Street in Corvallis, with team members including Michelle Schoning and Zane Schoning.
The company represents the latest evolution in a long chain of Schoning-linked businesses, including:
Bula Enterprises (early 2000s – dissolved 2014)
Rising Realty, LLC (registered 2012)
“Your House” property management
Each transition has followed periods of financial trouble, legal disputes, or mounting tenant complaints. Bula Enterprises and Rising Realty all use the same address as the new Flex Realty (806 NW 4th St, Corvallis, OR 97330)
Court Records Reveal Years of Legal Disputes
Court filings and government records provide a clearer picture of the Schonings’ long-running legal entanglements.
In a 2012 federal case, Schoning v. State Farm Fire and Casualty Company, Kip Schoning sued an insurance company over a denied claim tied to a rental property fire. The insurer argued Schoning failed to provide required financial documentation during the investigation, which included an arson determination. A federal judge ultimately ruled in favor of the insurer, dismissing the claim.
Earlier records show legal disputes tied directly to housing conditions. A 2006 complaint involving Schoning’s company, Bula Enterprises, alleged violations of Oregon’s landlord-tenant laws, including habitability concerns.
Regulatory scrutiny has also followed their business operations. A case through the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries involving their company “Your House” included allegations that an employee was instructed to alter rental-related documents. The case escalated to the point where concerns were reported to federal authorities.
Beyond individual cases, records and past reporting indicate a broader pattern of legal activity tied to their rental business, including hundreds of eviction filings over the years.
The Rise and Fallout of a Corvallis Rental Empire
At their peak, the Schonings controlled hundreds of rental units in Corvallis, many catering to students and lower-income tenants. But their growth was matched by controversy.
Tenants cited unsafe or deteriorating housing conditions
Complaints included ignored maintenance requests
The companies were associated with hundreds of evictions
Financial records showed foreclosures and missed mortgage payments
Even as properties were lost, new entities emerged… keeping the Schonings active in the local housing market.
Legal and Regulatory Scrutiny
The Schonings’ business dealings have also drawn attention from regulators.
A case through the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries tied to their company “Your House” included allegations that:
An employee was directed to alter rental documents
Concerns were serious enough to be reported to federal authorities
The employee was later terminated
While the case centered on employment law, it added to a growing record of disputes tied to their operations.
Enter Flex Realty
Today, Flex Realty appears to be part of that same evolving business network. Same names. Same listed business address.
The brokerage lists Michelle Schoning and Zane Schoning among its agents, operating out of Corvallis.
Job listings show the company is actively hiring in the Corvallis area, signaling continued expansion of its footprint in local real estate. Indeed listing here.
Who Is Zane Schoning?
A newer name tied to the operation is Zane Cortez Schoning.
Public listings identify him as a real estate agent with Flex Realty, with:
11 years of experience
Dozens of property transactions
Sales activity across Corvallis, Albany, and surrounding areas
Additional listings connect him to both Flex Realty and prior Schoning-linked entities, suggesting continuity across business structures.
While public records do not explicitly define his relationship, the shared surname, business overlap, and team listings strongly indicate family ties and generational involvement in the real estate operations.
A Reputation That Hasn’t Faded
Despite rebranding efforts, the Schonings’ reputation in Corvallis remains one of the most polarizing in the local housing market… along with Duerksen Rentals.
While anecdotal, these sentiments echo patterns documented in formal reporting over the past two decades.
In the rental housing world, it’s not uncommon for companies to change names, restructure LLCs, or shift branding over time. Tenant advocates say rebranding can also make it harder for renters to track a company’s history. When ownership and operations remain the same but the public-facing brand changes, it can create a disconnect that leaves prospective tenants with an incomplete picture of who they’re renting from.
— The Corvallis Inquirer, March 19, 2026
Do you have a story for The Inquirer? Email: editor@corvallisnow.com
→ Support us
We’ll keep it ad-free even if you don’t.
