Moving to Portland
Moving to Portland and I did just that in July 1990. My family and I moved to the Metro Portland area from Los Angeles and it was probably the best move I’ve ever made. Of course, I was like any other buyer moving to Portland, I didn’t understand the lay of the land, I didn’t know about the commutes or traffic patterns and I certainly didn’t know the easiest way to get from Beaverton to Portland, but I acclimated.
How The Portland Metro Area Lays Out
The Portland area is divided into five rich and diverse areas. Within each of the five quadrants are unique Portland Metro Neighborhoods.
You can find the Portland Neighborhoods in the Search Bar in the Drop Down Menus on this stite.
The Five Quadrants making up the Portland Metro area are:
- N Portland / North Portland
- NE Portland / Northeast Portland
- NW Portland / Northwest Portland
- SE Portland / Southeast Portland
- SW Portland / Southwest Portland
Let’s Explore the Five Quadrants of Portland Metro
N Portland / North Portland is a diverse mixture of residential, commercial, and industrial areas. It includes the Portland International Raceway, the University of Portland, and massive cargo facilities of the Port of Portland. Slang-names for it include “NoPo” (shortened from North Portland) and “the Fifth Quadrant” (for being the odd-man out from the four-cornered logic of SE, NE, SW, and NW). North Portland neighborhoods include: Arbor Lodge, St. John’s, Hayden Island, Piedmont, University Park. North Portland is connected to the industrial area of Northwest Portland by the St. Johns Bridge, a 2,067 ft long suspension bridge completed in 1931 and extensively rehabilitated in 2003-05.
- NE Portland / Northeast Portland contains a diverse collection of neighborhoods. For example, while Irvington and the Alameda Ridge feature some of the oldest and most expensive homes in Portland, nearby King is a more working-class neighborhood. Because it is so large, Northeast Portland can essentially be divided ethnically, culturally, and geographically into inner and outer sections. Inner Northeast includes several shopping areas, such as the Lloyd District, Alberta Arts District and Hollywood, and part of the affluent Irvington, Alameda, Grant Park and Laurelhurst neighborhoods and nearby developments. The city plan targets Lloyd District as another mixed-use area, with high-density residential development.
Straddling the base of the borders of North and Northeast is the Rose Quarter. It is named after the Rose Garden, home of the Portland Trail Blazers, and also includes the Blazers’ former home, the Memorial Coliseum. The Coliseum is the home to Portland’s hockey team, the Portland Winter Hawks, of the Western Hockey League, though they often play at the Rose Garden. The newest Rose Quarter tenants are the LumberJax of the National Lacrosse League. At the base of Northeast where its border meets Southeast, an area near the Burnside Bridge has been redeveloped into a bustling nightlife and entertainment district.
NW Portland / Northwest Portland includes the Pearl District, most of Old Town Chinatown, the Northwest District, and various residential and industrial neighborhoods. A range of streets primarily in Northwest Portland is named alphabetically [Read: The Alphabet Blocks] Burnside Street, the “B” in the sequence, divides the Northeast and Northwest quadrants of the city from the Southeast and Southwest.The Pearl District is a recent name for a former warehouse and industrial area just north of downtown. Many of the warehouses have been converted into lofts, and new multistory condominiums have also been developed on previously vacant land. The increasing density has attracted a mix of restaurants, brewpubs, shops, and art galleries. The galleries sponsor simultaneous artists’ receptions every month, in an event known as First Thursday.
Further west is the compact but thriving NW 21st and 23rd Avenue restaurant and retail area, the core of the Northwest District. Parts of this area are also called Uptown and Nob Hill. Nicknames include Snob Hill and Trendy Third. The residential areas adjacent to the shopping district include the Alphabet Historic District (with large Victorian and Craftsman homes built in the years before and shortly after 1900) and a large district centered around Wallace Park. The neighborhood has a mix of Victorian-era houses, apartment buildings from throughout the 20th century, and various businesses centered around Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center. The Portland Streetcar connects Nob Hill to downtown, via the Pearl.
West of the developed areas is the northern portion of Portland’s West Hills, including the majority of extensive Forest Park and the Willamette Heights, Hillside, Sylvan, Skyline and Forest Heights neighborhoods.
- SE Portland / Southeast Portland stretches from the warehouses along the Willamette through historic Ladd’s Addition to the Hawthorne and Belmont districts out to Gresham. Southeast Portland has blue-collar roots and has evolved to encompass a wide mix of backgrounds. The Hawthorne district in particular is known for its hippie/radical crowd and small subculturally oriented shops; not far away is Reed College, whose campus expands from Woodstock Boulevard to Steele Street, and from the 28th to the 39th Avenues.Between the 1920s and the 1960s, Southeast was home to Lambert Gardens. Southeast Portland also features Mt. Tabor, a cinder cone volcano that has become one of Portland’s more scenic and popular parks. Peacock Lane is a street known locally for lavish Christmas decorations and displays
SW Portland / Southwest Portland is one of the five quadrants making up the Portland Metro Area. It is bordered on the west by I-5; on the north by I-5, SW Pasadena St., and SW Pomona St.; on the east by SW 49th Ave. and Kerr Parkway; and on the south by SW Kruse Ridge Dr. and the southern border of the Portland Community College Sylvania Campus. The neighborhood is adjacent to the city of Tigard on the west, the neighborhoods of Ashcreek and Crestwood on the north, West Portland Park on the north and east, and the city of Lake Oswego on the east and south.The campus of PCC Sylvania occupies much of the neighborhood. Lesser Park (1988) is also located here. Also being located close to SW Portland are areas of Beaverton, Tigard, and Lake Oswego.
Finding out about the areas is something I help my clients with. There is sure to be a place you can call home in a Portland Neighborhood that you like.
If you’re not familiar with the lay of the land, your relocation to Portland should be considered an adventure. Where else can you see century old historic properties FOR SALE in the Laurelhurst neighborhood, for example.
From the urban areas of NW (The Pearl District, The Alphabet Blocks) to the SW suburbs, I know the neighbors and have assisted many buyers with their relocation move. For an in-depth consultation about your plans to relocate to Portland, please feel free to contact me.
Find the Right Portland Metro Area For You and Your Family
No matter what your decisions might be, the Portland Oregon area is one of the nation’s best-kept secrets. From the Downtown Center City, drive due west for about one hour and hit the Oregon Coast. Not into the sand and salt-sea air? Drive about one hour due east and hit the slopes! Mt. Hood is opened yearlong. Are you into hiking, biking, and wine tasting?
So you’re contemplating a relocation move to Portland, Oregon? Perhaps you’ve landed a job and are relocating due to employment related reasons? Or, maybe the affordable cost of living brings you to town, especially if you’re moving up from California, or heading west from the East Coast. You are in the right place. Portland has long been considered one of the nation’s top ten livable cities.
Currently, Portland is a leader in it’s usage of sustainable building practices in many condo projects
That’s just for starters. If you can name it, you’ll find it here or there but not very far from your reach. EDIT
Taking Pride in Helping Relocation Buyers With Their Move to Portland
When representing Buyers relocating to Portland I take great pride in ensuring a few particulars:
- My clients become acclimated to the Portland neighborhoods BEFORE they make a decision to purchase
- My clients are familiar with unique Portland neighborhoods BEFORE they make a decision to purchase
- My clients understand the Portland commute patterns during the morning and evening rush hours
- Helping my clients indentify Portland areas, Portland neighborhoods are a first priority . . . then honing in on properties that make sense to their life
EBA Portland’s Other Portland Metro Guides:
- Portland Oregon Relocation Guide
- Portland – Laurelhurst
- Portland – Forest Heights
- Beaverton – Cooper Mountain
- Beaverton – Sexton Mountain
- Beaverton – Highland
- Beaverton – Greenway
- Beaverton – Cedar Hills
- Lake Oswego, OR
- Hillsboro, OR
Cost of Commute Calculator
A Sampling of Current Homes for Sale in Portland
Showing properties
1 - 10 of 500+.
See more Real estate in the city of Portland.
(all data current as of
5/23/2013)
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$169,900 : 11047 SE Harold ST, Portland5 beds, 1 full bath
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$199,900 : 13438 SE Steele ST, Portland3 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths
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$479,950 : 737 NE Emerson ST, Portland3 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths
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$199,000 : 16746 NE Hassalo ST, Portland2 beds, 1 full bath
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$249,500 : 8011 SW Pine ST, Portland3 beds, 2 full baths
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$279,900 : 12815 NE Tillamook ST, Portland3 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths
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$569,900 : 2924 SE Stephens ST, Portland4 beds, 3 full baths
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$239,900 : 8829 N Bayard AVE, Portland3 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths
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$320,000 : 11109 SW 66th AVE, Portland4 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths
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$399,900 : 10909 SW 60th AVE, Portland4 beds, 2 full baths
Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.
A Sampling of Current Homes for Sale in Beaverton
Showing properties
1 - 10 of 253.
See more Real estate in the city of Beaverton.
(all data current as of
5/23/2013)
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$249,900 : 11555 SW Timberline DR, Beaverton4 beds, 2 full baths
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$250,000 : 7178 SW 156th AVE, Beaverton3 beds, 2 full baths
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$239,900 : 7065 SW Anne ST, Beaverton3 beds, 2 full baths
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$259,000 : 14080 SW Todd ST, Beaverton4 beds, 1 full bath
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$199,900 : 18510 SW Mcclarey DR, Beaverton3 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths
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$245,000 : 5350 SW Chestnut AVE, Beaverton3 beds, 1 full, 1 part baths
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$150,000 : 90 NW 180th AVE, Beaverton3 beds, 2 full baths
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$350,000 : 16939 SW Deline CT, Beaverton4 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths
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$544,900 : MLS # 13433968 in Beaverton4 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths
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$214,900 : 203 NW 209th AVE, Beaverton3 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths
Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.
Portland Buyers Agent – Real Estate Expert in the Portland Metro Area
EBAPortland, LLC is an Exclusive Buyer Agency serving the Metro Portland real estate market since 1999. I only help buyers which means if you’re looking for a home anywhere in the Portland Metro area, there is no better representation than an exclusive buyers agent. I love helping investors, home buyers and first-timers find exactly what they need in the Portland areas including but not limited to:
- Beaverton homes for sale
- Tigard homes for sale
- Hillsboro homes for sale
- Lake Oswego homes for sale
- Portland homes for sale
When you’re ready, talk to an ExclusiveBuyers Agent. Exclusive Buyers Agents do not work for listing brokerages or Sellers. An EBA’s fiduciary duty is: 100% BUYER REPRESENTATION . . . 100% of the Time. Contact me for all Portland Housing.
Carla Muss-Jacobs, Principal Broker/Owner
EBA Portland LLC
14845 SW Murray Scholls Blvd, #110-518
Beaverton, OR 97007
Office: 503.524.2560
Direct: 503.810.7192
EBA Portland ~~ 100% BUYER REPRESENTATION . . . 100% of the Time
All rights reserved ©
