I am thinking of moving to Portland, What are the good areas to buy a house?

Don't restrict yourself to Portland, when there are outlying

suburbs and towns with more to offer with newer subdivisions

than the older homes in Portland proper. You might even

consider looking in Vancouver, Wash. just across the inter-

state bridge over the Columbia River from Portland. The

housing is still more affordable in most areas in the eastern

part of the city. It is a rural area with no high rises and it is

more spread out without the hills Portland has. It has a small

town feeling and the people are very down to earth. It used to

be more of a farming community until the 70's when more

modern housing appeared east of Interstate 205.

There's also Gresham, Ore. east of Portland, and Sandy as

well. Sandy is a small town, as well as Gresham, and both

have rural ambiance.

Portland is well known for its' diversity, it's slower lifestyle,

and for its' universities, Reed College, Portland State, and

Portland University, which has connections to Notra Dame I

was once told by a priest there.

Portland is a very pretty city with the Willamette River

flowing through it, and a marina with sail boats. The Columbia River is its' northern most boundary where there is wind surfing further down near Hood River, and sail boating and other water sports. The Oregon beaches are a little

more than an hours' drive east of Portland, with alot of small

connected towns for browsing shops and walking the beaches and wading in the surf. There's golfing at several

top golf courses, fly fishing abounds at the many rivers and

streams, and there's really something for everyone in the

Portland Metro area. You can even ride the electric train from

Portland to outer lying areas, called MAX. Stop at the

little town of Hillsboro to browse shops and have a soda at their old vintage drug store with counter stools at an old time soda fountain inside. There's a neat candy store and you can

get a whopping ice cream cone as well in the area.

You're sure to like it here. There's always something to do.

If you are talking about Portland, Oregon...the housing market is still strong here and houses expensive. There are distinct differences between the east side of the Willamette River and the west. The west side is more suburbia and conservative where the east side is more liberal and artsy. On the east side, the Sellwood area and the Laurelhurst area are good. On the west, Tanasbourne and Bethany. Good Luck!!

Property taxes depends on where you buy it. If you're in the mid-upscale lifestyle, I'd say a house Bethany or in South Beaverton(Murray Hill) is a good place to live in. No sales tax, most of beaverton is accesible by public transportation and near all the freeways.

Property tax is pretty rough in multnomah county. I would say your best bets for a nice house in a stable market would be in West Linn or NE Clackamas. Message me if you want to know more specifics.

Be sure to bring alot of money, the cost of housing is outrages in the NW.....thanks to all the out of staters. It's a fact!