Portland

Best Portland Neighborhoods to Buy a House: Montavilla

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Montavilla is one of Portland Oregon’s many close-in metro areas that feels more “neighborhoody” than urban while offering easy city access. This increasingly popular Northeast / Southeast neighborhood was even voted one of the ‘Top 10 U.S. Neighborhoods’ in 2017 by Lonely Planet.

Local History

Originally named “Mount Tabor Village” in the 1890s, the area served as a stopover for folks traveling between Portland and Mount Hood. Streetcars began servicing the area in 1892 and it was the abbreviated streetcar destination signs that inspired the neighborhood’s name: Mon (Mount) Ta (Tabor) Villa (Village).

Neighborhood Lifestyle

The main retail and commercial hub of Montavilla is SE Stark Street, specifically between 75th and 82nd Avenues. Neighbors can run errands, grab a bite to eat or a cup of coffee, meet for drinks, see a second-run movie for just $4 at the historic Academy Theater, shop for groceries, and more on this busy strip.

Best Portland Neighborhoods to Buy a House: Montavilla

Perhaps one of the best parts of the Montavilla neighborhood is the real sense of community and the celebration of diversity among the people who call this area home. One local summed it up, “Montavilla has a great friendly-neighborhood vibe… and there is a strong community/neighborhood feel.”

There’s also a burgeoning and equally diverse local food scene. Take a look at some of the most popular drinking and dining destinations in the area and you’ll notice there are flavors from all over the world on offer:

The Observatory Extensive, creative American menu, craft cocktails. A local favorite for late-night eats.

Blank Slate Popular neighborhood brunch, specialty cocktail bar, and open mic spot.

Little Saigon Highly-reviewed noodle joint, mostly Vietnamese food offerings with a few Thai options.

Master Kong Small dining area with an even tinier kitchen puts out great Chinese food. Famous locally for their Chinese crepes.

House of Bahn Mi Well-reviewed teeny, tiny neighborhood Vietnamese sandwich shop.

Giant Gyros Mediterranean spot serving up GIANT gyro sandwiches, falafel, eggplant. Rave reviews.

Heartbreaker Neighborhood kitchen dishing out home-cooked southern-style food and small-batch ice cream. Carnivore-friendly with plenty of vegan and vegetarian options as well.

Tienda Santa Cruz Considered a ‘neighborhood gem’ this little Mexican market and food-to-go spot is popular for its authentic burritos, tacos, and homemade Mexican pastries, cakes, and flan.

Secret Pizza Society Hole-in-the-wall vegan pizzeria deeply loved by neighborhood veg-only and meat-eaters alike.

For even more great places to eat and drink in Montavilla, visit this Eater PDX list.

The nearly 9.5-acre Montavilla Park has brought neighborhood families out to play since 1921. This popular neighborhood park includes a futsal field, a playground, as well as soccer and softball fields. You’ll also find Berrydale Park, Harrison Park, the beloved Vestal Community Garden, and of course Mt. Tabor Park all within the neighborhood. Montavilla Community Center offers plenty of activities and recreation as well, including seasonal swimming lessons and family swim at the outdoor Montavilla Pool.

Montavilla is ranked the 36th most walkable neighborhood in Portland with a walk score of 71 and very good public transportation options. Montavilla is also considered a ‘biker’s paradise’ with a bike score of 91. For commuters, three major arterials: Division, I-84, and I-2015 frame the Montavilla neighborhood, providing easy access to the city center and beyond. TriMet bus lines and the green, blue, and red Max lines also serve Montavilla.

Montavilla Real Estate

Consisting of mostly older homes (average build year is 1952) and plenty of old-growth trees lining the streets, Montavilla feels very suburban though it is technically considered a part of urban Portland.

Montavilla real estate cost is higher than the national average of approximately $185,000 but considerably lower than the Portland metro average of around $420,000 with neighborhood median home values landing around $350,000 and homes selling on average for slightly under asking price.

Montavilla Schools

The Montavilla neighborhood is served by multiple public and charter schools as well as some higher education institutions: Vestal Elementary School (K-8, public); Bridger Elementary School (K-8, public); Creative Science School (K-8, public charter); Grace Lutheran School (K-8, private) Multnomah University (Christian); and Portland Community College Southeast campus.

If you’re ready to start the home-buying process (in the Montavilla area or any other Portland, Oregon or Vancouver, Washington neighborhood) I’d love to help! Give me a call anytime, or start your home-loan prequalification now by submitting your info directly to me using this easy online mortgage application form.

Best Portland Neighborhoods to Buy a House: Forest Park

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Hot Portland Neighborhoods: Forest Park

Both verdant rambling forest and close-in hood, Northwest Portland’s Forest Park neighborhood is located a quick 5 to 10-minute drive to downtown PDX at the right time of day (20-ish minutes+ during rush hour and other busy times) and is also an easy commute to Beaverton-Hillsboro on the other side. Bordered by the Northwest Heights, Hillside, Northwest District, and Linnton neighborhoods, Forest Park is named for the area’s rolling 5,000-plus acre park, part of which physically sits inside the neighborhood’s boundaries on the southern and eastern sides.

Forest Park Family-Friendly Destinations

While Forest Park may not be the most walkable in the Portland area (It’s classified as ‘car dependent’), it more than makes up for it in natural beauty, great local amenities, and accessibility to outdoor activities. Living in Forest Park, you may not be able to walk to the grocery store the way you could in NE Portland’s Beaumont, or SE’s Sellwood-Moreland, but you can access over 80 miles of nature trails and forest roads for hiking, horseback riding, and running. Pittock Mansion, a beautiful and historic 1914 house museum can also be reached through the expansive network of trails and is a destination adventure unto itself.

Nearby is the Audubon Society Wildlife Care Center where at any given time over 3,000 wild animals are in treatment and rehabilitation with the goal of being released back into the wild. Visit the center with your family to meet the permanent residents; animals that could not be released back into the wild now call the center home.  Stroll the four miles of trails around the Audubon Society’s Nature Sanctuary to discover and learn about the native plant species, and explore Balch Creek.

Living in the Forest Park neighborhood also puts your family in very close proximity to the Oregon Zoo. With around 2,700 animals representing 215 species and subspecies of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates plus 19 endangered species and 9 threatened species this 64-acre zoo is a family favorite on sunny and rainy days alike.

Located within walking distance from the zoo you’ll also find The World Forestry Center where even the littlest visitors can explore interactive exhibits featuring different types of forests from around the world while learning about their unique characteristics and sustainability issues. Directly across the parking area is the famed Portland Children’s Museum, an indoor creative play and discovery space designed specifically for families with children aged ten and younger.

Forest Park Median Home Values

 Many homes in the Forest Park neighborhood boast spectacular views with properties in the eastern portion of the neighborhood look over the expansive park and the Willamette River. Properties in the western portion of the neighborhood have views of the massive valley below. This neighborhood is still relatively new, growing quickly over the last two decades and the prices reflect this growth and the increasing demand for homes in the area.

Forest Park offers buyers the opportunity to go stick-built on empty parcels of land available from $30k and up, as well as high-end developer homes or move-in ready properties listed from the low $400s to well over $1 million – and even up to $8.6+ million. Forest Park is admittedly one of the more expensive neighborhoods to purchase in with the average home price currently landing somewhere around $700k.

Forest Park Neighborhood Schools

Aside from the beautiful natural surroundings, one of the most popular reasons families move to the Forest Park neighborhood is that some of the best schools in the state are located within 2 miles including Forest Park Elementary(K-5, public) West Sylvan Middle School (6-8, public), Lincoln High School (10-12, public), and St. Pius X (K-8, private).

Stay tuned for more information on Portland, Oregon Neighborhoods.

If you’re ready to start the home-buying process (in Forest Park or any other Portland, Oregon or Vancouver, Washington neighborhood) I’d love to help. Give me a call anytime, or start your home-loan prequalification now by submitting your info directly to me using this handy online form.

Best Portland Neighborhoods to Buy a House: Sellwood-Moreland

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Portland Neighborhood: Sellwood-Moreland

Boasting a walk score of 81 Southeast Portland’s Sellwood-Moreland neighborhood actually consists of three distinct neighborhood districts: Sellwood, Westmoreland, and Eastmoreland. With four beautiful public parks (Westmoreland Park, Sellwood Park, Sellwood Riverfront, and Johnson Creek Park), the Oaks Bottom Refuge hiking area, Eastmoreland public golf course, and the Springwater Corridor all within easy reach, this neighborhood is especially great for families who like outdoor activities and playing in nature, with a close commute to downtown across the Sellwood Bridge.

Other local public amenities include the Sellwood Community Center, Sellwood-Moreland Library, Sellwood outdoor public pool, and the Sellwood Community Garden.

Family-Friendly Portland Neighborhoods: Sellwood-Moreland

 

Sellwood-Moreland Neighborhood History

Historically, Sellwood began as an independent city when the original owner, a fruit farmer, sold his 320 acres to Rev. John Sellwood. In 1882, Sellwood sold half of his acreage to the Sellwood Real Estate Company who planned and developed the city of Sellwood. Five years later, the city was incorporated, and eventually became a part of Portland proper in 1893.

In 1909 Eastmoreland and Westmoreland were born of a sold and subdivided 500-acre farm. These new neighborhoods were marketed to families headed by professionals who worked in downtown Portland, only five miles to the south, usually commuting to work by the relatively new streetcar.

While these areas are well distinguished today by separate and thriving business districts, and many residents identify them as strictly individual neighborhoods, the Portland Office of Neighborhood Involvement officially combined the neighborhoods of Sellwood and Westmoreland into Sellwood-Moreland. With Westmoreland situated on the east side of the community, and Sellwood on the west side along the river.

Sellwood-Moreland Median Home Values

The median home value in Sellwood-Moreland currently lands at $425,397 – dramatically higher than the national average of $184,700, but very much in keeping with Portland’s higher-than-average home prices. Neighboring Eastmoreland, voted by Niche users as the #3 best Portland neighborhood to live in, is pricier with a median home value of $496,993.

Sellwood-Moreland Family-Friendly Destinations

Sellwood-Moreland has long been the antique shopping destination in Southeast Portland, with the Stars Antiques Mall housing 100+ vendors in 10,000 square feet and it’s annex right across the street, Stars and Splendid. These cavernous spaces full of all manner of eye candy are a fun place to wander through and while away a rainy afternoon with the kids.

Cloud Cap Games is a beautifully designed game store stocked wall to wall with fun puzzles and different types of games. They even host regularly scheduled game nights, sometimes in their outdoor gaming space. Now you know where to head for a new game to enjoy during your next family game night.

Just one street down is a craft store called Collage, filled with everything your family needs to get their creativity on. The kids will go nuts in here. Check out their craft night project schedule while you’re there.

Stop by Grand Central Bakery on the way home for fresh baked cookies, bread, and lunch fare, or visit neighborhood favorite: Piece of Cake Bakery for unique cupcakes, cakes by the slice or whole, and more.

One new neighborhood favorite that was designed with mom and dad in mind is Buttercraft, a butter and bottle shop offering wine, beer, tea, cured meats, antipasto, and house-made butter in a variety of unique flavors. Buttercraft offers locals the a walkable destination for date night.

Just as in other Portland neighborhoods, Sellwood-Moreland businesses gladly get in on the action when it comes to community celebrations, participation in the neighborhood celebration ‘Summerville’ is high.

Sellwood-Moreland Neighborhood Schools

The Sellwood-Moreland Neighborhood offers many neighborhood families and children the opportunity to walk to school, with both private and public options including: Llewellyn Elementary School (K-5, public), Sellwood Middle School (6-8, public), Cleveland High School (9-12, public), and St. Agatha Catholic School (K-8, private).

Stay tuned for more Walkable and Family-Friendly Portland, Oregon Neighborhoods.

If you’re ready to start the home-buying process (in Sellwood-Moreland of any other Portland, Oregon or Vancouver, Washington neighborhood) I’d love to help. Give me a call anytime, or start your home-loan prequalification now by submitting your info directly to me using this handy online form.

 

 

 

Best Portland Neighborhoods to Buy a House: Beaumont-Wilshire

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Portland Neighborhood: Beaumont-Wilshire

Located in Northeast Portland, Beaumont-Wilshire is flanked by the Alameda, Concordia, Cully, Rose City Park, and Grant Park neighborhoods. Sitting pretty on the Alameda Ridge, this is one of eastside Portland’s most in-demand (and relatively pricey) neighborhoods. Boasting views of downtown PDX and the Cascades, this charming neighborhood draws mainly retirees, professionals, and families interested in owning a home, with fewer rental opportunities per capita. The median home value is $514,219 in Beaumont-Wilshire compared to the national average of $184,700. This popular Portland neighborhood reflects the higher-than-average home prices we’ve become accustomed to seeing in PDX and surrounding areas.

Kid-Friendly Portland Neighborhoods: Beaumont-Wilshire

Beaumont-Wilshire Neighborhood History

Beaumont-Wilshire was established in the early 1900s but initially, it was two separate neighborhoods, divided by Fremont Street. With its small-town-feel, Fremont now serves the surrounding community as a unifying center for commerce and socializing, the Fremont area is also referred to as Beaumont Village. This well-established neighborhood is now also overseen by an active neighborhood association.

With fun neighborhood activities hosted by local businesses throughout the year, Fremont Street offers a walkable destination for neighborhood families. Hip Hop Into the Shops celebrating Spring, Fright Night at Halloween, Fremont Fest in the Summer, and Holiday Fest in December are especially popular, drawing families from all over Portland to walk the neighborhood and enjoy various festive activities together.

Beaumont-Wilshire Neighborhood Eats

The local Umpqua Bank branch always has fresh coffee and hot chocolate on tap and often keeps chocolate coins on hand. Generous with stickers regardless of the season, they are also rumored to have popsicles in their on-site freezer through the hot summer months. There are tons more family-friendly businesses in Beaumont-Wilshire including: Pip’s Donuts (if you’re visiting on the weekend get there early, the line grows fast!) Batter (chicken and waffles anyone?), Pizzicato (these guys make a delicious light crispy crust pizza, also offering gluten-free crust) Blackbird Wine and Cheese (a favorite neighborhood after-school stop for parents and kids alike, especially at their outdoor patio during the warmer months) Grand Central Bakery (serving cinnamon buns and other fresh-baked goodness) and the brand new Prince Coffee (serving coffee, tea, and STROOPWAFELS!)

Beaumont-Wilshire Neighborhood Park

Also central to Beaumont-Wilshire’s tree-lined neighborhood sits the 14 acre Wilshire Park, offering a picnic area perfect for barbecues and birthday parties, an off-leash section for dogs, walking paths, an expansive playground with climbing structures and a sandpit, a soccer field, and a softball field.

Beaumont-Wilshire Walk Score

The Beaumont-Wilshire walk score of 72 means families with children can walk to just about everything they need right in the neighborhood. The Beaumont Market provides a little bit of everything, from fresh flowers and produce, to cleaning supplies and household needs, to local baked goods and freezer food. Plus they have a huge selection of beer and wine at all price points.

Angela Talbott, an agent with Premiere Property Group shared this little piece of information about the neighborhood market, “In the 1900’s a young architect named Charles W. Ertz came to Portland from California and worked for Joseph Jaccobberger who designed the original Madeleine Parish Church and School on NE 24th. Ertz went on to design the Beaumont Market on NE 41st and Fremont. His challenge was to blend the design for his new market building into the existing context of the neighboring building. Now, no one even realizes they were once two separate buildings. He continued to design and build homes throughout the Alameda Ridge, reflecting the California vibe of Spanish Revival architecture.”

Across the street from Beaumont Market, Beaumont Hardware stocks a full complement of hardware and gardening supplies, and may be one of the last opportunities to experience a true old-school neighborhood hardware store.

Todd Peres, a real estate broker with Debbie Thomas Real Estate agrees, “This little hardware store is old-school with super-friendly and knowledgeable staff – someone actually greets you when you walk in and helps you find what you need, plus it’s dog-friendly!”

Beaumont-Wilshire Schools

Many local families and children walk to their neighborhood schools – with both public and private options in the area including: Alameda Elementary School (K-5, public), The Madeleine School (K-8, private Catholic), Beaumont Middle School (6-8, public), The Ivy School (K-8, public charter Montessori) as well as a long list of tiny home-based preschools in the area.

Maria Fitzgerald, an Inhabit agent honored as one of the top 10% in Portland, shares her favorite features of the neighborhood, “Beaumont-Wilshire is a top Northeast neighborhood for families because of its fantastic proximity to most everyday needs. It has drop-in healthcare, Beaumont Market for those last-minute dinner needs, and the trusted hardware store thatʼs a neighborhood staple. Family-friendly restaurants and coffee shops like Pip’s, Jim and Pattyʼs and Grand Central Bakery keep people coming back. Itʼs a wonderful place to walk and bike while admiring all the beautiful homes. I especially love the hidden public stairs which are one of my favorite workouts!”

Premiere agent Angela Talbott agrees that the Beaumont-Wilshire area is great for families who are looking for “good schools and a beautiful house, not too far from the interstate for the work commute AND the ability to walk or bike through the neighborhood to easily get to the park, the market, or a lovely dinner or breakfast place with the kids. Families in the city!”

Stay tuned for more Walkable and Kid-Friendly Portland, Oregon Neighborhoods.

If you’re ready to start the home-buying process (in Beaumont-Wilshire of any other Portland, Oregon or Vancouver, Washington neighborhood) I’d love to help. Give me a call anytime, or start your home-loan prequalification now by submitting your info directly to me using this handy online form.

The Best Neighborhoods to Buy a House in Portland

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The Best Neighborhoods to Buy a House in Portland

Portland’s real estate market has cooled overall, just a bit – for now. It’ll be interesting to watch the numbers as 2017 closes out and we start the new year. To help give home buyers the inside scoop on which emerging neighborhoods in our area are the most promising I talked to some of my favorite local real estate colleagues to see what they had to say about the best neighborhoods to buy a house in Portland in 2018.

For those buyers who may be feeling shut out by Portland’s overall higher price point, Maria Fitzgerald, a seasoned broker with Inhabit Real Estate explains,

“I often hear the question: ‘Where should I buy a house that is up and coming and we won’t be priced out of the market?’ You can still get a great house, and oftentimes below the average price point in Portland of $428,800. That’s not to say you won’t be doing some sweat equity but it will be worth it! Portland is growing at a rapid pace, buy with walkability to parks, transit, and neighborhood offerings like coffee and restaurants in mind. Investing in areas where transit (bike, streetcar, Max or a bus line) is near and you can enjoy the energy of Portland is key to gaining equity more quickly in my opinion.”

The Best Neighborhoods to Buy a House in Portland in 2018

The Best Neighborhoods to Buy a House In Portland: East Side

The top up-and-coming Portland neighborhoods Maria Fitzgerald recommends are:

St. Johns

St. Johns $344k median sales price.

The St. Johns Neighborhood Association touts this far north neighborhood as a ‘small town in a big city’ – the neighborhood actually was its own incorporated city between 1902 and 1915. This area boasts one of the city’s most beautiful bridges, the St. John’s Bridge, and the corresponding park, Cathedral Park, this neighborhood is also home to a vast assortment of social, shopping, and dining destinations including it’s own McMenamins Theater and Pub and the Moonstruck Chocolate Factory.

While great burgers, beer, and gourmet chocolate aren’t really reasons to buy a home, factor in the affordability, the best-of-both-worlds urban/suburban lifestyle, and the close-knit community which consistently draws young professionals and families to buy and put down roots in this neighborhood and St. John’s is an excellent place to purchase a home in Portland.

Foster-Powell

FoPo $350k median sales price.

The Foster-Powell neighborhood (Or ‘FoPo’ as it’s affectionately referred to by those in the know) is known as ‘The heart of the city’ – and to prove it, the FOPO Neighborhood Association includes a heart in its logo. This outer southeast Portland neighborhood is considered to be one to watch as more families and small businesses move to the area. With no less than eight local parks, a Foster Area Business Association-organized art walk, a neighborhood garden tour, and more, this area is heart-centered and community driven. With the development and launch two years ago of the locally-owned, entrepreneur-friendly Portland Mercado FoPo has cemented itself as one of PDX’s most welcoming and culturally diverse areas.

Also: Cully | Brentwood-Darlington | Rocky Butte

Fitzgerald also advises Portland-area home buyers looking for more house for their money to consider the Cully ($335k median sales price), Brentwood-Darlington ($319 median sales price), and Rocky Butte ($350k median sales price) neighborhoods.

The Best Neighborhoods to Buy a House In Portland: West Side

Maplewood

Sean Becker of Sean Z. Becker Real Estate states that “The area of Vermont Hills and specifically Maplewood is a great place to buy right now. Its close-in, with great homes that are still affordable, making it a great option compared to further out northeast and southeast Portland.” Sean further emphasizes the larger lot sizes available to buyers in these neighborhoods.

Maplewood, an almost exclusively residential neighborhood located in suburban southwest Portland, has its fair share of beautiful parks and greenspace, including the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden and Gabriel Park. A neighborhood populated with families as well as elder generations, this community is well-connected by the green spaces, hills, and creeks that exemplify an active Portland outdoor lifestyle.

Downtown Beaverton

Alpine Group’s Seann Bates sees strong purchase value near downtown Beaverton and explains, “The city of Beaverton is on a real push to reinvent itself by helping small business and trendy shop owners by revitalizing their downtown area. The homes in this part of town are smaller and more catered toward the first-time home buyer or people looking to renovate.”

Beaverton, with a median home price of $365,300, is a suburb of Portland, Oregon and the 5th largest city in Oregon. The development of the MAX light rail transportation system into Beaverton in the 1990s made this once far-reaching area immediately more accessible and it’s been growing ever since. With the Beaverton Farmer’s Market, a wide range of authentic and diverse food choices, and countless locally-owned shops and small businesses, as well as a beautiful city park and fountain and a public library, downtown Beaverton and the surrounding area offers home buyers a vibrant community.

As Seann mentioned, the city of Beaverton has focused efforts on downtown growth. The Beaverton Main Street Program “works to foster vibrant commercial districts that draw people, businesses, and investment to key areas of the city” and has successfully revitalized the area, bringing more small businesses to the economy and more growing families to the housing market. Downtown Beaverton is located seven miles west of Portland, making it accessible to the city.

Ready to Buy a House in Portland?

If you’re ready to buy a house in one of these up-and-coming Portland, Oregon neighborhoods, or any other Portland or Vancouver-area home please get in touch with me to learn more about the mortgage lending process and how much house you can afford.