Walk Score

Best Portland Neighborhoods to Buy a House: Richmond

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The Richmond neighborhood is situated in southeast Portland and incorporates both the Hawthorne and Clinton/Division areas giving residents easy access to two distinct, vibrant, walkable areas full of an eclectic collection of retail, coffee shops, art galleries, entertainment, restaurants, markets, and nightlife. Many area businesses maintain strong ties to their past, like the Bagdad Theater and Pub on 37th and Hawthorne.  Originally opened in 1927, the Bagdad was one of the first to bring movies to the Portland area and continues to show films today.

Best Portland Neighborhoods to Buy a House: Richmond

Richmond Neighborhood Lifestyle

The Richmond area is admittedly a difficult place for parking – much to the dismay of the folks who own homes close to the central shopping areas. It is, however, a walker’s paradise with a walk score of 90 and a 97/100 for bicyclists. According to one Richmond area resident, “The great thing about this part of town is that you can walk pretty much anywhere! There are interesting shops and restaurants on Division Street as well as on Hawthorne and between these two streets, you can find just about anything you need.”

Local real estate agent Natalie Strom with Living Room Realty agrees, stating: “Eclectic, walkable, centrally located, funky, charming and super fun, Richmond has it all. Bikes abound in this neighborhood, and you can find locals and visitors alike roaming between cafes, book stores, restaurants, shops, brewpubs, and a great network of parks. Find yourself picking up an ultimate frisbee game at Sewallcrest Park in the morning and wandering down to Ladd’s Addition to tour the centuries’ old rose garden and lovingly maintained estate homes. Perfectly situated between Mt Tabor, Laurelhurst and world-class eating in Division, the Richmond neighborhood in SE can’t be beat!”

The Richmond area boasts two beautiful parks: Sewallcrest Park and Ivon Street Park. Sewallcrest offers just under 5 acres of public green space and includes a playground, basketball court, an unfenced off-leash dog park, paved walking paths, a picnic area, soccer field, and a softball field. Teeny Ivon Park is only a third of an acre and provides a sweet little green space and traditional playground set with swings and a slide, as well as benches.

Neighborhood Favorites

With so many wonderful things to eat in the Richmond area, it’s nearly impossible to narrow down the neighborhood favorites but with a few Yelp searches we’ve come up with the shortlist:

Taqueria Lindo Michoacan: serves up authentic Mexican food touted among locals as exceptional for the value. This little food truck puts out delectable street tacos, fajitas, quesadillas, burritos, nachos, enchiladas, tortas, combo plates, breakfast versions each, and even salads.

Malka: with dishes like the Beautiful Blouse (mini roast chicken sandwich) the Muriel, I Can’t Find My Vest (fried chicken and bacon sandwich [or veg version with eggplant and mushrooms)), and Important Helmet for Outer Space (rice bowl with pork shoulder in curry) this new, cozy eatery serves up as much personality as it does awesome fare.

Matcha Café Maiko: first opened in Hawaii, this relative newcomer to PDX quickly became a local favorite. All of their matcha is imported from Uji, Japan and everything is made in-house: ice cream, sponge cakes, waffle cones, and even the adzuki bean toppings,

Bete-Lukas Ethiopian Restaurant: offering a full Ethiopian food menu and weekend specials, Bete-Lukas serves up authentic and traditional foods. Salads and sambusas complement their fish, chicken, lamb, and beef dishes. Their extensive menu also includes vegan options.

Tov: is a cozy red double-decker bus with indoor and outdoor seating serving up traditional Egyptian coffee and Turkish tea as well as edible delicacies. Quirky drink names like Nectar of the Gods, and Sounds Like Trouble with the Cops adorn the chalkboard menu.

Trinket: this ultra-popular Richmond brunch and lunch spot serves up the chef’s own favorite family recipes including duck eggs benedict, seasonal hash, and polenta with steamed eggs and greens. Hearty lunch offerings like the French dip and tuna melt keep this small local join packed each day.

PokPok: a Portland sensation, this authentic Thai street food restaurant boasts a James Beard award and a Michelin star.

Kati: this Thai place is packed every single day with carnivores and herbivores alike, even though it is strictly vegan/vegetarian. Kati opens its waitlist each day at 11:30 am to help manage the throngs of patrons. Folks consistently rave about the food here.

PDX Sliders: voted best burger in PDX, this joint serves up burgers and sandwiches in two sizes (slider and full-size) and lets you order any burger or sandwich as a salad instead. Beef, braised pork, marinated or fried chicken, portabella mushrooms, corned beef, and black bean patties are all available options.

Richmond Neighborhood Schools

Richmond is served by the following schools: Richmond Elementary School (K-5, public); Woodward Montessori School (private preschool); St. Ignatius School (K-8, private Catholic); Cleveland High School (9-12, public).

Local Real Estate

Richmond neighborhood median home values are currently reported at around $500,000, however, in the last couple of months average home sale prices have topped $750,000 (up nearly 30% from the previous year) with an average of just 10 days on the market. The Richmond real estate market has been undeniably heating up.

Entry-level real estate opportunities in the area are apartments and condos starting at around $280,000. Single-family homes start in the mid-400s and come in just under 1 million dollars.

If you’re ready to start the home-buying process (in Richmondl or any other Portland, Oregon or Vancouver, Washington neighborhood) I’d love to help! Give me a call anytime, or start the prequalification process now with this easy online mortgage application form.

Best Portland Neighborhoods to Buy a Home: Concordia

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For decades, Northeast Portland’s Concordia neighborhood was one of the most rundown areas in the city. Thanks to urban renewal efforts it’s now one of the most vibrant NE areas PDX has to offer, largely due to the exceptional diversity the neighborhood boasts, with many African-American and Latino-owned businesses calling the area home. Also central to the growth of the Concordia neighborhood is the thriving Alberta Arts District, famous for 15 blocks of eclectic coffee shops, restaurants, boutiques, bookstores, artisan storefronts, and service businesses.

Best Portland Oregon neighborhoods Concordia Fernhill Park

Neighborhood Real Estate

The dense suburban feel, varied local commerce, and great walkability in many parts of this expansive neighborhood have invigorated the real estate market in Concordia with families, singles, and retirees alike seeking out the strong community vibe.

Although the neighborhood has seen an increase in real estate prices, matching trends in Portland overall, it’s still possible to land a blank slate in Concordia with the occasional plot coming up for sale for a couple hundred thousand dollars as homeowners divide larger properties. Of course, the market swings equally far in the other direction with higher-end homes priced into the mid-to-high $800,000’s. However, Concordia’s median home value lands right around $367,000.

Concordia Community

An active Concordia Neighborhood Association does its part to ensure locals are aware of the numerous community events happening on a regular basis. With everything from Time Together at Cerimon House where folks are invited to “gather, knit, craft, fold, chat, be.” to FEAST (Forget Everything & Sing Together) Community Choir welcoming new singers to this “acapella choir with the goal to build community” and everything in between. Concordia is most popular in the summers with the Alberta Street Fair and the Last Thursday Arts Walk gathering people from all over the city to enjoy food, music, and art in the streets.

Concordia Lifestyle

Like most Portland neighborhoods, green space per capita is high, with the beautiful and expansive Fernhill and Alberta parks gracing the area. Fernhill is a massive 24-acre park with community softball and baseball diamonds, soccer and football fields, tennis courts, and a volleyball court. The park also has horseshoe pits, a running track, a playground, and a summertime kiddie pool, as well as picnic tables and an off-leash dog park. Fernhill also hosts a series of free live concerts in the summer on the expansive green lawn. Alberta Park is 17-with a baseball diamond, football and soccer fields, a covered basketball court, two tennis courts, and a playground. The park also includes a picnic area and a walking trail throughout.

A great example of the neighborhood’s renewal over the decades, locally famous Kennedy School was built in 1915 and served as a neighborhood Elementary School. As the neighborhood faced economic downturn, however, the school was left vacant until the 1990s when the McMenamins group purchased and renovated the building, turning it into a 57-room hotel with its own brewery, movie theater, bar, outdoor saltwater soaking pool, and restaurant complete with an outdoor courtyard and fireplace. (Neighbors and other Portland locals know Kennedy School’s soaking pool is one of PDX’s best-kept secrets with a one-hour soak available weekdays for just five dollars.)

Concordia Neighborhood Schools

Concordia students are served by the Portland Public School system through the following schools: Rigler Elementary School (public, K-5), Vernon (public, K-8), Faubion (public, K-8), Joseph L. Meek Professional Technical High School (public, 9-12), Jefferson High School (public, 9-12), Madison High School (public, 9-12). The namesake of the neighborhood, the University of Concordia, is a private liberal arts college that has central to the neighborhood since 1905. [Update 2/2020: After 115 years, Concordia University in Northeast Portland will close its doors at the end of the 2020 spring term.]

If you’re ready to start the home-buying process (in the Concordia area or any other Oregon or Washington neighborhood) or you just want to know what you qualify for, I’d love to help! I’d love the opportunity to discuss your home-ownership goals, answer any questions, and crunch the numbers so we know what you qualify for. Feel free to drop by my office at 1238 NW Glisan Suite A in Portland’s Pearl District, shoot me an email, or give me a call anytime at (971) 404-9844.

Best Portland-area Neighborhoods to Buy a House: Lake Oswego

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The upscale Lake Oswego community, less than 10 miles south of Portland, Oregon and situated neatly between the Pacific coast and Mount Hood, offers residents easy access to season sports like hiking, skiing, and snowboarding as well as summer beaches and their quaint coastal communities which are popular year-round.

With a sweet, small-town feel, Lake Oswego (often affectionately referred to as “LO”) sits on a 420-acre lake that offers plenty of local outdoor recreation like bird-watching, swimming, boating, fishing, and more.

Best Portland-area Neighborhoods to Buy a House: Lake Oswego

Lake Oswego History

Originally inhabited by the Clackamas Indian Tribe, the town was founded in 1847 and incorporated as Oswego (named after Oswego, New York) in 1910. The city was the hub of Oregon’s brief iron industry in the late 19th century. When the railroad arrived in Oswego in 1886 it provided a direct link to Portland. Train traffic reached its peak in 1920 with 64 trains to and from Portland each day. Under a decade later, the line was retired, but has been preserved with the Willamette Shore Trolley continuing to offer scenic trolley rides.

Local Lifestyle

Surrounded by pristine natural beauty, LO is home to numerous golf courses including the Oswego Lake Country Club, a members-only club that debuted its greens in 1924. Their historic clubhouse followed soon after in 1925. On the other side of the lake sits the Lake Oswego Public Golf Course which operates as a city-owned 18-hole course.

With 24 parks covering 600 acres in total, including the 53-acre West Waluga Park, there’s no shortage of beautiful outdoor space to enjoy. The city of Lake Oswego boasts amenities including the Roehr Park Amphitheater, a swim park open during the summer months, a water sports center that is home to Lake Oswego Rowing, outdoor and indoor tennis courts, as well as picnic shelters, playgrounds, and more.

The tight-knit Lake Oswego community loves to come together to celebrate holidays, the changing of the seasons, and more with numerous community events planned throughout the year including local favorites: the Star Spangled Parade and Celebration for the Fourth of July which kicks off from Millennium Plaza Park, free Summer Concerts Wednesday nights in July and August, and Moonlight, and free, family-friendly Music Concerts Sunday nights through July and August. There are also Summer Movies in the Park, and the Holiday Market and Holiday Tree Lighting.

The Farmers’ Market  is so popular that folks will drive in from Portland proper each Saturday from May through October to shop with over 80 local vendors selling just about anything one could need for the home, kitchen, and pantry including meat, chicken, eggs, nuts, cheeses, artisan breads, fresh-made jams, pastries, seafood, crafts, and more.

LO also boasts a small but thriving arts scene with Lakewood Center for the Arts putting on regular performances and an annual Festival of the Arts. ARTSpace hosts rotating exhibitions and is open free for a public reception the first Friday of every month.

Best Lake Oswego Neighborhoods

There are 27 recognized neighborhoods in Lake Oswego, all of which have access to top-rated schools and community amenities.

Kevin Costello of Hasson Company Realtors says, “There is a renaissance happening in downtown Lake Oswego right now and the charming First Addition neighborhood is perfectly positioned to enjoy it. Restaurants, shops, concerts, lake views, and public library – are all within walking distance. With that in mind, the demand for housing here exceeds the supply with little end in sight. Motivated, patient buyers can find their dream house here, at a premium.”

Although this area as a whole is rated as ‘car-dependent’ with a walk score of 36 a transit score of 26, and a bike score of 47 there are a number of neighborhoods that are developing more walkable areas for residents such as the Foothills and Evergreen neighborhoods with walk scores of 73 and extra-swank Lakewood with a 72 walk score.

Lake Oswego Schools

LO is served by the Lake Oswego School District. According to GreatSchools, some of the highest-rated schools in the area include Forest Hills Elementary School (public, K-5), Oak Creek Elementary School (public, K-5), Lakeridge Junior High School (public, 6-8), and Lakeridge High School (public, 9-12). Local private school options include Our Lady of the Lake Catholic School (private, K-8), Westside Christian High School (private, 9-12), and Park Academy (private with Dyslexia focus, 3-8 and 9-12).

Lake Oswego Real Estate

While Lake Oswego is known mainly an affluent community with high-end real estate prices to match, there are still opportunities to purchase in this community for under $200k with condos or townhouse options. That said, fully 50% of all currently listed LO properties are priced at $1million and up with the highest-end property currently listed at just under $7million.

As of this writing, according to Zillow, the median Lake Oswego home price falls at $641,000 landing at $282 per square foot on average, about $55 more than that of Portland.

Veronica Park, Principal Broker with Cascade Sotheby’s International explains this exceptionally healthy real estate market, “Even during the downturn, the home values in Lake Oswego were barely affected. The schools are exceptional and all that the community offers, be it the Farmer’s Market, the Park & Rec programs, or the strong community involvement, Lake Oswego is consistently a great place to buy and live. I’m proud to work and live in this wonderful city!”

If you’re ready to start the home-buying process (in the Lake Oswego area or any other Portland, Oregon or Vancouver, Washington neighborhood) I’d love to help! I specialize in guiding home buyers through the mortgage process and would love the opportunity to sit down with you to discuss your home-ownership goals, answer your current questions, and help you determine exactly how much home you can afford. Feel free to drop by my office at 1238 NW Glisan Suite A in Portland’s Pearl District, shoot me an email, or give me a call anytime at (971) 404-9844.

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.

South Waterfront: Best Portland Neighborhoods to Buy a House

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Up and Coming Portland Neighborhoods: South Waterfront

As recently as 2010, Portland’s South Waterfront neighborhood, located in the intersection of the Willamette River and Downtown PDX, was essentially empty – populated by undeveloped lots and mostly unused buildings. 

When the neighborhood was first slated for growth, Portland’s Office of Planning and Sustainability offered this “Vision for 2035”: “…a dense, vibrant, walkable, distinctly urban mixed-use community, with market rate and affordable housing options and excellent access to transit, parks and neighborhood amenities…”

The Growth of Portland’s South Waterfront Neighborhood

In the past few years (especially since 2015 with the opening of the Tilikum Crossing, Portland’s newest bridge built to service the MAX Orange Line along with pedestrians or bicyclists) this urban neighborhood has begun to grow at a rapid pace and is attracting a varied mix of folks including young professionals, retired folks, OHSU medical students and doctors, and more. With an average resident age of 47, this newish area is not yet attracting as many young families with children as the more established neighborhoods but that doesn’t mean it lacks high energy. 52% of this small neighborhood’s population (just under 4k) are homeowners – mainly living in the high-rise condo buildings and new apartment buildings now populating the area.

While the district continues to grow toward the original vision and now contains not only residences but numerous busy restaurants, grocery, retail, and service businesses, the goal to include affordable housing has proved to be a difficult one for the city to deliver on. The neighborhood is indeed fast becoming ‘dense and vibrant’ and is certainly ‘walkable’ but it is also already one of the more expensive for real estate in the Portland area.

Even so, South Waterfront residents seem to be willing to pay the premium and love their ever-changing neighborhood noting the great public transit and safe, clean streets. One resident noted, “It’s still in progress, but this is turning into a gorgeous neighborhood.”

Sean Becker, principal real estate broker at Sean Z. Becker Real Estate, serves the entire Portland area but specializes in high-end South Waterfront real estate. He enjoys the area so much he even parked his office there and has this to say about the district: “Portland is a city of great neighborhoods, and South Waterfront is just another great neighborhood in a city full of them. For all the talk about South Waterfront being an “up and coming” neighborhood, the truth is that it is a great neighborhood right NOW. There are thousands of people who live, work, and play here daily, making for a very vibrant neighborhood. Our first-hand experience selling homes in South Waterfront since 2004, is that people who seek out South Waterfront do so for very specific reasons – the homes are beautiful and among the nicest condominiums in the city, and the neighborhood enjoys stunning views combined with a very peaceful and serene setting.”

South Waterfront Real Estate

Sean’s website currently lists a range of available properties starting at around $300,000 for a 631 square-foot furnished studio, one-bathroom with river, mountain, and city views, deeded parking, rooftop deck, 24/7 concierge, and a 2-acre park below. and careening all the way up to multiple property listings in the $1.5 million dollar range for a two-bedroom, two-bathroom, two-terrace penthouse condo with sweeping views and loads of amenities. Sean also notes the average price for property in the South Waterfront area lands at around $740,000 – a whopping $468+ per square foot.

South Waterfront Neighborhood Lifestyle

Offering the best of two distinct worlds, the South Waterfront combines an urban, energized environment with immediate access to the beautiful natural views and surrounds of the Willamette River, including the expansive South Waterfront Greenway – a linear park and walking and biking trail along the riverfront. Still under development in some areas, the greenway includes breathtaking natural views, green spaces, and public art installations.

At the end of the greenway is the idyllic little South Waterfront Park: With restful ponds complete with lily pads, this oasis of peace and quiet in the busy city is touted by neighbors as one of the best newer parks in PDX.

The South Waterfront district is also served by numerous public transit options, allowing residents to not only enjoy their bustling immediate surrounds but to easily visit neighboring areas, giving South Waterfront residents a wide reach. Connected to the Central Eastside via the ‘Bridge of the People’ Tilikum Crossing, the South Waterfront is also served by the Portland Streetcar which connects riders to Northwest Portland and the Pearl District through Downtown and Portland State University. The Aerial Tram, and the MAX Orange Line are additional local transportation options. These transit options give easy access to amenities like Oregon Museum of Science and Industry on the Eastside, and all that NW and Central Downtown PDX have to offer.

Although the South Waterfront Walk Score currently hovers around 50 out of the possible 100 – this is quickly changing as more businesses are drawn to the area. With average commute times to Downtown Portland ranging from just 5 minutes by car, about 13 minutes by Streetcar, 8 minutes by bike, and 30 minutes on foot this neighborhood is perfectly poised for growth.

Schools in Portland’s South Waterfront Neighborhood

There are a few local options for families with children in this neighborhood, although all of them are non-traditional as there are no Portland Public Schools campuses in the district. Local schools include The Cottonwood School (K-8, Public Charter), The International School (Preschool-5, Private, Fully immersive Spanish, Japanese or Chinese) Sunstone Montessori School (Preschool-6, Private), and of course, a number of higher education campuses with some of OHSU’s schools in the area.

While Portland’s South Waterfront is a work-in-progress, it’s on the tipping point toward a bustling neighborhood with all of the amenities of a more established but still relatively new neighborhood like The Pearl District. It’ll be both exciting and interesting watch this area develop and mature.

If you’re ready to start the home-buying process (in the South Waterfront area or any other Portland, Oregon or Vancouver, Washington neighborhood) I’d love to help. Give me a call to discuss the numbers. Or start your mortgage prequalification process now via this online form.

Best Portland Neighborhoods to Buy a House: Foster-Powell

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Portland, Oregon’s Southeast Foster-Powell neighborhood, affectionately referred to as FoPo, is one a few remaining truly affordable neighborhoods for families looking to purchase real estate. It’s affordable, mainly because it’s still considered to be ‘up and coming’ but ask any neighbor in this compact ‘hood and you’ll quickly learn that those who call this area home consider it one of the best and more diverse PDX has to offer.

The explosion in Portland real estate the last few years has brought an influx of new residents to this developing area. New residents = new energy. With plenty of small businesses taking root, Foster-Powell, an area that once had a pretty bad rep, has been and continues to be thoroughly invigorated. Historically, the area came about as a result of the construction of Portland’s original electric streetcar in the 1890s.

Great Portland Neighborhoods to Buy a House: Foster-Powell

Foster-Powell Neighborhood Lifestyle

The Foster-Powell neighborhood rests in the Willamette River and Johnson Creek watersheds. Shaped like a triangle, this neighborhood is bordered by three major roadways: SE Powell Boulevard., SE Foster Road., and 82nd Avenue providing direct access to public transportation. While FoPo is not currently served by a MAX line, the city has been discussing the possibility. Commercial activity, consisting of everything a growing neighborhood could need, occurs at the outer edges – on Powell, Foster, and 82nd, with the interior streets being mainly residential.

With the Foster Transportation and Streetscape Project well underway the city plans to deliver “a street that is safer and more attractive for people walking, biking, taking transit and driving.” It will also add 190 new street trees and decorative street lights to help transform the area.

The FoPo neighborhood is buffeted by three local parks: Essex Park on 79th and Center, Kern Park on 66th and Center, and Laurelwood Park at the intersection of Foster Road and Holgate. There’s also the lovely Firland Parkway; a median strip of green in the city populated by large trees, right in the middle of 72nd Ave between Foster and Holgate.

With a coveted walk score of 80 and an almost perfect bike score of 99 (!!), Foster-Powell provides access to everyday community services and neighborhood resources within easy reach.

The strong FoPo Neighborhood Association helps provide even more stability to this growing, diverse community of families, retired folks, and young people.

This tight-knit neighborhood even has it’s own annual garden tour – showcasing 18-25 beautiful, local homegrown gardens each year. And from June to October the Woodstock Farmers Market serves fresh local food and live music to the community on Sundays.

Real estate agent Angela Talbott of Premiere Property Group agrees, “Foster-Powell is one of the top areas to live in Portland because it’s one of the most diverse and still affordable for close-in areas of the city! This fun neighborhood offers a huge amount of great restaurants, parks, and really good public school ratings. It’s a unique vibe, urban living in a neighborhood, and an area of “new ownership” for folks searching for their first home purchase!”

Things To Do In Foster-Powell

This smallish Portland neighborhood packs a big punch when it comes to things to do – from a busy nightlife to a huge assortment of delicious eats, FoPo has it all. Here are just a few local favorites:

Portland Mercado: The Portland Mercado is a grassroots community response to the dream of developing the first Latino public market in Portland while simultaneously operating as a response to wealth disparities in the region. The Mercado represents “the strong community desire to have a center for commerce based on Latino heritage.” You’ll find 9 food carts and 6 indoor business (including a neighborhood bar, a fresh produce market, and a Nicaraguan coffee shop) representing the diverse flavors of Latin America. The Portland Mercado is open daily from 11am-8pm.

Carts on Foster: There are no less than seventeen food carts parked in this covered lot at the intersection of Foster and 52nd. The diverse selection includes PDX favorites such as The Egg Carton for brunch and eggs; Road Runner BBQ; Fritkot PDX – Belgian fries and beef stew; The Chicken Coop for fried chicken goodness and other southern comforts; Istanbul Delight for perfect gyros, shawarma, and falafel; and much more!

There’s even Salon Bucci – a salon in a cart for haircuts, serving men, women, and children.

If you’re looking for a good old-fashioned burger and fries, head to neighborhood staple, Foster Burger, the rock n’ roll burger bar down the road.

Or, grab a big hot bowl of pho at local favorite Pho Hung.

Tango Berretin: Get your dance on at this local tango spot – take lessons, join guided tango practice each week, or dive in and take a group lesson before enjoying dancing a Saturday night away (9 pm – 1 am).

You’ll also find a plethora of unique art studios in Foster-Powell including Bohio Studio, Flat Blak Gallery, and Po’ Boy Art to name just a few.

Want something fun to do with the kids on a rainy day? Visit Make Do Art Studio offering classes, camps, and workshops for children and families.

Foster-Powell Neighborhood Schools

The Foster-Powell neighborhood is served by the following schools (this is not a comprehensive list): Arleta K-8 (K-8, public), Marysville School (K-8, public); Wild Lilac Child Development Community (Infants, Toddlers, Preschool, private); Franklin High School (9-12, public); Mt Scott Learning Center (9-12, private).

Foster-Powell Neighborhood Real Estate

Median home values in Foster-Powell are still higher than the natural average, but lower than most of the rest of the Portland- Metro area, at $250,716. About half of neighborhood residents are homeowners, as opposed to renters. Providing an increased sense of neighborhood stability.

Stay tuned for information on more great Portland, Oregon neighborhoods.

If you’re ready to start the home-buying process (in Foster-Powell 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.