Portland Regional Area

Many people immediately think of the Portland metropolitan region when they consider moving to Oregon. The city thrives both day and night and offers an active lifestyle with numerous restaurants, shops, museums and entertainment centers. Lush gardens and expansive parks are scattered throughout the city known for its abundant flowering roses. The Portland region attracts sports enthusiasts who find year-round activities such as boating, fishing, golf and bicycling. Dozens of scenic walking paths meander throughout the neighborhoods and nearby hiking trails provide access to the Cascade Mountains and wilderness areas. Portland’s architecture combines historic ambiance and contemporary design and Portland’s has been named America’s most sustainable city (1).

The Oregon Coast

One of the most beautiful coastlines in the U.S. can be found along the western edge of Oregon. Charming original lighthouses highlight the shoreline adding to the beauty and nostalgic feeling of the Oregon coast. The towns that reside along the 363 mile stretch of Highway 101 offer beachfront access and a peaceful and fulfilling lifestyle. Coos Bay and North Bend on the southern coast have a mild climate and extensive outdoor recreation venues. The popular central coast region is filled with State Parks, scenic beaches and Lincoln City, rated as one of the top places to retire in the U.S. The northern coastline boasts a series of small towns including historic Astoria and Seaside where long sandy beaches, parks and a waterfront village atmosphere brings year-round enjoyment.

Central Oregon

The sunny climate and abundant outdoor activities make living in Central Oregon a popular choice. The cities of Bend and Redmond have become a haven for families and retirees and are close to ski slopes, hiking trails and rock climbing centers. A high desert terrain characterizes much of the central region and provides breathtaking scenery and dryer weather. Forests, lakes and rivers highlight the regions surrounding the town of Sisters located at the edge of the Cascades. Favorite activities in this region include cycling, hiking and mountain climbing and residents will find cultural events including art shows, music concerts and local craft fairs.

Eastern Oregon

The region on Eastern Oregon, located adjacent to the borders of Washington, Idaho and California, offers a quiet lifestyle with plenty of open space to explore. Residents in this region may find a ranch for sale or choose to live near one of many lakes and rivers interspersed among high desert scenery. Top-rated downhill skiing is close by and an abundance of outdoor recreation including hiking, kayaking and mountain biking are easily accessible. The centrally located city of Hermiston provides close access to the Interstate Highways and offers job opportunities in agriculture and food processing, light industry and consumer services. Property near Baker City includes new homes with acreage, Victorian cottages and spacious single family homes.

Southern Oregon

History and natural beauty abound in Southern Oregon where visitors enjoy sites such as Crater Lake and come to see the annual Shakespeare Festival in Ashland. The historic town of Jacksonville maintains its Western heritage while providing modern amenities and a desirable lifestyle. New residents flock to the Rogue Valley region where they enjoy a mild climate, ample outdoor recreation and year-round cultural activities.

The Willamette Valley

Hillsides covered with vineyards, views of the mountains and scenic waterways create an attractive region in the Northwest section of Oregon. In the city of Eugene, the University of Oregon provides education and employment opportunities and residents in this region enjoy an active outdoor lifestyle. In Corvallis, excellent housing and employment can be found as well as Oregon State University. Oregon’s capital city, Salem, resides on the Willamette River and is less than an hour from the Portland region.

Mt. Hood and the Columbia River Gorge

The border between northern Oregon and southern Washington is a natural paradise that provides a fertile valley for agriculture and offers sports and recreation throughout the year. New boutique wineries continue to appear and the area has become a popular place for retirees, families and young professionals seeking a unique relocation opportunity. The city of Hood River thrives with tourism and outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy windsurfing, white water rafting and water sports on the Columbia River. The backdrop of Mt. Hood highlights the Dalles Area, a popular residential area filled with both history and pleasant new homes.

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The verdant Willamette Valley is famous for its storybook farms, colorful patchwork of cropland, and for its wealth of award-winning wineries surrounded by lush vineyards, many of which offer onsite lodging and activities for kids. Some of the area’s lesser known attractions include the 80-acre Oregon Garden in Silverton which boasts Oregon’s only Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home, the children’s Discovery Museum in downtown Salem, McMinnville’s Evergreen Aviation Museum and the Baskett Slough Wildlife Refuge- home to over 2000 acres of trailed forest, upland prairie and wetlands.

The Columbia River Gorge river canyon follows North America’s second largest river and encompasses a National Scenic Area spanning more than 290,000 acres along the river border of Oregon and Washington. Outdoor recreational opportunities are nearly endless in this region, with hiking, biking, sailing and windsurfing being the most popular. Additional attractions include the observatory Vista House at Crown Point and the famed Multnomah Falls and the historic Bonneville Dam.

Southern Oregon was the site of Oregon’s own gold rush in the early 19th century and offers an incredible wealth of outdoor and cultural opportunities. Choose from rafting on the Rogue River, camping at Crater Lake, hiking in the gorgeous Klamath Basin or hunting for sea shells along America’s Wild Rivers Coast before seeking out one of the area’s venerable fresh air festivals such as the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland or the Britt Music Festival in Jacksonville. Luxury and mid-priced lodgings abound in Southern Oregon, and include Guest Ranches for the adventurous traveler.

With mildly positive job growth expected this year, the Oregon economy is poised to see as much as a 2% employment growth by the fourth quarter of 2011. A bounce-back by the professional and business service sectors is expected, as well as growth in the retail and high-tech industries. Just a few of the regions looking forward to expanded employment opportunities:

Lebanon- Located near the state capital city of Salem, Lebanon is home to approximately 16,000 residents, manufacturing giant Entek International, and the soon-to-open Western University of Health Sciences. Staffing jobs at the university will be available, as well as at new adjunct businesses such as the associated fitness center, pharmacy, coffee shop and credit union.

Medford- Oregon’s fourth-largest metro area is located less than 20 miles from the Oregon/California border and is home to Harry & David, the venerable but recently troubled gift-baskets distributor. In spite of ongoing legal challenges, the company will be adding 1,400 new call-center jobs starting in May.

Coos Bay- This small coastal community saw a huge increase in job opportunities earlier this year when First Call Resolution announced they would be adding 250 field support positions. Employees will be providing customer service to clients in the health care, travel and wireless industries.

Portland Metro Area- With Intel, the Portland Timbers, Vestas, McMenamins and other industry powerhouses announcing plans to hire hundreds of workers in the coming months, the outlook is brightening for job seekers and those looking to relocate to the metro area.

Attend a home buyer training course: Often offered for free or little charge by your state or city government, and by local real estate professionals, these workshops cover topics including financial preparation, mortgages, finding the right home, closing the loan, insurance requirements and protecting your investment once the purchase has been made.

Determine what you can afford: An honest look at your finances will help you determine what size monthly payments you can comfortably afford. Utilize the tools you received in your training course or an online calculator to create a realistic monthly budget that will help you map out a plan for covering the various expenses of owning a home.

Find a qualified buyer’s agent: Hiring an agent in the early stages of the process will give you peace of mind and ensure you have a knowledgeable advocate on your side when negotiating long term contracts with sellers and loan officers.

Shop for a mortgage: Choosing a preferred lender and obtaining pre-approval for a loan is important. In the first meeting you will learn what size loan you qualify for, the maximum purchase price you can afford, the total cost of the loan including insurance and the amount of cash you need to close the loan. Pre-qualification also gives sellers confidence that you will be able to obtain financing if they accept your offer.

Shop for a home: Work with your buyer’s agent to determine which community and type of home is best suited to your needs. Your agent will give you tips for finding the best value for your money and will lead you through the process of making an offer and scheduling a home inspection once your offer has been accepted.

Close the loan: Closing typically takes place 30-60 days after your offer has been accepted. At the settlement, all legal documents are signed, you receive the title and keys to your new home and the seller receives the purchase money.

The cities highrise condos enjoy many beautiful vistas of Mt. Hood and Mt. St. Helens as well as the many bridges that span the Willamette & Columbia rivers. The tallest building in the City is the Wells Fargo Center built in 1972(1), but that doesn’t mean you can’t find a residential building with a view. Currently, the tallest all-residential building is the John Ross Tower built in 2007, which is part of the newly developed South Waterfront project and located just south of Downtown.

If you are looking for the more urban experience, then the neighborhoods you will want to check out are Downtown Portland and the Pearl District. These areas enjoy high walk-ability with lots of restaurants, cafes, and art galleries to tour. There are also a number of farmers markets to explore and the beautiful Tom McCall waterfront park to enjoy.

On the other hand, if you would prefer a more low-key atmosphere and more historic buildings then you will want to check out the condo options in Northwest Portland. This area also enjoys a vibrant commercial district on  Northwest 23rd avenue, with food carts, cafes, book shops and restaurants that open onto the sidewalks when the sun is shining.

If you are looking for a Condo in Portland, then we would appreciate the opportunity to be your guide and earn your business.