Questions about Forest Grove (Portland, Beaverton: real estate, rentals, how much)

[old_fool]

My family is considering Forest Grove as a place to relocate. Our four year old son has some development issues, not severe thankfully. Does anyone have any experience or knowledge about special ed in Forest Grove ?

My wife is a native of the LA area and is concerned about the "gray index" i.e. how much of the time is it overcast in Forest Grove. I lived in Portland for many years but never as far south as Forest Grove. Do you think that Forest Grove has more overcast days than Portland?

Does anyone have any thoughts about the rental market for a 3 or 4 bdrm home in the area? We want to rent until we know that the city is right for us.

Any other thoughts? Thanks in advance.

[babycoleslaw]

Originally Posted by old_fool

My family is considering Forest Grove as a place to relocate. Our four year old son has some development issues, not severe thankfully. Does anyone have any experience or knowledge about special ed in Forest Grove ?

My wife is a native of the LA area and is concerned about the "gray index" i.e. how much of the time is it overcast in Forest Grove. I lived in Portland for many years but never as far south as Forest Grove. Do you think that Forest Grove has more overcast days than Portland?

Does anyone have any thoughts about the rental market for a 3 or 4 bdrm home in the area? We want to rent until we know that the city is right for us.

Any other thoughts? Thanks in advance.

In my quest, I contacted the director of SPED for Forest Grove and he wrote back and said they do practice inclusion so that wouldn't be an issue for you with your son.
From readings on this board, though, FG is very highly filled with illegals and has a horrendous commute to Portland if that should concern you.

[sevenpixies]

Originally Posted by babycoleslaw

In my quest, I contacted the director of SPED for Forest Grove and he wrote back and said they do practice inclusion so that wouldn't be an issue for you with your son.
From readings on this board, though, FG is very highly filled with illegals and has a horrendous commute to Portland if that should concern you.

what do you mean by illegals? I want to trnasfer to FG as well, but I will not if it is trashy.

[tiffela74]

depends on the area you are in, like most towns....
i lived in FG for a couple years, went to HS there. My Dad, stepmom and niece have lived there since 89 and they are happy and thriving. They live in a standard, typical neighborhood, average house (3bdrm 2bath 1/4acre) and havent had any problems w/crime.
there is a population of Hispanics there, they have incorporated the spanish/english classes at the HS (i dont know about the lower schools) but its not like you cant walk down the streets.
Their is a smallish college there, Pacific University, and a cute-ish old town. Several family friendly parks and a lovely lake a couple miles out of town (Henry Hagg Lake)
If you hit some back roads, the commute can be better, but to be honest, I cant really recall how long it takes.
Anyhow, there are some lovely parts of town, with some incredible old houses....also plenty of the new construction if thats what you'd rather...
Its a quieter town....

[John Shaft]

From my experience, the concentration of supposed "illegals" is on the very far east side of town, and more into Cornelius, the next town over.

FG itself has several distinct parts of town. The most affluent is the newer west side. I don't know what sort of rentals would be available there. The south side of town is more historic--some good neighborhoods and some less so. My limited exposure is that the town contains VERY NICE folk. It's still very much a small town.

It's not exactly a bedroom community of Portland's, probably due to lack of a direct highway. If you plan on working in Portland, the biggest negative to Forest Grove BY FAR is the commute. If you live on the far north side, you're at least closer to reaching highway 26. The main thoroughfare, highway 8, becomes LOTS of stoplights as you head east through Hillsboro and Beaverton.

Regarding weather: I've been told FG lies in a "rain shadow" of the nearby hills which results in slightly different climate than Portland. I THINK that means somewhat less rain, but lesser rain doesn't necessarily equate to more sunny days.

[FG Resident]

Forest Grove is a great little community. Face it, folks, the illegals are here to stay and they're in every city in the U.S., including cities in the Midwest and the Mid-Atlantic. Our "illegals" are hard-working, family members who are fitting into the community very nicely. The houses range in price from $250,000 to over $1.2 million, so if they can afford the prices and taxes (which are low), they have every right to live here. Welcome to the new America!

As far as the rain goes (and I'm from California so I know about good weather!), we get MUCH less rain than Portland. I would say that the sun comes out almost every day or every other day. There's a saying here: "If you don't like the weather, just wait 15 minutes." We don't have the gloom and cold of Seattle or Portland. The seasons are mild, yet distinctive. We still have affordable homes and rentals. This area continues to grow and improve and is one of the few areas in the country where real estate prices didn't plummet. That's because our home values have gone up slowly, yet sensibly over the years. We have an urban growth boundary, so the developers can't go crazy here.

The people are extremely friendly and "real," and there's a small-town feel to the place. The University downtown is beautiful and one of the oldest in the country. We have a tremendous number of beautiful Victorian homes, and our downtown area is being refurbished and "gentrified." Lots of antique stores and cafes, a movie theater and a live theater can also be found downtown.

We have a fantastic library and beautiful aquatic center, as well. There's literally something for everyone. The commute to Portland is far less than any commute to anywhere in California. It took me two hours to go from point A to point B on a good day in S. Ca. We are quite spoiled here, so if it takes an hour to get somewhere, people get upset. We're less than an hour to the magnificent coast, an hour to the state capitol, and about an hour and a half to the gorge. We have rapid transit which will take you to Portland, if you don't want to drive. But why go into Portland at all? Many new companies are moving into Hillsboro, the Silicon Forest, and that's less than a half hour away.

Hope all this info helps.

[Smiled]

"We don't have the gloom and cold of Seattle or Portland."

Nonsense. The weather is the same; the only difference is that it's a bit colder in FG. You sound like a realtor.

[jadeon]

I grew up in Forest Grove and spent most of my 33 years in that lovely area. My family is one of the original 9 families that founded the next town over, Verboort. I am the third generation born there. My entire family... 8 aunts, 2 uncles and tons of cousins still live there. We are a large farming family. There are immigrants in Forest Grove due to the agricultural nature of the area. There are still lots of farms around the area including tons of Dairies. Most of the immigrants are very hard working and friendly and help to make for successful farms. Not the type of immigrants you see in big cities.

It is a beautiful area. Coastal mountain range in the distance, spectacular sunsets, fresh air to breath and a view of Mt. Hood to die for. The climate IS NICER than Portland. It is a great place to grow a plentiful garden. I absolutely LOVED growing up there. If my entire family didn't live there, I would move back. I just can't handle them constantly involved in my life. I am a private person. I am still searching for a community to measure up to FG/Banks that I may raise my children. I may have to overlook my nosey family and move back, if I can't find a place as nice as the Forest Grove area.

Pacific University is a very nice college and I was told that it is of Ivy league quality. It is reputable for having the best optometry program in the US. Mostly, it is a beautiful, oak-filled campus. My mom does a lot of her photography there.

I attended Joseph Gale Elementary in Forest Grove. My Mom works part-time in the administrative office. It is a great little school. Caring teachers. The Junior High and High School are a little crazy. I don't recommend them. My youngest brother attends the Junior High and is not doing well. I ended up transferring to Banks High School (easy because our home was located on the school line). I did much better in the Banks school system and so did three of my siblings. Both school systems have good special ed programs. I was a peer helper for special ed at Banks. I think they have a better program. My mother's cousin was the special Ed teacher for years. I am not sure if she is currently the teacher. She may be retired by now.

If you have teens they will not be easily bored in FG. There is a movie theater, two small theatres that hold plays all year long, Skate Shop, little cafes and Aquatic center. For the adults... McMenniman's bought the old Masonic lodge and turned into a gorgeous estate with a theater, restaurant, brewery and outdoor area where they have live music. Banks does not have much for teen and adult entertainment besides School sports. They do hold great little hometown BBQs and parades though. There is also a pretty good golf course. Forest Grove is only 10 to 15 minutes away from Banks if you seek entertainment.

If you know the back way, it isn't too bad of a commute to Portland. I know that the highway has become more congested due to Hillsboro and Beaverton's growth but before that, it took me 40 minutes to Portland. If you lived in Banks or Roy, you would be closer to the Highway for an easier commute. Never, ever take the hwy through Cornelius and Hillsboro to Portland.

Forest Grove is a quick jaunt to the beach, Beaverton, Portland, Mt. Hood. I think it is very centrally located.

Honestly, I would try to buy a home in Banks, Verboort or Roy. Banks' school system is better. I feel that I received a very good education. It is smaller and the teachers really care for the students! It is a "it takes a village to raise a child" type of atmosphere.

I hope that my novel of a reply provided some good information. I have lived in many areas besides the FG area and feel that I have experienced enough other towns and cities to make a good comparison. I am happy to answer any other questions about my beloved hometown area.

And I am not a realtor!

[jadeon]

Oh- one more thing. I would not call Hagg lake a quality lake. It is man made and was built above an old town. It was originally built to provide irrigation water for farms and is not safe to ingest in an way. Some people like to go there to swim. I do not suggest it. Boating is fun and it is kind of pretty to look at, but I think it is a pretty gross place to spend the day. I don't mean to sound judgmental, but I know I will sound that way... but there are a lot of trashy, drunk people who go out there for entertainment. The people don't necessarily come from the Forest Grove area. Mostly they are from Hillsboro, Beaverton and outlying area.

I would choose the beach or the multiple creeks that are near the back side of Forest Grove in Gales Creek to cool off.

Sorry if I sound like a snob. But the groups that hang out at the lake are not the most quality people.

[kailee13]

That too bad about hagg lake...looking online it seemed like a nice place.