Portland area where to live (Gresham, Beaverton: apartment, to rent, house)

[cagirl]

hello,

We are going to be moving up to the Portland area in a few months and have been up there to check out some of the areas. We are considering Tigard and Beaverton for the first 6mths(renting an apartment) until we get to know the area a bit more before we buy a house. We also like Lake Oswego or West Linn, or Clackamas. Any suggestions you can provide would be appreciated. Also what is the morning/afternoon traffic like in any of these areas.

Thanks

[Nea1]

Originally Posted by cagirl

hello,

We are going to be moving up to the Portland area in a few months and have been up there to check out some of the areas. We are considering Tigard and Beaverton for the first 6mths(renting an apartment) until we get to know the area a bit more before we buy a house. We also like Lake Oswego or West Linn, or Clackamas. Any suggestions you can provide would be appreciated. Also what is the morning/afternoon traffic like in any of these areas.

Thanks

Tigard and beaverton traffic is NASTY!!!the 26 and 217 terrible!! Lake Oswego is very nice but very expensive, west Linn is a little better. Are you moving for work? Seattle and Washington are even better. Tigard I would say is better than beaverton, i lived in beaverton for 30 years.

[shades of gray]

Check out Multnomah Village--it is a very nice neighborhood without the feel of suburbia. Also good are the Hawthorne, Laruelhurst, Sellwood, Woodstock (areas). Northwest Portland is great, but it is way overpriced. Beaverton, Tigard, Gresham, Aloha, Hillsborro--all are a big "No" in my book. Lake Oswego is nice if you can afford it.

[yayakats]

why not Hillsboro? It was recently voted one of the top cities to live in.... please explain

Check out Multnomah Village--it is a very nice neighborhood without the feel of suburbia. Also good are the Hawthorne, Laruelhurst, Sellwood, Woodstock (areas). Northwest Portland is great, but it is way overpriced. Beaverton, Tigard, Gresham, Aloha, Hillsborro--all are a big "No" in my book. Lake Oswego is nice if you can afford it.

[Nea1]

Originally Posted by yayakats

why not Hillsboro? It was recently voted one of the top cities to live in.... please explain

BY WHO!!! Lots of mexicans ( no offense) so if you are from mexican desent it is great. I lived there and grew up there, not where you want to live, too bad too

[shades of gray]

Hillsborro is just plain crappy. Are you sure it wasn't a Hillsborro in another state that was rated one of the best places to live? Also, if you plan on commuting into Portland from Hillsborro on 217 during peak traffic hours, it can be a nightmare.

[mariatherese]

Since this is a subject I'm interested in, too- moving to Portland in the spring most likely- I'll chime in.

I know nothing about the neighborhoods of Portland yet. What areas do you say you would totally AVOID and why? Hillsboro so far seems on that list- any others?

[tiffela74]

Originally Posted by shades of gray

Check out Multnomah Village--it is a very nice neighborhood without the feel of suburbia. Also good are the Hawthorne, Laruelhurst, Sellwood, Woodstock (areas). Northwest Portland is great, but it is way overpriced. Beaverton, Tigard, Gresham, Aloha, Hillsborro--all are a big "No" in my book. Lake Oswego is nice if you can afford it.

My mom is going to be putting her house on the market next month and they live about 2 blocks up from Multnomah Village. Their house backs to the park and is walkng distance to the private schools. It is definatly one of the nicer areas around Portland.
- I do have to agree w/Hillsboro being not so great. There has been a huge movement of illegals from Cornelious into Hillsboro the last several years. Grant you, there are some very nice neighborhoods, and if you can afford private school, then great. But I grew up in grade school and middle school in Hillsboro, and it was bad then, awful now. I wouldnt put my kids in school there personally.
-my oldest daughter did kindergarden in Tigard public school. She had 38kids in her morning class, one main teacher, and 2 spanish interpreters. We moved.
-I lived in Mulino, fairly close to West Linn, and I really like West Linn. Many areas in Clackamas are wonderful too, if youre looking for a little smaller, but close by, you might look into Damascus. Very small, but seems to have a fairly good variaty of homes. Also, I like Estacada, very very pretty and again, not too far from everything. Just a though. Good luck!!
btw, I think its a great idea to rent for several months before buying!! Youre very smart to be doing that!! Giving yourselves time and option to search around to be sure!
Tiff

[Nea1]

Originally Posted by tiffela74

My mom is going to be putting her house on the market next month and they live about 2 blocks up from Multnomah Village. Their house backs to the park and is walkng distance to the private schools. It is definatly one of the nicer areas around Portland.
- I do have to agree w/Hillsboro being not so great. There has been a huge movement of illegals from Cornelious into Hillsboro the last several years. Grant you, there are some very nice neighborhoods, and if you can afford private school, then great. But I grew up in grade school and middle school in Hillsboro, and it was bad then, awful now. I wouldnt put my kids in school there personally.
-my oldest daughter did kindergarden in Tigard public school. She had 38kids in her morning class, one main teacher, and 2 spanish interpreters. We moved.
-I lived in Mulino, fairly close to West Linn, and I really like West Linn. Many areas in Clackamas are wonderful too, if youre looking for a little smaller, but close by, you might look into Damascus. Very small, but seems to have a fairly good variaty of homes. Also, I like Estacada, very very pretty and again, not too far from everything. Just a though. Good luck!!
btw, I think its a great idea to rent for several months before buying!! Youre very smart to be doing that!! Giving yourselves time and option to search around to be sure!
Tiff

What schools did you go to and when? Poynter and Glencoe? I grew up in Hillsboro.

[Nea1]

Originally Posted by mariatherese

Since this is a subject I'm interested in, too- moving to Portland in the spring most likely- I'll chime in.

I know nothing about the neighborhoods of Portland yet. What areas do you say you would totally AVOID and why? Hillsboro so far seems on that list- any others?

Avoid list: Hillsboro, Aloha, Cornelius, Forest Grove, most part of Beaverton, SE Portland ( right across bridges!)

Multnomah Village is wonderful if you can afford it, Lake Oswego too.