Best area around Portland to raise a family (Hillsboro, Medford: houses, rent)

[Caffreys]

Currently live in Tacoma and tired of the congestion and crime. So i been searching all over for the idea place to relocate to for low crime, great schools, good restuarants, friendly people, light congest, and good family neighborhoods with my kids can play freely watching them like a hawk. I checked into Eastern Washington, Corvallis, Roseburg, Bend, and Medford.
But i keep hearing great things about Portland. Never visited the area, only driven through on i-5. What are the best area's for our price range for a home, which is up to 475k. Need 4 beds and 2.5 baths...
I notice the Laurelhurst area has great schools, but very expensive to live.
I plan to visit Portland within the next couple of weeks. What area's should i avoid and area's to checkout. Thank you.

[PDXmom]

Originally Posted by Caffreys

Currently live in Tacoma and tired of the congestion and crime. So i been searching all over for the idea place to relocate to for low crime, great schools, good restuarants, friendly people, light congest, and good family neighborhoods with my kids can play freely watching them like a hawk. I checked into Eastern Washington, Corvallis, Roseburg, Bend, and Medford.
But i keep hearing great things about Portland. Never visited the area, only driven through on i-5. What are the best area's for our price range for a home, which is up to 475k. Need 4 beds and 2.5 baths...
I notice the Laurelhurst area has great schools, but very expensive to live.
I plan to visit Portland within the next couple of weeks. What area's should i avoid and area's to checkout. Thank you.

The problem is it's going to be tough to find a house as big as you want. 4 bd 2.5 bath is pretty hard to come by in Portland neighborhoods with good schools. When you find them that size they are usually 500K or up. BUT I don't think it's impossible. Of course, it's easier in the burbs but I never lived in the burbs.

But the good thing is in PPS schools you can easily transfer. So if you find that big house in Woodstock you can send your child to near by Duniway or Llewellyn (as long as the school is excepting additional kids). Plus there are tons of magnets to try to get into.

Good luck!

[Caffreys]

Originally Posted by PDXmom

The problem is it's going to be tough to find a house as big as you want. 4 bd 2.5 bath is pretty hard to come by in Portland neighborhoods with good schools. When you find them that size they are usually 500K or up. BUT I don't think it's impossible. Of course, it's easier in the burbs but I never lived in the burbs.

But the good thing is in PPS schools you can easily transfer. So if you find that big house in Woodstock you can send your child to near by Duniway or Llewellyn (as long as the school is excepting additional kids). Plus there are tons of magnets to try to get into.

Good luck!

Thank you...
Is 475K in the Washington, Multnomah, Clackamas, and Yamhill counties
out of reach for a 4beds, 2.5 bath with atleast 7500 sq ft lot and great schools???

[babycoleslaw]

Originally Posted by Caffreys

Thank you...
Is 475K in the Washington, Multnomah, Clackamas, and Yamhill counties
out of reach for a 4beds, 2.5 bath with atleast 7500 sq ft lot and great schools???

Hi! We just bought in Tigard which is 10 miles from downtown and very family friendly and safe....we bought 4/2.5 and got it for around 350K so it's possible! Look at the local mls realtor sites...Good luck!

[lifes2short]

That is very doable in Sherwood.

[JinLA]

Originally Posted by babycoleslaw

Hi! We just bought in Tigard which is 10 miles from downtown and very family friendly and safe....we bought 4/2.5 and got it for around 350K so it's possible! Look at the local mls realtor sites...Good luck!

What is the neighborhood like in Tigard? Would love to know more about the house you found -- what style house, did it need much work? We may be moving to the area from SoCa... we seem to be in the sam price range - looking for a 3br/2ba minimum 1600 sf with a yard and not to far from the city. Family friendly, walk to neighborhood shops? Anything like this in the $350-$400 range?

Thanks!

[babycoleslaw]

Originally Posted by JinLA

What is the neighborhood like in Tigard? Would love to know more about the house you found -- what style house, did it need much work? We may be moving to the area from SoCa... we seem to be in the sam price range - looking for a 3br/2ba minimum 1600 sf with a yard and not to far from the city. Family friendly, walk to neighborhood shops? Anything like this in the $350-$400 range?

Thanks!

Hi! The house we bought is walking distance to Fanno Creek trails, which is amazing. There is a grove of Cedar trees right down the street w/ a small park for the kids.
This neighborhood is full of kids and we're on a cul-de-sac so very safe for bikes, etc... Our house is 12 years old but the previous owners weren't the best at maintaining so it will need all new carpet and we also need to re-paint the interior and will do exterior in the next 2 years. We do have a yard, though it isn't very large..but big enough for the kids to get out some. We are walking distance to some shops but it's about a mile away so not right around the corner.
The thing that strikes me about the Portland area (not sure of SoCal) is that the neighborhoods are small and bordered by single homes, shops, trailers, etc...
I feel like my neighborhood is tucked away I guess. It's pretty small, about 50 homes I guess and where I'm from the neighborhoods have about 200+ houses...hope that made sense!!
Tigard as a whole is safe but I was warned that some areas are seedy (especially around Metzger) so just make sure you visit the area and spend some time there before buying. Good luck to you!!!

[JinLA]

Thank you! We are heading up on Saturday! Looking forward to it! :-)

[Kandy]

Hey there. Have you considered Hillsboro in Washington County? I know of a house that just went on the market that is awesome. 4 br, 2.5 baths, over 2500 sf, almost 9000 sf lot and backs to green space with nature trails. It also has two community pools and tennis courts. Good schools. I think it's around $450K or ust under. PM me if you want more info. ~K~