Possibility of relocating to Portland area... (Beaverton, Hillsboro: best cities, rental, condo)

[TurcoLoco]

I am in my late 30s single and work in the IT field (desktop/application support and system administration).
I relocated from So Cal to Phoenix a little over a year ago but not sure if the general vibe and apperance of Phoenix is what I was looking for so I do not feel like buying a house and settling down.
I moved here for family obligations and also due to its close proximity to where I used to live in CA.

Now, I am looking for a little mellower and greener location. Portland Oregon came to my mind since I have visited Lake Oswego/Tigard area a few times for work back in 2003. I really liked it and I believe I could live there and feel good about my new surroundings as well.

My main concern is how the job, mainly the IT jobs around Portland are like.
How do they pay comparing to IT jobs in So Cal and perhaps in Phoenix?
My biggest gripe with IT jobs in Phoenix is that most of them pay really low comparing to jobs in So Cal and cost of living is not that much better to justify the difference imho. Do companies tend to hire directly like most do in CA or are they lke the ones in Phoenix, preferring contract or contract-to-hire type employees?
What areas of Portland are the IT jobs located at, are they all over or are they mostly in specific locations that you can name?
Also to live in rental or buying, which areas would you suggest if you were looking for decent living conditions without spending a ton of $?

With almost 9 years in this field, do you guys believe I will be able to make enough to live OK and possibly buy my own place a year or so down the line? Of course, nothing big are flashy, a small 3-bdrm would suffice I imagine.

If I don't feel like I am adapting or getting used to Phoenix any more by next May, I will be packing my bags to move somewhere else...

Thanks in advance for all your input!

[ellebelles]

I similarly moved from Scottsdale to Portland last year, and it was pretty much the best move I've made so far, from a social/personal perspective. If you're familiar with Old Town Scottsdale and all its ridiculousness, you'll have an idea as to what I'm talking about. Anyway, I ended up buying a condo in the Pearl District in Portland, which is a fun area to walk around -- lots of good restaurants, swanky bars, and cute boutique shops. Unfortunately, it has a pretty high price/sq foot ratio as compared to the suburbs, but it was a good place for me to start out as a single 24-year old. However, now I wander around all over the surrounding areas of Portland, so I don't feel a NEED to be in the city as much.

I don't work in the IT field, but I do know there are a lot of high tech companies out in Hillsboro, OR, which is 15-20 minutes from the Pearl and Downtown Portland. I believe it's referred to as the "Silicon Forest." Intel is headquartered out around there, so that could give you a starting place on the job search. And the housing is pretty affordable out there, last I checked.

Hope this helps and good luck with everything!

[John Shaft]

Intel is technically not HQed in Hillsboro, but there are a lot of workers based there. Some of the campuses are farther than 15-20 minutes out of Portland, especially during rush hour.

But those are quibbles. I'd guess you'd really enjoy the greenery up here (it's even green during the winters, which is a pleasant contrast from the grey skies). You will most likely have to sacrifice on the salary end - wages just aren't as high here as elsewhere; employers have a captive workforce who wants to live in the region. If you are wanting to buy in Portland it's pretty expensive (not sure how it compares to Phoenix though).

IT/tech companies are certainly scattered about throughout the city, but at the risk of overgeneralizing I'd say most are located downtown, in the southwest area (Lake Oswego/Tigard), and the west side (Beaverton/Hillsboro).

[Jamminredheaded]

Check out Forbes' Best Cities for Young Professionals bit: http://www.forbes.com/2008/07/09/cit...hisspeed=30000
Portland places above Phoenix but the the top is supposedly San Francisco.

[TurcoLoco]

Thank you all for great input! Yes San Francisco is a nice city but it is crowded and also expensive especially to buy a house.
I will review all the info and when the time comes, I will have to decided if it'd make sense to move or not.
Pay-job wise I reviewed quite a few postings and they are not bad at all.
My main concern was to be able to find a direct-hire position that also paid decent which is what most IT jobs here in Phoenix seem to be lacking.

I still have time so I will keep reading all other posts. I liked....no loved the way the environment looked when I visited Lake Oswego but of course it was like April or May, not cold nor hot. I guess I will have to make time and come up there around the so-called worst time of the year to make sure I can handle that weather for a few months or so. When would that be (the worst season in Portland), January?

[John Shaft]

Yes, Jan-early March would be the time to see it at its "worst." By the way Lake Oswego has the priciest homes in the entire metro area, except maybe for parts of Portland proper. However the nearby areas of West Linn and Wilsonville, and even parts of Tigard, are in close proximity and may be of interest to you. If your job ends up in Beaverton/Hillsboro, the commute is not great (but by Phoenix standards it would be fine) as there's really only one highway connecting the areas.

[TurcoLoco]

Originally Posted by John Shaft

Yes, Jan-early March would be the time to see it at its "worst." By the way Lake Oswego has the priciest homes in the entire metro area, except maybe for parts of Portland proper. However the nearby areas of West Linn and Wilsonville, and even parts of Tigard, are in close proximity and may be of interest to you. If your job ends up in Beaverton/Hillsboro, the commute is not great (but by Phoenix standards it would be fine) as there's really only one highway connecting the areas.

Thanks John. Yeah, not many highways/freeways like what I am used to in So Cal or even Phoenix but also not nearly as many people I suppose?
I live a quite life and not super social. I need a mellow area where it is clean, safe and also affordable enough so I can buy a small place w/garage so I can park my motorcycle and work on it, etc. I don't mind the commute up to 25-30 minutes as it was my everyday 1-way commute in Orange County.
Phoenix ain't a bad city except some of the traffic and nut-job drivers. I also can't say I care for the desert look all that much, I am a bit too used to seeing green.
Well, we'll see how things shape up in the next 8-9 months but if I am certain of relocating, I will definitely pay a visit in those months.

Thanks again everyone!