Looking at relocating to West Linn, OR (to live, move to)

[mdvaden]

[quote=ORhopeful;9274816]Thank you! I agree, West Linn seems to still have the beauty and good reputation, but more affordable than Lake Oswego. I think we will focus on that city here on out. Now, we just need to find the best "neighborhoods" in our price range. Any suggestions? I keep hearing how it is sectioned off in three parts or something? Is there a better pocket for views, access to parks, and nicer homes? Thanks for all your help![/QUOTE

West Linn is a great area.

Look on Google Earth at the area between Stafford Rd. of Lake Oswego, and Hy. 205 up on the hill - pretty decent homes up there.

Sherwood has some good neighborhoods too.

By the way, if you like West Linn, you may very well like a neighborhood called Fox Hills in Tualatin


Look up SW Natchez Street for example, or Google for listings. Very well maintained and the location is hard to beat.

With your budget in hand, I'd take that one Tualatin neighborhood anytime. Near equal drive into downtown via Interstate 5.

Go to Google Maps - search "SW Natchez Street Tualatin Oregon" - it's going to show at least one home thumbnail and the streets. Click on the tiny picture - you can mouseover and hold the photo and rotate it to view each area. Enter another street you see on the map. Click and spin another 360 degree view. You can see how tidy and green that area is.

You can try the same with West Linn too. I like both areas. But to get around, for convenience and shopping, access and good terrain for our weather - maybe Fox Hills. Not sure what the schools are like, but probably pretty decent.

Fox Hills is virtually on the edge of Lake Oswego it seems. Can't be compared to the other end of Tualatin that is chocked-full of traffic. Fox Hills is on the east side of Tualatin - whole different scenerio.

My brother and sister in law live in a home of your range in West Linn, and it feels similar. Nice area for sure.

[ORhopeful]

[quote=mdvaden;9288249]

Originally Posted by ORhopeful

Thank you! I agree, West Linn seems to still have the beauty and good reputation, but more affordable than Lake Oswego. I think we will focus on that city here on out. Now, we just need to find the best "neighborhoods" in our price range. Any suggestions? I keep hearing how it is sectioned off in three parts or something? Is there a better pocket for views, access to parks, and nicer homes? Thanks for all your help![/QUOTE

West Linn is a great area.

Look on Google Earth at the area between Stafford Rd. of Lake Oswego, and Hy. 205 up on the hill - pretty decent homes up there.

Sherwood has some good neighborhoods too.

By the way, if you like West Linn, you may very well like a neighborhood called Fox Hills in Tualatin


Look up SW Natchez Street for example, or Google for listings. Very well maintained and the location is hard to beat.

With your budget in hand, I'd take that one Tualatin neighborhood anytime. Near equal drive into downtown via Interstate 5.

Go to Google Maps - search "SW Natchez Street Tualatin Oregon" - it's going to show at least one home thumbnail and the streets. Click on the tiny picture - you can mouseover and hold the photo and rotate it to view each area. Enter another street you see on the map. Click and spin another 360 degree view. You can see how tidy and green that area is.

You can try the same with West Linn too. I like both areas. But to get around, for convenience and shopping, access and good terrain for our weather - maybe Fox Hills. Not sure what the schools are like, but probably pretty decent.

Fox Hills is virtually on the edge of Lake Oswego it seems. Can't be compared to the other end of Tualatin that is chocked-full of traffic. Fox Hills is on the east side of Tualatin - whole different scenerio.

My brother and sister in law live in a home of your range in West Linn, and it feels similar. Nice area for sure.

Thanks for the info! You're right, that is a beautiful area with nice tree lined streets!! Seems very quant and quite too. We were hoping for a home with views though, and that is why we are targeting West Linn. I've heard that most neighborhoods there are on hills, with beautiful views of the cascades and Mt. Hood. Is there any areas of Sherwood or Tualatin that provide views other than trees? I am all about beauty and scenery. :-) SW Natchez is gorgeous though.

[mdvaden]

If you want the hillside view, West Linn is pretty much going to be the choice. Not sure how much more a Mt. Hood View adds to the price in West Linn, or how many homes with the view are for sale. There are a lot of trees, but you will know right away how good each propertry view is when you tour the homes.

[ORhopeful]

Originally Posted by mdvaden

If you want the hillside view, West Linn is pretty much going to be the choice. Not sure how much more a Mt. Hood View adds to the price in West Linn, or how many homes with the view are for sale. There are a lot of trees, but you will know right away how good each propertry view is when you tour the homes.

Thank you so much! I will still continue to search Tualatin as an option, it is closer to shopping and very pretty!

[mdvaden]

I'm guessing that Banks is much too far out for you, west of Hillsboro.

But here is a photo from a yard in Banks where I did some pruning work - maybe it will help you get primed for your move.

Banks is "way the heck out there".

This would be looking across Hillsboro and Beaverton under the mist, toward Mt. Hood.

[ORhopeful]

Originally Posted by mdvaden

I'm guessing that Banks is much too far out for you, west of Hillsboro.

But here is a photo from a yard in Banks where I did some pruning work - maybe it will help you get primed for your move.

Banks is "way the heck out there".

This would be looking across Hillsboro and Beaverton under the mist, toward Mt. Hood.

WOW!!! I would buy that picture for my wall!!! Gorgeous! Oregon is such a beautiful state!!!

[argo69]

I have family that lives in West Linn (they moved to the area from Lake Oswego) and I think that since housing prices have dropped in the state your price range is realistic. As another poster said, West Linn is definitely NOT a quick 10 minute drive into Portland, more like 20 under perfectly ideal conditions. It's most definitely the burbs with the good and bad (depending on what you are looking for) that entails. The school system has an excellent reputation and there are many beautiful single family homes in the area.

While Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, etc. are all very distinct cities with unique qualities and ambiance immediately apparent to any visitor, West Linn is pretty much like Bellevue Washington or Laguna Niguel California. Upscale, high end burbs are pretty much the same anywhere you go although being in Oregon, the surrounding area is going to be greener and more scenic in West Linn than most.

Good luck.

[mdvaden]

One idea that you might want to keep in mind, although it's probably 25 minutes from Portland if you know the right shortcuts - Google Map:

Ladd Hill Rd. Sherwood, Oregon

It may have a Mt. Hood view, and there are views from the hill.

Also:

Bull Mountain Rd. Tigard, Oregon

Cooper Mountain in Beaverton has views. Weir Rd. goes up the east side of it.

Wilsonville is a pretty nice town too. In Tualatin, I'd only live in the Fox Hills area. But Wilsonville, almost any corner of that surburb. No mountains, but a few rolling hills.

[PDX_Home_Inspector]

Try Portlands West side - close in (10 min to downtown and / or freeway access)- notice that no one from LO mentioned freeway accesses or drive time, better prices for single ranch type, good schools for the most part, low crime rate and last but not least - lower taxes than Mult Co. Wash Co has their own Sherrifs enhanced patrol and fire services - all of which are far superior to Mult. Co. Icing on the cake is we don't have to deal with "Mayor - not for long hopefully" Sam Adams or the power hungre city council!!

[getusouttahere]

west linn is nice, but people are not friendly. the jist of it is that people move to oregon to upgrade and you get the TRASH from other states that could not afford to live nicely in their own state. we hated it and moved away. the most unfriendly people.