Relocation to Portland Area (Beaverton, Hillsboro: sales, to rent, health insurance)

[coreymlong]

Hey everyone!

My wife and I have been talking about relocating to Portland. We are an early 20's couple with an 8 month old daughter. We want to move somewhere that has great schools and safe but is close enough to Portland.

I just graduated from University of San Francisco and am looking for jobs at Intel and Nike. If I am lucky enough to get a job there, we want to live a reasonable distance from Hillsborough or Beaverton but still in a place with affordable housing and great schools.

We aren't concerned with being in the middle of the "action" so to speak, just close enough that we can take a drive when we want to go have some fun and then come home to our safe house. Great schools and safety are our number 1 concern as we plan to have one more child in the next few years.

We have a few friends up in Portland and really think it would fit us well. This isn't just us giving into the hype, we've done research and feel like it would be a great fresh start for our family. Any help is appreciated!

[coreymlong]

I should also mention that I've been working at Blue Shield of CA for 5 years. I do have job experience in the health insurance industry but I'd like to make a change if possible. If not, I know there are plenty of health plans up there.

[EnricoV]

Hillsboro and Beaverton both are good communities, with good schools. And more affordable housing than in Portland.

[Nell Plotts]

There is no shelter from the school funding issues but it is my observation that parental involvement is the best predictor of academic success. You and your family will be fine.

St. Vincent's (Providence Health Care) is implementing a new medical records system as I write, with your background you should check with them too. I think their openings are online.

[coreymlong]

Originally Posted by Nell Plotts

There is no shelter from the school funding issues but it is my observation that parental involvement is the best predictor of academic success. You and your family will be fine.

St. Vincent's (Providence Health Care) is implementing a new medical records system as I write, with your background you should check with them too. I think their openings are online.

I keep hearing about the school funding issues but from what I've heard in general Portland schools are fantastic, especially compared to California. We live in the Sacramento area and there is basically a small pocket of good schools and it's in the most suburban areas. We live in Folsom and it costs $1650 to rent a small, shared driveway 3-bedroom house. Those kinds of houses go for 300K+ in this city while I've found much nicer homes in the surrounded Portland areas.

What else is there to look out for? I know no sales tax but is the income tax much worse than CA? I've also heard to be weary of property tax but from my research it looks like it would be no worse than the bay area, where you can't even get a good CONDO for 300K.

As for my job experience. We've gone through a large system change at Blue Shield so that experience should help. I have to ask, should I put down an Oregon address when I apply? I want to have the best chances to get interviews.

[Nell Plotts]

I don't think large Portland area employers will count you out with a Sacramento address, particularly Intel. It's not like you are moving from Chicago or Miami. At NIKE it can depend on the department budget so there is little harm in indicating that you are willing pay moving expenses, if it is the department's policy to pay for moves they may do so in any case. The hospital systems may not have a moving budget so communicate your willingness to relocate somewhere on your app.

Kaiser is a major health care provider here, BTW. You might find your counterpart in Oakland to see if there could be a fit at Kaiser NW.

I don't know HR staff at Intel but I do know NIKE, Providence and Kaiser. You won't meet nicer people.

I know what you mean about schools. My grandchildren are in the Mountain View District, SIL teaches at 'Tino. Parents in those districts have the resources to fill educational pot holes but the families in Vallejo or Oakland are scraping by. What a mess for us all.

[coreymlong]

Originally Posted by Nell Plotts

I don't think large Portland area employers will count you out with a Sacramento address, particularly Intel. It's not like you are moving from Chicago or Miami. At NIKE it can depend on the department budget so there is little harm in indicating that you are willing pay moving expenses, if it is the department's policy to pay for moves they may do so in any case. The hospital systems may not have a moving budget so communicate your willingness to relocate somewhere on your app.

Kaiser is a major health care provider here, BTW. You might find your counterpart in Oakland to see if there could be a fit at Kaiser NW.

I don't know HR staff at Intel but I do know NIKE, Providence and Kaiser. You won't meet nicer people.

I know what you mean about schools. My grandchildren are in the Mountain View District, SIL teaches at 'Tino. Parents in those districts have the resources to fill educational pot holes but the families in Vallejo or Oakland are scraping by. What a mess for us all.

Thanks for the info! What other companies are big in Portland? Do they have Blue Cross/Blue Shield there?

[Nell Plotts]

Yes they do. The office I am familiar with is located on SW Market at about 1st. Health Insurance Jobs

[Charlene1234]

Hillsboro is a great area and has good schools. With Intel being right in town, there's a lot of support for the computer sciences. They host a Robotics competition every year and it's quite impressive! I can help you find a relocation specialist if you're interested in learning more about places that might suit your family well.

[johnnyboy14]

Originally Posted by coreymlong

Hey everyone!

My wife and I have been talking about relocating to Portland. We are an early 20's couple with an 8 month old daughter. We want to move somewhere that has great schools and safe but is close enough to Portland.

I just graduated from University of San Francisco and am looking for jobs at Intel and Nike. If I am lucky enough to get a job there, we want to live a reasonable distance from Hillsborough or Beaverton but still in a place with affordable housing and great schools.

We aren't concerned with being in the middle of the "action" so to speak, just close enough that we can take a drive when we want to go have some fun and then come home to our safe house. Great schools and safety are our number 1 concern as we plan to have one more child in the next few years.

We have a few friends up in Portland and really think it would fit us well. This isn't just us giving into the hype, we've done research and feel like it would be a great fresh start for our family. Any help is appreciated!

Make the move.. you will NOT regret it especially coming from Folsom even if it means you gotta move to Milwaukie or Oregon City.. Sacramento area is the pits outside select few desirable places and anything good there is hard to afford. I don't like it out that way and Rancho Cordova is extremely slummy.