Why do Portlanders do for a living?

[redguard57]

Originally Posted by urbanlife78

That is not true at all, someone looking for a house in Buckman isn't going to buy a house out past Damascus. Just look at any sprawling metro, they too have expensive neighborhoods that are expensive even though housing development sprawls out for miles and miles.

Exactly.

The most glaring example of that in the U.S. is Los Angeles, but I'd also point to Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, Phoenix. You can sprawl out as far as the eye can see, doesn't make things more "affordable." Sure there are cheaper houses out in the hinterland, but you pay with your time and you car/transportation expense. When I was living in Texas my commute was about 60 minutes 1-way on an average traffic day. That's 2 hours of my life every work day, +/- 10 hours a week. An accident adds another hour.

[Jumauslo]

Los Angeles actually significantly more dense than Portland.
Land area: 469.1 square miles.
Population density: 8,281 people per square mile
Vs.
Land area: 134.3 square miles.
Population density: 4,537 people per square mile
Portland's density is more in line with Sacramento and Fresno.

[urbanlife78]

Originally Posted by Jumauslo

Los Angeles actually significantly more dense than Portland.
Land area: 469.1 square miles.
Population density: 8,281 people per square mile
Vs.
Land area: 134.3 square miles.
Population density: 4,537 people per square mile
Portland's density is more in line with Sacramento and Fresno.

No one is arguing that, the point was a house on the fringe of the LA metro isn't going to have any effect on a house in inner LA, just like a house on the outskirts of Portland isn't going to make housing in inner Portland cheaper.

[SyraBrian]

If people really want to commute from cheaper houses outside of Portland's urban boundary, the could buy or build houses in North Salem or Keizer. That would be as close as the farthest suburb in the more sprawling suburbs.

Come on! Be creative!

[urbanlife78]

Originally Posted by SyraBrian

If people really want to commute from cheaper houses outside of Portland's urban boundary, the could buy or build houses in North Salem or Keizer. That would be as close as the farthest suburb in the more sprawling suburbs.

Come on! Be creative!

Exactly, nothing is stopping someone from buying a cheaper house in Molalla.

[redguard57]

Originally Posted by urbanlife78

Exactly, nothing is stopping someone from buying a cheaper house in Molalla.

Yup, 31 miles from Portland city center, a 45 minute 1-way commute in perfect traffic. Sounds about right. For the LAX metro, you'd be doing pretty well with those numbers.

Decent 3/2's in Molalla start at $230k. Manufactured homes are well under $100K if you really want cheaper out there. For the PDX median of $350K, you can practically get a McMansion in Molalla - I see a nice looking 5/3, 3000sf house there asking for $365K.