Archive for the ‘Moving To Portland’ Category
Wednesday, February 16th, 2011
Whenever Portland gets a bit of snowfall, like this morning’s brief flurries, it’s always interesting to note the micro-climates in the area. It’s fascinating to see the visible differences in snowfall and temperatures between the West Hills, Happy Valley, and inner eastside Portland. You can drive from downtown Portland to Happy Valley in mere minutes, but the climates shift dramatically, due to elevation shifts and differences in population density. This morning, snowflakes fell but did not stick in the Alameda neighborhood in Northeast Portland while the Bridlemile area, in the West Hills, saw some gorgeous snow accumulation. Happy Valley residents woke up to over an inch of snow, while about a half an inch stuck in Hillsdale. Skiers are likely celebrating the fresh powder up on Mt. Hood, the perfect place for a winter getaway!
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Posted in Happy Valley, Inner SE Portland, Moving To Portland, Mt. Hood, Neighborhoods & Areas, Portland Activities, Southwest Hills | No Comments »
Tuesday, February 15th, 2011
Check out the newly updated Lake Oswego Real Estate Guide detailing the city of Lake Oswego, the “comfortable luxury” suburb located just south of Portland. Combining the best of urban accessibility and small town atmosphere, Lake Oswego is the best of all worlds. Check out some of the charming and quirky boutiques and hanging art downtown, take a historical homes tour, grab a delicious lunch at one of the city’s amazing restaurants, catch some sun at a music festival or the farmers’ market, or sit in your sprawling backyard enjoying your view of the natural world around you. If you’re looking for homes, apartments, or other real estate in Lake Oswego or other Portland Suburbs, check out the McDonald Group Realtor Lake Oswego Real Estate Guide filled with the best restaurants in Lake Oswego, the top shopping, and neighborhood resources. Relocating to a new area can be hard, but it’s a lot easier when you’ve got the best real estate agents in Portland on your side.
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Posted in Announcements, Lake Oswego, Moving To Portland, Neighborhoods & Areas, Portland Real Estate | No Comments »
Monday, February 14th, 2011
On February 14th, 1859, Oregon officially became the 33rd state in the Union. Sure, today may be Valentine’s Day, but here’s something everyone will be happy to celebrate: Happy Birthday to the best place in the country. There’s a reason this green piece of earth was the end of the road for thousands of weary 19th century pioneers, and it’s the same thing that pulls 21st century dreamers to the banks of our rivers and the waves of our shores. Oregon is still home to the best farmland, the most beautiful cities, and a population of people looking for creative change and community. A lot of people are still finding themselves on that old Oregon Trail, as the Portland real estate market is drawing in prospective homeowners nationally and internationally – we’ve got the best drinking water, no sales tax, we’re the best place to live without a car, we’ve got some of the best wine in the world, and we’ve got the hippest food scene around. We could continue listing the best things about Oregon, or you could stay tuned to the McDonald Group Real Estate Blog to keep up with the news, events, celebrations, and homes for sale in Portland and surrounding areas. We’re here to help you “Keep Oregon, Oregon” for another 152 years!
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Posted in Announcements, Moving To Portland, Portland Events | No Comments »
Thursday, February 10th, 2011
Yesterday we reported about the Sunset Magazine article naming Portland the best American city to “Ditch your Car.”, and are please to add another accolade to the list of Portland’s transportation accomplishments. According to U.S. News and World Report, Portland is the number one city in the nation for public transportation. The news magazine looked at Federal Transit Administration and American Public Transportation Association data that clearly shows Portland is a step ahead of the rest of the country when it comes to accessibility, ease, and reliability of public transit.
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Posted in Announcements, Downtown, Moving To Portland, Neighborhoods & Areas, Transportation | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 9th, 2011
Check out the new Gaston real estate neighborhood profile detailing the community of Gaston, the wine-lover’s haven located just west of Portland. Combining the best of urban accessibility, natural recreation, and rural comfort, Gaston is the best of all worlds. If you’re looking for homes, apartments, or other real estate in Gaston or other Portland Suburbs, check out the McDonald Group Gaston real estate neighborhood profile filled with the best restaurants in Gaston, school information, and neighborhood resources. Relocating to a new area can be hard, but it’s a lot easier when you’ve got the best real estate agents in Portland on your side.
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Posted in Moving To Portland, Portland Activities, Portland Landmarks, Portland Real Estate | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 9th, 2011
Within a few weeks, Portland will be vibrant with daffodils and cherry blossoms – the first signs of Spring! Portland homeowners are starting those raised bed gardens and staring from their office windows at the brightness outside. With temperatures in the fifties, Portlanders are drawn out to play Frisbee in the streets and warmed like sleepy lizards by the sun. It seems like every conversation in the supermarket check out lane inevitably turn towards the appearance of crocuses, blossoms, and the climbing temperatures.
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Posted in Moving To Portland, New Construction | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 9th, 2011
If you’ve been following the McDonald Group Real Estate Blog, it’ll come as no surprise that Portland was recognized by Sunset Magazine as the best American city to “Ditch your Car.” Relocating to Portland gives residents an amazing choice – in addition to the low cost of living and high quality of life, it’s completely possible, even encouraged, to go without a car. Almost every Portland neighborhood is within walking and biking distance to great schools, shopping, restaurants, grocery stores, parks, and libraries.
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Posted in Moving To Portland, Portland Activities, Portland in the News, Portland Real Estate, Transportation | No Comments »
Thursday, February 3rd, 2011
Chinese and Chinese American history and culture are a long-standing and vibrant feature of Portland and Oregon’s landscape and community. Did you know that one of the nation’s favorite cherries, the Bing cherry, was named after an Oregon farmer of Chinese descent? Or that Portland is home to three tofu factories? Take a walking tour of Portland’s Chinese district in Northwest’s Old Town, where you can discover the tranquility and beauty of the Classical Chinese Garden. Savor a meal in one of Portland’s diverse Chinese restaurants, or watch a performance of Portland’s Yat Sing Music Club, which has performed classical Chinese music since 1941. Portland offers visitors abundant opportunities for the enjoyment and discovery of Chinese and Chinese American culture throughout the city, and no time is better that this weekend, as today kicks off the Lunar New Year celebrations around town!
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Posted in Downtown, Happy Valley, Moving To Portland, Neighborhoods & Areas, Portland Activities, Portland Events, Portland Real Estate | No Comments »
Thursday, February 3rd, 2011
Check out the new Damascus, Oregon Real Estate neighborhood guide detailing the city of Damascus, one of the newest cities in Oregon located just southeast of Portland. Combining the best of urban and mountain accessibility and small town rural atmosphere, Damascus is the best of all worlds with great opportunity for investment. Check out some of the charming hills and valleys, grab a delicious lunch at the cafe featured in the movie Twilight, or sit in your sprawling backyard enjoying your view of the natural world around you. If you’re looking for homes, apartments, or other real estate in Damascus or other Portland Suburbs, check out the Damascus, Oregon Real Estate neighborhood guide filled with the best restaurants in Damascus, the top shopping, and neighborhood resources. Relocating to a new area can be hard, but it’s a lot easier when you’ve got the best real estate agents in Portland on your side.
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Posted in Moving To Portland, Neighborhoods & Areas, New Construction, Portland Real Estate | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011
The Portland Real Estate market is known for it’s tree-lined streets and green neighborhoods, but what many people do not know is that those trees have little official protection. The City of Portland is working on a proposal for new tree protection standards, and the plan is getting near unanimous support from homebuilders, environmentalists, residents, and city officials. The Portland City Council plan, known as the Citywide Tree Project, would protect and increase the number of trees in Portland, which has a great effect on the safety, health, and beauty of the city. For many homeowners, the biggest and most notable change is this: removing a tree greater than 20 inches in diameter from private property would require a permit, followed by a tree replanting or payment to the city toward replanting efforts.
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Posted in Green Homes, Moving To Portland, New Construction, Portland Landmarks | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011
The best thing about Portland is that, unlike some other wine-friendly rural areas, it’s a big city with access to both local wines and international wines. Where else can you travel from some of the country’s best wine bars downtown to the place where some of the best grapes are growing in less than twenty minutes? Portlanders and visitors alike frequently embark on tours of the local wine country, as many local vineyards host wine tastings and tours in their own headquarters. Just driving through the countryside on the outskirts of Portland and Portland’s suburbs is a great way to explore the beauty of the area.Portlanders don’t only have access to the best wine in America, they also celebrate that access every year! Why not take a day to experience the best of Oregon’s bounty this weekend (February 4th and 5th) at the Portland Seafood and Wine Festival at the Oregon Convention center (777 SE Martin Luther King Blvd. Portland, OR 97214)?
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Posted in Moving To Portland, Portland Activities, Portland Events, Portland Food | No Comments »
Tuesday, February 1st, 2011
Check out the new Banks real estate neighborhood profile detailing the community of Banks, located just west of Portland. Combining the best of urban accessibility and affordable, historical rural comfort, Banks is the best of all worlds. If you’re looking for homes, apartments, or other real estate in Banks or other Portland Suburbs, check out the McDonald Group Banks real estate neighborhood profile filled with the best restaurants in Banks, school information, and neighborhood resources. Relocating to a new area can be hard, but it’s a lot easier when you’ve got the best real estate agents in Portland on your side.
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Posted in Moving To Portland, Neighborhoods & Areas, Portland Real Estate | No Comments »
Tuesday, February 1st, 2011
CNBC recently crowned Portland one of it’s Top Foodie Cities in America, citing the high local-restuarant-to-chain ratio (79.6%) the amazing number of breweries (97!), and the availability of local produce through Community Supported farms and farmers markets (93 farms and 56 farmers markets!). Here at the McDonald Group Portland Real Estate blog, we love to keep track of the media accolades the Portland area is racking up in recent years, so we’re not surprised by the latest listing – we know Portland has the best food scene in the country!
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Posted in Downtown, Moving To Portland, Neighborhoods & Areas, Pearl District, Portland Food | No Comments »
Monday, January 31st, 2011
Check out the new Ashcreek Real Estate neighborhood guide detailing the neighborhood of Ashcreek, nestled in the Southwest Hills in Portland. The neighborhood is home to the Ash Creek Nature Area and other rich neighborhood treasures that contribute to the community’s small-town feel. The winding, tree-lined streets, rolling hills, and friendly residents will fool you into thinking Ashcreek is far away from the hustle and bustle of Downtown Portland, but commuters will find easy access to the commercial center of the city. Combining the best of urban accessibility and comfortable, luxury country atmosphere, Ashcreek is truly exceptional.
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Posted in Moving To Portland, Neighborhoods & Areas, Portland Real Estate, Southwest Hills | No Comments »
Whenever Portland gets a bit of snowfall, like this morning’s brief flurries, it’s always interesting to note the micro-climates in the area. It’s fascinating to see the visible differences in snowfall and temperatures between the West Hills, Happy Valley, and inner eastside Portland. You can drive from downtown Portland to Happy Valley in mere minutes, but the climates shift dramatically, due to elevation shifts and differences in population density. This morning, snowflakes fell but did not stick in the Alameda neighborhood in Northeast Portland while the Bridlemile area, in the West Hills, saw some gorgeous snow accumulation. Happy Valley residents woke up to over an inch of snow, while about a half an inch stuck in Hillsdale. Skiers are likely celebrating the fresh powder up on Mt. Hood, the perfect place for a winter getaway!
