I have represented alot of buyers and occasionally run into the home with NO sewer system. We run across homes on cesspools, party lines, etc. but NO sewer? Yep. An appraiser or inspector isn’t necessarily going to catch it if the home drains out into the backyard.
Check out the new Intel Area Real Estate Guide detailing the area around the Intel Campuses in Hillsboro, the heart of Oregon’s “Silicon Forest” just west of Portland. If you’re looking for homes for sale around the Intel Headquarters, check out new Intel Area Real Estate Guide filled with neighborhood resources, the best restaurants in Hillsboro parks and entertainment. Check out some of the charming and quirky candy stores, grab a delicious lunch at tone of the local restaurants, catch some sun at the Farmers’ Market, or sit in your lush backyard enjoying your view of the natural world around you. 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.
Check out the new Lair Hill real estate neighborhood guide detailing the neighborhood of Lair Hill in the West Hills of Southwest Portland. The historic Lair Hill neighborhood is filled with lush greenery and historic homes and provides easy commuting access and community opportunities. Combining the best of urban accessibility and the quintessential Portland neighborhood feel, Lair Hill is truly exceptional.
We’re not going to lie, Portland can be a rainy city. This time of year, the weather gets serious, but in the true creative spirit of Portland, residents are taking the meteorological lemons and turning them into lemonade. There are many ways to harness the rainwater so common to the Pacific Northwest, saving residents money, resources, and the environment along the way. Rain gardens – garden areas set up to catch rainfall coming off of roofs – are a creative utilization of the Portland weather, easing the burden on the Portland storm-water and sewer systems, and can lead to savings on utility bills. Installing Rain Gardens and other forms of rain water capture leads to discounts in the Storm Water Management portion of your water and sewer bill! Portland was one of the first American cities to attempt to reward and educate residents about storm-water management.
Are you a pizza lover? If so you’ll have plenty of options in Portland, as it seems new pizza joints are popping up in town every other week. The debate over what makes a truly great slice of pizza is as vibrant in Portland as it is in any other great American city – we’ve got proponents of thin crust vs. deep dish, wood-fire oven vs. traditional ovens, plain cheese vs. exotic toppings… But no matter what kind of pizza you prefer, you’re bound to find a place that pleases your palate. We’ve selected some of the best pizza spots in each part of town, so get ready for a tour of the area’s best pies. No matter where you choose to buy a home in Portland, you’ll be steps away from a great pizza joint (and most of them deliver!)… Are you hungry yet?
Check out the new Canby Real Estate neighborhood guide detailing the city of Canby, Oregon,one of the best small towns located just southeast of Portland. Combining the best of urban accessibility, small-town living, and agricultural beauty of the Willamette valley, Canby, Oregon is the best of all worlds. If you’re looking for homes for sale or other real estate in Canby or other Portland Suburbs, check out our new Canby Real Estate neighborhood guide filled with the best restaurants in Canby as well as city events 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.
Portland’s neighborhood system is known for its enclaves of walkable retail areas, centered around restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and boutiques, and some of the most successful areas are popular because of the ease of access via public transportation and bike. The Pearl District, Nob Hill, Hollywood, Hawthorne, Clinton, and Belmont districts are all walkable and accessible for all Portland residents, thanks to our amazing transportation systems. One of the most popular modes of transportation for residents and visitors alike is the Portland Streetcar, launched in 2001. In the almost ten years since the opening of the Streetcar lines, ever area serviced by the Streetcar loop has boomed in popularity.
Check out the new North Plains Real Estate neighborhood guide detailing the city of North Plains, Oregon,one of the best small towns located just northwest of Portland. Combining the best of urban accessibility, small-town living, and rural atmosphere, North Plains, Oregon is the best of all worlds. If you’re looking for homes for sale or other real estate in North Plains or other Portland Suburbs, check out our new North Plains Real Estate neighborhood guide filled with the best restaurants in North Plains, the best parks, golf courses, and green spaces, as well as city events 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.
Check out the new Woodstock Real Estate neighborhood profile detailing the Woodstock area of Southeast Portland, filled with gorgeous parks and nature trails, authentic restaurants, classic – and affordable! – Old Portland homes, and some of the best neighborhood pride in town. The Woodstock neighborhood is full of charm and community, featuring the fantastic Woodstock School. Woodstock is located near many resources, including a lovely library branch, supermarkets, and many outstanding restaurants. Combining the best of urban accessibility and comfortable, small-town atmosphere, the Woodstock neighborhood is quintessential Southeast Portland.
Check out the new Sylvan-Highlands Real Estate neighborhood guide detailing the neighborhood of Sylvan-Highlands nestled in the West Hills in Portland. The neighborhood is Forest Park and Washington Park, rich local treasures that contribute to the community’s small-town feel. The winding, tree-lined streets and friendly residents will fool you into thinking Sylvan-Highlands 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, Sylvan-Highlands is truly exceptional.
CNN’s “This Just In” blog today featured an interesting study done by the U.S. Forest Service’s Pacific Northwest and Southern Research Stations in the Portland area that found that areas with larger, taller, well-maintained trees had less neighborhood theft and overall crime than areas with smaller trees. It turns out that tall trees “can reduce crime by signaling to a potential criminal that a neighborhood is better cared for and, therefore, a criminal is more likely to be caught…Large yard trees also were associated with lower crime rates, most likely because they are less view-obstructing than smaller trees.”
Here at the McDonald Group Realtors, we’re head over heels for the fall colors that take over this time of year. Sure, summer in Portland is mild and perfect for picnics, music festivals, barbecues and pool parties, and the few days of snow we get in the winter turn the town into a magical fairy land where bundled-up Portland residents cross-country ski down a major east side thoroughfare. And yes, Spring is a force to be reckoned with in Portland, when Homes For Sale in Portland signs are almost overtaken by the millions of daffodils that pop up EVERYWHERE, but fall is simply the best. From Hillsboro and Wilsonville to the Bridlemile Neighborhood and Sherwood, the colors of Portland and Portland area suburban trees and hills are breathtaking. This is the PERFECT time to visit the area to check out the best of the Portland Real Estate market. Homes for sale are being sold at record-breaking low prices, and this month every street in the area is pulling out all the stops to get you to think about buying a home in Portland. If you’re thinking of relocating to Portland, take a look at these stunning glimpses of the Pacific Wonderland at her most colorful. It’s the perfect time to take a drive through the hills and suburbs to check out the foliage, and keep an eye out for those For Sale signs. We’ll help you out!
One of the best things about the Portland Real Estate Market and homes for sale in Oregon is that, no matter where you are in the Portland metro area, you aren’t living very far from farmland and picturesque countryside. Even new construction of modern town homes and condos have access to mountains, parks, and rural beauty. When we at the McDonald Group Realtors are out on the road researching neighborhoods and suburban communities for clients, we’re always struck by the short distances between bustling downtown communities with all the amenities of big-town living and the pristine beauty of hillsides covered in fall trees and sprawling farmlands with horses and sheep. What’s more, if you don’t get out to the farmlands very often, the farmers come to you – every suburb and Portland neighborhood has access to amazing farmers’ markets and stores that sell local produce. Local restaurants, even local outposts of national chains, use as much local produce, meats, and products as they can. Oregon even has its own fast food chain – Burgerville – that prides itself in using the best that Oregon has to offer, from sustainably raised beef and locally produced cheeses to the best berries, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, and onions for seasonal treats. Some of the best restaurants in Portland use almost exclusively local products, changing their menu weekly to accommodate changes in the harvest.
Check out the new Wilsonville Real Estate neighborhood guide detailing the city of Wilsonville, the “gateway to Oregon’s wine country” located just south of Portland. Combining the best of urban accessibility and small town atmosphere, Wilsonville is the best of all worlds. Check out some of the charming parks and neighborhoods, grab a delicious lunch at one of the amazing Thai restaurants in town, catch some sun at 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 Wilsonville or other Portland Suburbs, check out the Wilsonville Real Estate neighborhood guide filled with the best restaurants in Wilsonville, 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.
Have you heard about Eco-Districts? They are the newest project supported by a summit at the Portland Sustainability Institute, and could be the next new wave of Portland Real Estate development. Portland is already known for its green urban planning, healthy public transportation system, and urban growth boundaries that preserve green spaces and prevent unchecked urban sprawl, but the next big step in the green city direction could be fully planned eco-districts. These specially zoned regions are expected to take place in urban renewal areas, including the Lents neighborhood, Lloyd District, Gateway, the South Waterfront, and the Portland State University district, and could develop strategies for cutting-edge sustainable new construction and development, including redesigns of existing buildings with green updates and low-carbon public transportation options to renewable power generation and well-supported farmers’ markets. Other projects could be focused on developing natural urban habitats, sustainable water and waste management and community development to launch neighborhood residential and business involvement in the green updates.