5 Things You Didn’t Know About Happy Valley, Oregon

Updated 05/2024 When Shakespeare pondered, “What’s in a name?” … he probably wasn’t thinking about neighborhood incorporation and real estate. Still, Happy Valley is a testament to a name’s power. It even has an interesting backstory. Local lore claims the name originates from neighborhood youths who drank hard cider before church services. Their boisterous singing […]

Gresham Real Estate Market: 2021 Update

Known for affordability, diversity and a welcoming attitude, the Gresham real estate market east of Portland is experiencing renewed interest after 2020 turned the real estate market on its head. Whether you’re considering getting out of the city and closer to the Columbia Gorge, or are looking for a starter home in an affordable neighborhood, […]

5 Things You Didn’t Know About Fairview, Oregon

Northeast of Portland, along the I84 corridor, is a little town that can be easy to miss on the way to Gresham or Troutdale. However, Fairview deserves a detour. We named it one of 2020’s Most Affordable Portland Suburbs, and in 2019 it was on our short list of Best Cities to Live Near Portland. […]

Beaverton, Oregon: Portland’s Top Suburb 2021

It would be difficult to name a more quintessentially Oregon suburb than Beaverton. Inspired by Oregon’s state mammal which also adorns our flag, the word “Beaverton” aptly describes the city next door to Portland, surrounded by nature and thriving with industry.  Beaverton Oregon Basics Beaverton is a popular suburb because of its proximity to Portland, […]

Top 5 Safest Portland Suburbs 2020

Despite Portland’s recent notoriety for localized conflicts, most people who live here can tell you that it’s overall a safe place to live.  Crime statistics can tell us some things about the safety of a given city or suburb, but there are other aspects of safety to consider: What’s the natural disaster risk? How prepared […]

2020’s Top 5 Most Affordable Portland Suburbs

Despite the pandemic setback to the real estate market this spring, home prices in Portland are as strong as ever, especially at the low-to-mid range of the market. While this is great news for homeowners, those shopping for a home — especially a first home — can feel a bit daunted.  Fortunately, the Portland metro […]

5 Things you Didn’t Know About Oregon City

If we had to make a list of Portland suburbs posed for growth, Oregon City would probably be at the top. With a population of 37,000 and big plans for the future, this city stands as a destination in its own right — not just for tourists but for home buyers as well. Read on […]

Top 5 Portland Suburbs – Your 2020 Move Away Guide.

In the first part of 2020, social distancing has pushed working from home into the mainstream. For a large number of workers, the new standard could be to telecommute, driving to the office only occasionally.  Portland has long been ahead of the telecommuting curve, with nearly 8% of our workforce doing so last year. Now that […]

5 Best Cities (Suburbs) Near Portland – 2019 Update

Aren’t all suburbs cities? No! Driving around Portland’s metro area, it can be difficult to tell where one city ends and other begins. What some home buyers don’t realize is that some suburbs of Portland aren’t even cities at all. Should that matter to home buyers? We think so! Governance has a huge impact on […]

5 Things You Didn’t Know About Troutdale, Oregon

Updated 03/2025. Located 12 miles east of Portland, at the confluence of the mighty Columbia river and its major tributary, the Sandy River, the city of Troutdale is known as the Gateway to the Gorge. So you can bet that Troutdale is a tourism hotspot — but many Portland home buyers overlook it as a […]

New Max Line for Tigard, SW Portland Coming 2027.

Getting to the West Hills and suburbs southwest of Portland is going to be easier in a few years, thanks to a new MAX light rail line. The line will transform what’s known as the Southwest Corridor — Barbur Boulevard/Highway 99W going out to the cities of Tigard and Tualatin — with commercial development. And, […]

Top 5 Most Affordable Portland Suburbs – 2019 Update

Affordability is a hot topic in Portland, a city with limited area and seemingly unlimited population growth. While the city struggles to keep up by building apartments, condos, and accessory dwelling units (read our article on the state of construction in Portland here), the suburbs are booming.  Why move to a Portland suburb? The tradition […]

10 Things You Didn’t Know About West Linn, Oregon

Updated 04/2025. Among Portland, Oregon suburbs, West Linn may not the flashiest, but it is still a standout place to live. This area south of the Portland hubbub along the Willamette River features quiet neighborhoods, plenty of parks, and top schools, not to forget a few excellent shops and restaurants. But nature is one of […]

Which Portland Suburbs are Growing the Fastest?

Portland Population Growth The fastest-growing city in the Portland metro area is – surprise – not Portland! According to the U.S. Census Bureau, since 2010, the city has added 60,000 new residents, giving it a growth rate of 10%. (That Portland population explosion has slowed down significantly in 2017 and even more so in 2018, […]

5 Things You Didn’t Know About Hillsboro, Oregon

Name a town that’s growth-forward but also community-minded. Where you can take the light rail to Portland in the same amount of time it takes to get to the beach. A place that offers the best of Oregon but isn’t afraid to be a little different. If you said Hillsboro, it’s probably because we gave […]

Top 5 – Most Affordable – Portland Suburbs

Portland has never been a better place to live and work. Our schools, parks, transportation and homes are top-notch — but the one downside is that affordability has suffered. An influx of new residents combined with a slow construction industry means that the typical home value is tens of thousands of dollars more than what […]