Help with Portland Suburbs, please!

littlepoppyseed

I wrote last week about my upcoming move to Portland, and have been trying to figure out a good place for us to live (we will move at the end of May).  Our ideal place to live is a close-in neighborhood with eclectic restaurants, shops, and interesting architecture.  HOWEVER - my husband's job requires him to have a home office... and we have one child, with another on the way... plus, we have a lot of visitors, so must have a guest room.  It seems like our space requirements don't match our budget requirements... so we need to start looking in more suburban areas.  Sadly, I won't be able to visit before the move  

We need at least 3 bedrooms + den (4 + den or 5 bd, would be great, too), near a great elementary school and park, for under $2000/month rent.  We are extremely liberal, and found that our views are VERY out-of-place in the suburbs in Phoenix... would it be the same in Portland suburbs? Or are they more moderate?  We love having friends and neighbors of any viewpoint- but we don't want to be in the severe minority.  We have cars and don't mind driving (my husband's job requires him to drive all around the city, so it doesn't REALLY matter where our home base is...).  Schools and home size/quality are the most important thing. 

If you have advice, or can give some insight into the suburbs, I'd love it!  I'll be staying at home, and am hoping to move into an area where I can find new friends, a moms' group, etc - I hope you can help me!  

Rochelle&Matt

This is kind of tricky because Portland kind of has a mix of it all. I love all of Portland but don't have specific neighborhoods to tell you off of the top of my head. I live in SW Beaverton and I like it. I don't really feel like our neighborhood screams conservative or liberal. if you are wanting the fun shops and restaurants I would stick to Portland and keep looking for something in your budget. SW Portland might be kind of boring for you guys. I'm not sure what houses are renting for in Sellwood, but that is a neighborhood I love. Not super familiar with North or NE Portland so maybe someone else can chime in there. And NW is cool, but probably pretty pricey.

Portland First

If I were you, I wouldn't rule out Portland so quickly.  We rent a large house (4 bedrooms, 2 baths) in a great neighborhood in NE Portland, very close to Grant Park and within walking distance of very good PPS schools.  We pay just over your $2000 limit.  I feel like you could easily find something to rent north of here, close to Alberta or else in SE Portland, close to Belmont or Hawthorne, in your price range.  Or I second the opinion to look in Sellwood.  Are you looking regularly on Craigslist?  

I'm a huge proponent of living in Portland rather than the suburbs.  I think that you can make it happen.  When are you moving here?  We plan to buy soon and maybe you could have our house!     

Portland First

I just did a quick Craigslist search and there are lots of 4 bedroom houses for under $2000.  If you have specific neighborhood questions, let me know.  I just saw that you are moving here in May - have you considered a temporary rental space when you arrive so that you can look for awhile before deciding on something?  

 As far as meeting other moms, when your baby arrives you MUST go to the Providence new moms groups (at the hospital on NE Glisan).  You will meet tons of other moms and it is a great resource.  It goes from 0-6 months and then you will have a set playgroup to meet with following that period.     

littlepoppyseed

Thanks, ladies I have been checking Craigslist, but it is so hard to determine good areas using that! My husband will be moving out at the end of April, and will just be renting a room (we hope!) until I am able to move at the end of May/beginning of June.  I'm in charge of doing the research and pointing him in the right direction... and he'll be in charge of scouting out the neighborhoods in person.  Since I'm due the first week of August, I want him to have a place picked ASAP, so my son and I can move right in, as soon as school ends here. 

Thanks for encouraging us to keep looking at the close-in neighborhoods... sometimes it is hard not to be swayed by the bigger houses in the suburbs, but I LOVE being in the city

Is Providence a good place to deliver at?  I also have to find a new midwife or OB and hospital/birthing center.  Nothing like a move mid-pregnancy! 

amerifrau

I agree with PPs, keep looking!  We rent a house in SE and have three bedrooms for $1500.  You may already be doing this but: when you search Craigslist for Portland, first choose the "Multnomah Co" tab at the top (helps limit to close-to-Portland), and then pop one neighborhood at a time into the "search for" box. 

here's one... 

and another...

this one might be available too late, but just to give an idea...

oh wow...

North Portland...

One other thought... are you positive you need that many bedrooms right away?  If not, maybe you can find a rental "for now" and then once the new little one really "needs" their own room you'll be here and know more what neighborhoods you like and have more time/ability to look!  My 2 brothers and I shared a room for years!  In fact, I never had my own room   Also, you could combine the "home office" and "guest room" (just pop futon or such into the office!)...?  Just an idea It might not be ideal, but it could be okay and give you breathing room.  And who knows, it might work out!

Well, tons of luck with the search!

 

littlepoppyseed

Ohhh... those homes are SO my style!  Thanks for the tip about using the county tabs to search - that has helped narrow down my search a lot!  We definitely want to try to get in a home and not move again for at least a few years... moving is so expensive and stressful. But we are definitely reconsidering our need for so much space.  We're pretty sure that we'll be combining the office/guest room, so 3 bedrooms + den should be plenty.  I'll be crossing my fingers hoping the perfect place is available when DH heads out there in April/May. 

If you all think of any other tips, keep on sharing!  Thanks SO much  

Pinkwoman

LOL....read that you are looking for a liberal community...watch the show, "Portlandia" on IFC, it will give you a little insight into Portland's vibe. I think "liberal" is an understatement. You will fit right in!

estherandgeoff2

SW Portland could be nice too. You'd be close to downtown and there are still some cute areas like Multnomah Village.

Here's a cool one close to the zoo and Washington park:

https://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/apa/2241131238.html.

We used to live in SE in the Creston-Kenilworth neighborhood. It took us about 10 minutes by car to downtown Portland. We could walk to a Starbucks, and a Trader Joe's.

And don't worry, you'll fit right in with your liberal views, even if you end up in Beaverton or Tigard .

soontobe05

Pinkwoman:

LOL....read that you are looking for a liberal community...watch the show, "Portlandia" on IFC, it will give you a little insight into Portland's vibe. I think "liberal" is an understatement. You will fit right in!

Was thinking the same thing. Portland and Austin, TX are two places I've lived (or in burbs of anyway and they're very liberal and I LOVE it.  

Maryland

If you do end up looking in NE Portland, just be sure to stay WEST of 82nd ave; there are decent pockets east of 82nd, but you've got to check carefully in person first.

I am under the impression that schools are better in the suburbs though.

littlepoppyseed

Maryland, thanks for the tip on staying west of 82nd ave.  Good to know!  I've had some luck finding good looking houses on Craigslist... but of course, it is a little too early for us to do anything just yet.  DH will be up there by the end of April to pick us out a house though!  Yay! 

BeaverBeliever12

littlepoppyseed:

Thanks, ladies I have been checking Craigslist, but it is so hard to determine good areas using that! My husband will be moving out at the end of April, and will just be renting a room (we hope!) until I am able to move at the end of May/beginning of June.  I'm in charge of doing the research and pointing him in the right direction... and he'll be in charge of scouting out the neighborhoods in person.  Since I'm due the first week of August, I want him to have a place picked ASAP, so my son and I can move right in, as soon as school ends here. 

Thanks for encouraging us to keep looking at the close-in neighborhoods... sometimes it is hard not to be swayed by the bigger houses in the suburbs, but I LOVE being in the city

Is Providence a good place to deliver at?  I also have to find a new midwife or OB and hospital/birthing center.  Nothing like a move mid-pregnancy! 

I had my DD at St. Vincent Hospital (which is a Providence hospital) and had a great experience.  It's also the only hospital that has a NICU.  I see Christine Barlow at Womens Helthcare Associates (their building is next door to the hospital).  I absolutely love her and all the midwifes in the practice.  I've received excellent care.  I also really like that they have dedicated nursing staff at the hospital for patients using midwives.  It's great because they are 100% on board with low/no intervention natural birth.  I've heard stories from friends who delivered at other hospitals that they felt like the nurses were irritated with their choices. 

Lindsay was the midwife on call when I delivered and she was amazing.  I couldn't have done it without her. 

https://www.whallc.com/