Back To School In Portland

August 05, 2013 13:51

 Now is that dreaded time for kids and highly anticipated for parents, back to school. It is the end of summer and everyone is now gearing towards buying backpacks and school supplies. Typically the real estate market has extra activity this time of the year and it is directly related to back to school. Finding the right house in the right neighborhood isn't always easy. That is why working with an experienced Realtor that has knowledge about the school districts, inventory and prices is a must. This creates less work for you in the long run as school boundary lines and districts can sometimes be tricky to distinguish.

In Portland we are very lucky to have excellent schools. Some of the more popular districts include Lincoln on the West side and Grant on the East side. The Lincoln district is located in a neighborhood called Goose Hollow in Portland's West Side. The average price is $244/ square foot and there are currently 229 homes on the market in the Lincoln district. The prices range from $275,000 up to $3,995,000. Lincoln High School scored a 9 out of 10 on greatschools.org and was praised for having a good balance of education and extracurricular activities. Another highly rated school is Grant High school, located in Grant Park in Portland's inner East side. It ranked 8 out of 10 from greatschools.org with reviews on excellent art and music programs. The price per square foot in the Grant district is $200 and there are currently 106 homes on the market. The prices range from $219,000 to $1,375,000.

There are also desirable schools in many of the suburbs of Portland, one example is Happy Valley. Clackamas High School got high ratings on greatschools.org, it ranked a 9 out of 10 and received good reviews from students and parents alike. The average price per square foot in Happy Valley is $149 and there are currently 219 homes on the market. Prices range from $199,000 to $1,495,000.

As you may have noticed there is a wide range of homes for sale in all the above mentioned districts, some are very affordable and others high end luxury homes. The difference from the West side of Portland to the East side is also notable when it comes to price. What an interesting comparison, looks like in the suburbs there is a wider selection and a much lower price tag!

Home prices do reflect the district you purchase in and seem to maintain a higher price tag in the more desirable areas, in Portland that is specifically close in to the city. It is not always an issue with buyers, especially if they do not have children, although schools are an important factor when it comes to resale in the future. It is important to look at your home purchase as not only a place where you will live day to day, but also as one of the most important investments you will make.

Article Written By Amanda Folkestad

Edited by Brian Porter