Central Oregon

Seattle Times, April 12, 2009 "Oregon's "New West" tumbles, another sign of hard times"

New York Times, June 17, 09, "Slump Dashes Oregon Dreams of Californians"

Average Sale Price for a 3 Bdrm Home
Figures are based on multiple listing data (Windermere) for homes sold Jun 2007 to Nov 07
Bend $389,000
Redmond $287,000

Newspaper
Bend Bulletin

Please see other categories for more information about Oregon.

Housing

For current market conditions in the state of Oregon: Market Condition Reports and Reality Times - Oregon Market Conditions (this site also contains buyer/seller tips)

Portland's median home price is about $290,000, 33% above the national median. Portland Monthly April 2008.

Regional Multiple Listing Search Search by number of bedrooms, bathrooms, square feet, price, county, city and more.

From Portland Monthly April 2008,
"And in February the Economist reported that Portland was one of only three U.S. cities - we were joined by Seattle and Charlotte, North Carolina - where housing prices actually increased in 2007. While we saw a 6.3 percent increase, the rest of the country, alas, saw a collective drop in property values of 8.9 percent."

More from Portland Monthly April 2008,
"Portland hasn't seen a decline in housing prices since the mid-1980s, and our average annual increase is typically under 10 percent."

Portland homes spend an average of 58 days on the market. Portland Monthly, April 2008

Neighborhood "Awards" (info from Portland Monthly April 2008)
- Sylvan Highlands: Biggest One-Year Price Growth
According to Portland Monthly, Apr 2009, Healy Heights had the largest average 1-year price growth percentage, 44. The largest drop in average 1-year price growth percentage, -19, was the Southwest Hills.
- Northwest District: Most Homes for Sale Over $500,000
- Sauvie Island: Best 5-Year Price Growth
Portland Monthly, Apr 2009, Hayden Island, 85
- Powellhurst-Gilbert: Most Homes For Sale Under $300,000
- Hollywood (NE)/Healy Heights (West Hills) (tie): Fewest Days on the Market.
Portland Monthly, Apr 2009, the neighborhood with the lowest average days on the market was Grant Park at 34 days. Hollywood was 94 days and Healy Heights, 124.

Useful descriptions of different neighborhoods
Portland Neighborhood
Portland Maps (stats)

Average Sale Price for a 3 Bdrm Home
Figures are based on multiple listing data (Windermere) for homes sold Jun 2007 to Nov 07
- Corvallis $279,000 (home of Oregon State University – Beavers)
- Eugene $262,000 (home of University of Oregon – Ducks)
- Hood River $396,000
- McMinnville $296,000
- Salem $234,000
- Central Oregon: Bend $389,000; Redmond $287,000 (see post on Central Oregon)
- Coastal Towns: Astoria $265,000; Cannon Beach $595,000; Florence $254,000; Gearhart $391,000; Lincoln City $351,000; Manzanita $567,000; Newport $365,000; Salishan $663,000
- Portland: North $281,000; Northeast $319,000; Southeast $284,000; West $584,000
- Portland Metropolitan Area: Beaverton $297,000; Clackamas $326,000; Gresham $281,000; Hillsboro $276,000; Lake Oswego $501,000; Vancouver WA $259,000; West Linn $616,000; Wilsonville $413,000
- Southern Oregon: Ashland $497,000; Klamath Falls $282,000; Medford $296,000; Roseburg $243,000

State of Oregon Housing & Community Services

Rent
Rates are going up in 2008, by about 10% in the suburbs and 15% in the city, according to Mark Barry, an apartment appraisal specialist. About 38% of Portlanders don't own their homes. City-wide vacancy rates are hovering at about 4%. Portland Monthly 2008.

April 2008 Willamette Week article on rent

Vancouver
Yes, it's outside of Oregon but it's a common question. Link is to Willamette Week article, 2007.

Employment / Economy

Before you ask: Monthly U.S. Unemployment Rankings
According to the Oregon Department of Labor, in April 2009, Oregon's unemployment rate was 12.1%. The national average was 8.6%.
More unemployment information, specific to Oregon, including links to specific city information.

Forbes Magazine, "In Depth: U.S. Cities Where It's Hardest To Get By" Portland ranks #6 out of 20.

One Fortune 500 company is headquartered in Oregon, Nike.

Oregonian article, June 3, 09, "Greater Portland posts nation's biggest jobless jump"

The percent of population over 25 with a Bachelors Degree + is higher in Oregon than the general U.S.
More than half of Oregon residents have a college degree.

Wall Street Journal, May 16, 09, "Youth Magnet' Cities Hit Midlife Crisis"

Portland's median salary is nearly 9% lower than the rest of the U.S. Portland Monthly, April 2008

NY Times March 26, 09, "A Downturn Wraps a City in Hesitance"

Average salary for a full-time Oregon private-practice attorney in 2006 = $140,000
Average salary for a full-time Oregon public defender in 2006 = $55,000
Portland Monthly, June 2008

Portland Tribune article, March 5, 09, "Taking a job - almost any job Economy suffers when workers, and the jobs they find, don’t match"

Average annual wage in the 6-county (surrounding Portland) region in 2001: $37,285
Average annual wage in the 6-county region in 2005: $41,069
Percent change in inflation-adjusted real wages in the 6-county region between 2001 & 2005: 0
Portland Monthly, Feb 2008

Willamette Week article, 2005, "Portland's New Economy"

Use the The Prosperity Planner to understand what it takes to meet your basic needs and develop strategies to achieve your career and earning goals. The Planner can help you see how well wages from several different jobs meet your family's needs here in Oregon, get information you need to set higher wage goals and develop strategies for achieving these goals. The The Prosperity Planner is a product of Worksystems, Inc., a provider of employment and training programs. To find a Worksource Center near you, in Oregon, go to Worksource Oregon

Population (updated!)

March 29, 2009 Business Journal article on the fastest growing cities in the nation (the Bend area, the Portland-Bvtn-Vancouver area & the Salem area).

In 2006, according to DMV records, more than 24,000 Californians migrated north to Oregon, making California the largest contributor to Oregon's in-migration population. Arizona, Texas and Florida follow. Portland Monthly April 2008.

Researchers at PSU's College of Urban and Public affairs predict Portland's population of 65 and older, will grow by 137% in the next 30 years and will make up more than 17% of the total population. Only 6 other cities in the nation outpaced Portland. Portland Monthly, April 2008

Portland's overall population is expected to grow by about 47% over the next 30 years. Portland Monthly April 2008.

Voting

Oregon votes by mail.

Residents who have moved to Oregon or moved within Oregon need to re-register in order to vote in elections.
To register go to the: Voter Registration.
The above site lists everything you need to know to register, including ID necessary.

If you have questions about voting in Oregon, candidates or important dates (such as the deadline to register to vote in an election), please go to Elections Division Site.

Taxes

Sales Tax: None

Income Tax: 9%

Property Taxes: Rates vary throughout the state. For more information see: Dept of Revenue

Links

Link to the OregonGetaways

A link to AboutPortland

A link to Nest Bios