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You have a number of ways of searching for homes.
Here are the two common and simple ways of searching for homes at the Moving
to Portland Web site:
The difference between the tools is that the Map
Search tool allows you to "fill in" your home requirements and then
select a geographic area from a metro area map. All the listings matching
your criteria will be displayed.
Using the Neighborhood Search tool, you select
the neighborhood where you would like to view listings from a menu
of neighborhoods. Once you select a neighborhood, a map of the neighborhood
will display with "home icons" being displayed for each listing. Click
on the icon labeled, "View Properties in Detail" and all the listings will
be displayed for the selected neighborhood. You can then view more
details about those homes that interest you including photos.
There are other methods of searching: by city
and Zip Code, by address, by school, and by the listing number.
Fly to a Home via Google Earth
You have found a home using the search tool and want to
explore the neighborhood where the home is located. Using Google Earth,
just insert the address and Google Earth will fly you to the exact street
address. Now you're ready to learn more about the neighborhood just as what
the other homes on the street look like, the tree canopy, parks, and commercials
establishments.
Once at the address, you can fly down to the streets
with the new Street View in Google Earth 6. To view street-level imagery
for a specific location, zoom into an area at an altitude of approximately
500km.
You will see a pegman icon
appear at the top right below the navigation controls. Click and drag
the
icon across the 3D viewer. A blue border will appear around roads that
have street-level imagery available. Drop the icon on a road with the
blue border and you will enter Street View. While in Street View, all
applicable layers that are selected in the left panel under Layers are
also visible. Learn more about layers. You can navigate and rotate your
view while in Street View mode by doing any of the following:
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Double click an area of the image with your mouse.
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Drag the imagery to the right or left with your
mouse. In some locations, you can drag the imagery down to look
skyward.
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Use the keyboard arrows.
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Use the scroll wheel of your mouse.
To exit Street View, select the Exit Street View button
located at the top right. Street View is not available at all
locations.
Google Earth lets you fly anywhere on Earth to view satellite
imagery, maps, terrain, 3D buildings, from galaxies in outer space to the
canyons of the ocean. Google Earth is free and you can download it at
http://www.google.com/earth/index.html.
Database of Homes
The homes you find using the search tool include all
homes currently for sale in the Portland metro area as listed in the Realtors
Market Listing Service (RMLS™).
This database of homes from RMLS™ is
the same one that all Portland metro area realtors used to search for homes
for their clients. You have access to current information as listings are
updated approximately every 15-30 minutes.
Metro Mapping
The best source for current (U.S.A. Census) demographic
data for Portland neighborhoods can be found at
Portland Maps.
You will have to know the address of a home within a neighborhood to obtain
the census information. Information provided: neighborhood data, assessor/taxlot
Information, aerial photos, elevation, schools, parks, zoning maps, water/sewer,
and natural hazard.
Find Distance
You can determine the approximate driving time and distance
in miles at the Google
Map Web site from the address of a listing to another destination, such
as downtown Portland. Use "SW Broadway & SW Yamhill" as a downtown address.
This is the location of Pioneer Square, located in the heart of downtown
Portland.
Public Transportation
Visit the Portland area regional transit system called
TriMet and use their
"Trip Tools" to determine public transportation (MAX Light Rail and Bus)
routes and times. Just insert your starting address, destination address,
and time you want to travel.
Schools
Each property will show the public schools (elementary,
middle, high school) associated with the address. If the school is not shown
on the listing, visit
Portland Maps
to determine the school(s). For help on evaluating a school, visit my
Evaluate
Schools page.
Sex Offenders
ORS 181.592 authorizes the Oregon State Police to make
information about registered sex offenders available to the public. Information
is only provided for sex offenders who have been designated as predatory,
as provided in ORS 181.585, who have also been determined to present the
highest risk of re-offending and to require the widest range of notification;
or found to be a sexually violent dangerous offender under ORS 144.635.
Visit the public Web site at
http://sexoffenders.oregon.gov.
An address of a property is needed to complete a search.
Current Market Activity Reports for the Portland Metro
Area
Altos Research
analyzes current real estate activity. By current this means
reports are only 3-4 days behind the current date whereas most other sources
are at least 30-60 days behind.
Home Sales Records
Visit
OregonLive to retrieve the home sales records in the Portland metro
area for the last 18 months. All you need is a zip code and street. For
the best search results, do not include the suffix when you enter a street
name or direction (e.g., SW, NW, etc.). For example, if you are looking
for a house on SW Main Street, enter "mail street" or just "main."
Thomas Guide
You may want to consider purchasing the "Thomas Guide
- Portland Metro Area." It's a street guide and directory of the Portland
area and it shows parks, colleges, neighborhoods, roads, etc. To order call
(800) 899-6277 or visit the
Thomas Guide Web site.
You may be able to purchase or order the "Thomas Guide - Portland Metro
Area" from your local book store.
Search for a 'Green" Home
 You
can search for a 'green' home in the Search for Homes tool. To search for
a green home, check the "Certified Green" box under the heading of "Residential
Property Sub Categories." The detailed listing for a home will display the
code for the type of certification the home has been awarded:
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EARTHAD (Earth Advantage).
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EN-STAR (Energy Star).
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LEED (Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design).
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STAR-AD (If a home is both Earth Advantage and Energy
Star certified, it will display as STAR-AD).
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