Get the Statistics Before You Move

Posted on: June 07, 2007

Photograph by Sarah Harmon of Hood Photography

I just stumbled on Neighboroo.com, and what a great resource it is. This website publishes a variety of statistics for cities nationwide so you have access to a quick snapshot of cities before you consider a move. This site provides an easy interface to learn a city’s statistics. Categories include: Populace, Housing Cost, Housing Market, Schools, Safety, Health, Climate, Income/Work, and Age/Ethnicity.

Being a Realtor, I wanted to see the neighboroo figures for Portland’s housing cost. I found the average home prices seemed a bit outlandish for our area; for instance, it lists the average 2-bed home price in the Portland Metro Area to be $914,516. According to neighboroo, Portland is more expensive than San Francisco ($692K for a 2-bed), and we all know that isn’t the case. The RMLS™ figures say the average home in the Portland Metro Area is $329,400. I ran a quick survey through the RMLS™, and the average sale price for 2-bedroom homes that sold in the last three months was $216,000—quite a difference. I did like the quick rental survey; they listed the average rent to be $960, which doesn’t sound too far off.

The housing market section has very intriguing categories, including foreclosure rates and collateral risks. This could be very handy for investors. Portland currently has a low rating; it will be interesting to watch this statistic as the housing market shifts. By the way, if you haven’t taken a ride on the “Real Estate Roller Coaster”, I recommend it. It offers a fun and riveting perspective on the rise and fall of home prices since 1890. But, back to neighboroo.com.

I did find the health section interesting. Seems Portland is about in the middle for air and water particulates with a score of 50. I wonder how it compares with the rest of the nation; that would be a neat statistic to include.

All in all, this is a good site to bookmark for referencing different cities in the US, including our “suburban” communities (Milwaukie, Beaverton, Hillsboro, Lake Oswego, Gresham, and Clackamas for example). After you check it out, make sure to leave me a comment with your thoughts.

Article written by Heidi Aspinwall, Broker for portlandrealestate.com.