Portland’s Pearl District is one of the world’s coolest neighborhoods, with its mix of eye-catching art, trendy restaurants, upscale shops, green spaces and stylish apartments. At the foundation of all these attractions is a fascinating history, imprinted on the buildings’ architecture and interior design. Although the Pearl District is now a perfect neighborhood for artsy, eco-friendly urbanites, it’s taken many years and several visionaries to realize the area’s amazing potential.
Check out our listings in the Pearl District.
It might be difficult to imagine now, but back in the 19th century, the Pearl District was made up of single-family homes for mainly blue-collar, European immigrants. Then, at the turn of the century, Portland’s Union Station was built in the District, and the railway began to take over the neighborhood. Gradually, more commercial and industrial buildings like warehouses were built, replacing the homes. By 1910, the neighborhood was mainly industrial, not residential.
The area hummed with activity until the 1960s and 70s, when highways were becoming more important than railroads and ships for transportation. Factories in the District began to close or move elsewhere, leaving decaying buildings behind. Few investors were interested in the area, and the price of rent plummeted. According to the Museum of the City, it was possible to rent a large warehouse in the District for just $100 a month in 1979.

Despite the neighborhood’s deterioration in the late 20th century, it still had a convenient location close to the heartbeat of the city. Combined with low rent, this great location began to attract new kinds of tenants, especially artists and entrepreneurs. About this time, in the mid-1980s, the name “Pearl District” was coined by a local art gallery owner, Thomas Augustine. Before then, the neighborhood had been called the “Northwest Industrial Triangle,” but with the influx of artists and start-ups, it was beginning to look less and less like an industrial zone.
Augustine based the name “Pearl District” on one of his friends, Pearl Marie Amhara, who loved the area and imagined it full of creative people. In an interview with a freelance journalist, he used the name “Pearl District” as a way to describe the neighborhood. “These old, crusty exteriors on the buildings are like the exterior of an oyster shell,” he said. “But inside it’s amazing.” The name later appeared in a story the journalist wrote for Alaska Airlines Magazine. Then, Sunset Magazine picked up the term, and after that, the name stuck.
Around the same time, the American Institute of Architects began to study the neighborhood. They published a report of the District called “The Last Place in Downtown,” which became the foundation for making NW 13th Avenue into a National Historic District in 1987.

This historic designation caught the attention of investors and developers. Aided by tax credits for preserving historic buildings, they began converting old buildings and warehouses into chic apartments. Throughout the 1990s, derelict structures were transformed into incredible places to live, shop, work, and eat. Others, too run-down to renovate, were demolished to make way for beautiful green spaces and parks, like Jamison Square and Tanner Springs Park. The Pearl District was in the middle of an urban renaissance.
Now, as you walk through the neighborhood, it looks nothing like the shabby industrial area it used to be. Instead of empty, dilapidated factories and warehouses, you’ll pass thriving businesses, eco-friendly condominiums, and Portland landmarks like Powell’s City of Books.
Nevertheless, the rags-to-riches background of the Pearl District is still evident in the neighborhood’s post-industrial architecture and artistic vibe. Notable buildings have their history posted on the façade to remind you of the neighborhood’s past. Even art hubs like the Elizabeth Leach Gallery and the Blue Sky Gallery are rooted in the District’s hard years, when rent was cheap and artists came together to form small, local galleries.

Other neighborhoods may have nice restaurants, shops and apartments, but only the Pearl District has the layers of history that make those places unique. Although the neighborhood has changed tremendously since the 1980s, it has remained authentic to its past and done justice to its name—it’s a genuine pearl.
This superb home in the Pearl District is within walkable access to pubs, restaurants, shopping, groceries. Check out more listings and information on our Pearl District community page.
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The community of Lake Oswego dates back to 1847, when pioneer Albert Durham built a sawmill on Oswego Creek, which led into the Willamette River. Back then, rivers were more important than roads for trade in Oregon, since rain, mud and thick forests made travel by road slow and frustrating. Taking advantage of Lake Oswego’s location by the river, Durham created a landing for lumber transport, inviting more business into the area.
Featured Image – The small-town feel of Lake Oswego.
About thirty years later, Lake Oswego was no longer a sleepy lumber town. Instead, it had turned into a powerhouse for the Oregon Iron and Steel Company after iron ore had been discovered in the Tualatin Valley. The company wanted to make Oswego into the “Pittsburgh of the West,” a thriving steel city. And, for a while, they succeeded. By 1890, the town had an assortment of stores and businesses, including nine saloons and an opera house.
However, the arrival of the railroad eventually wore away at the industry’s success. An extensive freight railroad system meant more competition from the Great Lakes region, where iron was cheaper and higher quality. This competitive pressure, along with the Panic of 1893, caused the Oregon Iron and Steel Company to close its smelter in 1894.
Fortunately, the railroad also strengthened Lake Oswego’s connection to Portland. With a direct line between Lake Oswego and Portland, the town was able to survive the local steel industry’s collapse. After all, it still had a great location and community. Seeing this potential, the Oregon Iron and Steel Company sold its land for development and built a power plant on Oswego Creek. With electricity, a beautiful lake, and a convenient connection to Portland, the town blossomed as a suburban haven.
By 1920, the rail line between Portland and Lake Oswego was humming with passenger traffic. Every day, 64 trains went by Lake Oswego, going to and from Portland’s Union Station. This train service, called the Red Electrics after its brightly-painted red cars, was the best in the Pacific Northwest. The commute wasn’t just fast—it was also clean and quiet, running on electric power rather than steam.
Although the Red Electrics no longer exists, Lake Oswego is still a popular suburb with an easy connection into the city. It’s an ideal neighborhood for families, in particular, due to its excellent education system. The Lake Oswego school district is one of the best in Oregon, and all of its schools regularly receive excellent reviews and ratings from the Oregon Department of Education.

There’s a lot to love about Lake Oswego besides its schools, though. Here are a handful of reasons why Lake Oswego is a fantastic place to settle down.
Interconnected Pathways. More than 20 years ago, the city began to create a system of recreational pathways so residents could walk, bike, and skate to different areas of Lake Oswego. Now, there are seven paved loop walks that connect homes to parks, schools and shopping centers.
Programs and Activities. Thanks to Lake Oswego’s awesome Parks and Recreation Department, you can register for a variety of local classes and activities, from cooking and ballet to tennis and Zumba.
Sports Facilities. It’s easy to stay active and fit in Lake Oswego. There’s a golf course, indoor tennis courts, a couple swimming pools, and many local sports leagues, from soccer to softball.
Theatre and Arts. Lake Oswego has a vibrant arts community, especially around the Lakewood Theatre Company, which puts on shows and offers classes year-round. You can get involved in a theatre production, attend the Arts Festival, or simply enjoy a show every now and then.
Shopping. You don’t have to drive to downtown Portland to find fashionable clothes and great gifts. Lake Oswego has several shopping centers with nice restaurants and stores, including a couple of upscale consignment shops. Since Downtown Lake Oswego is located by the waterfront, you can enjoy beautiful lakeside views while walking between stores, browsing the Farmers’ Market, or sitting at a dinner table for two.
Many homes in Lake Oswego are spacious, peaceful, and set in a beautiful outdoor setting. With great schools, shopping, and convenient access to Portland, it’s a great city to buy a house in and raise a family. Here are two great examples of what you might find in Lake Oswego. To see more listings, check out our community page.
Mid-century modern home built on a half-acre. View More Photos

Charming Ranch home at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac and backs to the Lake Oswego Nature Preserve. View More Photos

Every neighborhood in Portland, OR has a unique atmosphere and identity, making each section of the city feel like a small town. This sense of community is especially true in the neighborhoods of Sellwood and Eastmoreland, where you’ll find quiet streets, family-friendly parks, and locally-owned restaurants and coffee shops.
The two neighborhoods are divided by Portland’s Rhododendron Gardens, Crystal Springs Lake, and the historic Eastmoreland Golf Course. Although the communities share many similarities, they have certain key differences rooted in their history and geography. Here’s an overview of both communities to help you narrow down your perfect place to live in Portland.

Featured Image – Sellwood waterfront

Sellwood

Located on high ground by the Willamette River, Sellwood seems almost like a beach town, only with fresh water. There are quaint stores and great places to eat, like Papa Haydn—where you’ll find some of the best desserts in the city—and Grand Central Bakery, famous for their old-style crusty loaves of bread. You can find antique treasures at the Sellwood Antique Mall, or go to Sock Dreams and browse a huge assortment of stockings, socks and leg warmers. Great dining and shopping are benefits of living in Sellwood—but what sets the community apart is its history.
Part of why Sellwood seems like a picturesque town rather than an urban neighborhood is because it actually was an independent farm town back in the 19th century. In fact, Sellwood was once even a rival of Portland until it was annexed in 1893, joining rather than competing with Portland. However, it’s still one of the oldest communities in the Portland area, and it hasn’t lost any of its old charm and friendliness.
The neighborhood’s rich history is evident in its variety of homes, from upscale craftsman and Victorian houses to newer townhomes, apartments and condominiums. This mix of old and new makes the neighborhood’s population more diverse, too. You can find young professionals, older couples and families with several children all living in Sellwood. Each group has found something to love in this neighborhood, from the nearby amusement park, Oaks Park to the lovely Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge.
Interested in Sellwood Portland real estate? Check out our Sellwood community page to find great homes for sale and learn more about this beautiful area.

Eastmoreland

Like Sellwood, Eastmoreland is peaceful. It has wide boulevards, neat gardens, and a homey atmosphere. Walking through the area, you might immediately notice the lush landscaping and elm trees lining the road. Although Sellwood is closer to the river, Eastmoreland is more closely connected to Crystal Springs Lake, Berkeley Park, and the Rhododendron Gardens. It also has easy access to the sweeping stretch of greenery and trees in the Eastmoreland Golf Course. In other words, if you love walking beneath trees in nature, Eastmoreland could be your favorite Portland neighborhood.
The community has significant history, too. In the northern part of Eastmoreland, you can walk the grounds of Reed College, a private liberal arts college established at the turn of the century. It was named after Oregon pioneers Simeon and Amanda Reed, who were entrepreneurs in trade along the Columbia River. In Simeon’s will, he suggested that his wife use part of his estate to develop the fine arts in Portland. He wanted to “contribute to the beauty of the city and to the intelligence, prosperity and happiness of the inhabitants.”
Now, looking at Reed College, Amanda seems to have succeeded. The institution is regarded one of the most intellectual colleges in the country. To families in the area, though, it’s not only a historic landmark—it’s a fantastic place to go on a picnic. You can explore the acres of beautiful grounds and spot wildlife between the trees. It’s yet another great place to walk and relax outside in Eastmoreland.
The natural beauty of Eastmoreland draws quiet couples and families, who enjoy the peacefulness and tend to keep to themselves. Many of the properties are single-family homes built in the mid-1900s, when Eastmoreland was being developed. You can find a classic Craftsman, an expansive Ranch, or even a gorgeous Mediterranean-style house in the neighborhood. Regardless of architecture, the majority are spacious and beautiful, matching the lovely atmosphere of the neighborhood.
This beautiful Eastmoreland home is surrounded by trees, has a wonderful manicured yard, and is a perfect place to raise a family. View More Photos

Interested in Eastmoreland Portland real estate? Check out our Eastmoreland community page to browse new listings and find out more information about this wonderful place.