There are many property management companies with many homes for rent. I only know a few of the prominent ones but when you drive around Portland you see their signs and there are so many that I cannot list them all here. Do you know part of Portland you want to be in because there is a big difference in location. You should talk to property mgmt on the phone before you go. There is a consignment store for hi-end furniture on Allen Blvd. in Beaverton called Consignment Northwest. Stay on the S.W. side of Portland is my suggestion. The better areas are Lake Oswego, West Lynn, West Hills, Raleigh Hills, Beaverton, Orenco Station, West Slope, Gabriel Park, Sylvan.

For furniture, go to City Liquidators down town.
I am not sure what your budget is for the 4 bedroom home, but try to stay away from SE and NE Portland, Gresham, and St Johns

My hubby and I just moved to Oregon 2 months ago from Las Vegas and live in Milwaukie. My sister lives in Gresham. I think out of the 2, Gresham is very beautiful. It's true that everywhere in Oregon you turn you have the country setting, but I found that in Gresham, it is more country and more peacful, but with everything close by. Good luck to you and your hubby. If you need friends close by, look me up.

If you want to live outside of the city itself, the best area to live in is Washington County to the west. For one, you're only about 30 -45 minutes from the coast. Live close to the MAX light rail line, and you can take the train into downtown, which where some of the best food can be found (all types of cuisine). Plus, you'll find most of the best food outside of Portland in the Beaverton/Hillsboro/Tigard area. If you want to live in town, the best areas are in the Hawthorne District, the Alberta area, near NW 21st/NW 23rd, and in the Broadway district. In those areas you'll find the best restaurants, art galleries, and hangouts in town. And that's where the youngest crowd (21 – 40) spends their time.

Depends on what you'd like to spend on housing of course. The Pearl District is nice, full of condos, restaurants, coffee shops but you will pay a high price to live here.

Many parts of close in southeast are getting quite nice yet still affordable, also same thing about some parts of north Portland.

There are some really nice areas in NE Portland, Broadway area near Lloyd Center, Laurelhurst, Fremont street area. Best is to find a good real estate agent to help you pinpoint how much you want to spend and what things are important to you.

the pearl district is nice, lots of neat restaurants and galleries. But, it is trendy, and getting crowded. Lots of public areas are there (parks, paths, etc) If you want a HOUSE with a yard, try the Gresham area. It's about 15 minutes from downtown Portland if you drive, 30 minutes if you take MAX (transit train system). Gresham is growing so they have alot of new stores and restaurants, just not the unique quant places that are all over the Pearl. But, you will be making a good real estate investment, have a bit more peace, and safer areas. On the other side of town, Beaverton is nice, but growing fast and getting rather spendy. Again, it's about 20 mins. from downtown if you drive.

As a native of Portland, and also a resident of Arizona three
times as well, I would have to recommend the west side or the
southern suburb of Tigard, Oregon. The west side of Portland
is more upscale than Portland. And the homes are more
expensive close in and as you go further east into Beaverton,
you'll find loads of rental appartments and housing rentals.
There are so many good restaurants in the Beaverton area,
and scattered throughout the Portland area as well. You'll
find several price ranges. I find the more expensive are
downtown Portland tho. One of the newer spots is the new
location of the Melting Pot. A fondue restaurant that serves
several courses. It's a place to go for a special occasion.
Then there's the Hilton Hotel and restaurant and several
other top restaurants too lengthy to name.
As far as something to do. There is something going on
every weekend. Just check the paper or watch TV for info.
And there's so much to do now during summer outside. I
can't think of any summer sport you cannot do. And for hikers
it's a paradise. So many trails through the woods and at the
beach locations, you'd be amazed.
I love Chinese food, and we have found our favorite place
in Hazel Dell, Wash. just north of Vancouver, across the river
from Portland. It is a Chinese buffet with more selection than
we've seen anywhere. The place never advertises since word
of mouth keeps the place filled. So we always go early before
the heavier rush. We used to go to the Golden Crown in
Beaverton for it's tasty food and friendly staff and ambiance,
but it's too far for us to travel now for dinner. But I'd highly
recommend it. Portland has its' own Chinatown also. And
there are restaurants in that location. I haven't been there in
years tho. We don't like driving through the traffic of downtown
Portland anymore.
Pick up the Sunday edition of the Portland Oregonian at
your main library and you will find in their entertainment section page after page of what's going on up here.

Well if I were moving to Oregon, I would probably want to live near Newport Beach, so that you are near the water, and you still get the cool art and restaurants near it.

The Lake Oswego area is very nice. You'll want to live in the southern suburbs. They tend to be nicer, less crime and so forth.

Astoria!!! It is awsome there!!! Lived there for a year, work moved my family, so that is the olny reason we are not there!!!