By Lydia Hallay, February 1, 2025
Relocating to Portland is an exciting but complex process. The housing market in Portland is competitive, and navigating it from another afar requires a solid strategy and a supportive team. Here are four essential tips to help you successfully buy a home in Portland from out of state.
1. Hire with a Portland Realtor Who Specializes in Relocations
Your first step to relocation success is to find a realtor partner who is experienced in helping out of state buyers transition to Portland can make a huge difference. Look for a real estate agent who:
- Has experience assisting out-of-state buyers with virtual tours and remote transactions.
- Can provide insights on neighborhoods that align with your lifestyle and budget.
- Knows how to structure competitive offers that stand out in a multiple-bid market.
You will need to have a Buyer Broker Agreement in place prior to touring properties. The Buyer Broker Agreement (or BBA) is your tool to hire a realtor; it outlines your working relationship and allows your realtor to get to work on your behalf.
2. Get Pre-Approved and Identify Your Wants and Needs
Portland’s real estate market can be fast-paced and competitive; preparation is key:
- Get pre-approved for a mortgage with a lender familiar with Oregon’s financing options (unless you’re buying with cash). Without a clear plan for how to finance your purchase, you can’t shop in earnest. Before you can go out shopping with your realtor, you’ll need a pre-approval letter stating how much you can borrow- and, enough funds available to cover your earnest money, down-payment, and closing costs.
- Research property taxes and cost-of-living differences between your current state and Portland.
- Monitor market trends to understand pricing fluctuations and inventory levels. Your realtor should be your resident expert on this topic.
- Plan for additional costs, such as inspections, repairs, and relocation expenses.
3. Plan a Strategic Visit to Explore Homes and Neighborhoods
If at all possible, schedule a trip to tour homes in person. Photos and videos often don’t do properties justice. Your realtor can only convey so much about the “je ne sais quoi” of a property.
To make the most of your visit:
- Prepare for back-to-back showings to maximize your time viewing homes. Generally speaking, it takes 30-45 minutes to tour each property. With travel time between properties, that could mean a long day of visits! Your realtor will typically plan the day on your behalf, with properties you’ve either discussed in advance or that they think meet your criteria.
- Explore various neighborhoods and types of homes to find the right fit for your lifestyle and needs.
- Meet with your realtor prior to your visit to discuss your home-buying strategy. That will help you make the most of your time- and ensure you’re on the same page about what you’re looking for in a new home.
4. Be Ready to Act Quickly & Decisively
When relocating to Portland from out of state, it’s important that you and your realtor are aligned on your wants & needs. If your search parameters are too broad, it can be difficult to know when you’ve found “the one.” Your agent can tour on your behalf, answer questions you have about the property/neighborhood… but only you know whether a home is truly right for you.
If your search criteria is scattered and you find yourself drawn to properties across the entire metro area, in a wide range of styles or price points, or in all kinds of conditions (fixer, new, renovated, etc.)- it might be a sign that you need to visit in person to narrow your wants & needs.
In Portland’s highly competitive market, homes often go pending days. Decisive action might mean submitting an offer sight unseen, or getting on a flight so you can see a property in person.
Final Thoughts: Making a Smooth Transition to Portland
Relocating to Portland requires careful planning and the right real estate team. By working with an experienced relocation realtor, understanding the market, strategically exploring homes, and acting quickly and decisively, you can make a confident and successful purchase.
Ready to start your home-buying journey? As a 20-year resident of Portland, I love helping out of state buyers find their perfect place to land. I work with lots of relocation clients, and would love to hear more about your home hopes & dreams. Reach out today!
Schedule a next steps huddle here.
Lydia Hallay
Broker | OR
She/They
Buying or selling a home is often one of the biggest (and most stressful) decisions you'll ever make. I'm here to make your experience as seamless (and fun) as possible.
Looking to buy? Whether you're a design-minded dreamer looking for that mid-century unicorn, an investor on the hunt for a fixer (or a 5-plex) to tear into, or a first-time buyer in need of a gentle guide - I'm a skilled negotiator with an eye for design and a knack for finding homes with "good bones." I'm on a mission to ensure you feel empowered and cared for throughout the home-buying process.
Ready to sell? If you want to maximize your sales price, you've come to the right place! With a background in landscape/interior design and construction/project management, I've got the tools it takes to make your house shine. When it comes to catching buyer attention, I go beyond the traditional (ex. open houses, RMLS, etc.)- incorporating cutting-edge tools and outside-the-box strategy to build the hype. When it's time to negotiate, my years of experience bargaining contracts mean I'm calm under pressure and know what it takes to get to YES.
Like many folks working in real estate, I've got a grab-bag of past lives that inform how I show up. Most of my 20's and 30's (17 years), I worked as a union organizer/negotiator on the state and national level- helping workers across sectors and industries join together and become leaders in the fight for better wages & benefits, a voice on the job, and political power. I've been an entrepreneur, a landscape designer, freelance florist, and have a deep well of personal experience with home renovation & property management under my belt.
Aside from working with buyers & sellers, I volunteer my time as the Integrity Chair on Living Room Realty's Broker Advisory Group. In that role, I serve as Living Room's broker representative for our B-Corp status.
A portion of every one of my paychecks goes to Taking Ownership PDX, a community collective of contractors, realtors, neighbors, and businesses who support Black homeowners to age in place, generate wealth, and deflect the gentrification process by deterring predatory investors and realtors.
About Me: I was born in Memphis, raised in the Sonoran desert (Phoenix), and have been in the PNW since 2003. I identify as queer, and use she/they pronouns. I'm married with sweeties (i.e., I practice ethical non-monogamy) and nest with my spouse, dog, and two cats in the Lents neighborhood of outer SE Portland. I'm a people person, music nerd, avid gardener, and seed-sower/organizer. Since coming to Portland in 2004, I've witnessed many iterations of the city. I'm bullish on the future here- and excited about all our region has to offer. Good food, proximity to nature, an incredible local music scene, and an inclusive community are just a handful of the reasons I love this area. As your realtor, I promise to show up as myself. I'll hustle hard on your behalf with patience, a good listening ear, professionalism, and a goofy sense of humor. What you see is what you get, friends. And if we decide to work together, that's the kind of authenticity I hope you feel comfortable showing too. Ready to make magic happen? Feel free to shoot me a text/email, or give me an old fashioned ring. I'm excited to meet you!
Land Acknowledgement & Mission Statement As a Realtor, the land I do business on is unceded Indigenous land. The Portland Metro area rests on the ancestral lands of the Cowlitz, Multnomah, Kathlamet, Clackamas, Tumwater, Tualatin Kalapuya, Wasco, Molalla, Watlala, Bands of the Chinook, and so many other nations who made this area their home. In addition to the federally recognized tribes mentioned, there are numerous “unrecognized” tribes and Indigenous groups whose stories are also important. I recognize these tribes' legacy, lives, and descendants, and acknowledge my role and responsibility as a guest on stolen lands. I am committed to using my voice and influence as a real estate professional (and, as a human being) to actively contribute to a more just and equitable future- one that promotes dignity, respect, and repair for the damaged caused by systemic oppression, white supremacy, homophobia/transphobia, and exploitative capitalism. If you can't get behind all that. We're probably not a good fit. :)
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About Me: I was born in Memphis, raised in the Sonoran desert (Phoenix), and have been in the PNW since 2003. I identify as queer, and use she/they pronouns. I'm married with sweeties (i.e., I practice ethical non-monogamy) and nest with my spouse, dog, and two cats in the Lents neighborhood of outer SE Portland. I'm a people person, music nerd, avid gardener, and seed-sower/organizer. Since coming to Portland in 2004, I've witnessed many iterations of the city. I'm bullish on the future here- and excited about all our region has to offer. Good food, proximity to nature, an incredible local music scene, and an inclusive community are just a handful of the reasons I love this area. As your realtor, I promise to show up as myself. I'll hustle hard on your behalf with patience, a good listening ear, professionalism, and a goofy sense of humor. What you see is what you get, friends. And if we decide to work together, that's the kind of authenticity I hope you feel comfortable showing too. Ready to make magic happen? Feel free to shoot me a text/email, or give me an old fashioned ring. I'm excited to meet you!
Land Acknowledgement & Mission Statement As a Realtor, the land I do business on is unceded Indigenous land. The Portland Metro area rests on the ancestral lands of the Cowlitz, Multnomah, Kathlamet, Clackamas, Tumwater, Tualatin Kalapuya, Wasco, Molalla, Watlala, Bands of the Chinook, and so many other nations who made this area their home. In addition to the federally recognized tribes mentioned, there are numerous “unrecognized” tribes and Indigenous groups whose stories are also important. I recognize these tribes' legacy, lives, and descendants, and acknowledge my role and responsibility as a guest on stolen lands. I am committed to using my voice and influence as a real estate professional (and, as a human being) to actively contribute to a more just and equitable future- one that promotes dignity, respect, and repair for the damaged caused by systemic oppression, white supremacy, homophobia/transphobia, and exploitative capitalism. If you can't get behind all that. We're probably not a good fit. :)
- T: 503-807-0156
- lydiah@livingroomre.com
