Far Southwest

Far Southwest is a small suburban neighborhood in southwest Portland. But its assets are substantial. Adjacent to the city of Tigard to the west and Lake Oswego to the east, it’s also right in the middle between Portland, Beaverton, Wilsonville and Lake Oswego. As Robert Chown, Realtor with 503 Properties says, “You’d be hard-pressed to find a better location if Portland area accessibility is important to you.” Another critical feature for many homeseekers, according to Chown, is the fact that Far Southwest is within the city limits of Portland. “Many people want to be in Portland and want to be as close as possible to the city, yet they want suburban advantages too. Homes here are close to Lake Oswego, but without the higher price tag.” Interstate 5 provides speedy access to downtown Portland. You can get on Highways 205 and 84 within ten minutes as well. As Chown says, “Unless it’s peak traffic, you can get to Portland in less than 10 minutes, which is a huge benefit of Far Southwest.”

You’ll find a healthy variety of properties in Far Southwest. Two-story homes with attached garages, perfect for a shop or small business sell for about $600,000. Well-updated mid-century modern homes with in-ground pools and brand-new kitchens can be found for about $850,000. Most houses in Far Southwest are priced under $1,000,000 and many have been well-updated. Lots are larger than you’d find closer to Portland. And while this is a fairly dense suburban area, residences are about a 10-minute drive to Lake Oswego, hiking trails, the Willamette River and Tryon Creek. Beyond that, continues realtor Chown, “You’re less than an hour’s drive from skiing at Mt Hood, going to your favorite beach, or fishing in the Willamette River.”

Kids attend Portland public schools or a variety of private and charter schools. Markham Elementary was founded in 1951 as a combined elementary and middle school. Since 1990, they have offered kindergarten through fifth grade. They have a B-plus grade from Niche. Jackson Middle offers grades six through eight and also has a B-plus grade from Niche. It is ranked one of the top public middle schools in Oregon. Great Schools gives Ida B. Wells High School an 8 out of 10 overall ranking and a 9 out of 10 for college readiness. Wells High has a 92% graduation rate and offers more than 20 AP courses. The campus of Portland Community College (PCC) Sylvania occupies much of the Far Southwest neighborhood and is notable for hosting the Performing Arts Center of PCC on its campus.

Dickinson Park Woods offers panoramic views of the Olympic mountains from its playground. Hiking trails are well-maintained, and the park hosts summertime movies. Lesser Park is going to suit hikers, walkers and naturalists more than those looking for amenities. It has heavy tree coverage with deciduous and evergreen trees such as Douglas Fir and big-leaf maples dominating the landscape. Another unique feature of Far Southwest, adds realtor Chown, is its overall outdoorsy vibe “Mountain biking in the city is a big thing, as are kayaking, paddleboarding, and hiking. Plenty of people do their workouts on lunch breaks, since parks and rivers are so close.”

Bullseye Pub offers 12 beers on tap, TV’s tuned to sports channels and a menu of appetizers, burgers, nachos and tacos. They have breakfast specials on the weekend. Shandiz Bar & Grill specializes in Persian and Greek cuisine. They also offer on and offsite catering and will host special occasions with belly dancing. Halal Grocery is on Kerr Parkway and has a wide variety of Mediterranean and European foods. New Seasons Market is just a little further east on SW Boones Ferry Road, but worth the drive if you’re looking for organic and hard-to-find food items. For bulk shopping or home improvement purchases, you’ll find Costco, Lowe’s and a Walmart Supercenter just off Pacific Highway/Route 5.

“There’s plenty to keep you busy in Far Southwest,” concludes realtor Chown, “but it’s so easy to get to Portland, that people go often. From the museums, Portland’s Saturday Market, and even the small mom and pop galleries, there’s so much to see and experience that you could never get tired of living here.”

Written By

Sarah Albiston

Photography Contributed By

Tim Acock

Video By

Jacob McAllister