Irvington Real Estate Basics
Irvington is one of Inner NE Portland’s oldest and finest neighborhoods. Irvington features close-in urban living with many classic homes situated on its tree-lined streets. The neighborhood has a thriving business district (Broadway) and a very active and diverse citizenship. In October 2010, Irvington was designated as a National Register Historic District. In addition, nearly thirty properties in Irvington are on the National Register.
To the right is a list of homes for sale in Irvington. You can also view MLS listings in Irvington on an Interactive Map. Whether it’s high-rise condos, single-level bungalows, or century-old mansions, you’ll see everything that Irvington real estate has to offer.
Irvington neighborhood photos. Click on thumbnail to view larger image.
Neighborhood Association & Maps
Irvington Home Tour
The Irvington Home Tour is one of Irvington’s most anticipated annual events. For nearly 30 years, the Home Tour (held on the third Sunday in May) has provided an opportunity for tour goers to view some of Irvington’s finest homes. Each year, as many as eight property owners graciously open their homes to the 1,000-plus visitors who come from Irvington, Portland Metro, and all over the U.S. and Canada. Homes vary from meticulously maintained bungalows to over-the-top mansions with historic significance.
The Home Tour is the largest source of funds for the Irvington Community Association (ICA). A portion of the ticket sales and advertising proceeds goes to the ICA’s charitable giving fund. The ICA makes grants to schools and non-profit organizations that are located in, or service, the neighborhood. The ICA also donates money to neighborhood improvements such as the Irving Park water feature. For information on how to attend, volunteer, or advertise with the Home Tour, please click on the Home Tour link.
Focal Point of Irvington
The focal point of Irvington is Broadway, a constantly evolving commercial strip with an abundance of retail shopping, restaurants, cafes, grocery, and professional services. Although Broadway is situated on the southern border of Irvington, it is the heart of the neighborhood. It is easily accessed by pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, and public transportation. Broadway is the main surface street in Irvington and links many of the BIGHAT neighborhoods to downtown Portland.
Broadway architecture is as diverse as the neighborhood. It ranges from modern high-rise condos and mid-size commercial buildings to single-family homes converted into businesses. As you tour Broadway, you’ll notice many newer commercial storefronts built in front of craftsman-style homes (a little funky, but very practical). Irvington residents are fortunate to have Broadway’s vast resources at their disposal.
Neighborhood Homes
Irvington real estate consists of Craftsman, bungalow, Mediterranean, English, and Cape Cod homes. Along the streets of Irvington, you’ll see “Century House” signs adorning the lawns of homes built a century ago. Many of these homes are the grand Craftsman or Arts & Crafts homes of that period. The south side of the neighborhood has a fair number of condos and apartment buildings (some with classic architecture).
Irvington lot sizes are generally the R-5 standard of 50’ x 100’, but there are many double (or larger) lots in the neighborhood. Irvington homes are generally at the higher end of the price spectrum in the BIGHAT neighborhoods. This is primarily due to their close-in location and size.
Shopping & Services
Under construction.
Food & Fun
Under construction.
Public Schools
Irvington residents attend a variety of public schools. Elementary and middle schools include Irvington (K-8), Sabin (K-8), Boise-Eliot (K-8), and Beverly Cleary (Hollyrood Campus (K-2) and Fernwood Campus (3-8)). These schools all tie to Grant High School. Click on links above to view Portland Public School district maps.
Caveat: This website uses HomeQuest maps to identify neighborhoods and districts. These maps vary from City of Portland and Portland Public School maps.
Market Data & Trends
If you want to stay on top of the market, you’ll need some good data. Each month, the RMLS produces their Market Action Report (MAR) that covers the entire region. Each report shows year-to-year and month-to-month trends including median/average sales prices, months of inventory, market time, and more.
Each month I write a post on the first two pages from the MAR. My analysis shows changes in the five areas (North, Northeast, Southeast, The West Side, and Lake Oswego/West Linn).You can find these posts in my blog section or by typing “Market Action Report” into the search site box. I have a page dedicated to current and historical Market Action Reports. Click here to view that page.
Mortgages - Refinances - Home Equity
There are many mortgage products available to buyers and homeowners. These loans range from purchase loans or refinances and home equity lines of credit (HELOC) or home equity loan (HELoan). I work with a variety of mortgage brokers and mortgage bankers who provide expertise on these loan products.
The specialists for this neighborhood are Tammy Wittren of Northwest Mortgage and Andy Perry of Director’s Mortgage. Both have helped many Irvington residents purchase or refinance their homes over the years. They have been strong supporters of the Irvington Home Tour – either as sponsors or advertisers. Look for more on Tammy and Andy in the coming weeks.
Resources & Referrals
Under construction.
BIGHAT Real Estate Newsletter
Maybe you’re not ready to buy or sell a home, but still want to have access to timely information about the BIGHAT neighborhoods. If you sign up for the BIGHAT Real Estate newsletter, you’ll get a monthly glimpse at what’s happening in your favorite neighborhoods.
Please share the newsletter with your family, friends, and neighbors who may be looking to buy or sell a home in Inner NE Portland. Wouldn’t you feel great if YOU were the one who brought them to the neighborhood or helped them sell their home? You can introduce the people you care about to me by sharing this site with them. Please – don’t keep it a secret!
If you’re on the newsletter list, you can do real-time searches of homes for sale all over Metro Portland with the Looking Glass system. That way, you can find out the asking price of your neighbor’s house without having to sneak out to the flyer box in the middle of the night!
Click here to sign up for the BIGHAT Real Estate Newsletter.
Irvington Videos
Sorry for the inconvenience. The in-house production company will be posting them soon.
