What to Look for in a Portland High Rise

High rise living is more than one of the coolest condo options; it’s a lifestyle all its own that revolves around downsizing grueling responsibilities and upsizing quality of life. Living in a high rise means saying goodbye to those things that suck up your time, energy and spirit – like backbreaking yardwork and starting each workday with a stressful, bumper-to-bumper commute into town – and saying hello to living life to the fullest.

In Portland high rises, you can virtually have it all. Aside from upscale living space, you can have a doorman, concierge and valet parking as well as onsite fitness center, spa, and community space. You can likewise have the urban landscape of Downtown or the Pearl District at your doorstep that’s filled with shopping, dining, brewpubs, entertainment and culture in addition to greenspace where you can connect with nature. High rise condos are not one-size-fits-all. While you can opt for full-service amenities, you can also fine tune your condo search by zeroing in on amenities that fit your lifestyle and preferences. Before you purchase a high rise condo, here are three things to consider:

How Important is a View?

Many Portland high rise condos are synonymous with spectacular views. The Strand, for example, is a collection of three towers that are conveniently located near Downtown and the waterfront. Consequently, some condos on the upper floors offer panoramic, picture perfect views of the city, RiverPlace Marina, Mount St. Helens and the West Hills. Panoramic views are not necessarily the norm, however. Instead most condos face a specific direction, which determines whether the view spotlights the city, river or mountain. If your condo faces west, you may get plenty of warm afternoon sun (when it is out) and West Hills views. East views will often include river and Mount Hood vistas. If your condo faces north, don’t expect much sun during the winter months (when its out, that is), but you might have a nice city view instead. So if views are major considerations, picking a side of the building to match your preferences is wise. If views are not a major consideration, you may save money by selecting a lower level condo that offers lesser views. Obviously, the higher in the sky you live, the better the views, and… the higher the price in many cases.

Which to Pick: Great Building Amenities Vs. Lower Maintenance Fees?

Maintenance fees in a high rise condo are generally more than those in a two-story townhome community. That’s partly because of the costs involved in providing climate control to hallways and common areas, and cost to build and maintain a concrete and steel building. Also, greater amenities translate to greater maintenance fees because you’re ultimately paying your fair share for the doorman, security, valet parking, concierge and all the other amenities offered. If you’d rather save money on maintenance fees instead of paying for a full-line of luxury amenities, confine your condo search to communities that provide fewer services. As an example, the HOA fee for a 1630 square foot condo at the The Edge is $621 per month, whereas the amenity heavy Waterfront Pearl has an HOA fee of $747 for a 1627 square foot condo.

Which area suits you?

Walkability and transit access are two of the many advantages of the high rise urban life. Most high rises in the Pearl District are steps from trendy boutiques, galleries, eateries and nightspots. Eliot Tower in the Downtown Arts District is walkable to Portland’s vast cultural offerings as well as major employers. If you like to walk, you’ll want to find a condo near walkable amenities that fit your style and personality. Even though urban Portland is small, there’s nothing like stepping out your condo building door and being next to the places you like to meet your friends.

We can help. Contact us today, and let us help you find the right high rise condo and location for you.

Though not guaranteed, information and statistics in this article have been acquired from sources believed to be reliable.