Homes for Sale in North Portland

North Portland is the area north of Fremont Bridge and west of the Columbia Slough, bounded by the Willamette and Columbia Rivers. Compared to the rest of Portland, North has a working-class industrial history that's shifted into a mix of bungalows, mid-century homes, and infill construction, with the Yellow MAX Line running up Interstate Avenue and the St. Johns Bridge as a recognizable landmark. It generally offers more value per square foot than inner Northeast or Southeast, with strong river access and a distinct independent business district along Mississippi and Killingsworth.

St. Johns sits at the far north tip of the peninsula at the foot of the historic St. Johns Bridge, with a walkable downtown along N Lombard Street, mostly older bungalows and four-squares from the 1910s through 1940s, and large lots by Portland standards. Kenton, a few miles south along the Yellow MAX Line, has a tighter street grid, more 1920s and 1930s craftsman homes, and the iconic Paul Bunyan statue at the center of its small business district. St. Johns prices typically run lower per square foot due to distance from downtown. Kenton offers shorter MAX commutes into the central city.

Property taxes in North Portland fall under Multnomah County rates, which run higher than the surrounding Washington and Clackamas County rates. Portland-specific fees include the Arts Tax (a flat annual fee per income-earning resident), the Multnomah County Preschool for All Tax (for higher-income earners), and the Portland Clean Energy Surcharge (which affects large retailers, not individual homeowners). Most North Portland homes do not have HOA fees, though newer condo conversions and infill townhouse developments often do. Always verify the current tax rate and any HOA obligations on the specific property before writing an offer. I review these details with every buyer during showing.

Yes. North Portland has active new construction concentrated in skinny-home infill projects across the Mississippi, Overlook, and Arbor Lodge neighborhoods, plus newer townhouse developments closer to St. Johns and Kenton. Most new construction in North Portland is small-lot single-family homes, ADUs, and townhouses rather than large subdivisions. Inventory shifts month to month as builders complete projects. Contact me directly for the current list of new construction options and to walk through the differences between builders active in North Portland.