Homes for Sale in South Portland

South Portland is a smaller district running from downtown south along the Willamette River to the Sellwood Bridge, including the South Waterfront and Lair Hill. Compared to the rest of Portland, South has the highest concentration of new high-rise condo construction in the city, the OHSU Aerial Tram connecting the waterfront to OHSU's hilltop campus, and direct streetcar access into downtown. It runs at among the highest price-per-square-foot in the city for new condos but has a smaller share of single-family detached housing than any other Portland district.

South Waterfront, the area between the Marquam Bridge and the Tilikum Crossing, is a master-planned high-rise district built largely after 2005, with glass-tower condos, the OHSU Aerial Tram station, and direct Portland Streetcar service. Lair Hill, just west and south of downtown along Barbur Boulevard, is a much older neighborhood with surviving Victorian-era and early-1900s homes, a designated historic district, and proximity to OHSU's hilltop campus via the Aerial Tram. South Waterfront tends to attract buyers who want luxury new condo construction with concierge-level amenities and water views. Lair Hill tends to attract buyers who want historic single-family homes and walkable proximity to OHSU.

Property taxes in South 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). South Waterfront condos almost always carry significant HOA fees covering building maintenance, amenities, and parking, often including additional assessments for the Aerial Tram service area. HOA fees in luxury South Waterfront buildings can run several hundred to over a thousand dollars per month. Always verify the current tax rate and HOA obligations on the specific property before writing an offer. I review these details with every buyer during showing.

Yes. South Portland, particularly South Waterfront, has the most active new high-rise construction in Portland, with multiple condo towers continuing to deliver units in phases. New construction here is almost exclusively condos and luxury apartments rather than detached single-family homes, since the district is geographically small and built around high-density planning. Lair Hill has very limited new construction due to historic district protections. Inventory shifts month to month as new buildings open. Contact me directly for the current list of South Waterfront buildings actively releasing units.