The common phrase gets modified and a little humor added in real estate: the grass is always greener over the septic tank.  Problems with public school funding is not just a Portland issue.  I picked up the print version of the San Francisco Chronicle yesterday and the head line of the Bay Area section reads, “Alameda Faces Deep School Cuts: District $7 billion short after voters turn down tax.”  Seven billion?  What are we complaining about in Portland?  Turns out that the headline is a typo and the correct number is 7 million but the affect of the shortage is the same: cuts, cuts and more cuts do:

“For decades, parents have shelled out a real estate premium to take advantage public schools, spending more money for rent or a mortgage for the peace of mind that comes with solid standardized test scores, and a seat at the school down the block.”

Sound just like home.  Portland and Alameda took different tracks to trouble but the result is the same.  School districts, the drawing of their boundaries and strengths of their budgets are not static but impact real estate.

Moving to the Marin IJ, the cover of the real estate section reports on recent sales.  San Rafael ($175,000 – $1,160,000); Kentfield ($1,335,000 – $3,145,000); and Sausalito ($600,000 – $2,820,000).  RMLS reports 19 sold propeties in the last 30 days in Northwest Portland’s 97210 ($208,000 – $1,435,000); 17 sold between $257,500 – $699,000) in Southeast Portland’s 97215; 26 sold in 97212 which includes Irvington between $172,000 – $952,950).

We had dinner last night with an old college friend, a Cal grad. He’s lived in San Francisco, Washington DC, 400 square feet in New York and now lives in Houston, which is the first town he says he really likes because of its livability.  His reasons for liking Houston were close our reasons for liking Portland- trading heat for rain which we both agreed we could do without the extremes.

Home is where you live.  Enjoy.