It is important to research necessary information about the town you are about move in if you decide to purchase a house. If you finally made a decision to move to Portland, for instance, you should have all the things you need to know about Portland prior to the purchase. It will be financially devastating and emotionally draining if you rush things without doing your homework.

Below are some of the things you need to know about Portland before moving in:

Portland's Major Sections. The Southwest (between the 405 freeway and the Willamette River), or Downtown Portland is where the city's many recreational, cultural, educational, governmental, business and retail resources are concentrated. The Northwest Portland (includes Pearl District and most of Old Chinatown) has various residential and industrial neighborhoods, but not as diverse as Northeast Portland, with the latter featuring some of the oldest and most expensive homes as well as its more working-class neighborhood. Finally, the Southeast Portland (stretches from the warehouses along the Willamette through historic Ladd's Addition to the Hawthorne and Belmont districts out to Gresham) has blue-collar roots and has evolved to encompass a wide mix of backgrounds, with the Hawthorne district in particular to be known for its hippie/radical crowd.

Real Estate. Being known in its culturally diversified environment, Portland houses are also diversified from the high end, expensive ones to the working class types of houses. Some may say that buying a house at Portland might be the biggest purchase you'll ever make. However, with the diverse types of houses available, housing in the Portland metro area remains affordable for families earning the median income. With a family earning $71,2000 in 2010, per HUD, they can afford 155% of a monthly mortgage payment on a median priced home of about $240,000. With several types of houses to choose from, buying a house will be a breeze.

Real Estate Agents. As long as you have a real estate agent that you know and trust very well, buying a house will be a lot easier compared to without an agent. Looking for a house in Portland can be quite tricky, and without the help of someone who knows the tricks of the trade, the areas and the rules, things can get frustrating.

Tax Situation. The State of Oregon has no sales tax, along with four other states in the US. Oregon also has no motor vehicle excise tax, business and occupations tax, and direct levies on intangible property such as stocks, bonds or securities. With no sales tax, the government gets its source of income from the income tax which is progressive up to 9 percent. Property tax is estimated from $13-$16 per $1000 of assessed value, although it may differ per county.