Selling your home? Get a free Home Value ReportBuying a home? Search all homes for sale
As you're beginning your Portland home search, I have one very important thing for you to look for in a home. 
What I'm talking about is the macro area, or the location. What is the city that you could see yourself living in? Different places offer different lifestyles, so choose a city that will suit your needs. Are you looking for more parks? Do you want better transportation? Or would you prefer more walkable cities?

Once you have narrowed down the city that you want to live in, start searching the different neighborhoods within the city. After that you can really start digging in and looking around for the best homes within those neighborhoods. 
If you can't find a suitable home within the neighborhoods that you like, I suggest that you be patient. A home will pop up sooner or later. You don't want to make a quick decision on such a large purchase. 
If you need assistance buying a home in Portland, please don't hesitate to contact me. I would be more than happy to help you find a good home in a great neighborhood!