Moving & relocation
Moving to Bethany and Oak Hills: your relocation plan
Relocating to this corridor is a ten-step process: build a local team, visit at commute time, sort out schools, line up financing, set up utilities, file your change of address, handle Oregon's 30-day vehicle and license rules, plan around the lack of sales tax, shop insurance and ease into local life. This page keeps the whole plan in one place, with the real local providers named and links to neighborhood-specific moving guides below.
Jump to the ChecklistThe relocation checklist
What should be on your relocation checklist?
Ten steps, in the order they tend to matter. Work through them at your own pace, and ask us whenever a step stops making sense.
1. Build your local team first
A relocation starts with people who know the area. Connect with us early, and we will pair you with a trusted lender, inspector and the local contacts who smooth every step after.
2. Visit both neighborhoods at commute time
Drive the actual route to Nike, Intel or downtown Portland during the hours you would really drive it. Timing changes everything, and the feel of Oak Hills or the village rhythm of Bethany is best judged in person.
3. Sort out schools before you close
Both neighborhoods sit in the Beaverton School District, and boundaries vary street by street. Confirm the exact address with the district, and ask about enrollment timing for a mid-year move.
4. Get financing lined up early
A pre-approval tells you your real budget and makes offers competitive. If you are moving for work, ask your employer about relocation benefits and check timing with your lender before you start touring.
5. Set up the utilities before move-in day
Electricity comes from Portland General Electric (PGE), natural gas from NW Natural, water from the Tualatin Valley Water District, and sewer service from Clean Water Services. Start the hookups a week or two before you arrive, and line up internet with the provider that serves your street.
6. File your change of address
Use the USPS change-of-address form, then work through banks, payroll, insurance, subscriptions and any Oregon accounts. Give it a dedicated afternoon; it pays back in missed headaches.
7. Handle Oregon paperwork within 30 days
New residents have 30 days from establishing residency to get an Oregon driver license and to title and register their vehicles with the Oregon DMV (Driver and Motor Vehicle Services). A VIN inspection is typically required for an out-of-state vehicle, so budget a DMV appointment.
8. Plan purchases around the tax picture
Oregon has no statewide sales tax, one of only five states without one. It is a real difference on big-ticket purchases, and a detail worth factoring into your moving budget.
9. Shop insurance before you need it
Update your auto insurance with the new address and Oregon plates, and line up homeowners insurance during the purchase process. The earlier you compare, the fewer surprises at closing.
10. Plan your first week like a local
Stock up at the grocery in Bethany Village Centre, grab coffee along the Cornell Road corridor, walk the lake loop and the trails, and start learning which corners feel like home. We will hand you the real list.
Which neighborhood?
Where in the corridor are you moving?
The checklist is the same for both, but the ground is different. Read the guide for the neighborhood on your short list.
Master-planned · Village-centered
Moving to Bethany
Commute timing, schools, the village rhythm and what newcomers should know about new construction, HOAs and daily life in Bethany.
Read the Bethany moving guide
Mid-century · HOA · Tree-lined hills
Moving to Oak Hills
HOA life, mid-century home systems, the historic district and what moving into a 1960s community really involves.
Read the Oak Hills moving guideWhat official resources and local providers can help?
Bookmark these while you plan. Everything below is the real, current source for the paperwork and services a move to this corridor touches.
Relocation FAQ
What questions do relocating families ask most?
The paperwork questions and neighborhood questions that come up before every move. Ask us anything that is not here.
1 How long do I have to register my car and get an Oregon driver license?
Oregon gives new residents 30 days from the date they establish residency to get a replacement Oregon driver license and to title and register their vehicles with the Oregon DMV, which is part of ODOT. Registering an out-of-state vehicle typically requires a VIN inspection, so plan a DMV visit early in your first month.
2 Which schools will my kids attend after we move?
Bethany and Oak Hills are both served by the Beaverton School District, with elementary options in and around Bethany including Bethany, Findley, Jacob Wismer, Bonny Slope and Cedar Mill, and Sunset and Westview among the high schools. Boundaries vary street by street, so verify the exact address on the district website before you enroll.
3 How do I set up utilities before the move?
Contact Portland General Electric for electricity, NW Natural for natural gas, the Tualatin Valley Water District for water, and Clean Water Services for sewer, and arrange start dates a week or two before move-in. Internet availability varies by street, so check providers with your new address while you still have time to compare.
4 Does Oregon have a sales tax?
No. Oregon is one of only five states without a statewide sales tax, which is a real difference on cars, appliances and other big purchases. There are still property taxes, income taxes and local fees, so your overall tax picture depends on your situation.
5 Should we rent first or buy right away?
It depends on your timeline, your certainty about the neighborhood, and the market. Some families rent for six months to confirm school and commute fit, while others buy immediately because they already know the area. We can support either path honestly, and a pre-approval keeps both options open.
Moving from out of state?
Let us handle the local legwork
Paul works with buyers researching the Portland area from anywhere, and Chris is on the ground in the metro. Tell us your timeline and we will plan the whole move with you.