15 Things to Know Before Moving to Eugene, Oregon
What I Tell My Relocation Clients Before They Move Here
By Julie Sonam, REALTOR® | Principal Broker | Hearthstone Real Estate
If you're thinking about moving to Eugene, Oregon, you've probably already researched home prices, neighborhoods, weather, schools and maybe even restaurants.
But there are some things about living in Eugene that are difficult to learn from a real estate website or a list of statistics.
They're the things you discover after you've lived here for a while.
As a local REALTOR®, I work with many people who are relocating to Eugene and Springfield, and I love helping them understand not just our real estate market, but what everyday life here is actually like.
So, if you're considering calling Eugene home, here are some things I'd want you to know.
1. Eugene Is Smaller Than You Think
This is one of the first things I explain to relocation buyers.
You really don't have to live in a particular neighborhood to enjoy it.
If you love the restaurants, bakeries and hiking trails in South Eugene but find a house you love somewhere else, that's okay! Eugene is relatively easy to get around.
This is particularly important because buyers sometimes arrive convinced they must live in South Eugene, Friendly or another neighborhood they've read about online.
I encourage people to keep an open mind.
There are wonderful neighborhoods throughout Eugene and Springfield, and limiting your search too quickly can mean overlooking a home and community you might absolutely love.
2. Eugene and Springfield Are Really One Connected Community
Technically, Eugene and Springfield are separate cities.
In everyday life, though, we cross between them constantly.
You might live in Springfield, work in Eugene, have dinner in downtown Springfield, go to a University of Oregon event in Eugene and hike in Thurston—all in the same week.
When someone tells me they're relocating to Eugene, I almost always encourage them to explore Springfield too.
The two cities have different personalities, housing options and neighborhoods, but choosing Springfield doesn't mean giving up everything Eugene has to offer.
You get to enjoy both.
3. Yes, It Rains
Let's get this one out of the way.
Western Oregon gets rain.
Winter and early spring can be gray and wet, and if you're moving here from Southern California or Arizona, it may take some adjustment.
But there's another side to that story.
It's incredibly green here.
The forests, gardens, moss, rivers and enormous trees that make western Oregon so beautiful exist because of our climate.
And then summer arrives.
Oregon summers are glorious.
Long days, warm temperatures, outdoor dining, hiking, biking, gardening, swimming, farmers markets and evenings when it stays light surprisingly late.
Personally, I'll take the rain.
4. Our Trees Are Magnificent—and They Require Maintenance
One of the things people notice immediately when they visit Eugene is the trees.
We have enormous Douglas firs, oaks, maples and other mature trees throughout our established neighborhoods.
They're beautiful.
They're also something homeowners need to maintain.
When you're buying a property with large trees, I recommend paying attention to their health, proximity to the house and whether they have been professionally maintained.
A beautiful tree can be one of a property's greatest assets.
A neglected one can become an expensive project.
5. Outdoor Recreation Isn't Just a Weekend Activity
This is one of my favorite things about living here.
In Eugene, getting outside doesn't necessarily mean packing the car and driving for an hour.
Depending on where you live, you may have hiking and walking trails minutes from your front door.
We have Spencer Butte, the Ridgeline Trail System, Mount Pisgah, Hendricks Park, Amazon Park, riverfront paths, Thurston Hills and countless neighborhood parks and trails.
People run before work.
They mountain bike after work.
They walk their dogs on trails instead of sidewalks.
They commute by bicycle.
Being outside is simply woven into the culture here.
6. Eugene Really Is TrackTown USA
Running is part of Eugene's identity.
The University of Oregon's legendary track history, Hayward Field, running clubs, trails and major track-and-field events have made Eugene internationally known as TrackTown USA.
Even if you've never run a mile voluntarily in your life, you'll notice the culture.
People run everywhere.
Fortunately, walking is perfectly acceptable too. 😊
7. Bicycles Are Everywhere
Eugene has a strong cycling culture and an extensive network of bike lanes and multi-use paths.
The riverfront trail system is particularly wonderful.
You can ride for miles along the Willamette River without sharing the path with cars, and the regional path network connects many parts of Eugene and Springfield.
For some residents, a bicycle isn't simply recreation—it's transportation.
8. Local Businesses Matter Here
One of the things I love most about Eugene is our locally owned businesses.
Independent restaurants, bakeries, bookstores, coffee shops, natural food stores, hardware stores, breweries and neighborhood businesses are a big part of the personality of our community.
There are certainly national chains here, but Eugene hasn't completely lost the quirky independent businesses that make a city interesting.
Some of my favorite places are businesses you might never discover by searching "top 10 things to do in Eugene."
Those are exactly the places I love introducing to relocation clients.
9. People Take Food Seriously
For a city our size, Eugene has a surprisingly diverse food scene.
You'll find Thai, Japanese, Korean, Mexican, Mediterranean, Indian and other international cuisines alongside bakeries, food carts, cafés, farm-to-table restaurants and natural food markets.
We also have fantastic farmers markets and easy access to locally grown food.
And yes, people here have opinions about where to get the best bread, bagel, coffee and pastry.
I may be one of those people.
10. Buying an Older Eugene Home Can Require Some Homework
Eugene has many wonderful older homes.
That's part of its charm.
But older houses can also come with older systems.
Depending on the age of the property, I pay attention to things like the electrical panel and wiring, plumbing, sewer line, foundation, roof, drainage, insulation, windows and previous remodeling.
That doesn't mean you shouldn't buy an older home.
Some of my favorite houses in Eugene are older homes!
It simply means you should understand what you're buying.
A beautiful kitchen doesn't tell you what's happening underneath the house.
11. Oregon Property Taxes May Work Differently Than You Expect
This is particularly important for people relocating from another state.
Oregon's property tax system is unusual because a home's assessed value can be very different from its market value.
Generally, Oregon's Maximum Assessed Value is limited in how much it can increase annually, although there are important exceptions for things such as certain new construction and property changes.
And unlike some states, purchasing the property doesn't ordinarily mean the assessed value simply resets to your purchase price.
When comparing houses, look at the actual property taxes for each property rather than estimating them solely from the asking price.
12. The Oregon Coast Is Close Enough for a Day Trip
This still feels like a luxury to me.
From Eugene, you can head west and reach the Oregon Coast in roughly an hour to an hour and a half, depending on where you're going.
You can have breakfast in Eugene, spend the afternoon walking on the beach and be home that evening.
Head the opposite direction and you're entering the Cascade Mountains.
Which brings me to...
13. Eugene's Location Is Pretty Incredible
One of Eugene's greatest advantages isn't actually in Eugene.
It's where Eugene is located.
We're in the Willamette Valley, surrounded by forests, rivers, farms and wineries.
The Oregon Coast is west.
The Cascade Mountains are east.
Portland is north.
The McKenzie River corridor is nearby.
And there are enough hiking trails, waterfalls, lakes, campgrounds and beautiful drives to keep you exploring for years.
For someone who loves nature but doesn't necessarily want to live in a tiny rural community, it's a pretty wonderful compromise.
14. Every Eugene Neighborhood Really Does Feel Different
This is why I don't believe in telling someone what the "best neighborhood in Eugene" is.
South Eugene feels different from Friendly.
Friendly feels different from College Hill.
College Hill feels different from Santa Clara.
And Springfield, Thurston, Creswell and Cottage Grove open up entirely different possibilities.
Some buyers want mature trees.
Some want walkability.
Some want a large yard.
Some want trails.
Some want a newer house.
Some want to walk to restaurants.
Some want quiet.
Some simply want the most house they can comfortably afford.
The best neighborhood isn't necessarily the one with the biggest reputation.
It's the one that fits your life.
15. Don't Choose Your Neighborhood From the Internet
This might be my most important piece of advice.
Research is wonderful. Do lots of it.
But once you're here, go experience the neighborhoods.
Walk around.
Get coffee.
Visit the grocery store.
Drive your potential commute.
Walk a trail.
Go back at a different time of day.
See how the neighborhood feels.
I've worked with buyers who arrived absolutely certain they knew where they wanted to live and ended up falling in love with somewhere completely different.
A home is a financial investment, of course.
But it's also where you're going to wake up every morning.
How you feel there matters.
One Last Thing...
If you're thinking about moving to Eugene, don't feel like you have to figure everything out before you arrive.
That's part of what I'm here for.
I'm Julie Sonam, REALTOR® and Principal Broker with Hearthstone Real Estate, and helping people relocate to Eugene, Springfield and communities throughout Lane County is one of my favorite parts of my job.
I'm happy to talk about real estate, but I'm equally happy to talk about neighborhoods, hiking trails, restaurants, grocery stores, commute times, dogs, gardening, the weather, property taxes or whether you should be looking in Eugene or Springfield.
My job isn't to convince you to buy a particular house or live in a particular neighborhood.
It's to help you understand your options so you can find the place that feels right for you.
And if you decide to call Eugene home, welcome.
I think you're going to like it here.