Gaze west from downtown Portland and you'll see the lush green of wooded hillsides, culminating in a ridge that runs for miles to the north and south. The ridge separates Portland from the outlying suburbs such as Beaverton and Hillsboro, where many global corporations have campuses.

Sprinkled throughout the West Hills are communities that are the envy of those living in Portland's other neighborhoods. Many homes in these highland areas have views of Mt. Hood, and some residents can even spy Mount St. Helens on a clear day.

These communities have names such as Skyline Heights, Portland Heights, Forest Heights and Sylvan-Highland. Each one has its own history, character and advantages, but they share a nearness to nature-in the form of some of the country's biggest urban parks-and a brief commute to downtown Portland. In addition, the schools in these neighborhoods pull high marks on the State of Oregon's annual report card.

Although dozens of neighborhoods and communities dot the slopes and hilltops west of Portland, Aria Property Management finds that the following four particularly appeal to relocating executives.

To find out more about any of these communities or others, please call us at (503) 381-2979 or email info@Aria-property.com.

Portland Heights

This affluent area is part of the Southwest Hills neighborhood, along with Council Crest. Both communities are situated south of Highway 26/Sunset Highway, near Marquam Nature Park.

Significant development of the Southwest Hills dates back to the late 1800s, when a cable car was installed to allow year-round access to the heights. (Winter rains made the steep, dirt roads impassable.) Today, the neighborhood still claims an abundance of classic older homes in styles such as English Tudor, Colonial and Queen Anne.

In her book, "Portland Hill Walks," author Laura Foster wrote: "With good transportation up to the heights, lots sold fast. By 1910 they were going for $10,000, and this neighborhood, unlike many other inner city neighborhoods, has never seen a downturn since then."

The neighborhood's rich past undoubtedly contributes to its home prices, which averaged approximately $877,000 in 2007. The views are another contributing factor. At 722 feet of elevation, residents of Portland Heights can soak up vistas of the Willamette River and Mt. Hood.

Skyline Heights

As its name suggests, Skyline Boulevard winds along the top of the ridge, starting to the north in unincorporated Multnomah County and running south till it reaches Highway 26/Sunset Highway. A driver making the journey will pass through a tunnel of trees, interspersed with periodic gaps that frame breathtaking views of the river and then the city.

Just south of the St. John's Bridge and directly west of Forest Park, Northwest Skyline Heights Drive branches from Northwest Skyline Boulevard. Although there is no shortage of luxurious homes on the lots off of Skyline Boulevard, the houses along Northwest Skyline Heights Drive stand out as noticeably spacious and beautiful. Four or five bedrooms are the norm for these homes, which sell for considerably more than half a million dollars. Many of these single-family luxury houses were built in the last decade and offer all the modern amenities one could wish for.

Forest Heights

Immediately to the south of Skyline Heights is Forest Heights, a planned residential community on 600 acres that is bordered on the east by Northwest Skyline Boulevard and to the south by Northwest Cornell Road.

Forest Heights is a favorite for professionals working at the Intel campus in Hillsboro, who find the location convenient to the Sunset Corridor, as well as to downtown Portland. The community offers a range of architectural styles, from condos and townhouses to Colonial and Mediterranean-influenced single-family homes.

Nearly one-third of Forest Heights' acreage is dedicated to common-use outdoor areas, including parks and nature trails. In addition, Forest Park-the nation's largest, forested natural area existing within city limits-is just a short drive away.

Forest Heights has its own school, Forest Park Elementary. Or, parents may choose for their children to attend another nearby public school, or one of several private educational facilities in the area.

Sylvan-Highland

Sylvan: The word brings to mind shady forests that remain cool even at the height of summer. And true to its name, the Sylvan-Highland neighborhood, which is located just north of Highway 26/Sunset Highway, is indeed rich in trees. In fact, Hoyt Arboretum is within walking distance for residents living in the neighborhood's east end. Washington Park is also nearby, including the famed International Rose Test Garden.

Parents of young children will appreciate the fact that the Oregon Zoo is just a hop, skip and a jump away. More importantly, the neighborhood schools are well respected, rating A's and B's on the state's yearly report card.

The average price for homes sold in the Sylvan-Highland neighborhood in 2007 was nearly $704,000, or more than double the average price for the Portland metro area as a whole. The median price was $585,000 and appreciation was 126 percent in 2007.