Welcome neighbor! Your guide to building a great community

At their most basic, your neighbors are the folks who live close by, sharing a street, a property line, or even a wall. But good neighbors share something more: a desire to build bridges, foster connections, and create a positive, vibrant community. In a world that can feel impersonal, strong neighborhoods offer a sense of belonging, support, and camaraderie. 

“Interestingly enough, community is often the one thing homebuyers forget when fantasizing about their dream home,” says Matthew Spriggs, a homeowner at Reed’s Crossing and a local real estate broker. “They get so wrapped up in floor plans and square footage, they forget that buying a new home isn’t just about the home—it’s also about the community your new home is in.”

So, as the Portland metro’s best-selling new home community, we’ve gathered advice from our residents to share a few tips that can help you create a place you love to call home, whether you've lived in your house for decades or just moved in last week. 

Make the first move

“When you meet new people sometimes it’s difficult because, what do you have in common? But in this case, we all have something in common. You can talk about what brought you to the neighborhood, your builder, or what you’re doing in your home.” — Christy

A simple "hello" and a friendly smile can go a long way. Introduce yourself to your neighbors by striking up a conversation while playing outside with your kids, watering your lawn, planting your garden, or throwing a frisbee at the dog park. If you’re more of an introvert, look for relevant hashtags on social media and get comfortable with your new community online first. 

“We’re all new, so we’re all in this together. I’ve seen other people who live here posting about their house, and I’m like, ‘Ooh, look what she did’ or ‘Look what they did, it’s so cool.’ It’s nice that we have the social media aspect of it.” — Melissa

Build connections

“We have a big group that’s on social media, and we post about the community and about events. We’ve had potlucks, we’ve had group games, we’ve had walkathons. You name it, we’ve had it.” — Varrun

First, seek out your local neighborhood association; the City of Portland boasts 94 city-recognized associations, which organize everything from block parties to neighborhood cleanups. Here in South Hillsboro, the Reed’s Crossing Social Committee plans dedicated events for the community. From monthly firepit nights to Halloween parades, these events welcome all Reed’s Crossing homeowners and are a fantastic, low-pressure way to meet your neighbors. 

Giving back to your community is also a rewarding way to connect. Pitch in at a park cleanup, volunteer at a community center, or join a local committee. Do a little research to find out what your neighborhood needs; at Reed’s Crossing, you could help expand young minds on the Little Free Library Committee, flex your event planning muscles on the Social Committee, or share your green thumb knowledge on the Community Garden Committee. 

“The community events are superb; we’ve met really interesting, cool people and made some really nice friends. Kudos to the social committee for setting these up and always being proactive about getting the residents to engage with each other!” — Janki

Open yourself up to new experiences

“I have met more people from different communities here than in any other place that I've lived—and I grew up in the military, so that's saying something. One of the things I'm looking forward to is some of those other cultures getting a chance to highlight their festivals and celebrations so that my family can learn about those things, and celebrate fun new traditions.” — Brian

Being a good neighbor extends beyond just keeping your lawn mowed and the noise down. A strong community thrives on a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere, which means appreciating the different cultures, backgrounds, and abilities of the people around you. By being friendly and approachable, you can help create a sense of warmth and belonging for all your neighbors.

“Because there are so many different sizes and styles of homes, there are single people, families, people with no kids, people with tons of kids. There’s just a lot of variety here, which I really like.” — Melissa

Find your tribe

“My family didn’t think anything was missing until we visited here. That’s when we realized our current neighborhood was missing a true sense of community. In the [first] two and a half months at Reed’s Crossing, our kids made more friends than they had in the eight years we lived in our previous home.” — Matthew

Are you passionate about gardening or reading? Consider starting a local club! The residents of Reed’s Crossing have celebrated holiday events, like Holi in Tamarack Park, and cultivate various community groups, from book clubs to cycling. This is a fantastic way to meet like-minded people and build friendships—you might even make a new BFF!

“We’re very interconnected with the people who live around us. During the pandemic, events were on hold and we wanted to help connect the community [so] we put together some informal neighborhood events, like board-game nights, bowling, and a huge neighborhood potluck in Dobbin Park!” — Linda

Explore your surroundings

“Every time we go for a walk, we see something new.” — Janki

Take a meandering stroll or bike ride to discover everything your community has to offer. While parks and playgrounds are common, you may also find things that are unique to your neighborhood, like community gardens, art installations, firepits, tables and benches for lounging, painted rocks and roadways, and more. Not only will you discover the hidden gems your neighborhood holds, you might also strike up conversations with fellow residents and business owners you might not have met otherwise, fostering a deeper sense of connection. 

“Having green spaces in a community is a novel concept that really captivated my attention. It’s made me more active; I walk a lot and I engage with my neighbors more.” — Varrun

Pass it on

“We have the sweetest neighbors. We’ve been passing home-baked goods back and forth for the last month or so, and they just returned the last container we gave them…[full of] homemade veggie falafel and they are amazing!” — Whitney

Once you’re no longer the newbie on the block, pay it forward. As you become familiar with your neighbors' routines, keep an eye out for opportunities to lend a helping hand. Perhaps a new family has just moved in and could use a friendly face, or an older neighbor struggles with heavy grocery bags. We frequently hear stories about Reed’s Crossing residents leaving small welcome gifts on each other’s porches, like flowers or tasty treats. Simply offering a warm welcome can create a ripple effect of kindness that strengthens the bonds of your community, making your neighborhood a more supportive place for everyone. 

“One thing we’ve noticed is that we’re all going through the same unique experience… Everyone seems to have the same questions, and that’s something we can help them with. We’ve navigated it ourselves and we have a lot of knowledge to share.” — Christy

Got questions about life in South Hillsboro? Take a virtual tour, come by for a visit, or sneak a peek at what’s in store for the future.