If Money staff writer Leslie Cook had come to me when researching her story on the Best Places to Live in the U.S., I could have saved her a lot of running around.

All she needed to do was read my blogs, all 542 of them which tout the reasons why I love living in Lake Oswego and why you might too! Here are the qualities she lists as evidence that Lake Oswego is the 14^th best city to live in the U.S.

•Outdoor activities thanks to 460 acres of natural and open space areas, including access to the Willamette River

•The beauty of the Pacific Northwest accentuated by all the tall fir trees

•Gallery Without Walls public art program

•Our resident Salt and Straw ice creamery

•Affordability of homes relative to the Portland area and local income levels

•Its namesake 405-acre lake

Here are some of the qualities she missed:

•Award winning schools – Lake Oswego School District was named the #1 school district in Oregon by Niche.com in its latest annual ranking and also the Oregon school district with the best teachers.

•Award winning library. From its annual Lake Oswego Reads program to its Waldo Project that pairs a popular kids program with a way to deliver free, new books to families in our community, The Lake Oswego Library is a much-loved resource and enriches our town in so many ways.

•Award winning Farmers’ Market. Oregonian readers picked the Lake Oswego Farmers’ Market as their favorite Portland metro area market in a 2016 survey and the market has maintained its reputation, even with the challenges that Covid has presented. From a wide variety of vendors to entertainment, it’s understandable why Millennium Plaza Park becomes a local gathering place every Saturday from May to October.

•Lake access. From boat easements to swim parks, Lake Oswegans not only get to look at the natural beauty of our lake but also enjoy recreating in it.

•Location. While our town is great with lots of reasons to stay in, its proximity to so many other amenities the area has to offer is another big plus. Skiing on Mt. Hood is only 85 miles away and you can catch an Oregon Ducks game in the infamous Autzen Stadium in less than two hours.

I could go on and on, which I have now every week for over ten years in this blog. But it’s always nice when someone else validates what you’ve known all along.

If you’re thinking of moving to Lake Oswego, congratulations! Please give me a call at 503.939.9801, email me at kevin.costello@cascadehassonsir.com and/or check out my website. I’ve been a Realtor in Lake Oswego for over 30 years and would love to help you make this your home. And if you currently live here and are thinking of selling, let’s talk. I know the market and would like to put my expertise to work for you to help you with your next move.