Oskaloosa, anyone? Debating on moving from Portland. Maybe Des Moines? (Cedar Rapids: for sale, real estate)

[PDXby7]

My fiance grew up in Oskaloosa. We met after he moved out to Portland Oregon. I've only been to Osky once, but I loved it from what I saw in the week we were there.

His family still lives there, so that's a bonus. We currently live in Portland still, but are debating on moving back to Iowa. We have five kids and really want them to grow up in a house. Out here, a two bed condo will run about $200,000.

I know Iowa real estate is cheaper, but the job market there isn't as vast, either. Des Moines isn't that far, considering. My fiance is employed as a corporate HR employee at a cellular company, and that position would not be available should we move there.

I guess I'm trying to find out is, would the Des Moines area be a better choice as far as employment is concerned? What is real estate like there? Downfalls of either/both?


Thanks so much.

[WestwardNate]

By all means employment potential would be vastly superior in Des Moines compared to Osky. More opportunity=more opportunity for jobs. Not too sound Iowa hating, but if you moved from Portland to Osky expect a HUGE and I mean HUGE culture change.

[Mercruiserdr]

It depends on what you want out of life.

Obviously Oskaloosa will have a huge disadvantage as far as any job opportunities are concerned.
However Des Moines like any large metroplex has the disadvantage of traffic , crime and a hectic meaningless lifestyle.

I lived in the Dallas Fort Worth area for several years in the eighties , upon doing so I discovered I was way to much a Farmboy to live in a place with millions of people and you dont even know the next door neighbors.

I'll take rural Iowa where you know everyone in town and you dont have to lock your doors over the constant roar and sirens of a city any day.

[iowegian]

I would look into Des Moines. You will find more job opportunities there than in Oskaloosa. Southern Iowa's economy is struggling and I think it would be quite difficult to find a career in Oskaloosa.

You could also look into the Iowa City/Cedar Rapids area for jobs, it's about equally far from Oskaloosa as Des Moines. There are probably less jobs in that area than there are in Des Moines, but far more than Oskaloosa. However, it also depends on what kind of work you are looking for. If you can find a job in Iowa City, I'd recommend it - it's a very nice smaller city. But Des Moines is great too.

[SharpHawkeye]

Originally Posted by iowegian

I would look into Des Moines. You will find more job opportunities there than in Oskaloosa. Southern Iowa's economy is struggling and I think it would be quite difficult to find a career in Oskaloosa.

You could also look into the Iowa City/Cedar Rapids area for jobs, it's about equally far from Oskaloosa as Des Moines. There are probably less jobs in that area than there are in Des Moines, but far more than Oskaloosa. However, it also depends on what kind of work you are looking for. If you can find a job in Iowa City, I'd recommend it - it's a very nice smaller city. But Des Moines is great too.

So, by southern Iowa you must mean everything south of Des Moines, then? And for what it's worth, Oskaloosa is actually doing quite well right now.

Beyond that quibble, I second Des Moines. You would have better job opportunities (simply by the virtue of it being a bigger city) and less culture shock coming in from Portland. Once you got a job and settled in Des Moines, you could keep a lookout for good jobs and houses for sale in Osky if you still wanted to go all the way.

[iowegian]

I definitely consider Oskaloosa part of southern Iowa. (I could see it as part of central Iowa too, but it's right on the edge.) And while Oskaloosa is faring quite a bit better than Ottumwa or Burlington, I still wouldn't expect to be able to find many jobs there right now. I could be wrong about that though, as I don't live there and haven't been there in the last year or so. If you can find a job in Oskaloosa, go for it. Oskaloosa would probably be my first choice for a town in that area.

[griz134]

Interesting post. I grew up in Iowa, and now live in Portland. Been thinking about moving back there some day. I like the idea of working in Cedar Rapids, or Iowa City, and living in Mount Vernon, or Solon. Somwhere in that area. I'm ready to live in a smaller town, with affordable housing. I paid 269,900.00 for a 2 BR 970 sq.ft. house in North Portland. North Portland is the hood. I also like the idea of not being panhandled everwhere I go. I won't move without a job though.

[Daniel01]

I also grew up in Iowa (Boone), and now live in Portland. My wife and I are excited about moving back to the Boone/Ames/DM area this March since I'll be attending Iowa State in the fall.

Des Moines is the obvious choice here for you and your family. The crime rate is not comparable to PDX, the people are very warm and friendly, and the overall quality of life is better. Portland is great, but is not in the same league as life in central Iowa!

[PDXby7]

WestwardNate: Lol. That is exactly what we want! We want a smaller town feel.

Mercruiserdr: "like any large metroplex has the disadvantage of traffic , crime and a hectic meaningless lifestyle." I know exactly what you mean. We get so tired of going to the grocery store and never really interacting with anyone. It's like we don't exist, we're just another number in the herd.

iowegian: Thanks for that advice. I have noticed the shortage of ANY employment in the region. I mean, there is Musco & WalMart. And that glass place in Pella. Lol. (Which explains cheap real estate!) He did get a job lead/offer recently passed his way, and we are seriously considering taking it.

SharpHawkeye: The only problem with doing it halfway & possibly moving again later is having to re-transplant the kids, switch schools, friends, etc all over again.

griz134: I know EXACTLY what you mean. When you compare cost of living from Portland to most small Iowa towns, it makes you wonder what the heck we're still doing here. We live in a TINY condo (just under 900 sq ft) and they sell for about $140k. And we aren't close in, we're out by the zoo. When it comes to looking for a house, we simply can't compete. We can't afford a $2,000 monthly mortgage but we're about to go homicidal living in this place. We're also tired of beggers. Downtown is the best part of Portland, and I have to be on guard constantly because of pan handlers, people sleeping on the sidewalks, and other nuisances.

Daniel01: My cousin recently moved back to Ames from Washington state. Small world. The only experience I had in Des Moines was the airport. Oh, and an Ihop.

[PDXby7]

We think he may have a job offer coming through, and he was recently laid off from his position here. With his severance package, we are about 90% sure we will be moving. I don't know if we're considering DSM anymore; the biggest reason we want to transplant is family. His entire family lives in Osky still. Hopefully we'll get out there soon & be able to house hunt.


Now, about the weather.....