Need to move immediately and need advice. (Bend, Hood River: lease, houses)

[kjsphoto]

Hello everyone,

I need some help in finding the right spot. I have been reading these forums for a few days now and narrowed down where I am going to move to 3 states with Oregon and Washington being my two tops. I leaning more and more towards Oregon. I just don’t know if I am going to be able to afford Oregon. With that said, I need to find a place to live where I can buy a house under $200 ( 3 bedrooms, 1600+ sq feet) in a good location and a place where there are good schools.

I am an artist and I am planning on opening a small studio / gallery. I have a vast array of experience in the IT world, so I would try to find a job in the IT market temporarily as we get our feet on the ground. I don’t know anyone in the area so it is hard as I have no one to ask where to go. I don’t mind the rain and I love the cold.

What city in Oregon would allow me to find a home under $200K , be near tourist so I could open a little store and be within driving distance ( a 4 hours commute one way would not bother me if needed ) from a day job to get us started in a new life.

I know the market is not good but I have to sell my house ASAP and get out of here.

Kevin

[Kandy]

Hmmm...
Check out The Dalles (go to RMLS.com - I think the zip is 97058).
This is close to the tourist area around Hood River and very affordable.

I'm sure there are many other areas, but this was the first to jump in my mind.
~K~

[StealthRabbit]

I second The Dalles (i.e. Goggle employment) and nearby towns (Dufur, Tygh Valley)

you have to post in the WA forum if you want info for being on the north side of the 'the river'. Many of us transverse it several times / day, so we are 'blended' WA / OR and pay taxes and have allegiances to both states.

There are significant tax and economic differences, depending on your present 'life-stage', and need / desire of services / community.

[sandybeaches]

I dont have an answer but maybe some research tips... moderator cut is pretty good for serching an entire state. You hit on an oregon map, and then enter your criteria. Little houses will pop up all over the state and then you just start looking. Keep editing your criteria until you get results that work. For example, I want acreage, so when I started at 10 and found very few, I had to keep changing it lower and lower until I narrowed down an area that offered what I was looking for. Not fool proof, but it works and in an evening you can learn a lot!

Good Luck.
(Have you thought of the coastal towns for tourism for your art?)

[CHEWY12]

Look in the Bend area. The downtown has lots of shops where you may be able to sell your art.

[kjsphoto]

I was in bend about a year ago and all the houses were $300K plus, way out of my price range. I really want to live in this state but I don't know if it is affordable anymore. I am starting to look more towards the east

I cannot believe how expensive houses are in bend especially as they really don't have a local economy...

Hmm the dalles! Cool I will check there. I before I saw this I was looking more and more towards the Arkansas area but I really would like to stay on the west coast.

[mdvaden]

Use that site already mentioned..

rmls.com

And do the quick search.

Pick a county, or pick several. Enter bare bones criteria. Your bedrooms and price range.

Then you will see what's available.

I think you will find several choices, although not "tight proximity to the main cities.

Not light years away, but not like the next suburb by Portand.

[andystearns]

I would suggest setting up a shop in Bend, but living just outside Bend, in redmond, Lapine,
Price have dropped close to 200k

[kjsphoto]

Does anyone know of a good source to try and find lease options to buy?

I am thinking with the way everything is dropping that maybe a lease might be a better option than buying.