Thinking of moving to Oregon - Need advice (Portland, Eugene: real estate market, house)

[Brenda-by-the-sea]

Originally Posted by 370z

Do you know why labor statistics shows Benton County with a 6.5% unemployment rate, which is really low for these days, but yet everyone says the job situation is really bad all over Oregon? Ours here is 15%!

Local unemployment rates are calculated from statistical models based on the CPS. A lot of things are not considered. Students, including recent grads, are typically not in the CPS because they are not "households." More often than not, they're enumerated as household residents in the population survey where their parents' household is included in the survey...even though that may be in a different state. Percentage of unemployment is not the same as percentage of locals looking for work.

[370z]

Originally Posted by Brenda-by-the-sea

Local unemployment rates are calculated from statistical models based on the CPS. A lot of things are not considered. Students, including recent grads, are typically not in the CPS because they are not "households." More often than not, they're enumerated as household residents in the population survey where their parents' household is included in the survey...even though that may be in a different state. Percentage of unemployment is not the same as percentage of locals looking for work.

I could not read what you wrote, the yellow can't be read on my computer.

[370z]

Originally Posted by karlsch

Off the top of my head, major distribution centers not in the Portland area:

Walmart; Hermiston

Lowes; Lebanon

True Value Hardware; Springfield

Do It Best Hardware; Woodburn

BTW, the magenta font makes your posts harder to read.

Thanks! Is there a manufactured home factory in Woodburn?

[Minervah]

Originally Posted by 370z

I could not read what you wrote, the yellow can't be read on my computer.

Just hit the quote button and it should turn up in blue. If it's still yellow, just change the font color.

Originally Posted by karlsch

Off the top of my head, major distribution centers not in the Portland area:

Walmart; Hermiston

Lowes; Lebanon

True Value Hardware; Springfield

Do It Best Hardware; Woodburn

BTW, the magenta font makes your posts harder to read.

There's also a Target distribution center in Albany.

Is there a manufactured home factory in Woodburn?

Not sure. There's at least one (I think two) in Albany.

[370z]

Thanks for all your help!

[Larry Caldwell]

Originally Posted by 370z

Thank you! Has there ever been much manufacturing/warehouse type jobs in OR? Is it required to be bilingual for many of the jobs available, like here in CA?

Historically, manufacturing has been the base of Oregon's economy. The current recession has cut the feet from under the lumber manufacturing industry, while the hiatus in rail transportation from Coos Bay has cut American Bridge out of any market that can't be reached by barge. Schnitzer Steel in Portland was bought by the Russians, but still manufactures large components for power plants and such. There's an induction furnace steel mill in McMinnville that runs fence posts and rebar. Intel and HP have major manufacturing presence in the state.

For warehousing, Lowe's just built a huge (1.35 million square foot) regional distribution center in Lebanon. Ingram Books has a warehouse along the freeway at Green, just south of Roseburg. There are warehouses scattered all up and down I-5, some of them pretty big.

[Silverfall]

Originally Posted by 370z

Thanks! Is there a manufactured home factory in Woodburn?

Yes but I don't think it is doing well. The one in Silverton closed due to lack of business.

The Sanyo solar plant opened in Salem last year, and the Home Depot regional distribution center here was just completed and they started hiring as well.

[370z]

Originally Posted by Silverfall

Yes but I don't think it is doing well. The one in Silverton closed due to lack of business.

The Sanyo solar plant opened in Salem last year, and the Home Depot regional distribution center here was just completed and they started hiring as well.

Thank you, I appreciate all the help!
I have another question regarding homes;I was looking at "realtor.com" at the homes. It seems that most of the manufactured homes are in rental parks, not on personal land. When looking at the prices, can you get anything for under $150,000,in general, that's decent, in a nice area, a home, not a condo? Or is it closer to $200,000? If we were to move I'm looking at Salem area, Corvallis area, (Corvallis seems to be higher) Willamette Valley area.
Just trying to get an idea of the price range. Sometimes I see lower prices, but I think they may be in less desirable areas.
It Oregon seems like a fit to us, we will come out & really spend some time before we make a decision to move. I haven't been there for 25 years & we only went to Medford area at that time. Never been any further north.

[Nell Plotts]

Try www.rmls.com for searches. It is the 'official' website for the regional multiple listing service which, I think, includes Salem. The other website I like for real estate searches is www.JohnLScott.com. It includes all MLS listings, has a map option that may be GoogleMaps based w birds-eye view.

Most manufactured homes in cities are in rental parks, but not all.