Looking for information (Eugene, Salem, Albany: houses, college, earthquake)

[norm]

We will be retiring shortly. We now live in the metropolitan New York City area. We are looking for a place in southwest that has moderate temperatures in the summer with low humidity and no earthquakes. Also want no snow or at least a very minimal amount. Our other requirements are:

Houses for up to $275,000.
Good hospitals and doctors close by.
Good shopping.
A college near by for cultural events.
A good library.
A good area for allergy sufferer.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[DavePautsch]

Norm,
Depending on what your allergies are...check out the mid-Willamette Valley. It has everything you are looking for, however, we are the Grass Seed Capital of the World. I personally don't suffer from allergies (hayfever), but I know some people that do and they have learned to manage it, but it isn't always pretty.

Otherwise, housing is affordable (median price right now is in the $190,000 range...and you can get quite a nice house for the mid-200s)
Albany shopping is ok (Old Navy, Gottshalks, Kohls, Target, Costco...with easy access to Salem/Eugene where there is a much broader variety)
OSU is just 15 minutes away and we have lots of music downtown (especially in the summer)
Library is expanding to a brand new building in 08 I think. Lots of great programs.

Temperate climate - not much snow (I've been here 6 years and we've had maybe 5 inches one winter...less than 1/2 inch in the other 5). Summers are very nice, with just a few days where we run the a/c.

I'd be happy to answer any questions if the allergy issue is not something you can overcome.

Dave

[karlsch]

Oregon is not in the "southwest."

[freedom]

Originally Posted by karlsch

Oregon is not in the "southwest."

Tell that to a Canadian...

[PNW-type-gal]

There isn't anything on the west coast that is "earthquake free." Of course, one of the biggest earthquakes in recorded history in the US was in Missouri, not the west coast, so finding that earthquake free local could be difficult.

[DavePautsch]

But you have to admit, there are earthquakes and then there are EARTHQUAKES!

I've said many times...every where you go there are things that suck. It might be the weather, the traffic, the (fill in your own blank)...But for some reason, people continue to live there (often quite happily). That is because, for THEM, there is something so good that outweighs whatever it is that sucks.

In my experience that "something" is usually friends, family, or something else that makes them feel like they "belong" there.

Sorry for my over use of "quotes"

norm, you've obviously been around this board long enough to know you are going to hear lots of good and bad about different places. I only ask that you take the above philosophy into account...and I hope that you find the place that makes you feel HOME.

Best of luck,
Dave

[little peg]

Originally Posted by norm

We will be retiring shortly. We now live in the metropolitan New York City area. We are looking for a place in southwest that has moderate temperatures in the summer with low humidity and no earthquakes. Also want no snow or at least a very minimal amount. Our other requirements are:

Houses for up to $275,000.
Good hospitals and doctors close by.
Good shopping.
A college near by for cultural events.
A good library.
A good area for allergy sufferer.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

between portland and eugene are some of the largest grass seed growers in the country. Ragweed and mold are also allergy problems, I have huge grass allergy problems, always suffered. good luck

[FoxyKnox]

Our e-quakes tend to be so mild though that most people either sleep through them, or when they hear there was one on the news say, "there was an earthquake?!"

[norm]

Dave,

Thanks a lot for the information. I do have hay fever so the area that you mentioned would be a problem for me. What about Grants Pass would it be a good place for me to check out?

By the way I meant southwest Oregon not the southwest U.S.

Norm

[PNW-type-gal]

Originally Posted by FoxyKnox

Our e-quakes tend to be so mild though that most people either sleep through them, or when they hear there was one on the news say, "there was an earthquake?!"

Just like they say in financial advertisements - "past performance is not a guarantee of future performance." This IS earthquake country, and, in the long historic record, we've had big earthquakes. It's one thing to be prepared for the potential of a large earthquake and it's entirely another to ignore the possibility and potentially be rudely and disastrously surprised.