SW Oregon (Bend, Newport, Brookings: real estate, rent, buy)

[H2Odeep]

Hi all,
I'm looking for some local knowledge about SW Oregon, somewhere around Port Orford or other coastal, or near-coastal towns (under 1h away from the beach).

First, the "Banana Belt"... just how far up north does it go?
Second, the question that everyone asks.."Does it really rain all that much?". Does the typical rainfall last all day, or is it a one-to-two hours ordeal? This concerns me quite a bit as my knees are shot (Ex-paratrooper) and cold, rainy days really do a number on me.
Third, this is more for the deep sea fishermen.. how far out do you have to go to be in 1000 and 2000+feet of water?
Fourth, in regard to building a small cabin in the woods, how feasible is it? Do you have a lot of permits that are required? Once outside city limits, do the building codes fall under the IBC regulations or is it pretty much open?

Thanks in advance

[Sherwoody]

Originally Posted by H2Odeep

Hi all,
I'm looking for some local knowledge about SW Oregon, somewhere around Port Orford or other coastal, or near-coastal towns (under 1h away from the beach).

First, the "Banana Belt"... just how far up north does it go?
Second, the question that everyone asks.."Does it really rain all that much?". Does the typical rainfall last all day, or is it a one-to-two hours ordeal? This concerns me quite a bit as my knees are shot (Ex-paratrooper) and cold, rainy days really do a number on me.
Third, this is more for the deep sea fishermen.. how far out do you have to go to be in 1000 and 2000+feet of water?
Fourth, in regard to building a small cabin in the woods, how feasible is it? Do you have a lot of permits that are required? Once outside city limits, do the building codes fall under the IBC regulations or is it pretty much open?

Thanks in advance

I'm surprised you didn't get any help with this. Perhaps this area of Oregon is not well represented but there are a few from the area that chime in from time to time. Perhaps they missed it the first time around?

I can help with your sea depth question. You should be able to find what you seek here.

http://ocsdata.ncd.noaa.gov/BookletC...okletChart.pdf

http://ocsdata.ncd.noaa.gov/BookletC...okletChart.pdf

NOAA BookletCharts(TM)

[Larry Caldwell]

I have heard that Brookings sits in a small banana belt. If cold, rainy days bother your knees, you might want to consider the Louisiana coast. For the Oregon coast in general, it's almost always windy and about the same temperature as the ocean. If it's not windy, it's foggy. The best bottom fishing is in the shallower rock bottoms, not in the deep ocean.

Building permits are required everywhere, and there are comprehensive land use laws that limit what properties can even get a permit. Check with the county planning department before you buy property.

[The RumpledOne]

Banana Belt is from Brookings to Bandon.

Can grow 10 - 12 months.

50 - 60 inches of rainfall annually..though dry in summer.

[oregonwoodsmoke]

Originally Posted by H2Odeep

.......how far out do you have to go to be in 1000 and 2000+feet of water?
.........

I have no idea, but for halibut or albacore, plan on 30-60 miles out (From Newport, I don't know about Port Orford.)

Cojo are out with the albacore until they start to migrate inland and then they are available in the bays and rivers.

There is a depth limit for Halibut and you can't go after near shore halibut except for an extremely short time window.

Fishing regulations are complicated, so I suggest that you get a copy of the booklet. Then you have to check often, because they change during the season. Some species don't have a time limit season, they have a poundage season, so seasn could change at any time.

As for cabins, no matter where you settle in Oregon, you will need building permits and inspections and a permitted and inspected sewage handling system.

[Fiddlehead]

Sorry to be slow in replying!

Climatically, the entire Oregon Coast is pretty cold and wet. Cold is relative, because it rarely gets below freezing, but then again it rarely gets above 70 F. And even when it is not raining, it is usually windy or, in summer, foggy. A lovely fresh, rainwashed place, but I would not consider it warm. And the water is freezing. The banana belt thing is because Brookings rarely freezes, and can sometimes get considerably warmer than other spots on the coast. However, the climatological averages do not seem very warm to me, so the "warm snaps" must be short lived.

BROOKINGS 2 SE, OREGON - Climate Summary

I don't know about the water depth or cabins. I do know that the Oregon Coast inflated greatly in the bubble, and is not really affordable real estate in general.

[H2Odeep]

Thank you all for the replies...much appreciated!
One link shows Port Orford as in the top 10 wettest cities (number 6 with 117"/year) Wettest Places in United States - Current Results
while other websites show 65-72" annually..

As far as the ocean depth, I have an an ocean-centric business so access to extremely deep water would have been nice but is not a pre-requisite. Thank you for the all the links.

Can any scuba diver comment on the underwater visibility on a good day?

I think I'll rent for a year or so to see if this is what I really want.

[BendLocal]

@HSOdeep - here's a thread that may be of interest.

Is Oregon worth a flight?

[H2Odeep]

Great link BendLocal. Thank you!

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

I just moved to Crescent City, CA, just about 30 miles south of Brookings. I moved here for a mild year-round climate and needed somewhere affordable. I'm from the SF Bay Area, where the weather is great, but couldn't afford to retire there. Moved to Redding, CA, but it's way too hot for too long (5 months of 100+ degrees), hence my move to CC.

I went to check out Brookings last weekend, and chatted with locals there while shopping at the Fred Meyer. They told me Brookings is much sunnier than Crescent City. I can tell you I found the people to be amazingly friendly, and well-mannered (3 men opened doors for me in one day lol!).

The area is cloudier than I'd prefer, but I love that the temps are never too hot or too cold.