Toronto to Oregon....anyone? (Portland, Bend: real estate market, rental, health insurance)

[stevie&kaeli]

Hello to all in this awesome, interesting and helpful forum...I already tried posting, but it didn't seem to work, so here goes:

I'm doing as much research as I can on Oregon as a potential place to move my family...my husband, myself, and our two kids (5 and 1). We live in Toronto (my husband is an ex-pat Californian for 5 years now) and we are both OVER Toronto in a serious way. We aren't rich; we are trying to make it on his salary as a construction worker while I stay at home, but we do okay..we don't own, as the real estate market in Toronto is through the roof, but we want more LIFE for our dollar...more green space, more mountains, more forests, more lakes....the West Coast is my dream place, and I know my husband misses the California of his youth (gone forever, but at least we would be close to what's left). So I'm wondering, does anyone have any insight/advice/opinions/information about such specifics as the job market for skilled and hardworking construction workers? (BTW, he is also a cabinetmaker, so anything in carpentry or construction) Is it at all feasible to raise a family on one (hardworking!) individuals' salary anywhere decent in Oregon? (by decent, I mean a quiet, small community, not necessarily Portland proper) Are there housing markets in decent communities that are still reasonable? We desperately want to raise our kids ANYWHERE but a city...
The main and major reason we haven't left Canada is the health care situation, which is a big deal, but I'm sure people do manage in the US, right? Do construction workers generally get health coverage for themselves and their families? Is anyone in a similar situation? Does anyone have any insight to offer?

[Bendite]

My answer today is not the same as it might have been a year ago - with the housing market the way it is, there are construction workers out of work. Here in Bend, there are some builders who are continuing with their subdivisions. I know that some of them have their own employees and I would suspect that they might offer health insurance. We also have a few cabinet making companies in town and I beleive that they also offer health insurance. As with construction, I think there are a number of cabinet makers looking for work. It's just a tough time for that industry

[Silverfall]

Your husband would have to try and get a job in commercial construction. Builders are laying off construction workers here due to the decline in the real estate market. Not to say he couldn't get one, but it would be tough.

Most construction workers are independent contractors so they will have to pay for private health insurance.

As for small towns, we have plenty, but what is "reasonable" in terms of affordability?

[mikemorrow]

I want to reply but the IRS might not like it. But I don't think that just one working could keep a family of 4 above water.

[Wicked Felina]

Originally Posted by mikemorrow

But I don't think that just one working could keep a family of 4 above water.

That's the sad truth. Construction is not a very secure job. I understand that most companies (actually never heard of independent contractors getting health insurance on the job) are either charging their employees a larger percentage of the cost, or simply do not offer it.

Health insurance is a huge expense here in the US, not just in cities. No system is perfect, but your children are covered 100% no matter where in Canada you live, right?

We certainly aren't trying to step on your dreams of returning to be near California. Oregon would no doubt have everything you are looking for in terms of the lay of the land. But now may not be such a good time to look for jobs in construction, given our current economy. It would be a very tough road for you.

Good luck to you.

[mikemorrow]

How about trying BC. I hear Victoria is realy nice. Sounds like a nice little road trip for me next year.

[stevie&kaeli]

Thanks to everyone for replying...even though I'm kind of bummed out now...not quite what I wanted to hear I've looked on craigslist at the skilled labor jobs, and there seems to be some with decent pay, at least on par with what my husband makes here...in Canadian $$, about $1000/week, average...and rental properties also seem very reasonable, equal to or less than rent here in Toronto. So no hope, then? I'm kind of suprised that there is a lull in the building industry...I know the subprime mortgage SNAFU is a huge deal, and that it has a terrible trickle-down effect...Is there predictions of an economic upturn?

[stevie&kaeli]

Originally Posted by Silverfall

Your husband would have to try and get a job in commercial construction. Builders are laying off construction workers here due to the decline in the real estate market. Not to say he couldn't get one, but it would be tough.

Most construction workers are independent contractors so they will have to pay for private health insurance.

As for small towns, we have plenty, but what is "reasonable" in terms of affordability?

That bums me out...not quite what I was hoping for...in my research, I look on craigslist, and it seems as though there are SOME jobs in that field, paying relatively close to the same that my husband makes (approx. $1000/week)...an affordable neighbourhood would be one, in terms of rent for example, that I would pay $1000 for a really nice 2 bedroom, maybe a 3 bedroom...
Is there anything positive you can tell me? I'm really hoping....

[Bendite]

[I'm kind of suprised that there is a lull in the building industry...I know the subprime mortgage SNAFU is a huge deal, and that it has a terrible trickle-down effect...Is there predictions of an economic upturn?[/quote]

The problems have not been limited to the subprime mortgage. For example, in Central Oregon, housing prices zoomed up way beyond where they should have been in part because people in other states, in particular California, had a lot of equity in their homes, so they bought here where housing was much less. Demand went up and so did prices. Values have dropped now (and continue to do so), putting some people in a situation of owning homes that they can't get out of. So what we have now is too much inventory, thus construction has dipped. When that inventory declines, then more houses will be built. Some people say that is about a year out - I think with the current recession, that might be optomistic. We now even have too much commercial real estate on our hands, so I anticipate construction in that arena will slow significantly as well. Bend is supposed to not be as impacted as other parts of teh country, but I'm not seeing that to be the case.

Here, you can get a nice rental for $1,000 a month. Because houses aren't selling, they are being put up for rent until the housing market improves. There are construction jobs out there, but the competition is fierce.

[mikemorrow]

Originally Posted by stevie&kaeli

Thanks to everyone for replying...even though I'm kind of bummed out now...not quite what I wanted to hear I've looked on craigslist at the skilled labor jobs, and there seems to be some with decent pay, at least on par with what my husband makes here...in Canadian $$, about $1000/week, average...and rental properties also seem very reasonable, equal to or less than rent here in Toronto. So no hope, then? I'm kind of suprised that there is a lull in the building industry...I know the subprime mortgage SNAFU is a huge deal, and that it has a terrible trickle-down effect...Is there predictions of an economic upturn?

Not trying to bum you at all. Just telling it like it is. I live in Iowa and it is the same here. It is just me that is moving to Oregon, I know there may be some hardships. But to move with 2 kids, and might have to pay out of the pocket for health care would scare the crapout of me. You will realy have to wiegh the pros and cons.
I'm a guy that just kinda jumps. And cross my fingures. Allways landing on my feet.