PLEASE give me some info (Portland, Eugene: relocate, real estate, jobs)

[carlyleigh08]

So my boyfriend and I are from a small town but it is really close to larger areas so shopping and everyday needs are easily taken care of. I am in college and want a job working with children. My boyfriend could easily work for a fire department, he has EMT training and is certified.

We are looking for an area with the snow in winter and sun during the summer, and little or no fog.

We are looking for an area with lots of trees, lush areas, water nearby ( river or lake ), and we are into outdoor activites such as hiking, camping, ect.

Although we are not ready to buy a house yet, we want an area that isnt to pricey. We live in Ca but we want to leave because buying a shack for 700,000 isnt what we want. We want a laid back area where you can have a huge family home for 100,000, not a granny unit like what you would have in Ca.

If you have any locations you think may meet what we are looking for, that would be much appreciated. And I am not just into the common areas, small towns work to

[fjtee]

While it's not California, the PNW isn't cheap. For 100K, you're not going to get much of anything other than a shack. At least, not anything near a decent sized city, so it would have to be a small town if that's even possible. There are tons of real estate sites that can give you an idea of the price range for homes around the state. Try windermere or century21, maybe. Those are the two I can think of right now, but there are other agencies.

I'm sure you've heard stories of how dreary the northwest is and those stories are true for west of the Cascades, so you'll want to stay east of the Cascades if you want to avoid that. Of course, there is sun for a couple months of the year, maybe even three months. And, when it's out, it's the most fantastic place to be. Summers are wonderful, but much shorter than you're used to. Also, west of the Cascades means driving to the snow in the mountains and east means the snow will come to you. But, east of the Cascades is where it gets to be very arid. So, the lushness disappears. There is a price to pay for that beautiful green and it's called water. There may be some pockets and if so, I hope others chime in with those.

[fjtee]

My husband told me I was wrong and that you could get what you are looking for if you head west from Oregon and up into the coastal mountain chain. I can't recall the name of it right now. Brain fart, I guess. Anyway, he thinks in there you can get the green, the hiking, the snow and the price range. It also puts you closer to the ocean and while I'd not swim in it myself, the coastline is gorgeous.

I did a windermere search and found some houses under 100k. I don't think I can post a link, but I just did all houses under 100K, 2 bedrooms, and left bathrooms unspecified. I'm not sure of the square footage you need/want, so I likewise left that open. So, it seems there are houses in that range.

Good luck!

[Silverfall]

$100,000 in Oregon is a pretty scary place, or has about 600 square feet to it. Salem tends to be more affordable than Eugene or Portland metro areas and you can't get a big family home for that price.

Oregon has Urban Growth Boundaries which preserves our green that everyone loves, but it also means inflated home values. If you want snow, you need to head into central oregon. We get snow in the valley but it doesn't stick. The forests are different out in central Oregon compared to the lush forests of the valley. Lush means water and more moderate temperatures.

Southern Oregon has some great small towns that might work. In the valley, I would consider Monmouth, Independence, Stayton, and Jefferson for affordability and they are all close to Salem for employment.

[eagleriver]

You could probably get a 100,000 CABIN in the coastal range - no running water, no electricity, and no jobs nearby. and anywhere you live in the coastal range you are getting fog, period. You may get some snow in the winter, but it rarely sticks more than a few days. For real snow, you have to go to the Cascades and east. Then you get much colder winters and hotter summers, and a more arid climate much like the Sacramento valley area, only not as hot and not as long a summer. Also much less densly populated, and then again you run into the price problem if you are in any city. So many have relocated from California with money to spare after selling their over-inflated homes, that the prices of homes here is just awful, too. Altho not as bad as there. A much more realistic price on an average home in areas you describe would be about 200 - 250,000. Hope that helps some.

You may want to think more of Idaho. I think you may find things closer to what you are looking for, there.

[westvillemama]

You are simply not going to find a huge family home for 100K anywhere in the PNW, sorry. Not even in southern OR or the Cascades. You might find a trailer, you might find a "rustic" dwelling, but if you want an actual working, livable house anywhere in OR you will have to raise the price up about 50K. To be near lakes and winter snow and work, raise it another 25K. To get *huge* raise it another 100K after that and you're starting to be realistic about housing costs in OR. 225K bare minimum for all the amenities you want, and that's being quite generous. It's not outrageous compared to Cali, but it's not cheap either. When you find such a paradise, let me know! Then we'll all move there, start flipping houses, and it won't be cheap for long...