Moving from Southern California to Oregon (Portland, Philomath: real estate, housing, rent)

[Ravenhill]

Just thought I'd throw my two cents in on moving north from California. My father was born in Roseburg, my brother in Lebanon and as a family we lived in Oregon for some years when I was young. My oldest son currently lives in Woodburn. I have lived in southern California since the mid 1950's and now, being 57 and about to go on disability SSI, want to move to a greener, less polluted, less gang infested area than the one we currently reside in. We have looked at many places in Oregon and have decided to seriously look in the Roseburg area.
We are well educated, not SNOTTY, don't complain and are literate, friendly people who just want some peace and quiet.
While it's true that my home here is worth far more comaparitively than the same home in most parts of Oregon (NOT ALL!!!), I don't control the housing market. Since I will be living on about $1200 a month, I think it's great that I can buy a nice place in a nice neighborhood and still pocket some money to help defray living expenses.
People are people pretty much wherever you go, there are good and bad folks in every town in America. What we are trying to escape is the overcrowding, the crime and the commerical growth that is making southern California a less than ideal place to live these days.
We hope that we will be welcomed to Oregon when we finally do move north and anticipate our "last great adventure" to be a spectacular one.
We looked at Kalmath Falls and the Bend area, but found them to be a little more pricey than we were anticapating. Roseburg looked to have some nice older houses, reasonably priced and I know that it's a pretty area having visited there on several occasions.
We PROMISE to be law abiding, caring Oregonians and never COMPLAIN ABOUT OUR NEW HOME.!!!!
Having read most of the posts in this thread, the ones written by Sabrina? come closest to the current California mindset that we are trying to get away from!! I can only hope she is successfull in moving back to So. Cal before we get there!!!!
Save some blackberries for US!!!!!
Dennis

[Clear2land]

Hi Ravenhill:

Roseburg is highly under rated if you ask me. Having lived in Portland, Salem, and Roseburg, I liked Roseburg best. It's small but it has charm. There are rivers and parks and plenty of places to explore. I would rate the quality of life in Roseburg very high. Real estate is a better value there than in other areas, I agree. There was nothing I did not like about living in Roseburg. Four generations in my family have called Roseburg home.

I have lived and explored the San Diego area for the past 20 years. We have vacationed 500 miles in all directions and are ready for a change. Everyone ought to move every 20 years just because they have been there and done that. Company doesn't want to go anywhere because we have taken them to every attraction at least twice. Lastly, change can bring adventure and excitement to ones life. My last 20 years will likely be spent in Oregon.

I see no reason why you would not fit in perfectly in Roseburg.

Dan

[ereggie]

I didn't realize that there is a large influx of so. cali people moving to Oregon, oh no! It worries me because I do agree that many so. cali people have this attitude of-me first. My husband and I moved to the west coast from Baltimore to live closer to family who live in San Diego. After living here for two months we've had enough of the road raged, overcrowded, suburban sprawl that has taken over this area and are moving up to Portland. I do agree that many from california are living off of the real estate boom and acting as if they are millionaires. It saddens me to think that many are moving up to Oregon, where it seems like such a wonderful liberal, very green environment. It also saddens me that housing prices are being jacked up in Oregon because of the housing boomers in cali. One of the main reasons we are leaving is because the housing prices are so unbelievably expensive down here. Now it scares me to think that we may not even be able to afford a house in Portland. Sorry to sound so hostile towards so. cali but we have not had a good experience down here. I lived here 10 years ago as an undergraduate in college and it has changed not for the better.
Anyway, that's just my two cents.
On a more positive note, we love Portland and it's architecture, it reminds me very much of the east coast. We love the people, the trees, the clean air, and everything about it. The weather may be gloomy but it doesn't compare to all of the great things that the NW has to offer. I hope it doesn't change!

[tazmel]

I have recently moved from Roseburg to Portland. I lived most of my life down there and I miss it.

It DOES have it's downer's though. It's cost of living is fairly high, the wage market is down compared to other areas, gas prices are 15 to 20 cents higher than Portland, BUT-- you do not have to drive as far to get places so you don't notice it as much. There is not the greatest shopping or entertainment available, so for that reason you may need to travel to Eugene.

There is also a large Redneck mentality especially in the out lying areas.

On the upside, the people are much nicer than I have found here. They are more willing to have you join them in activities and groups. I am shy so that is not good and I admit I don't get out like I should to mingle. So I can't blame anyone but myself!

The best part is you will have the most beautiful views and most of the time the best weather in Oregon. For the outdoors, it only takes 10 minutes to 2 hours and you can have what ever activity you want. Beaches, mountains, lakes and rivers, it is all there!

Yep, I miss it!

[Liv'n in Sisters]

I myself moved from S. Calif. (San Franando Valley) over 35 years ago and I have lived in two of Oregon's areas, Willamette Valley (Salem) and recently Central Oregon (Sisters.) I want to offer a comment or two for benefit of anyone considering relocating.

Moderator cut: ad

Okay, now for you folks in California trying to decide where you will settle.

When I moved my family from Santa Monica I had a 2 year old an a 5-day old. We were a young family, we found it near imposible to buy our first house in the LA area, and I wanted a small town setting - preferably among the trees. Well, that was a bit impractical. We settled in Salem and stayed there for all but the last 2 years. No regrets.

The valley offers all the conveniences and necessities of urban life; schools, shopping, jobs. And even recreation! Close to both ocean and mountains. Just what an growning family needs. Our housing delima in LA evaporated. Our town grew to add all the services we had come to expect from the Calif. scene.

Well, there is part of the problem. in time life in the valley seemed to mirror the drawbacks we experienced in LA, crowding, over-commercialization, even some social problems like crime (not yet smog.)

We finally made our 2nd-in-a-lifetime escape - this time to Central Oregon. After initially rejecting (in 1970) the central part of the state - it was too dry - we rationalized, we found ourselves visiting Sisters, OR on every holliday weekend we could manage. Loved the place. Often visited Bend while over the summit too.

Now we have been in the central area for nearly 2 years and I again feel the adventure of finally living my dream in the plac of my choice!

The point? Both Willamette Valley and Central Oregon are good choices. But which might be right for you depends on what is the predominant priority or banance you are trying to achieve for your preferred lifestyle? Portland and Salem are BIG TOWNS. Expect traffic and parking difficulties. Expect lots of good stores and economic advantages (low prices - resulting from healthy competition.)

If on the other hand you prefer lots of open spaces, big mountains and sky, world-class recreational opportunities only minutes away, then consider the other side of the mountain. Bend is a thriving and expanding small city of about 70,000. Shopping, restaurants, housing choices are getting better every day. (So too are the prices escalating, so decide and come soon.)

Then there are the 'out of the way' places. I choose Sisters (20 mi. west of Bend.) Population: 1,700. Touristy, woodsy, friendly (and expensive also, like Bend.) And as you can imagine - wanting in goods and services. But WORTH IT! At least, worth it for me, flowing from my own sense of lifestyle priorities at this point in my life.

So consider your possibilities. I suggest a trip or two of exploration. Then a lot of contrmplation. (I coupled that with regular reading of the Bend Bulletin newspaper which I had mailed to my Santa Monica adderss. And then there was the Oregon BlueBook avaliable from the state offices in Salem, from which I learned of the rainfall statistics.) You can do it.

Good Luck and may you view you life as a ever changing adventure. Venture Out.

Best,

Liv'n In Sisters

[bobmulk]

First off, Aero Angel, get the hell out of here. We aren't interested in people coming up here and bashing our state. Your attitude is not welcome.

As for depression in Portland, I'm not sure what you're talking about. The economy is quite strong. One of the reasons Oregon's and Portland's unemployment rates are so high is because of high in-migration. We don't produce enough jobs for the rapid growth. That is a political issue that I won't get into.

As for weather, you're going to get more rain in the Western part than the eastern part. Gloomy six months out of the year? Yeah, right. Take that with a boulder of salt. Those comments are from people who freak at the appearance of a cloud. It's true that we'll get rain in June, but we also have magnificently sunny Indian autumns into November. January and Feb are the gloomiest months. The sun comes out more in late February and you've got weather improving from then on. Remember, too, without the rain, it would be brown and ugly up here.

Altamont is a "suburb", if you will, of Klamath Falls in South Central Oregon near the California border. Weather will be very dry, similar to Bend. Employment opportunities are not great, but KFalls is the poised to be the next Bend.

Hope this helps. Welcome to Oregon!

[mossgeek]

I don't think there's anyplace in Oregon worth moving to. I too came here from Southern California and wish I was back home! I hate Oregon, it's so gloomy & filled with "back-wood" hicks and uneducated cowboys, not to mention all the spanish speaking mexicans (guess they're everywhere now though)! Anyway....good luck to you.

wow! I feel the opposite, I cant wait to get out of so cali and back home to Oregon! God I hate it down here! and I live in a resort town! To the one that got a jb in Talent, unless you have money avoid looking for a house in ashland, it is getting very spendy there! I love talent and Pheonix! Best places there are around Wagner creek area! I used to live in Ashland and in Talent before moving here to Big Bear. Now I may be moving back up there but to Gold Beach. You will love it there! I miss it so much!

[tiffela74]

Oh Liv'n in Sisters... Im sooooo jeoulus!!!!!! Thats one of my fav. little towns in Oregon. You are truly in a paradise if youre able to afford to live there!!! Except during fire season, id be a bit nervous then if i were you. lol - I remember Sisters from all my childhood. We spent at least couple of weeks a year at Clear Lake and would always take a day to go to Sisters. sigh. What wonderful memories of a beautiful place. My mom took my oldest there (Sisters)recently, for a gramma/grandkid weekend and that is my daughters new #1 place to be. wow. lucky you. Wannna do a house trade at the beach for awhile?
Well Mossgeek, I hope you are able to make it back home here soon!!!
Bobmulk, Well said. Always good to have more on our Oregon Cheer team!!
Tiff

[Mortimer Doubts]

Moved from Newport Beach to Medford, OR in 1999. Would never move back and I cringe at the thought of a visit. Southern Oregon is the place to be!

[ramblnrose]

Originally Posted by Eugguy

it does make you appreciate the "perfect day" weather in L.A. where we enjoy mostly sunny and warm temps throughout the year.

Hey!
What is the point of warm, sunny weather when you can't even see the sky above you.

I moved from S. Cal. to Oregon in 1978 and have never regretted it.

Elkton
Oregon