Moving from Southern California to Oregon (Portland, Eugene: environment, relocation, real estate)

[mr. grieves]

Hi. My wife and I are considering a move to Oregon. We've had it with Los Angeles and its smog, crime, traffic, inflated prices, inflated egos, etc, etc. While Portland and Eugene (Frank Black's adopted home) sound like our ticket with regards to "underground" culture (college towns known for experimental music, art, film, etc), the weather leaves something to be desired. Neither of us is a fan of snow or rain. Given that, we've learned that Medford is closer to what we'd like, weather-wise, but we're wondering if it has the cultural aspects we seek. One forum post desribed Medford as something of a "retirement town," and, with all due respect to retirees, we're not that old yet! ;-)

Bottom line: is there a city or town in Oregon that splits the hair between the culture of Portland or Eugene and the weather of Medford? Any advice you have would be greatly appreciated!

[PDXsailor]

Crap!!!! Now I got "Where's my Mind" stuck in my head

I think the closest you will get outside of Portland and Eugene would be maybe Bend. I have also heard that there is a cool metal bar in Madras (small town north of Bend) where some big death metal bands have actually performed at. But not a place to move too, unless you like really small towns and ranching.......

[PDXsailor]

An idea comes to mind..... start looking a music venues in Oregon cities and if they have some bands playing that you like, then it might be a good place to check out.

[ExNYC]

Originally Posted by mr. grieves

Hi. My wife and I are considering a move to Oregon. We've had it with Los Angeles and its smog, crime, traffic, inflated prices, inflated egos, etc, etc. While Portland and Eugene (Frank Black's adopted home) sound like our ticket with regards to "underground" culture (college towns known for experimental music, art, film, etc), the weather leaves something to be desired. Neither of us is a fan of snow or rain. Given that, we've learned that Medford is closer to what we'd like, weather-wise, but we're wondering if it has the cultural aspects we seek. One forum post desribed Medford as something of a "retirement town," and, with all due respect to retirees, we're not that old yet! ;-)

Bottom line: is there a city or town in Oregon that splits the hair between the culture of Portland or Eugene and the weather of Medford? Any advice you have would be greatly appreciated!

Check out Ashland. We just made the move from Ventura County and are glad not to have been dazzled by the lower home prices in Medford. Ashland will take more of your retirement money for housing but it's worth it. Medford has some nice spots but Ashland sounds more like what you're looking for.

[YogaPants]

Re: The Powderhorn Cafe...Grants Pass...We have heard this place serves giant pieces of pie and makes a killer breakfast...We'll plan on eating there on our next trip up...yum...

[AshlandOregonian]

New SoCal member. I moved to Ashland 6 months ago from the Bay Area.
It's weird reading these threads. Don't you guys remember where you made your money? It's Location-Location-Location. Come up here for a week and check out all the towns just north of the California border.

IMPORTANT - don't come here looking for a job (unless you're in the medical profession). There aren't any. I telecommute.

My wife and I checked out Medford and Jacksonville expecting to move to either. Medford is sprawl city, petty crime, drugs, and lameness. Jacksonville is Disneyland for bikers and tourists.

Ashland is the place. There must be 10-15 websites dedicated to Southern Oregon. You'll find Ashland has the most to offer.

[Kiwi]

To: AshlandOregonian - What's the weather been like this winter in Ashland? Much fog compared to the Bay Area?

[newt]

For my tastes too, Ashland is the best thing going in So. Oregon, however, I think it’s way over-priced for what you get. Many homes here are valued at prices close to those in some of the nicest areas of the entire country. One house not far from me is listed for three million dollars. Two more on the next block are around 1.2 to 1.5 million. Yes, these are nice homes, but not what I would call extraordinary, and the lots they sit on are approximately 10,000sq ft or so. One of the million dollar-plus homes is across the street from an old run-down shack that has multiple beat up cars/trucks parked out front and they raise chickens in the back yard! I’m not kidding. The three million dollar home is on a busy street, crammed nearly to the edge of its lot and next to homes that would be considered mid-level at best anywhere else. I’ve looked at some homes in the 500K to 700K price range that are complete tear-downs and fixer-uppers.

These kind of prices are never really justifiable, in my mind, but you might be able to make a case for say Malibu, Santa Barbara, or San Francisco because, well, look at what you get for the money. Arguably the best weather in the world, or maybe the highest paying job market, or one of the most cosmopolitan locations in the country/world. What do you get in Ashland? Close proximity to Talent and…chickens! Yes, Ashland is beautiful, cultural, and cozy feeling, but where do you go when you get a little bored, the Fred Meyers in Medford? After being here since summer, I’m starting to re-think plunking down such a big wad for a home.

[Clear2land]

Newt, I like your thinking. I found most of Ashland’s housing old. Homes are close to one another and new building is coming from old homes being torn down and rebuilt. I too looked at what you get for the money, and I would rather live in Grants Pass. I think that area has more potential for growth than Ashland. High prices in Ashland are largely dependent on new money moving to the city. Expensive real estate has fewer buyers. I am already asking myself, how much am I going to lose on the property I want to own? The problem with real estate is that the incomes that pay for them has not risen as fast as the prices of homes. Incomes have to catch up before prices can move higher from here. I can empathize with Oregonians who complain that the cost of housing is beyond their means. This affordability issue is not just in Oregon but nationwide. It is very hard to buy a new home if you don’t already own one.

Dan

[Bendlover]

To say the least it is really sad on how negative some posts have been. There are many people from all over moving to Oregon. I now live in So. Cal. because my husband is a Marine and we have to live here. And honestly the people are more rude down here but the driving is worse in Oregon. For some reason the people in Oregon don't know how to use blinkers. But anyway no matter where you go there are going to be bad drivers, rude people and high real estate prices. What makes Oregon great is how you can get the great coast to the west, snow and mtns in the middle, and the desert to the east. So no matter what you are looking for you can find it in Oregon... well except constant heat. Yes the valley may rain all the time but not ALL of Oregon rains all the time. And for all the people from Oregon bitching about Californians then maybe you dont belong in Oregon if you hate the fact that other people want to live there. I mean really you might as well move to Idaho! I mean really!!