Any place inexpensive anymore? (Portland, Salem: foreclosures, big home, construction)

[Fiddlehead]

Check out Pittsburgh, PA. Once you get over your initial reaction, do your research, and you will be surprised. It has many parallels to Portland at a fraction of the cost. It is a lush, scenic area, with big rivers, unbelievably nice homes, and friendly people. I am looking into it myself, for exactly the same reasons.

[FV9]

Originally Posted by Fiddlehead

Check out Pittsburgh, PA. Once you get over your initial reaction, do your research, and you will be surprised. It has many parallels to Portland at a fraction of the cost. It is a lush, scenic area, with big rivers, unbelievably nice homes, and friendly people. I am looking into it myself, for exactly the same reasons.

Except I want to stay in OR or WA. Perhaps ID. Our families are in the PNW.

Perhaps Steve is right. Things just arent what they used to be.

[Fiddlehead]

Boise?

[Silverfall]

I'd suggest south and west Salem, but I would worry that you wouldn't make enough money here. The reason I asked about firms is because a really good friend of mine was an attorney in Portland, but they lived in Salem. He looked at firms here, but the salary he could make here was half his Portland salary. They are in Bend now and I think he was at about 2/3 Portland salary there before he made partner.

We are more affordable than Portland, have many family friendly restaurants, and starting to get some good "date night" restaurants here as well. I would just worry about the income piece of things for you here in Salem.

[Fiddlehead]

One other thought, and a partial rebuttal to Steve. Though I think he hinted at this, namely, that if you can find the things that you like, but tolerate a few things that others don't like, you can do a bit better. If you want everything, as many young people seem to these days, you will need to pay. This is not new, that is why our ancestors traveled great distances for opportunity, and that is why I suggested you check out Pittsburgh above. I really do feel that the West Coast has received a huge influx of boomers since the 1970s and with the real estate bubble they exploded out of California into all the better known and desirable areas of the West. Until they reenter the carbon cycle, I think it is going to be hard for young folks to get a decent deal. On this point I agree with Steve. So, I would reverse Horace Greeley's advice and say GO EAST YOUNG MAN! There are beautiful, safe communities, architecturally stunning homes, good schools, warm intelligent people, and in short excellent values in the Midwest and East. The Westward migration has created value there that is simply very hard to find here. Now, I will grant these areas may not be the West in an number of ways, but if you want opportunity, you may have to chase it, as many others have over the centuries. If you grew up in the West, I suspect you will have an anti-East bias. Fair enough, but everything east of the Cascades is not a wasteland. Like everywhere, you will find great people and places.

Assuming you want to stay out west, the key is to really do your homework on the things you like most,and the things that don't matter to you. For instance, I don't care about a little cold weather and snow. Sheesh, me and my son have a blast in the snow. I also don't mind the rain, to a point. Rednecks, not a big deal, hispanic culture, sure. Isolation, not really a problem, I alway find interesting and cool people,or barring that, a good book and the internet. Personally, I really like Moscow, Idaho, Baker City-LaGrande, Oregon, Prineville, OR, Eugene, OR, and much of western Montana. Salem, OR is cheap and close to you. I live in Ashland, OR,and I love Shakespeare, but have went to thee plays in 7 years. So, I chose to live in an overpriced town with hordes of retiring San Francisco emigres with huge equity.
Stupid me. I am in my mid forties, and I can only sigh over the thought of a 3000 sf home for $350k. Ain't happenin.... It seems to me that the prices were bid up by invading Californians recently in all the target places for incoming retireies. If you can find a place a Californian exurbanite would hate, but you might like, I suspect you might find a decent deal.

[Fiddlehead]

One last thought. Do you really need a 3000 sf home? That seems a bit over the top for a family of four. Not capping on you, but I suspect a 2000 sf home would be nice, and give you more choice. Now you are a lawyer in your 30s and I am a doctorate holding scientist in my 40s who lives in a 1000 sf home. Now, I would certainly like a bit more room, but it is hard to feel to much sympathy for a young family who laments not being able to buy a McMansion in their 30s in the very nicest areas. Have you considered that your expectations might be a bit inflated? I don't intend to be mean here, or condescending, but to point out that unrealistic expectations often cause unnecessary unhappiness.

[davefr]

How about Reno?

[Silverfall]

Originally Posted by Fiddlehead

Check out Pittsburgh, PA. Once you get over your initial reaction, do your research, and you will be surprised. It has many parallels to Portland at a fraction of the cost. It is a lush, scenic area, with big rivers, unbelievably nice homes, and friendly people. I am looking into it myself, for exactly the same reasons.

I actually have a client relocating here from Pittsburgh for work. He really likes it there.

[Fiddlehead]

Well, I gather that Pittsburgh is not for everyone, even plenty of burghers, but I have been researching it and it seems one of the most interesting cities in America. Just wanted to let the OP know that there are pretty nice cities that are affordable. They have a very lively CD board by the way.

[Nina-in-Ashland]

Fiddle has some great suggestions. As a born 'n raised Marylander, I can attest that there a number of really nice and affordable towns/small cities in PA, VA, and MD. That area is rich w/ history and you have access to D.C. for the museums, etc.

I can also attest to living in 3k sq. feet (actually, 2900) - it's a whole lot of space to heat, cool, and esp. clean. The hubs and I are counting down the days til we get outta this hellhole (we're in a suburb of Charlotte, NC - affordable, yes ... and a real-life cultural dustbowl, a la Steve's remarks re: desirability), and back to southern OR for a nice, cute, comfy 1700 sf or thereabouts RENTAL!