info about Southern Oregon (Portland, Medford: real estate, work, housing)

[Poeticsunshine]

Hi,

My hubby and I are looking at southern Oregon to buy some property and raise our son and make friends. We live on the central coast of California. It's beautiful here, but often foggy and the housing is OUTRAGIOUS!. We are both native Californians and we are the first generation that cannot aford to buy here

We are looking for a place that is diverse in thinking. We belong to a Unitarian church and enjoy a forum where we can learn about world religions. We are very earth friendly people and want to build a house with rammed earth house with passive solar. We love to garden. Which cities have progressive schools? . . my son is 12.

We like to go to plays, outdoor concerts, opera, kayaking, mountain biking ect .

I heard Ashland & Grants Pass is a nice place. I don't mind cold winters with mild snow, but I need sunshine too

[freedom]

Either one would fit your definition.
Ashland is more expensive and has a subdivision moratorium in place. So less land more $.

Grants pass has less earthy people but open religiously, and more affordable properties.
There is an Unitarian church in both. Larger in Ashland.
There are outskirt cities for both. That have more property options.

Rammed earth is tricky here, but possible. We have done blown earth.
90% Decomposed Granite, 10% Portland Cement blown against a form with a gunite pump. 2' thick wall, very effecient and quiet.
My favorite is a Formworks house (earth sheltered). One day we hope to build one for ourselves, maybe a retirement home.

best wishes.

freedom

[Poeticsunshine]

Thank you Freedom . . . We will look at "outskirt cities" as well . . .Do you have any "outskirt" favorites?

Have you heard of Straw Bale houses? I haven't heard of blown earth

My husband and I own a small Erosion Control engineering construction business here in San Simeon, Ca . . We plan to research the area to feel out the competition and need for our services

[Poeticsunshine]

I don't mind living 30 min. from Ashland or Medford . . right now I live 55 min from San Luis Obispo and that gets old! . . But 30 min. would be ok.

[freedom]

Originally Posted by Poeticsunshine

Thank you Freedom . . . We will look at "outskirt cities" as well . . .Do you have any "outskirt" favorites?

Have you heard of Straw Bale houses? I haven't heard of blown earth

My husband and I own a small Erosion Control engineering construction business here in San Simeon, Ca . . We plan to research the area to feel out the competition and need for our services

There are quite a few straw bale houses here. Cave junction west of Grants pass, has a number of them.

Erosion control is becoming a big deal with city and county planning. There are a few engineering firms, not so many installers.

As to outskirts, there are so many variables. Try Merlin, Rogue River, Applegate, Williams, Central point and Eagle point

[Miss Marple]

The heck with religion and straw houses, what is it like in Klamath Falls? Can anyone give me an "in-perspective" reality of life in Klamath Falls...??? Do they have a drug-crime problem? Thanks!!

[freedom]

Originally Posted by Miss Marple

The heck with religion and straw houses, what is it like in Klamath Falls? Can anyone give me an "in-perspective" reality of life in Klamath Falls...??? Do they have a drug-crime problem? Thanks!!

Not very polite!
You can start your own post if you would like to have information regarding Klamath falls.
Many straw houses are built with Klamath Falls straw, and it is grown on God's green earth.

God bless your quest

freedom

[Westward]

I have a couple questions about S.OR:

How would one compare the infamous rain/gray/drizzle of N.OR with what S.OR gets? I know it rains less, but does it do the same gray drizzle all winter act that N.OR does?

Also, when I visited Medford, an agent told me that developers had bought up most the nearby land. Is it hard to find a couple acres on which to build a home? Or hard to get approval to build?

Poeticsunshine, I'm about to pass your way to see how the coast compares to S.OR. Very nice people in the Medford area, and it's so beautiful there.

[freedom]

Westward, IMO the agent exaggerated a little. The good news is that developers and others are willing to sell land much more since the market cooled down.
Great time to buy, prices have corrected at least 30%. Like stocks, the real estate market will take off again here in So. OR., due to the retirees and business people that want to live here, that will not change. It is a great place to be.

freedom

[avantgarden]

I'm sorry to have to post this, but I feel it is important to know. K-Falls, in my opinion, is not a very tolerant area. I often find people in K-Falls to be very closed-minded, and it feels like I have entered Alabama whenever I go there -- that's just my opinion. Medford has pretty much the same problem. Medford is a city overrun with wanna-be gangstas peddling meth, and meth addicts. I personally believe Medford is one of the worst cities for meth in Oregon, thus the monicker "Methford". Also, Medford rates terribly when it comes to their schools drop-out rates, and White City / Eagle Point is even worse. I know so many kids from Medford who have dropped out of school and use meth; my nephew (22) is sitting in prison right now for this very reason, and he's from Medford. The city is also very conservative, which some may find to be an attraction (to each their own), but it really shows in the attitudes of it's residents. I would say, if you're looking at Southern Oregon, check into Ashland (expensive), or possibly Grants Pass, but stay far away from Medford and K-Falls.