Cheap Places to Live in Oregon

[bjvoyager]

I've got a sleeper town that is about the cheapest place that I know of to live in the midwillamette valley of Oregon. It is called Falls City and has a gorgeous and real waterfall that runs through the center of town. Located in the geographical center of Western Oregon it is centrally located 60-80 miles from Portland and Eugene, 20- 35 miles from Corvallis and Salem; 60 miles from the central coast (Newport and Lincoln City , and about 100 to Bend for skiing.

It is nestled in the foothills of the Coast Range Mountains and was once the heart of one of the largest and earliest counties of Oregon. It was originally a logging town, and still has that tradition at its heart.

It is one of the most beautiful and quiet places in the state, as there is no road that goes thru it, just to it.

It has a few small town services such as a local grocery store (no gas station), but is only 12 miles outside the heart of Dallas a full service town with a Walmart and emergency hospital etc.

If you go to any of the real estate websites punch in 97344 and check out the prices.

Not much is available at any given time, but the prices can't be beat.

There is very little development going on, and the town has suffered from bad management in the past, so much that is there, has been very badly developed with a lot of clutter in some places, but gradually the town has been making a turn around, and has started to vigorously enforce its ordinances.

It is under a thousand people and there is much in the way of opportunity to serve on the various boards, and make a real difference in the way things are handled.

It is also becoming known for its world class mountain bike trails.

I have been a resident on and off, (I own property there ) for over 20 years and have seen a real change. There are still opportunites in town to own mini acerages; and I may have one for sale shortly. Horses and farm animals are allowed if you have over an acre (check the city website for their ordinances at Fallscity.org)

The reason I moved here initially was that like a lot of people, I wanted to get out of the big city to have a safe community to raise my son, and enjoy the natural beauty and tranquility of country life, and it was the only place I could afford at the time.

There is little work in town itself but it is within a peaceful commute (country roads
to places such as Corvallis and Salem,

and is actually a great place for a home based, internet based business.

The air is clean and the water is tapped from the mountains. The soil is fertile, and grows great gardens, and wildlife abounds. (the deer graze peacefully within 100 feet of me, and the birds land within arms length to encourage you to put out their seed. (no kidding! at least one).

Sounds like paradise? At this time of the year with our current cool summer it is!

At this time of the year the town shows beautifully, but come winter, when the leaves fall and the clutter becomes more apparent it can become depressing. However a lot of the older and poorly developed properties are cheap and ripe for redevelopment, already hooked up to water and sewer or on septics.

I know of one place with an older mobile and on about a half acre that can be optioned for under 100,000.

The town needs intelligent and progressive people (think green) who will give the place its due. Interested? This is a place where you can make a difference! Feel free to email me.

[Silverfall]

Originally Posted by patrickogrady

I'm planning on coming to Oregon to continue in psychiatric nursing. Salem has the State hospital which I understand will be rebuilt for 2009. I'm looking for affordable or best value housing options for that area. I hate being in a city, love being in the boonies, up to a point. Any suggestions anyone?

The soon to be razed and replaced hospital is located on center street. There are a lot of affordable homes within walking/biking distance of there. If you wanted a home to rent and be able to walk to work you could do that. Since there are older homes around the hospital area, some have been converted to duplexes (ie rent top floor, or rent bottom floor). Englewood, which is a nice older community is just a couple of blocks away.

If you didn't want to live around the mental hospital and want more small town atmosphere, then Monmouth and Independence are good choices for affordability, but you'd have to deal with traffic on the bridge and through downtown.

Jefferson would probably be your next best bet, maybe Turner, Aumsville or Stayton. They will all be short commutes into town. If you wanted small town, I'd probably stick to the south and east side towns.