Moving from Australia to Oregon ~ Grants Pass, Medford area (Bend: RV park, insurance)

[Thai]

Well, freedom, my husband is a general contractor with one worker, usually, and things are not good here on the I-80 corridor between Sacramento and SF, so we were thinking of a move to Grants Pass, as we saw lots of turn-around houses in the older area of town and lots of newer home areas, too. We took that to mean that real estate was doing well in GP, but it sounds like you're in a slump, too. Is that true? Would this be a bad time for a general contractor who does all his own work on a job to move to GP for work? Better to be pre-warned than make a move and be sorry and broke! We built an upscale spec house on five beautiful hillside acres on a new culdesac. It should have sold for around $1,200,000, our original asking price. We are now looking to unload it for $975,000, at a just barely break-even price, including our land and building costs. Others have had to do the same. We just couldn't hold on any longer with the huge debt load and interest payments we have every month. Would moving to GP be jumping out of the frying pan into the fire?
Thanks for the info. Your life in GP sounds great!

[freedom]

Originally Posted by Thai

Well, freedom, my husband is a general contractor with one worker, usually, and things are not good here on the I-80 corridor between Sacramento and SF, so we were thinking of a move to Grants Pass, as we saw lots of turn-around houses in the older area of town and lots of newer home areas, too. We took that to mean that real estate was doing well in GP, but it sounds like you're in a slump, too. Is that true? Would this be a bad time for a general contractor who does all his own work on a job to move to GP for work? Better to be pre-warned than make a move and be sorry and broke! We built an upscale spec house on five beautiful hillside acres on a new culdesac. It should have sold for around $1,200,000, our original asking price. We are now looking to unload it for $975,000, at a just barely break-even price, including our land and building costs. Others have had to do the same. We just couldn't hold on any longer with the huge debt load and interest payments we have every month. Would moving to GP be jumping out of the frying pan into the fire?
Thanks for the info. Your life in GP sounds great!

We are in a slump, but that means it is a good time to buy for the next run.
The prices were getting out of control, and the subs were so overworked that their ability to function was waning, and costs were rediculous.

Things have cooled and we are planning our next developments. We have picked up some bargains and hope to turn them in 09 after the election.
There will be a little bump this coming yr. , I hope in the spring. By then I figure the bottom will have been hit, inventories diminished and bargains will be few and far between.

It is much less expensive to live here than in the bay area or central CA. valley.

Sorry to hear about your loss, developing and building is hard work and its a drag to work for free, I've been there. If you can hold out, I think spring may bring a little bump. But you know your situation best.

Best wishes on your quest

freedom

[Thai]

Thanks for the update on the GP area, freedom. We had to sell because our credit cards and loans were maxed out, and the darned buyers knew we were over a barrel so they said they'd only go to $950,000 or they'd offer on another house with the same acreage in a less desirable area that was in good condition. We decided to cut our losses and take it. Not sure what comes next, remodels and whatever comes along for a while, I guess. I hear you about the bargains to be had, husband says the same thing.

[mdvaden]

We found the schools in Medford area to be as good as in Beaverton by Portland, if not even better for the overall educational environment. Grants Pass is good too.

I "hear" about crime, but never worry about it. Grew up around Portland, so Jackson County is kindergarten league compared to a big city for crime.

Need an acre?

We're selling an acre In Applegate Valley between Medford and Grants Pass. If you don't mind a fully restored 1976 manufactured in 2001 condition. All the way down to the wiring and plumbing. Just about new everything. Right on the bus route for the high school. And Ruch grade school is one of the finest places in the state for a child to go to grades 1 - 8.

I need the large population up north for my business niche, but other than that, enjoy this area very much. People are very friendly and down to earth. Basically, more people with good moral values.

If you've never been unemployed, you will do well here, as I'm the same way myself.

Grants Pass or Medford - either are fine. White City around here would be my last choice. Applegate Valley is a great living area in-between, with access to both cities.

[Hercumer]

Originally Posted by mike_down_under

G'day,

We have decided to move to Oregon, picking on the southern area around Grants Pass ~ Medford areas. I have never been there but love the scenery, I guess like any other tourist. It will still be a year or so away before we land but I'm looking for general good bad comments about the area. I'm a house builder here in oz & my wife has an accounting background but with no formal qualifications. I wouldn't mind a totally different change & have never been unemployed so I'm not too worried about getting work. Housing prices are about the same, but land is slightly higher. Overall southern Oregon seems to have a little better climate? We both don't like cities & prefer an acre or so out of town. We have 3 kids, 17,12 & 5. I lived in the US for about a year & never had a problem being aussie. Grants Pass is around the same size town we're we are at now, like any country there are the good & bad people but is it a friendly open town thinking we might end up around Grants Pass? Is there any obvious questions I missed?

cheers

Mike

Hi Mike,

We moved to Southern Oregon from West Virginia in 2005 (after two years of researching we want to retire to) and love the area. The climate for us is great. Hot in summer but not humid. Enough snow and rain in the winter but not enough to be a problem. We live in the Prospect area which some people here say is too far from Medford or Grants Pass. We have found the people here friendly and caring.

You are making a wise choice by moving here. The area is also very family friendly. Lots of activities for the entire family in Jackson and Josephine Counties.

Good Luck on your move.

[ConeyIsBabe]

In the Rogue Valley; you asked for the "worst" so here's my humble opinion: there is a shortage of funds for libraries and law enforcement in Jackson County and Josephine County. As a result, the libraries are CLOSED at the present time. There have been cutbacks in law enforcement service due to personnel shortage and lack of money. THINK ABOUT THAT! At a recent crime watch meeting it was suggested that people NOT count on a swift response time when calling the police for help; in other words..... we have to take control of the situation ourselves when faced with being victimized. THINK ABOUT THAT!

[Patrick D]

There's lots of beauty in the Grants Pass area. It's grown by leaps and bounds over the last 40 years. My parents grew up in the area. Check out Rogue River just south of Grants Pass, or head east toward Illinois Valley and Cave Junction.

[therustichillbilly]

I think you should try the surrounding areas. Medord & GP both have too much traffic, one-way streets and long lines. Check out Shady Cove and the surrounding area. The Rogue River flows right through town and the communnity is close, but there is still alot of privacy! The property values are going up, but still low in comparison to other areas and you can't beat the views. Wildlife is as close as your front door... I live off of Hwy 227, between Trail & Tiller - I'll never leave our mountain.

You can have Medford, Grants Pass and the other cities off the I-5 too much smog!

[mike_down_under]

Thanks for all the comments & will look at the other places mentioned. Still looking at real estate, there is just too much. If things go to plan we will fly out at xmas for a look see. Why winter?, rather see the worst then be sold by the "nice" view in spring. I've memorised every sq inch of google maps surrounding GP but it only shows so much.

[fatnfur]

I have dedicated myself to looking around the country to find a new home and an opportunity to make $ in residential
development. One thing I have learned is that the whole country is in a mess over the real estate market. Many areas had huge
price runups without the underlying fundamentals to support them. Even if you buy a forclosure 30% under market you still
might pay too much due to the 50% increase in 05 and 06. What many people are doing now is going into tax records and looking
at what was paid for a property and then adding a reasonable appreciation rate (7-12%) per year and making offers based on
that #. Bottom line is rapid appreciation has to find a balance either by price declines or stagnation, until the required
number of years pass to catch up with current price. Jobs and economic factors can sustain higher than normal price
appreciation in a given area, but runups for no reason can't be sustained. Take Bend Oregon for example, I looked at an in
town lot there listed for 220k. A realtor(not the listing agent) told me people were paying over 500k for similiar location
18 months ago. Bend got expensive and popular from cali migration not economic fundamentals so that market can't find it's
feet right now. Point is economic growth and jobs are a good indicator of value in a given market. The other thing I hold
true is if you love a place and it fits you, screw everything else. You don't want to spend 10 years of your life living in a
place you don't like just for money. Follow your heart and make it work.