Montague? (Redding, Yreka, Etna: real estate, house, buy)

[bigcats]

I'm looking in the next year or two to leave the Bay Area where I currently live and buy a home in a small mountain town...I'm considering the Sierra foothills as well as the Mt. Shasta area. Recently I've been intrigued by real estate I found outside Montague CA, but I wondered what it's like there.

I've spent quite a bit of time vacationing in the Mt. Shasta area, and really love the terrain. I don't think I ever passed through Montague itself.

Basically, I'm looking for a place where I can have between 1-5 acres and a small house for just me (single female) and no one will bother me about a bunch of cats and a few goats and chickens. I want to be able to get supplies fairly easily, but don't mind driving 30 minutes or so (Yreka looks fine to me). I keep to myself mostly so don't care much about the social life. I expect to see a lot of hunters and traditional rural-type people but it'd be nice if there are a few people more like me (vegetarian, liberalish, etc).

I'm a teacher so it'd also depend on getting a school district to hire me and commuting 45 minutes - 1 hour or less. Aiming to spend not more than 200,000 on the property.

I don't mind a little snow, would rather avoid the high heat of the area directly around Redding...

I like libraries but am satisfied with what I found in Yreka and Mt. Shasta.

First of all - how is it pronounced??

Secondly, any comments on the fit between me and the area?

Thanks.

[DMenscha]

I've lived a major portion of my life in rural communities in CA. You won't see hunters very often (except when they're in season) and I have no idea what "rural-type" people are. If you mean generally friendly, yeah you'll meet them. If you mean survivalists with a portion of their dental work missing, yeah you'll meet them too. Supplies? you mean going shopping for food? Well we're not that backwoods anymore.

Housing wise I can only speak for the 3 counties closest to me, 200K is doable, but you'll likely have some maintenance to do. Shasta and Siskyou County should be affordable out away from the "big cities".

I had a buddy from Fort Jones who called it Mont-a-cue.

Good Luck

[bigcats]

Cool, thanks. I'll get a good look at the town next time I get up to the area.

Supplies - yeah, groceries, pet food, clothes, etc. But I know Yreka has all of that and Medford and Redding are there for the big stuff. Looks like there's even a vet right in the little metropolis of Montague.

What is Fort Jones like?

[DMenscha]

Originally Posted by bigcats

What is Fort Jones like?

I have no idea, I just knew a guy from there a long time ago. I thinks it's uber-small.

[whitetailnights]

Bigcats - I just saw your post - are you still looking for a place in the vicinity of Montague?

[lalawookie]

mon ta geew is nice grandparents have property there as do other family fort jones is smaller you blink and your in etna it is nice as well safer than yreka or dunsmuir quite alot of deer in ft jones but the people in both places tend to be nice and friendly. they generally mind ther own buisness yet help when in need. i miss it.

[prairie guy]

I think Montague or any of the rural areas south of Yreka is what you are looking for. Mt. Shasta City has a number of liberalish types--it would not be difficult to get connected. But even non liberal types will be fine with you, it's not Deliverance. Sure, there'll be a few surly people, but that's everywhere. As for teaching--it's tight nowadays, but there are plenty of school districts within 45 minutes of Montague, when there is an opening and with you already local, that should give you an advantage. Plenty of stores for "supplies" just don't gripe about lack of Home Depot variety. Fort Jones and Etna (Scott Valley) are beautiful areas and towns, but to the west and "over the hill" from Yreka and the main population of the county, making it more difficult to commute to a job outside Scott Valley, especially in winter.

[his_little_one]

wondering if you made the move and what you've discovered ... looking for rural property ourselves to homestead