McMinnville, Oregon (Portland, Salem, Corvallis: appointed, renting, neighborhoods)

[Koale]

Originally Posted by patches403

What's your budget and why are you looking at McMinnville? Is this a retirement move or would one or both of you need to find jobs once you move?

Can't you just answer the question?
K

[boulder2015]

Originally Posted by SWCM7950

Not sure what everyone is looking at but the rental market in the Portland and surrounding area is terrible! $2k will not get you a very nice rental house. Mostly outdated crapshacks from
what Ive seen. There is very little for sale that's worth the inflated prices that area is asking. It's a lovely place. For sure. Maybe realtor.com is a bad source for finding rentals but on that site there is hardly anything.

I dont think that would apply so much in mcminnville? It is a rough commute (45 miles with much of that a slow crawl through suburban surface streets), so not really part of pdx metro market. Not sure what the best site is for rentals in a region like that, but on zillow i cant find a rental in mac or carltom for over 2000. Not sure if mac houses on craigslist are included in pdx or salem sections, kind of a grey area and not that close to either. Yes pdx is getting pricey but the whole region isnt turning into ca THAT fast. And the ones in carlton right at that price point look perfectly decent to me.

Houses For Rent in McMinnville OR - 4 Homes | Zillow

[boulder2015]

I think the biggest problem for the op is going to be lack of supply rather than price? Just not many places open right in mac that i can find. Maybe worth living in a nearby community until ready to buy? Either way heres a decent place for under 1600. Looks safe..

https://portland.craigslist.org/yam/apa/5567528308.html

[Hazel W]

Talking about McMinnville, several people are talking about McMinnville in relation to Portland. I thought it was closer to Salem. What is the difference in regard to needs for retirees - medical care, transportation, shopping, etc. Thank you.

[American Expat]

Originally Posted by Hazel W

Talking about McMinnville, several people are talking about McMinnville in relation to Portland. I thought it was closer to Salem. What is the difference in regard to needs for retirees - medical care, transportation, shopping, etc. Thank you.

You quickly get into the Portland suburbs from McMinnville but you are correct in that Salem is also close by. We lived there for 3 years and I would say some people preferred to go to Salem and others preferred to go to Portland. Portland is where most of the jobs are other than state workers in Salem. As a retiree, you can access either depending if you want a smaller quieter city (Salem) or the big city (Portland).

[Hazel W]

Originally Posted by American Expat

You quickly get into the Portland suburbs from McMinnville but you are correct in that Salem is also close by. We lived there for 3 years and I would say some people preferred to go to Salem and others preferred to go to Portland. Portland is where most of the jobs are other than state workers in Salem. As a retiree, you can access either depending if you want a smaller quieter city (Salem) or the big city (Portland).

Ah! All right. Thanks. A friend is retiring and, looking for a nice play to move to, she thinks she likes McMinnville. So, I was checking to see what you all have to say.

[American Expat]

Originally Posted by Hazel W

Ah! All right. Thanks. A friend is retiring and, looking for a nice play to move to, she thinks she likes McMinnville. So, I was checking to see what you all have to say.

It's a gorgeous small town and with the added bonus of access to Portland, Salem and the coast not far away. I would recommend it to anyone that is okay with the gray winters of the PNW.

[Hazel W]

Originally Posted by American Expat

It's a gorgeous small town and with the added bonus of access to Portland, Salem and the coast not far away. I would recommend it to anyone that is okay with the gray winters of the PNW.

That is the impression I am getting. Of course, she is going to have to decide to like rain. Or, is she? Seems my friend who used to live in Rogue River said most of the rain falls west of the mountain line. We shall see. What she is going to really like is driving distance to the coast. That is one of her priorities. (California, born and bred.) I told her she'd have the Mississippi/Missouri confluence here but that doesn't do it. No waves? Big, though.

I know Oregon is beautiful. So, I just wish her luck. Thank you for reply.

[Silverfall]

Originally Posted by Hazel W

Talking about McMinnville, several people are talking about McMinnville in relation to Portland. I thought it was closer to Salem. What is the difference in regard to needs for retirees - medical care, transportation, shopping, etc. Thank you.

McMinneville is a really nice smaller town in the middle of wine country. It takes about 30-40 minutes to get to Salem if needed for a specialist. Mac has a hospital though if health care is a concern. I think Mac has everything a retiree would want on a daily basis. As for public transportation, Yamhill County has a bus system. I know you can go from Mac to Newberg on it.

[Hazel W]

Originally Posted by Silverfall

McMinneville is a really nice smaller town in the middle of wine country. It takes about 30-40 minutes to get to Salem if needed for a specialist. Mac has a hospital though if health care is a concern. I think Mac has everything a retiree would want on a daily basis. As for public transportation, Yamhill County has a bus system. I know you can go from Mac to Newberg on it.

Sounds like my kind of place. I'll tell her. She still has about six months to go. Plenty of time - maybe.

Thanks