Grants pass problems (Roseburg, Lebanon, Bandon: low income, real estate, loft)

[Tlehman21]

Hello, I've made a couple threads about GP in the past and was set on moving there. I've been house hunting the past 3 months and have visited to look at homes 3 times now with no luck. One major issue thats getting me discouraged is the rural community.The more areas i drive around the more trashy property's i see, very low kept with numerous trailers and broken down cars everywhere. The worst part is even looking at houses around the 450-550 k you will have them as your neighbor or in the neighborhood.

Whats the cause of this and if wanting to move to southern Oregon is this what i will just have to accept>? Its really is to bad because everything else I love about Gp, the weather, scenery, location. Im not trying to categorize the whole area but seems a large majority in the rural area's have very low income .

The other issue real estate prices are crazy high but all the potential places to move to I've found are even more then Gp. Im looking for a nice house with 2-5 acres. Roseburg is reasonable priced but the area looked worst off then Gp as far as economy goes.




Id possibly consider moving somewhere else that gets a little more rain that has a nicer community so please leave any suggestions.

Thanks

[Silverfall]

GP has a poverty rate just under 25% so it is one of the higher poverty rates for Oregon.

I can say that if you want acreage you will have to accept that you can have a nice house next to a trashed out house unless you can pay more to live in an acreage subdivision. That is true everywhere in my area.

[PNW to NEPA]

It's just the nature of rural places in many areas, not just GP, not just Oregon. If you are willing to pay more, you can move to the Applegate, for example. It's very near GP and beautiful, but very expensive. If you're looking for a rural area that is less developed and has more affluent occupants, you're going to find it where the low income people have been bought out or forced out by wealthier people with horses or dreams of running a winery or that sort of thing.

And honestly, it's not different from urban areas. If you're looking for condo or a loft in a city, the pleasant neighborhoods where the wealthy cluster are going to be really nice and really spendy. If you want a great place for less, you move to 'transitional' neighborhoods and the immediate environs will have elements of poverty and neglect.

Also, will add, being low income and having old cars on your property doesn't make a person a bad neighbor. Sometimes when you have very little you tend to hang on to things you'd be better off letting go of. Still that person may have a kind heart and be there for you when you need a friendly neighbor. If it's a visual thing for you, as in you just find seeing evidence of poverty to be depressing, then you will just have to hold out and hope you find that *one* special place that's both affordable and not adjacent to more distressed places. Josephine County is gorgeous and also economically depressed. It's also resistant to change for a variety of reasons and suffers from the ills of many rural places; lack of opportunity, generational poverty, drug abuse. Grants Pass proper, the city of GP, is probably the best place in Josephine County to live. Better services, better immediate economy... generally a nice place in my opinion. Outside the city you deal with rural county issues. There are more economically disadvantaged people living there because it's cheaper.

I get you're looking for something in the middle --not super spendy and exclusive but not situated among impoverished people either. I think in desirable places like a thriving city or a rural area with great natural beauty like southern OR, it's quite challenging to find that middle place. Have you considered expanding your search to rural areas of Jackson County? Likely even in the less affluent areas it will be more expensive than Josephine County, but you might have better luck finding the middle ground. Ruch? Buncom? Pinehurst?

[gray horse]

Originally Posted by PNW to NEPA

Also, will add, being low income and having old cars on your property doesn't make a person a bad neighbor. Sometimes when you have very little you tend to hang on to things you'd be better off letting go of. Still that person may have a kind heart and be there for you when you need a friendly neighbor.

^^^This is truth. I have lived next to some gorgeous farms that were owned by adults that were given the money by their parents, and were the most obnoxious / arrogant / evil people I have met. I'd rather have a nice country family next to me, no matter what they have in their yard. Also, those folks with tractors and cars in their yards, can often and will help you in a pinch with any farm emergencies or mechanicaal problems.

[eureka1]

Grants Pass= ugly town in a beautiful vallley.

[Cloudy Dayz]

Unfortunately Oregon is filled with people who think that clearing forest land to build junkyards is a good use for the land, and there doesn't seem to be a lot of regulations to prevent them from doing it. Personally I don't waste a lot of time complaining about it. Because apparently that is the way they have lived their entire lives, and there is probably nothing I'm going to say to change their minds. Anyway what do I know, I'm just an invader from California, who doesn't understand the importance of cutting down these pesty trees to make room for beautiful junk cars. LOL

[Metlakatla]

Where is this, Cloudy? I've been looking for a classic Ford pickup.

[Cloudy Dayz]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

Where is this, Cloudy? I've been looking for a classic Ford pickup.

Almost anywhere in Oregon. Just drive around and look for land with junk vehicles on it.

[Metlakatla]

Originally Posted by Cloudy Dayz

Almost anywhere in Oregon. Just drive around and look for land with junk vehicles on it.

I saw one in Bandon the other day.

At least you're headed in the right direction

[Tlehman21]

Originally Posted by Silverfall

GP has a poverty rate just under 25% so it is one of the higher poverty rates for Oregon.

I can say that if you want acreage you will have to accept that you can have a nice house next to a trashed out house unless you can pay more to live in an acreage subdivision. That is true everywhere in my area.

i see, where in your area are you talking about? i was considering other area's that thought may be better like Lebanon or Mcminnville . Haven't visited those areas yet but trying to find mid sized town 15k- 50k thats with an hour of major shopping. do these area's have the same issue im talking about?