Where are you going to be when the real estate bubble in the larger cities goes bust? Will you get out with your profits or will you go down with the ship?
A lot of people I talk to about the real estate price growth we've seen say, "If I sold, where would I put my profits?! Where could I buy another house for less?"
The easy answer is: Lots of places. (But you wouldn't want to live in most of them!) There are plenty of rural areas, especially here in the Pacific Northwest, that have relatively low prices, but it's usually because there aren't the job opportunities or amenities that exist in the more cosmopolitan cities.
What if you don't need a job? Say you live off your investments or have an online business or even a business that would benefit from being in a recreation-based economy, would that change your search criteria?
About 18 years ago I was seriously looking to move out of Eugene (OR) and find someplace with more sun during the many days that Eugene is socked in with fog. I wanted as much sun as I could get, but I didn't want to deal with cold and snow, like in Bend. So, I drove from the Coast (foggy in summer, very rainy in winter) to the crest of the Cascades and up and down the Willamette Valley. What I found was Oakridge, a depressed timber town about to lose its last lumber mill - but it and the surrounding forest was in a beautiful setting!
Oakridge has come a long way since 1989. It's got a growing reputation as a mountain biking haven, with the basic infrastructure needed to build mtn. biking, road biking, hiking, and kayaking into a major attraction.
But Oakridge is only beginning to catch on and there lies the opportunity for those who 1) enjoy cycling, whether on or off-road, 2) either don't need a job or have the skills and capital to start a business to capitalize on the opportunities here, or 3) have some housing profits they'd like to roll over into a cheap market that has some growth potential.
Be advised that Oakridge is not for everyone, but then, we don't have room for "everyone." This is a city of roughly 3700 people, with some outlying areas containing another 1300, and it's all surrounded by National Forest lands. It's a valley with 5 streams converging to form the Upper Willamette River. Being mostly Forest Service land, the forest is lush and green with lots of spectacular old growth and healthy second growth trees. It has an airport and a rail line and a major highway that allows scenic access to Central Oregon and northern California, as well as Eugene, home of the University of Oregon (45 minute drive to the West).
Oakridge can never grow too large because it's surrounded by a tight Urban Growth Boundary and the USFS lands. This presents an opportunity for those pioneers who stake a claim here, because when the already-tight real estate market is discovered by the many recreationists who will eventually move here, prices can only go up.
If you want to see some local properties, go to www.OakridgeCascade.com . There are still some riverfront lots available and other buildable view locations, if you want to build to spec. There are lots of commercial highway frontage opportunities, too. I know of one or more that aren't listed yet.
The Oakridge City Council has become pretty friendly to the growing number of mtn. bikers here. The Chamber of Commerce Exec is a mtn. biker and event promoter. There is a well-maintained local ski area just 30 miles up the mountain at Willamette Pass. The town has a nice new outdoor amphitheater in a fine tree-shaded park by the river, with singletrack trails leading off in all directions.
A new event that might give you a taste of the area's fantastic trail riding opportunities is the www.MtBikeOregon.com Some great pix of the area on their Web site, too.
If you wait too long, I predict two things are going to happen:
#1) The real estate bubble will burst due to increasing interest rates and
overextended buyers, making it hard for you to find a buyer for
your present home (and walk away with big profits)
#2) Oakridge will continue to gel into a very attractive place to live and
enjoy a variety of outdoor recreation - and it will no longer be such
a bargain.
For the right person or family, this is a great opportunity to live in a beautiful place (with 300+ miles of local singletrack), help shape the growth and direction of the community, and watch your housing and other real estate investments grow in value.
It's worth checking out, don't you think?
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
What do YOU want Oakridge to be?
Oakridge is going to change. The question is, "How?" Will it change in a way mountain bikers will like - or will it continue to drift along with small improvements fighting the downward pull of high unemployment and lack of business investment? I don't think that's in anybody's best interest.
What would you like Oakridge to become? What services would you like to find here when you come to ride? We've got the bare essentials: bike shop, internet cafe' w/ microbrews and good java and food, gas stations, grocery store for supplying camping trips, and two coffee kiosks, art gallery.
What if there were enough cool jobs here that more cyclists could move here (and not starve)? What if a major bike manufacturer had a test facility here - you know, for R&D. Or a kayak manufacturer?
How about anything to do with programming? We've got Broadband and potentially WiFi for the whole valley, I've been told. Small home businesses in the Web design area, photography, video production, "fill in the blank" could be here and ride every spare moment instead of fighting traffic and driving for 2+ hours to get to some good trails.
Who wouldn't like to live and work in a place that has some of the best riding in the country?! What if Oakridge also had more of the amenities we all like (natural food co-op, more restaurant choices, more live music - maybe some big name acts). What if all the town looked good and the people were happily employed and comfortable?
My Point: I'm proposing a grassroots effort to recruit green businesses and people who see what Oakridge/Westfir could be and invite them to move to Oakridge. I know it's happening already (slowly), but wouldn't it be fun to take charge of the direction of Oakridge's future?
Imagine what a few new businesses (it's an Enterprise Zone, so there are incentives) and maybe 500 mtn. bikers could do to change the outlook for this town. The blight problem would quickly be solved. Just "vote with your feet!"
A good site for relocation information: www.Oregon Prospector.com
################################################
Why do I care? I moved to Oakridge in 1989, seeing potential and beauty when the closure of the mill was understood to mean the death of the town. I was on the Lane County committee (along with Tim Kaiser, Dave Linsdell, Don Person, and Dan Geiger and others ) that brainstormed possible ways to breathe life into the community: starting a mtn. bike festival and bike tours of the area were mentioned. I took the idea to the Chamber of Commerce and - after overcoming a lot of opposition - I became the promoter of what became the Oakridge Fat Tire Festival, growing it from 52 riders to about 1500 riders and family in 4 years.
A lot more needs to be done so that the brave pioneers like the folks at the Trailhead Cafe and Willamette Mountain Mercantile and Oregon Adventures have enough business to keep the doors open and not wonder "what the heck did we get ourselves into?"
The answer is not to rely on pass-through traffic or people accidentally hearing about this undiscovered little mtn. bike heaven, but to do some coordinated Web promo to invite the right people to move to Oakridge/Westfir before the homesites get priced out of reach by an older generation of retirees. The answer is to recruit a fresh crop of citizens who will support local hip businesses, in addition to whatever seasonal pass-through skiers, boarders, bikers, etc. come through.
And, of course, events like Mt. Bike Oregon and the Fat Tire Festival and the Creampuff are a great way to expose the area to poor trail-starved citydwellers. Local merchants are appreciative of the dollars they bring and we all enjoy the excuse for a party.
In an area surrounded by National Forest and a limited Urban Growth Boundary, I'm not worried about the town getting too big. But it can get priced out of range of many younger folks. Obviously, Oakridge is not for everyone, but if you want it to be here for you and made the way you want it, I'm suggesting a grassroots email/viral campaign to move a few green businesses (especially bike-related) to Oakridge, along with about 500 nice people.
If you love Oakridge and want to make it healthier, tell someone you think might like to live or do business here. Thank you!
What would you like Oakridge to become? What services would you like to find here when you come to ride? We've got the bare essentials: bike shop, internet cafe' w/ microbrews and good java and food, gas stations, grocery store for supplying camping trips, and two coffee kiosks, art gallery.
What if there were enough cool jobs here that more cyclists could move here (and not starve)? What if a major bike manufacturer had a test facility here - you know, for R&D. Or a kayak manufacturer?
How about anything to do with programming? We've got Broadband and potentially WiFi for the whole valley, I've been told. Small home businesses in the Web design area, photography, video production, "fill in the blank" could be here and ride every spare moment instead of fighting traffic and driving for 2+ hours to get to some good trails.
Who wouldn't like to live and work in a place that has some of the best riding in the country?! What if Oakridge also had more of the amenities we all like (natural food co-op, more restaurant choices, more live music - maybe some big name acts). What if all the town looked good and the people were happily employed and comfortable?
My Point: I'm proposing a grassroots effort to recruit green businesses and people who see what Oakridge/Westfir could be and invite them to move to Oakridge. I know it's happening already (slowly), but wouldn't it be fun to take charge of the direction of Oakridge's future?
Imagine what a few new businesses (it's an Enterprise Zone, so there are incentives) and maybe 500 mtn. bikers could do to change the outlook for this town. The blight problem would quickly be solved. Just "vote with your feet!"
A good site for relocation information: www.Oregon Prospector.com
################################################
Why do I care? I moved to Oakridge in 1989, seeing potential and beauty when the closure of the mill was understood to mean the death of the town. I was on the Lane County committee (along with Tim Kaiser, Dave Linsdell, Don Person, and Dan Geiger and others ) that brainstormed possible ways to breathe life into the community: starting a mtn. bike festival and bike tours of the area were mentioned. I took the idea to the Chamber of Commerce and - after overcoming a lot of opposition - I became the promoter of what became the Oakridge Fat Tire Festival, growing it from 52 riders to about 1500 riders and family in 4 years.
A lot more needs to be done so that the brave pioneers like the folks at the Trailhead Cafe and Willamette Mountain Mercantile and Oregon Adventures have enough business to keep the doors open and not wonder "what the heck did we get ourselves into?"
The answer is not to rely on pass-through traffic or people accidentally hearing about this undiscovered little mtn. bike heaven, but to do some coordinated Web promo to invite the right people to move to Oakridge/Westfir before the homesites get priced out of reach by an older generation of retirees. The answer is to recruit a fresh crop of citizens who will support local hip businesses, in addition to whatever seasonal pass-through skiers, boarders, bikers, etc. come through.
And, of course, events like Mt. Bike Oregon and the Fat Tire Festival and the Creampuff are a great way to expose the area to poor trail-starved citydwellers. Local merchants are appreciative of the dollars they bring and we all enjoy the excuse for a party.
In an area surrounded by National Forest and a limited Urban Growth Boundary, I'm not worried about the town getting too big. But it can get priced out of range of many younger folks. Obviously, Oakridge is not for everyone, but if you want it to be here for you and made the way you want it, I'm suggesting a grassroots email/viral campaign to move a few green businesses (especially bike-related) to Oakridge, along with about 500 nice people.
If you love Oakridge and want to make it healthier, tell someone you think might like to live or do business here. Thank you!
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Favorite Bike Links
http://www.brewersunion.blogspot.com A real English-style Pub smack in the middle of downtown Oakridge! With live music! and Real Cask-conditioned Ale made on premises.
http://www.cascadecreampuff.com/ Online home for the Cascade Creampuff 100 ultra endurance event in Oakridge
http://www.backcountryproductions.com/ Great Photography & Video of the area
http://www.disciplesofdirt.org/ Riding/trail maintainance club (GREAT PHOTOS & Video of the Oakridge area!)
http://link.tortoiseandharedesigns.com/ Bike Blog Directory for Oregon
http://www.mtbikeoregon.com/ Very cool event in Oakridge this summer!
http://www.oregon-adventures.com/ Oakridge's own tour guide, event organizer and shuttle service.
http://www.oakridgefattire.com/ Oakridge's first mtn. bike festival
More to come!
http://www.cascadecreampuff.com/ Online home for the Cascade Creampuff 100 ultra endurance event in Oakridge
http://www.backcountryproductions.com/ Great Photography & Video of the area
http://www.disciplesofdirt.org/ Riding/trail maintainance club (GREAT PHOTOS & Video of the Oakridge area!)
http://link.tortoiseandharedesigns.com/ Bike Blog Directory for Oregon
http://www.mtbikeoregon.com/ Very cool event in Oakridge this summer!
http://www.oregon-adventures.com/ Oakridge's own tour guide, event organizer and shuttle service.
http://www.oakridgefattire.com/ Oakridge's first mtn. bike festival
More to come!
Monday, March 06, 2006
Shall I take out the mtn. bike or the road bike today?
This site is for all the cycling junkies who'd like to live in the perfect place - a town that can be built around your wishes. Whether you want to come to visit or move here, you'll find info on the best trails and road rides in this unique area right here. If you just want to daydream and look at pix and video footage, it'll be here.
My deep motive is to attract people who love the outdoors to Oakridge, so we can help make over the city and make it the ideal mountain/road/ski/river playground. If you can bring your own IT job or recreation-related business, Oakridge welcomes you. If you, like me, like to work from your home and go for a bike ride right out your back door anytime you feel like it, you need to check out Oakridge.
Mountain bike singletrack trails are our claim to fame, with 300-500 miles worth within 25 miles. Much of the riding is among giant oldgrowth forests with virtually no-one on the trails. We are fortunate to have a very supportive National Forest and local Middle Fork Ranger District. You won't believe it if you're used to user conflicts and closures!
We have the necessary bike shop, hip cafe w/ great java and microbrews, and art gallery with the assorted motels from super inexpensive to Best Western with jacuzzi and pool. Good WiFi and DSL access. Low housing costs, too! What else do you need?
Oh yeah, and we have some of the top mountain bike races in the State and, for the top endurance racers, in the country.
The weather is mild, so you can bike year 'round or go skiing and boarding at our nearby Willamette Pass ski area. They offer lift access to their trails in the summer months. And FREERIDING is coming this summer!
Many famous racers have visited Oakridge and have given their blessings.
My connection is in being the promoter during the first few years of the growth of the Oakridge Fat Tire Festival, when it grew to be the largest mtn. bike festival in the state. I'd like to see the town really bloom into the coolest place a cyclist could find themselves.
The city of Oakridge has an industrial park where the old lumber mill used to be. It might be the ideal place for manufacturing/designing/testing any type of outdoor recreation gear. There are trails running from it in several directions, great paved forest roads with little traffic for road biking, and great kayaking or fishing streams a stone's throw away. I'm sure the City could make any manufacturer that creates some jobs a sweet deal with tax breaks and other incentives. (Call 'em: 541-782-2258).
If you want more excitement or different trails to ride, Eugene is 45 minutes away; Bend is about 100 scenic miles away.
Oakridge has the potential to become a scene like Bend, except it hasn't been discovered yet and priced up by developers. And, although Bend is beautiful in its own way, most who have ridden both areas prefer Oakridge trails. It's much greener here.
So consider this blog an invitation to come enjoy Oakridge. There's room for more people to share this special place. It's your chance to make a city in the image of what you'd like it to be. A little investment capital could go a long way at this point. And it would be fun to have more people who share a love of the outdoors to party with!
Lots more to come - I just want to kick off this blog. I'll start inviting some friends to add content: photos, video, and trail and event descriptions, maps.... all the stuff you'll need to plan your adventure in Oakridge, Oregon.
My deep motive is to attract people who love the outdoors to Oakridge, so we can help make over the city and make it the ideal mountain/road/ski/river playground. If you can bring your own IT job or recreation-related business, Oakridge welcomes you. If you, like me, like to work from your home and go for a bike ride right out your back door anytime you feel like it, you need to check out Oakridge.
Mountain bike singletrack trails are our claim to fame, with 300-500 miles worth within 25 miles. Much of the riding is among giant oldgrowth forests with virtually no-one on the trails. We are fortunate to have a very supportive National Forest and local Middle Fork Ranger District. You won't believe it if you're used to user conflicts and closures!
We have the necessary bike shop, hip cafe w/ great java and microbrews, and art gallery with the assorted motels from super inexpensive to Best Western with jacuzzi and pool. Good WiFi and DSL access. Low housing costs, too! What else do you need?
Oh yeah, and we have some of the top mountain bike races in the State and, for the top endurance racers, in the country.
The weather is mild, so you can bike year 'round or go skiing and boarding at our nearby Willamette Pass ski area. They offer lift access to their trails in the summer months. And FREERIDING is coming this summer!
Many famous racers have visited Oakridge and have given their blessings.
My connection is in being the promoter during the first few years of the growth of the Oakridge Fat Tire Festival, when it grew to be the largest mtn. bike festival in the state. I'd like to see the town really bloom into the coolest place a cyclist could find themselves.
The city of Oakridge has an industrial park where the old lumber mill used to be. It might be the ideal place for manufacturing/designing/testing any type of outdoor recreation gear. There are trails running from it in several directions, great paved forest roads with little traffic for road biking, and great kayaking or fishing streams a stone's throw away. I'm sure the City could make any manufacturer that creates some jobs a sweet deal with tax breaks and other incentives. (Call 'em: 541-782-2258).
If you want more excitement or different trails to ride, Eugene is 45 minutes away; Bend is about 100 scenic miles away.
Oakridge has the potential to become a scene like Bend, except it hasn't been discovered yet and priced up by developers. And, although Bend is beautiful in its own way, most who have ridden both areas prefer Oakridge trails. It's much greener here.
So consider this blog an invitation to come enjoy Oakridge. There's room for more people to share this special place. It's your chance to make a city in the image of what you'd like it to be. A little investment capital could go a long way at this point. And it would be fun to have more people who share a love of the outdoors to party with!
Lots more to come - I just want to kick off this blog. I'll start inviting some friends to add content: photos, video, and trail and event descriptions, maps.... all the stuff you'll need to plan your adventure in Oakridge, Oregon.
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