Posted on 06/03/2012 9:38:51 PM PDT by ChocChipCookie
Our family is considering a possible move and we're looking at Oregon and central-northern Idaho. A friend lives in Bend, Oregon, and we'll be checking out that area next month.
I'd love to hear about specific areas of Oregon and Idaho to avoid, what the current job and housing markets are like. Husband is an electrical contractor with 17+ years experience in commercial, residential, and light industrial.
Thanks in advance.
Hey, who knows until you do it.
Life is fun, if you want it to be.
Bend is a very nice area, but not the place to start a business right now. Texas is the place to be.
Live in Vancouver, WA and shop in Portland.
I grew up in rural Oregon, and while I loved it, I’d try Idaho because Portland and Eugene have something close to a stranglehold on the state government.
Remember this beautiful state is run by marxists and fools, esp. in Portland, Jihad Central for the Leftcoast. Wouldn’t trust their police at all. The chief of police is an idiot. The governors usually have been left of Stalin, some of the colleges are thoroughly infiltrated by communists/marxists/socialists, esp. Reed College.
I would also check the crime statistics for whatever city you are interested in living in. Some might be really nice places to live and work, but make sure before you jump.
Remember, this is a Democratic outpost of the PC and leftism so if you have another opinion, you are screwed.
I highly recommend that if you are interested in Oregon, you spend a weekend in Portland or Salem. The city of Portland has the most influence on where the entire state is going. I have spent a lot of time in Oregon due to the fact that half of my biological family lives there. Both Portland and Salem are infested with Libs. The rest of the state is fairly conservative but they don’t have the votes to do much. I see Oregon being very similar to California in a few years.
It's semi-arrid, it can easily reach 100 in the summer, and it can get really cold in the winter.
Economically, eastern Washington and eastern Oregon have been hit hard by the Great Recession.
Seattle, and Portland to a lesser extent, have both shown considerable economic improvement, but we are still well off the boom years of 2005-2008.
I live in Portland and love it here...well except for when I get tired of the weather...but other than that it’s great. However, carefully check the job situation. Bend has better weather but I suspect the business situation there is worse than Portland.
Idaho might actually be better...red state and not so wet.
My brother in law is an electrician in Bend and he is barely getting enough work to pay the bills right now. Central Oregon is beautiful but the economy completely sucks.
Vancouver, WA is a great area as well and by living (and working) in SW Washington you can avoid an income tax while being able to shop tax free in Portland. We enjoyed living in Clark County.
If you have the choice, Texas is the place to be. We haven’t been here long but we absolutely love it down here!
THe Bend area had unemployment of around 20 percent last summer. But instead of Bend, check out Redmond, just 16 miles north there on 97. A nice central hub.
Unless things have shifted greatly over the past 20 years, Eugene is a lot worse than Salem (politicians excepted). Otherwise, I think your analysis is too optimistic—far more than having the most influence, the liberal areas have control. f you look at election results on close ballot initiatives, you can see a pattern of a few populated counties outvoting the rest—the Portland area and Lane county swamping the others.
Much better area for survival than Phoenix. Water water ever where! Good Luck!
The state government of Idaho has done a terrific job of staying on budget and the north central area (Lewiston-Coeur d’Alene) is a very nice area. The job market is pretty bad there though and almost all of the construction work has stopped with the bad economy. I would recommend you look at the Coeur d’Alene area and I travel frequently through the entire region. It is a wonderful little city with all the amenities with a big dose of beautiful scenery.
Like someone else said, the leftists in Portland own the whole state of Oregon just like the Seattle/Olympia corridor owns the whole state of Washington.
Not to dissuade you, but given the option again, I would have moved to someplace with a more vibrant economy.
Other than the gun laws, which are always under siege by the marxtards, and the natural scenery, can’t really say I love this state. I’t be better here if I was confident in my ability to find work. Your mileage may vary.
On the other hand, there’s other states and places that are far, far worse.
I love Oregon. We live in the Southern part, Grants Pass.
DW and I are both retired and have a reasonable income. This means we don’t have to look for jobs, and life is good.
But, if you need to find work, there is almost none in the construction business.
Head for Texas if you are still of working age.
“Like someone else said, the leftists in Portland own the whole state of Oregon just like the Seattle/Olympia corridor owns the whole state of Washington.”
Maybe someday the ‘rightist’s’ in cities around the country will figure out a way to ‘change’ from bending over for their libtard neighbors PC drivel to simply stating/telling the truth or the insufferable/impossible task of educating a libtard neighbor.
New Orleans has been on a tear with new public construction and reconstruction of existing facilities. Yet to come are two major hospitals along with private construction of new apartments and businesses around the new complex. The trick is getting hired by the companies putting up these buildings. Residing on the northshore puts you in one of the most conservative regions of the US.
http://www.mclno.org/mclno/menu/
http://www.neworleans.va.gov/Overall_Campus_View.asp
Avoid Portlandia
“The trick is getting hired by the companies putting up these buildings.”
My understanding of the “trick” to getting hired in New Orleans to put up one of these new buildings is to have no documentation.
The idea of liberal utopia dictated from the big cities and college towns won’t end until they run out of other peoples money.
They are getting pretty close here in WA. We are taxed to death and they are flirting with candybar taxes, well water taxes, and other crap to keep the inflated salaries of state workers and the progressive programs they run going. It is pretty ridiculous and definitely not sustainable.
My understanding of the “trick” to getting hired in New Orleans to put up one of these new buildings is to have no documentation.
Or be a minority like Elizabeth Warren.
“Avoid Portlandia”
Add “Berzerkley”, “San Fran”, “Olympitardia”, “Seattle”...
I second that opinion. I'm a Mom & Pop contractor who moved my business to Texas from California six years ago, and I can tell you for a fact that your hubby will do a lot better here, than in god-forsaken, uber-liberal Oregon.
If you can get past the bugs and the heat in the summertime, you'll do well here. In time, you'll wonder why in the hell you didn't move here sooner.
“Or be a minority like Elizabeth Warren.”
LOL
The architecture is sort of pre war small town, lot of homes look like doublewide trailers even though they are not. Townhouses remind me of old army barracks, nothing like Southern California, but weather is much milder than the desert. Green Mountains and Snow all around, beautiful views, small town atmosphere.
No sales tax, but a whopping 10% state income tax.
Oregon state income taxes are among the highest around. Low vehicle registration fees are an offset.
You live in Oregon
"Our family is considering a possible move and we're looking at Oregon and central-northern Idaho. A friend lives in Bend, Oregon, and we'll be checking out that area next month.
I'd love to hear about specific areas of Oregon and Idaho to avoid, what the current job and housing markets are like. Husband is an electrical contractor with 17+ years experience in commercial, residential, and light industrial."
"Thanks in advance."
I’ve heard property taxes are high???
For a real hopping state, try North Dakota. Something like 2% unemployment, and very well-paying jobs begging to be had. Super cheap housing and great politically. Problem is, it's North Dakota.
Bare in mind that it does not take to much to go all the way... once you have slipped over to the dark side....
You must not live in Eastern Wa. I do and this is what is happening here. Tri-Cities fastest growth in US
Western WA and Western Or are very liberal but East of the Cascades are pretty much conservative. Also WA has no state income tax where Oregon and Idaho do.
Renting so don't now. Wife and I are retired so we are renting a nice Duplex, because we don't want to try and keep a place up. Eat Sleep and FreeRepublic, bout sums up my life, had to give up poker which is ok since people started beating me like my cards were face up.
Over to you.
You've read comments from a lot of people warning you about Oregon (and Washington). They are right. All the politics & votes lie in the areas like Portland & Eugene (Seattle and Tacoma). Their state politics are a liberal mess because of it. Living in the more conservative east side might give you some solace, but the bottom line is state politics will override most everything. Especially if times get more difficult.
You have also thought the Idaho panhandle would be a great place. Idaho's a great state with adults in charge of the state's budget. Unfortunately, like many other areas, it may be difficult to find employment in your trade. There are a lot of local electrical contractors with deep experience that are struggling to keep food on the table. Some are able to maintain, because they are already well established.
Many Californians moved to the Coeur d’Alene area thinking it was an ideal place to relocate. You can't blame them, it's very pretty. Now, a few years later, they are in financial trouble.
Wherever you move, find a stable job FIRST. Employment is difficult in many areas that were once thought to be the relocation Mecca’s.
Good luck
Dallas/Ft Worth. Period.
I am a native of Bend and 56 years. I left to the Middle-East for work in Jan 2009 after the central Oregon economy took a big hit, particularly in Construction. I am “slightly” to the right of Genghis Khan, when it comes to my conservative nature. The city has been absorbed with trust fund babies and liberals in general. I keep a house there, with my daughter and her family living in it at the moment. Son-in-law is a tile contractor and business is not good. It IS a beautiful area with some great recreation. That being said, I am ready for a place in Wyoming and place in the Philippines. Certainly not in the Middle-East. I want a beach and boat half the year and hunting and outdoors for the other... I worked for a company with corp office in Manila and grew attached to the conservative lifestyle of most in the country.
Add “Berzerkley”, “San Fran”, “Olympitardia”, “Seattle”...
also add “Minnecraponus”.
bump
There is an active Conservative movement here in Oregon and we are pushing back. If you want work there is quite a bit in Portland around Intel but times are tough. Idaho has much lower taxes and more sanity.
Pray for America
ChocChipCookie considering relocating.
Spend a winter in north/central ID before you make your final decision.
If you are thinking about Portland or Salem, consider Newberg. It is sort of half way between the two and is a nice small town with a Christian university.George Fox, a Quaker school).
Based on 2011 figures of the 50 states and D.C., Oregon ranks as follows with regards to taxes:
Ranked the highest in State Income Taxes at 8.60%.
One of 5 states with no sales tax.
Ranked right in the middle for property taxes (25th) .
Ranked the 8th highest at excise taxes on Gasoline ($0.30 per gallon).
Ranked in the middle for excise taxes on Cigarettes ($1.18 per pack).
Ranked the second highest for excise taxes on Liquor ($23.30 per gallon).
The reason I was looking into this is because I used to live in southern Oregon and the wife has expressed an interest in retiring there. Based on my research, Texas is looking better.
There are a few manufacturing outfits in northern/panhandle Idaho. Generally speaking, the house build industry is dead and not likely to come back for a while. Electrician probably better find something more in the industrial side. Not much of that except mining and some machining businesses in northern Idaho. Many of the lumber mills will have electricians on staff.
Southern idaho has its share of industry from heavy manufacturing to electronics. Being high desert the south is quite different from the north half of the state.
We moved a small high tech business to Idaho going on 8 years ago. Just south of Lewiston - ‘bout halfway between Boise and Coeur d’Alene. You will want to spend a month or two in midwinter before deciding - unless you have lived where ‘winter’ is. Definitely 4 seasons.
In our town’s case the largest employer is Federal Government. 80% of the state is government owned. While that has provided a stable source of employment in the past, all it would take to devastate the economies is a big spending cut by congress. Local economies will be hard hit until other income sources come about.
Politically, Idaho is as interesting and can be as screwed up as anywhere else, just much more conservative as a whole. Politics can get pretty real here - I remember a number of years back the county commissioners had an open debate on setting up a county plan. Ended up getting the topic tabled as nooses were tossed up on the desk in front of them. Still don’t have a plan.
In general, the state is easy to get along with, makes only a few annoying nanny state laws. And taxes are mostly low.
“But instead of Bend, check out Redmond, just 16 miles north there on 97. A nice central hub.”
Do you live in Redmond? I will be visiting there in mid September for a few days and I see that there is a lot of “fly fishing” tour guids, however my daughter and I would like to go regular fishing. Do you know if there is any placy that rents boats and regular fishing gear?
In addition, any recommendations for local eateries, bars, etc?
Thanks for the great news about the Tri-Cities.
Just a couple weeks ago I was looking at the county unemployment map for Washington state, and I came away with the impression that WestWA was doing significantly better than EastWA.
I stand corrected.
Portland is dimocrat as is the Eugene area.
Are you moving for a job? Vacation home?
The rest of the state is red, though. Just those two blighted areas.
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