There’s nothing like a recession to make you count your money, or what’s left of it. And if you’ve got your eye on retirement, well… you’ll be counting every dollar. For those who’ve had a dream of retiring in Southern Oregon and owning real estate in Grants Pass, Medford or Ashland, that dwindling amount of cash must be spent wisely. The good news is that it now appears to be a time for action if you want to buy a reasonably priced home in Southern Oregon.

In 2004, Time magazine declared Grants Pass in Southern Oregon to be one of the top ten towns in the United States to retire. Some of the reasons behind the attraction of the Grants Pass real estate market cited in the Newsweek article were affordability, recreation, the clean environment of Southern Oregon, and low taxes. With 70 million-plus Baby Boomers perched to retire, Grants Pass and surrounding communities became a retirement destination and the Southern Oregon land rush surged to new heights. With tens of thousands of new home buyers in Grants Pass, Medford, Rogue River and Ashland, real estate prices rose to record highs as Boomers grabbed for their retirement dream homes before it was too late. The prevailing attitude was to buy property before the prices rose even higher — and then the bubble burst and the party ended with a resounding thud. But not for everyone.

Reviewing the bottom line, the reasons for choosing a retirement home in Southern Oregon communities like Grants Pass, Medford, Rogue River or Ashland hasn’t changed. All the positive factors remain. It is still a great place to live with a clean environment, lots of recreation and low taxes. And now with interest rates dropping and an expanded inventory of homes due to short sales and foreclosures, the attractiveness of Rogue Valley real estate Continue reading Grants Pass and Southern Oregon Real Estate Owners and Retirees Rethink Their Options