Let’s Talk Real Estate – October 2020
If you’ve spent a significant amount of time in Oregon, you understand just how unique and beautiful our state is. Southern Oregon is known for its gorgeous vineyards, the “wild and scenic” Rogue River, and stunning, sweeping views. Most of the area has a rural and small-town spirit which is comforting and full of character. Even though our area has seen lots of growth in the past 20 years, we still have a strong sense of community.
When it comes to choosing a place to live, many people have to make the decision between a small town or bigger city. While the bigger cities may have offered more opportunity in the past, many people are choosing to live in smaller and more rural and suburban communities. Smaller communities are becoming more popular as people search for affordable housing, peace of mind, and open spaces. As a local real estate broker, I have seen a dramatic increase in people moving to this area to escape highly-populated areas. People are eager to trade in the hustle and bustle of city life for the calmness of small-town living.
I have the privilege of calling myself a native Oregonian. However, I didn’t always realize how fortunate I was. I was born in Grants Pass and often joked that as soon as I was done with school, I’d be off to a bigger city in California or Arizona. As I have gotten older and traveled to other states and countries, I have realized how special our little corner of the world truly is. I think growing-up in Southern Oregon is the ideal place for raising a family; it made me the person I am today. I grew up a mere 2 hours away from the ocean, 30 minutes from multiple lakes where I could ski and wakeboard and a plethora of hiking and camping spots accessible in the blink of an eye.
I’ve experienced first-hand how our community comes together in times of crisis on many occasions. In crisis situations, you suddenly realize what is important and what is not. I think the current devastation to our area with the Almeda, Slater and Obenchain fires is a perfect representation of the small-town spirit here in our valley. Right now, our community is in a state of response, making sure people have their basic needs met such as food, water and temporary shelter. So many people have come together whether it was providing a home for friends and family or donating their own time and money. Even though people may still be in a state of shock or grief, they still stopped everything to help. Social media has been a swarm of GoFundMe pages and people asking how they can actively help. Within days, many fundraisers met their goal or exceeded it. I even saw a Facebook post sharing the fundraisers that had the least contributions to ensure that more people donated. This is what makes me proud to be an Oregonian. In times of crisis, people are able to put their differences aside to help others.
We can rebuild buildings, but we must also focus on rebuilding connection and community values. It’s one thing to rebuild, but many people have been totally displaced and lost everything. This can be devastating for their mental health. Many volunteered to go to the Jackson County Expo where people were sheltering just to be someone to talk to or a shoulder to cry on. Something so small can mean so much. One of my favorite social media posts that I saw circulating was a photo of the back roads into Phoenix and Talent. A very kind person put sunflowers in several 5-gallon buckets lining roads welcoming those returning to their destroyed town to give them a glimmer of hope.
You hear about disasters on the news almost daily, but rarely does it happen so close to home. Seeing friends and family members lose their homes is heart wrenching. The national media headlines may move on, but many families will still be living in the aftermath of this tragedy. This is our time to make sure we help those in need as much as we can, whether that means donating financially or volunteering your time. Even though the world seems so full of destruction and sadness, I take comfort in knowing that I am part of a strong community. 2020 has not been an easy year for anyone, but the kindness and generosity I have experienced gives me hope that we will recover and we will get through this as we all endeavor to be kind and be there for others in their time of need—this is why Southern Oregon will always be my home.