What is Bend like? (Portland: job market, construction, to live)

[Smiled]

"a martini at a sophisticated lounge with other professionals"
Yeah, there's probably one of those places still open, and a few of those professionals (depending on your definition of the word) still in town.

[Smiled]

"an anti-business Oregon business climate"

I don't get that. I work with state and county agencies a fair bit, and find them very helpful and courteous. When Genentech expanded to Hillsboro, they also described their interactions similarly, and said it was easy to get all the players needed together in order to get decisions and permits handled.
Are you just whining about income tax?

[Smiled]

"For instance, Bend real estate crashed, making it affordable to buy there. Prices are great. Expected to boom again in near future"

You mena next century?

[davefr]

Originally Posted by Smiled

"an anti-business Oregon business climate"

I don't get that. I work with state and county agencies a fair bit, and find them very helpful and courteous. When Genentech expanded to Hillsboro, they also described their interactions similarly, and said it was easy to get all the players needed together in order to get decisions and permits handled.
Are you just whining about income tax?

Oregon is ranked in the bottom quartile. I believe its #38 in states with an environment conducive to start a business.

CNBC has Oregon ranked #23 on their 2010 list of best states for business. Certainly not leading, but it's not the nightmare that many make it out to be. Oregon gets dinged quite a bit in their rankings because of the crappy schools (though some of the universities are actually very good for many things) and high cost of living.

[Nite Ryder]

Be forwarned. I've lived in Oregon for 72 years, and was able to survive as a small business owner. But, Oregon is becoming more and more liberal. Taxes are going up it seems almost daily. We don't have a sales tax yet, but our state income tax is very high and there are several things you do pay a sales tax on, even though we supposedly do not have a sales tax. You have to pay a sales tax when you rent a room in a motel or hotel, and probably in a Bed & Breakfast. You pay a sales tax when you buy gasoline or tires. The city of Ashland charges a sales tax on all food sold in a restaurant. And, buy a gallon of paint, you'll pay a sales tax of around 75 cents for a gallon. Recently a tax was placed on the gross sales of all corporations in Oregon. If that is not a sales tax, what is it? This state has not had a Republican Governor for many years, so things will never change, only get worse. On top of the high taxes, most cities in Oregon are very anti business, as is the state. Find another state to live in.

[kapetrich]

Originally Posted by Nite Ryder

Be forwarned. I've lived in Oregon for 72 years, and was able to survive as a small business owner. But, Oregon is becoming more and more liberal. Taxes are going up it seems almost daily. We don't have a sales tax yet, but our state income tax is very high and there are several things you do pay a sales tax on, even though we supposedly do not have a sales tax. You have to pay a sales tax when you rent a room in a motel or hotel, and probably in a Bed & Breakfast. You pay a sales tax when you buy gasoline or tires. The city of Ashland charges a sales tax on all food sold in a restaurant. And, buy a gallon of paint, you'll pay a sales tax of around 75 cents for a gallon. Recently a tax was placed on the gross sales of all corporations in Oregon. If that is not a sales tax, what is it? This state has not had a Republican Governor for many years, so things will never change, only get worse. On top of the high taxes, most cities in Oregon are very anti business, as is the state. Find another state to live in.

Yes. Democrats are bad and Republicans are good. Heard it before.

I've lived in several states and I can say that Oregon does not have an anti-business mentality at all. If anything, they have a very pro-business mentality. Oregon tends to support local small business, not large corporate. It would be wrong of us to confuse the two.

Try moving to a state that supports bigger corporate 'business', you'll quickly see how little culture and value they have as well as how little revenue these states actually gross from these type of 'businesses'. Only if headquarters are held in said state will they see a worth while buck.

[john personna]

I'm an outsider who has been looking at Bend. Prices do seem low now, though behavioral economists call that "anchoring" (the old price or the California price is "sticky" in our minds).

I can see a demographic in favor of Bend though. While it has grown a lot, there is still a really big wave of baby boomers to retire. Bend is big compared to old Bend but small compared to that wave. That said, we don't really know where prices are heading.

On taxes, I've noticed that they tend to charge you a lot where you want to live ... go figure.

[sandy in clarkston]

I just returned from a visit to the Bend and Prineville area. The prices are already starting to slowly rise. I did find that most of the REAL bargains are short sales, which I was warned to stay away from unless as investment. Just what I have been told. I get updates everyday from this area, but when you look at listings they are not as they seem. Found one GREAT value. For the right person. What I look for is not necessarily the "norm". The area has to be seen to find out if it is for you. Bend is good for retirement."I am told".

[sandy in clarkston]

Maybe not????? I would bet on it by buying there, if I could?????? People there are VERY optimistic that it will.