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Why I LOVE the Pacific Northwest

By Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Real Estate Broker/Owner with Grants Pass, OR 199909023

June 25, 2013 01:35 AM

Why I LOVE the Pacific Northwest. The Pacific Northwest never ceases to amaze me. This morning, I woke up to a brief Summer rain shower that left the air smelling fresh and crisp. I love it when that happens!

Rogue River, Oregon - Melinda Peterson

Fifteen years ago, I was enticed by her majestic beauty, which made it easy to lay down roots and call Southern Oregon my permanent home. Here are just a few reasons why I love the Pacific Northwest:

- The mountains are close and beautiful
- The trees are tall, green, and simply stunning
- Wild and scenic rivers run through many towns
- There are trails and bike paths galore for hiking and biking
- The people are the friendliest folk I've ever met
- Coffee is plentiful and it's the best in the world
- There's no traffic (you can drive 30 miles in 30 min on Interstate-5)
- There's little to no wind (average wind velocity in Grants Pass, Oregon is 8)
- You never pump your own gas (it's full service for everyone and its cheaper than LA)
- DMV registrations are $86. every 2 years, no matter what kind of car you drive
- There's no sales tax in Oregon
- Property taxes are very inexpensive
- Housing is extremely affordable

Oh yeah, one more thing to note... we may get an occasional rain shower in Summer, but our rainy season in Southern Oregon is no where near the rest of the Pacific Northwest. We get approximately 20-30 inches of rain per year, usually scattered throughout Nov-Mar, and just enough to keep things green.

Now can you see why I LOVE the Pacific Northwest?

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Ron and Alexandra Seigel

Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA

Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Mel,

What a beautiful shot, and thanks for sharing it with us. I would enjoy sitting down with a cup of coffee and just gazing at the sight. Happy Tuesday, A

Jun 25, 2013 01:40 AM

Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Real Estate

John L Scott Market Center - Birkenfeld, OR

"Your Local Expert!" 503-739-3843

Meliciouso.....this is a GREAT localism post....*Suggested* and I ditto all of that. Having lived for 23 years on the east coast, then moving here, I just tell people I was misplaced all those years!

THIS IS HOME!!!

Jun 25, 2013 01:49 AM

Nancy Conner

Olympia, WA

Olympia/Thurston County WA

Love the photo - and ditto to LOVING life in the Pacific Northwest!

Jun 25, 2013 01:59 AM

Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Grants Pass, OR - Bend, OR

The Savvy Broker - ABR, CRS

Thanks Alexandra! There's a couple of walking bridges over the Rogue River, where you can do just that... sit and enjoy your cup of Joe while gazing at its magnificent beauty. If you two ever need a vacation from your vacation, you're always welcome for a visit ;-)

I knew you would appreciate the pic and post... Gayle! We live in splendor every day... and it never gets old, does it? Sometimes I have to pinch myself ;-) Hope you're enjoying this beautiful Summer... it's been mild and cool down here and simply spectacular!

Thanks Nancy... I need to come up to your neck of the woods and experience more of what other Pacific Northwest towns have to offer. Are you any where near Camas, WA (home to sweet Rainer, Debb Janes)? Perhaps a little rendezvous up north is in order this fall ;-)

Jun 25, 2013 02:11 AM

Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist

KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA

Probate Real Estate Services

Mel, Those are all great reasons to love the Pacific Northwest. Many of them I was not aware of. No traffic, never pump your own gas, no sales tax ... holy gads ... move over, I may be moving to Southern Oregon ... we have none of that where I live in California.

Jun 25, 2013 02:21 AM

Brian L. Sirota, Esq.

Bristar Realty (Realtor/Attorney) - Orange, CA

For Solutions: (714) 501-7660

I wouldn't be surprised if there's a migration from other cool places on the left coast... ;-) Brian

Jun 25, 2013 02:44 AM

Gary Woltal

Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX

Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Mel, great list, and I think for me at least the no traffic is a great one.... plus you can grow vegatation on rocks and have webbed feet : )

Jun 25, 2013 03:09 AM

Nancy Conner

Olympia, WA

Olympia/Thurston County WA

That would be awesome if you make a little road trip up this way! I'm another hour or so north of Debb, but would happily drive down her way for a meetup! (Though there is enough fun stuff to see and do in both locations, you better plan to spend some time!

Jun 25, 2013 06:11 AM

Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!

Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT

St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent

Now those are some reasons anyone would love the Pacific Northwest! Clients will know you do too Mel!

Jun 25, 2013 06:57 AM

Tammy Lankford,

Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA

Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

It is really beautiful and you've certainly also inspired a post for me to write about the things that are wonderful in my corner of the USA

Jun 25, 2013 07:52 AM

Lou Ludwig

Ludwig & Associates - Boca Raton, FL

Designations Earned CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC

Mel

Sounds like Oregon is a great place to live and enjoy life.

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig

Jun 25, 2013 09:16 AM

Florida Tolbert Team Keller Williams Advantage

Keller Williams Advantage III Realty in Lake Nona - Orlando, FL

Keller Williams Land Luxury Division Specialist

And I heard that Portland is the single/divorced woman capital of the US. True or False?

But seriously, FULL SERVICE GAS, NOT IN FLORIDA!

And $86 for 2 years registrations. NOT IN FLORIDA. I just paid $117 for 1 year

Yes, it is lower cost of living, but then I do have only about 2 weeks of winter, no snow, and I can scuba dive year round.

Jun 25, 2013 01:38 PM

Andrea Bedard

Thompson Company, REALTORS® 240.593.2860 - Silver Spring, MD

Fluent in Real Estate & German, M.A. ABR ASP CIPS

Mel, I'm pretty sure I've said this before but your post makes me think the very same thought again... I'm packing and moving to the Pacific Northwest! :-)

Jun 25, 2013 01:38 PM

Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Grants Pass, OR - Bend, OR

The Savvy Broker - ABR, CRS

Yes indeed Kathleen... it's a pretty awesome place to live!

You should come up for a visit sometime Brian!

We have a wonderful growing season Gary... flippers not required!

I'll plan on it Nancy... it will be closer to Fall as I'm busier than a hornet's nest right now ;-)

And there's more... Wanda, but I gotta pace myself ;-)

Jun 26, 2013 03:11 AM

Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Grants Pass, OR - Bend, OR

The Savvy Broker - ABR, CRS

You live in a cool place too Tammy... and you do a fabulous job of blogging about it ;-)

It is... Lou! Most people think the entire state is rainy... not so in Southern Oregon.

I don't know about that... Kevin! It sure seems like there would be a lot more fish in the sea there ;-)

Come on down... Andrea! Once you visit, you may never want to leave ;-)

Jun 26, 2013 03:14 AM

Gary L. Waters Broker Associate, Bucci Realty

Bucci Realty, Inc. - Melbourne, FL

Eighteen Years Experience in Brevard County

Wow...makes it sound so nice. I have only one question...how cold does it get?

Jun 26, 2013 11:04 PM

Mary Elizabeth Allen

Lake Monticello, VA

Melly, that kind of picture is what I miss most about living in the PNW!!! Of course, I lived farther north, so we had a little more wind and rain - but summers (July-September) were fantastic!

My fiance has never been to the Great Northwest - I can't wait to bring him up there and show him how beautiful it is. And visit you! :)

Jun 26, 2013 11:26 PM

Christine Farkas

Keller Williams Western Realty - Bellingham, WA

Awesome Customer Service Experience

While I was in Cocoa Beach Florida and told people I was going back to the Pacific NW the one thing 99% of the people exclaimed is "OH, but it gets so cold up there!!!" The seasons are nice here, and in the summer one can actually go outside, unlike Brevard County. However, few things are as nice as a visit to The Sunshine State in Nov/Dec. Like Florida, love Pacific NW!!

Aug 06, 2013 06:22 AM