As you might be able to tell by some of my Localism posts about the many wonderful places to see and experience, I think that Southern Oregon is not only a wonderful place to visit, but an amazing place to live.

When my family decided to make the move to Southern Oregon, it was a "pull up our roots and get out of dodge" kind of move. We were ready, willing and able to leave the traffic, over-crowding and stress we were experiencing in Santa Clarita in Southern California, where we had lived. We wanted to raise our youngest in a slower paced environment while, getting out and enjoying life more.

In 1989, I was able to enjoy the best of both worlds, living in the metropolitan area of Redondo Beach, in Los Angeles County, California where business was fabulous, while feeding my soul in the mountains in Big Bear, California where I could read surrounded by a profound silence, hike back in to the forests, ski, go out on the lake, or meet friends in town, if that was what I chose. Eventually, soul food won out, and I left the busy beach cities moving in to my vacation home, living there full-time instead of weekends and vacations. Making this decision went hand in hand with getting my first dog, a Siberian Husky named Nikki who prowled all over those mountains with me, my constant companion. When it was Nikki's time to move on almost 14 years later, we could think of no better place to put her to rest, and a part of me will always lie with her there in the mountains of Big Bear, California.

Although, I choose to live in my ideal vacation environment, many choose to keep a second home instead. What a great place Southern Oregon is for a vacation home! Or, maybe a second home that will one day become a main residence when it is time for you too to get out and spend more time enjoying your favorite activities. The natural beauty and outdoor recreation here abounds! It will take me years to get through the many amazing hikes to be experienced here. I'm thinking about taking up snow shoeing or Nordic Skiing so I can take some of these hikes in the wintertime, covering more ground. Tubing down the snowy slopes in the winter, or tubing down the lazy spots on the Rogue River in the summer.

Not fast enough for you? Try Alpine Skiing at Mount Ashland, snowmobiling through the forests, or a jet boat ride down the Rogue instead. Springtime wildlife and bird watching walks. Star gazing through these crystal clear skies. Is golf your game? Maybe hunting (Come get the deer that graze on my roses and tomatoes! Just kidding...our youngest may not appreciate that, as much as I would!)? Concerts under the stars, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, tasting some award winning wines & cheeses - you name it. We have it all!

How about fishing? Just pick one - salmon, bass, trout - and head off to one of the many rivers and streams you will find it in. Our rivers offer some of the best Salmon fishing around. Or lake fishing...maybe that is your preference. How about living on one of our lakes and fishing whenever the whim takes you? With conforming fixed rate loans for vacation homes in the mid-5% range for most buyers, both fully qualifying and reduced documentation loan programs for high credit score borrowers, and lots of inventory to choose from, why not take advantage of a wonderful opportunity? Look at this listing Krista Bolf showed me for an incredible property, a lakefront home on Upper Klamath Lake. Or maybe being closer in town is your preference, where you can experience the many wonderful restaurants, galleries, and theaters Ashland, Oregon has to offer? Are you 55+looking to be in a community of your peers? Krista Bolf has this wonderful home in Talent, Oregon just next door to Ashland. These are just a few samplings of some of the great properties Krista can represent, and she is one of the best Realtors you could choose to represent you.

Southern Oregon is so much more than a vacationer's paradise. I love living and working in Southern Oregon! Here are some more reasons why:

http://localism.com/article/351683/-Back-to-Nature-at-Lithia

http://localism.com/article/356889/-Back-to-Nature-Jacksonville-Woodlands

http://localism.com/article/356850/-Back-to-Nature-Upper-Lower

http://localism.com/article/337590/Winter-Fun-on-Table-Mountain-at

http://localism.com/article/327104/Southern-Oregon-Winter-Wonderland

http://localism.com/article/236757/Top-Ten-Things-to-Show-to

http://localism.com/article/230580/Rogue-Valley-Music-Venues-Entertainment-Year

Come see us here in Southern Oregon. You'll be glad you did!

See You Out There!

Karen Cooper - OR/CA Mortgage Consultant - http://www.quality4loans.com/