Beat the "dirt rush" to the country!

Are You Ready For The Country?
Ranch and Country Magazine

A place in the country! - Finding that special piece of land is fast becoming the "American Dream." For some, the dream may be for an acre or two - just enough room for a garden, or a horse, or maybe both. For others, the dream may be for land that extends as far as the eye can see. The demand for ranches for sale, farms for sale, vineyards for sale, horse property, groves, orchards, and just rural retreats has simply skyrocketed. And to what end? For privacy, peace and quiet, a little bit of elbow room, clean air, billions of stars in the night-time sky, a chance to try one's hand at growing grapes or lavendar or olives trees, to have room for dogs, horses, maybe even cattle, or perhaps alpacas or ostriches or some other exotic breed.

Since becoming a "City Escapee" myself, bolting LA almost 6 years ago, I've completely altered my lifestyle and mindset. It was on these eye-opening changes that I chose to base my niche business when becoming a real estate agent in Oregon.

Thus far, I've been the luckiest at finding (or having them find me...) kindred souls also ready to "get out of Dodge". It has been truly a joy helping others find that country getaway, and boldy stepping into a new lifestyle with gusto. With the increased stress of urban living, and our world that makes most of us just shake our heads in wonderment, getting back to the land and some of the simple pleasures that are truly important has made a difference every waking day. A newfound appreciation of the simple things. Working the garden - feeling the rich earth between my fingertips - and that grin you get after taking your first bite of your home grown veggies. Every day I wake up to the beauty and aroma of Oregon - the deer, the creeks, the freshness after the rains. And the stars! OMG, the stars... Nights take on new meaning in the country.

The above linked article from Ranch and Country fills me with mixed emotions. It's certainly refreshing to see that more are shunning the urban lifestyle. Hey... that can't be bad for my chosen niche market, eh? It's likely to keep my business model healthy.

Then again... it could start getting crowded out here - "dirt rush" so to speak - as evidenced below in some national research documentation.

The Economic Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture stated the following in a report on its web site: "The 1990's were a period of rebound in rural and small town population growth as more people moved into non-metro counties than moved out."

The report goes on to say that "forty-nine million Americans live in non-metropolitan areas (comprising 2052 counties) as currently defined. They make up 17 percent of the U.S. population but are spread out across four-fifths of the land area."

This growth trend coincides with one of the most significant technological innovations of the twentieth century that made access to the world wide web almost as commonplace as television network access. As a result, and enhanced by such things as national cell phone coverage, wireless connectivity, and an endless array of software products such as PCAnywhere and GoToMyPC enabling access to essential data files from off-site locations, the '90's ushered in a new phenomenon called the "virtual office". Many professionals discovered that they were no longer bound to the urban business setting and the daily commute to a specified work place. They discovered that they could do their work from almost anywhere. And this meant that they suddenly had much greater flexibility in terms of where they chose to live.

I've just begun my country journey. And while stepping off into new and undiscovered territory, I'm also embarking on this blog - a journal to share some of the simple things that too many of us have forgotten.

Oh yes... I'll also post educational information on purchasing rural country properties as well. It's not as clear cut as city properties. A plethora of issues need your attentions when considering rural lands. And I hope I'll be able to demystify some of them for you! Do come back and visit.