Thursday, November 23, 2006
by Liz Warren
What are the top five characteristics of properties requested by buyers on Mt. Hood?
1. Waterfront of any kind. Some buyers prefer the larger rivers but others with kids are more pleased with creeks. Pick your waterfront just to mention a few: Salmon River, Sandy River, ZigZag River, Still Creek, Clear Creek, Henry Creek, Boulder Creek, Rockway Creek and more!
2. View properties. Mt. Hood views are few and far between and only available up the LoLo Pass area. The surrounding hills of Hunchback mountain, Zig Zag Mountain and Sugarloaf are popular too.
3. Acreage. Any property with over an acre of land is high on buyer's lists. Most parcels over three acres are located off of Country Club, Barlow Trail and LoLo Pass Road. Due to surrounding Mt. Hood National Forest, BLM land and timber parcels, existing acreage for sale is difficult to find.
4. Seclusion. Yikes! Very difficult to find. If passing through on Hwy 26 you would think you were out in the woods when reaching the Hoodland Corridor. A community group is active in looking for a name change to be called the Villages at Mt. Hood. http://www.villagesmthood.us/ It's deceptive when driving by but once you get off the beaten path you will find a plethora of many dirt and gravel roads that take you to hidden homes and cabins. On deeded lands in tall stands of firs the typical mountain lot will be less than a quarter of an acre. In Government Camp lots are mostly 50 X 100. Many prefer the leased land cabins (560) in the Mt. Hood National Forest spread out along many creeks and rivers giving a feel of more seclusion and isolation.
5. Fireplaces, Knotty Pine, and Log: Yes, it's back to the old days of and the roots of Mt. Hood. in the 20's 30's and 40's! When families would treck to the mountain for their summer stays in their family cabins which usualy had a riverrock fireplace and lots of knotty pine. Steiner Log cabins were always at the top of any buyer's list too. There are even Steiner Log Home tours offered through the Government Camp Museum. This link will take you to a new web site for Steiner Log Homes with photos: http://steinerlogcabins.com/index.php?name=coppermine
What ever type of property you're looking for I have been working with buyers for 22 years and am well aquainted with what is available. Be sure and send me an email and I can help you find your dream home or cabin. [email protected]
