About Off-The-Grid Property in Douglas County

Douglas County Oregon offers many of the features people are looking for when they consider living a more self-sufficient lifestyle.

• Our winters are mild.  Snow is infrequent and only an issue in the higher elevations.
• Our summers aren't blistering hot.
• Our lattitude is not so far north that solar exposure is too limited for effective passive and active systems.
• Water is abundant for most months of the year.

What does this all translate into?  You can have the "picture perfect" place; a homestead with a "green home" built to work with Mother Nature, a beautiful garden producing fresh vegetables and berries, an orchard producing fruit for eating fresh and canning, chickens for fresh eggs, and a handful of other barnyard animals rounding out the scene.

For the Buyer of Off-The-Grid Property

As you consider what kind of property fits your interests, here are a few things to keep in mind to make the right choice:

• How close or far from town do you want to be?
• In what ways do you want to be more self- sufficient? 
• Are you interested in solar energy?
• Are you interested in small scale hydroelectric energy (pico- or microhydro)?
• Are you interested in wind energy?
• Are you going to have a diesel-powered generator as a back-up?
• Do you want to have animals?
• Do you want to produce enough feed to meet your animals' needs?
• Should there be an existing house or will you build a state-of-the-art "green home"?
• What domestic water supply do you want?  Spring, well, creek?
• Do you need facilities like a barn, fencing, or a corral right away or will you build them in time?

For the Seller of Off-The-Grid Property

Most people interested in this way of life are coming from an urban center and advertising should target that.  In addition, it is always important to clearly identify what you are selling and let people know why it is a good match for their goals. 

• Year-round access.  Some remote sites have a phenomenal setting but are difficult to get to in the winter.
• If it's bare land, is it a buildable parcel?
• Abundant domestic water?
• Water features that could be harnessed (creek, river)?
• Consistent wind?
• Southern exposure?
• Barns, poultry sheds, or other animal shelters?
• Hay fields?
• Irrigation?

Whether you are a buyer or a seller, it is important to work with someone who understands what you have and what you want - Walt Gayner Real Estate combines professionalism with knowledge of rural property.