Over half of Douglas County is government-managed land. The Umpqua National Forest and BLM-managed lands make up the bulk of public ownership. Industrial timber companies own huge areas of forest in Oregon as well. However, for someone who lives in town or on small acreage, owning a parcel of remote land that can be used as their personal recreation site is a recurring “dream come true”.
Today’s forest landowner is different than the owner of yesterday. Now there are many management priorities instead of just timber harvest income. Today, concerns focus on recreation value, wildlife habitat value, forest health, water quality, scenic value, and many others.
Whether you want to own a small “tree farm” to produce timber for your grandkids, want a site you plan to visit (and eventually move to when you retire), a camping spot in Oregon, or your own rural vacation hideaway, there are parcels available that can meet your goals. Here are a few uses for recreation and forest properties:
For locals or out-of-towners, these properties can be affordable and enjoyable. But there are a few things to think about when shopping for a forest or recreation property:
You may own some remote forest property (or had it passed down to you) and don’t know its potential as a recreational property (because today’s buyers may have various uses besides timber harvest.)
Presenting your property’s many benefits to the right people is essential in making a good sale, so it is important to have representation that is both imaginative and knowledgable.
Not knowing the issues (like zoning) can lead to problems in the closing or future disputes with the buyer.