Buying land and building here in southern OR is not difficult and there are definitely advantages to living here if you want to homestead. I like the areas on the edge of Grants Pass; Plenty of 2 - 20 acre parcels, the Rogue River nearby, beautiful mountains and trees, like-minded people. Grants Pass is smallish (pop about 35,000) but is fun and very into organic farm-to-table lifestyles. Weather is usually pretty nice - a few inches of snow in winter and lots of rain (this year we've had lots of snow and LOTS of rain) and hot, dry summers. Recreational opportunities are outstanding - hiking, rafting, etc. - and you can go for miles without seeing another human being. Auto registration - hold on to your hat - is $89 for two years.
Now for the cons: There's no sales tax but income and property tax are on the high side. Wages are low and jobs may be scarce. If you feel an occasional desire for the culture/fun/excitement of the big city you'll need to drive 4 hours to Portland. I moved here 17 years ago from soCal and was surprised how much I actually missed that! Land/housing prices are currently skyrocketing which may not be a problem if you're coming from the Bay Area and have a nice nest egg. Schools are not fabulous and you'll need to keep the kiddos occupied in some positive way. You will find ticks on you and your dogs, bears might get in your trash and there are places without internet. Yes, you read that right. I'm running a wi-fi hotspot through my phone right now and there is only one carrier (US Cellular) that actually works where I live. We have occasional forest fires and it's so smoky you spend half the summer inside. Flooding is very rare but it can be horrendous.
It's actually a very nice place, just getting a little too expensive for me as I near retirement. Good luck in your search
