Waterfront Real Estate – Liquid Gold

Rogue ranch and estate at 12214 Modoc Road on the Rogue River near Eagle Point sold for $3.45 million. Martin Outdoor Property Group

By: Janet Eastman | The Oregonian/OregonLive

Everyone looking for a home to buy has a wish list of amenities, but here’s a little-known fact: Many people search for rural properties with “live water,” that is, a river, creek or pond, said southern Oregon real estate broker Chris Martin.

“Stewardship of rivers and streams is a big deal,” said the owner of Martin Outdoor Property Group, a sponsor of the May 11 Celebrate the Rogue fundraising event to support ecological restoration by the Rogue River Watershed Council. The nonprofit organization focuses on habitat restoration, water quality improvement, monitoring and community outreach to enhance resilience of the river and approximately 1.6 million acres of land and terrestrial habitats.

Martin told The Oregonian/OregonLive, “By partnering with the Rogue River Watershed Council, we are giving landowners the resources and tools to steward their properties.”

Martin, who is also a principal broker for LandLeader real estate agency based in Medford, said potential buyers of rural properties consider the location, residence, privacy and views, but “water has become the No. 1 most requested item.”

In real estate terms, water serves two primary roles: Natural beauty and water rights. “The beauty and allure of live water is unmatched with southern Oregon providing options of living along a river, creek or private reservoir, pond, or even sometimes a lake,” Martin said. Water rights provide the property owner with the legal ability to irrigate land and use water beyond ordinary household needs, he said.

“Buyers’ needs and wants obviously vary based on the intended use for the property,” he added.

For a lifestyle buyer, the single most sought-after property feature is not only excellent water frontage but a true waterfront homesite, said Martin. “Many properties have amazing water frontage, but the location of the home is set far back, either due to flood plain or riparian setbacks,” and a person would have to leave the home to experience the water, he said.

For a production-first buyer, consistent water availability is paramount, and this is determined based on the seniority of the water rights and the strength of the water source.

Here are five rural southern Oregon properties listed by Martin Outdoor Property Group that sold in recent years to use as a private residence or to continue farming and ranching operations.

“We love seeing excellent agricultural properties stay in local farm or ranch production,” said Martin.

CHRISTIE ORCHARD

Sold for $4.5 million: Christie Orchard on the Rogue River near Grants Pass was owned and operated by pear grower Naumes Inc. and eventually sold to Harry & David Bear Creek Orchards. “This nearly 200-acre Rogue River frontage farm got the attention of Bear Creek because of the quality soils, excellent water rights and, of course, Comice pears,” known as Harry & David’s trademarked Royal Riviera pears, said Martin.

The property, with 3,000 feet of river frontage plus a boat ramp, campsite and trails, was only marketed for 35 days before an offer was accepted. The house, built in 1977, has three bedrooms, one bathroom and 924 square feet of living space.

SUTTON ON ROGUE

Sold for $3.45 million: The 62-acre ranch and estate on the Rogue River near Eagle Point is “the quintessential riverfront lifestyle property with two existing homes just steps from the river’s edge and a third riverfront homesite,” said Martin. The ranch also includes a helipad, private plane runway, two hangars, a trout pond for fly fishing and expansive horse facility.

The main residence, a log construction, has 3,722 square feet of living space, rock fireplaces, two guest suites and a fly-tying room. The wrap-around deck overlooks the river and landscaping.

COQUILLE RIVER RANCH

Sold for $2.64 million: A 528-acre ranch along the Coquille River near Bandon with an abundance of water “provided some of the most productive organic summer grazing in the Pacific Northwest,” said Martin. The buyer was a conservation land trust with the goal to improve coho spawning habitat in the river while continuing to operate a productive cattle operation.

GUNNELL RIVER RANCH

Sold for $2.55 million: The 94-acre Gunnell River Ranch estate on the Rogue River near Grants Pass offered productivity and waterfront ranch lifestyle features, said Martin. “The ranch included great soils and water rights and a beautiful lodge-style home perched on a private knoll,” he said.

HULL ORCHARD

Sold for $2.5 million: Hull Orchard on Modoc Road at the base of Lower Table Mountain near Eagle Point has 149 acres on three tax lots. The house, built in 1945, has four bedrooms, one bathroom and 1,352 square feet of living.

“While this property is not located on the banks of the Rogue River, it benefits from Rogue River water rights delivered via private irrigation canal,” said Martin. This ranch, with the best combination of water and soils to come available on the market in recent years, according to Martin, was sold by Naumes Inc. and was purchased by Del Rio Vineyards for vineyard expansion.

MARTIN OUTDOOR PROPERTY GROUP – Oregon Waterfront Real Estate Specialists

Martin Outdoor Property Group, in partnership with Land Leader, is a leading Southern Oregon Real Estate brokerage for waterfront real estate, including rivers, creeks, and ponds.  MOPG specializes in high quality marketing of waterfront real estate, vineyards and vineyard estate properties, ranches, luxury rural residential, and waterfront homes in the Rogue Valley.