people are being unrealistic about prices, living, in Eugene: (Portland: low income, real estate market)

[Stella Dallas000]

I just need to comment that, I have found out, since I came back here,to Eugene, that apartment prices are terrible. Very high, and all the cost of living are very high here. I had to compare it to my friend who is living in Salem, Oregon and everything including housing is much cheaper there. If you guys have trouble with money, and if you're not rich, don't try to rent or own in Eugene it very expensive now. These people who are on this forum are being very unrealistic about wanting to live in Eugene, and have low income, or average income. Thank you.

[bler144]

Prices are meaningfully cheaper in Salem? I'd want to see some actually documentation of that.

I suspect what you're seeing is that Salem's rental market is tight, particularly in terms of SFH, and most of what is available is on the low end, whereas Eugene has a somewhat looser rental market across the spectrum incl apartments and SFH.

[Mini-apple-less]

The entire Western US is overpriced when it comes to rent and real estate, especially relative to the wages. I mostly blame the Libertarian politics.

[boulder2015]

Even as someone who despises Libertarian politics, I don't think this is the cause. What are you comparing to? The South? Plenty of Libertarian policies in place in that region, yet it is the cheapest region in the Country, because it's hot, buggy, poor, hurricane-prone, with bad schools, high rates of preventable child illness, etc.

Also, NYC is not Libertarian, and is even more expensive than the West.

Let's face it, the places in the West that are expensive are BETTER places to live. CO, OR, CA, WA, all blue states, all expensive, all great places to live for the most part. It's supply and demand.

[Metlakatla]

Means liberal policies, I'm sure.

Mini-apple-less, is there anywhere you do like? You're always complaining about prices -- I can understand that, but why not move to Texas and get away from west coast costs?

[NanciLou]

Everything is relative..If someone is coming from a large urban area then Eugene is very inexpensive Some of us look at the prices and think "Is that all they pay??".

[Mini-apple-less]

Originally Posted by boulder2015

Even as someone who despises Libertarian politics, I don't think this is the cause. What are you comparing to? The South? Plenty of Libertarian policies in place in that region, yet it is the cheapest region in the Country, because it's hot, buggy, poor, hurricane-prone, with bad schools, high rates of preventable child illness, etc.

Also, NYC is not Libertarian, and is even more expensive than the West.

Let's face it, the places in the West that are expensive are BETTER places to live. CO, OR, CA, WA, all blue states, all expensive, all great places to live for the most part. It's supply and demand.

The South isn't really that cheap either when you consider how low the wages are.

[MrWonderful85]

Originally Posted by NanciLou

Everything is relative..If someone is coming from a large urban area then Eugene is very inexpensive Some of us look at the prices and think "Is that all they pay??".

exactly. 1,500 gets you waaay more there in oregon than it does in washington(seattle area).

[eric351982]

I live in Portland, grew up in Eugene, and when I go down there and see home prices, my eyes are wide because it is so cheap!

[texasdiver]

There is nothing unrealistic about it. It's called a market. Sellers and landlords are going to charge exactly what the market will bear. Same as in every other city in the country that isn't distorted by rent control laws and the like.

Now there may be some NIMBY things going on or land use and zoning regulations that make it especially difficult to build new apartments in the Eugene area. I don't know but it wouldn't surprise me. That sort of thing can distort local real estate markets. Also if local rental laws are too tilted towards the renter rather than the landlord (as is the case in some cities like San Francisco) that could discourage investors from building more apartments.

But the bottom line is that Eugene is a fairly desirable place to live with fairly restrictive land use and zoning laws and so it frankly isn't surprising that rents are going to be fairly high. I you want really cheap rents you can move to suburban Texas where there are pretty much zero restrictions on throwing up new apartment complexes anywhere and where construction is cheap and quick. and laws are friendlier to landlords. But then you have to live in suburban Texas.