Some help PLeeese!!! (Portland, Eugene, Salem: real estate, apartment, rentals)

[oregonwana_b]

Hello every one.
I have the typical "Moving out of California" story. I was born and raised in Cali. I am a 42 year old female. But I never felt like I belonged/or wanted to be here. I researched many many states for 5 years. I decided on Oregon. But I was to affraid to make the move. First off, I know absoultly know no one there and second I have never been out of my little comfort zone. But the company that I have worked for for 11 years has just went out of business. Although I am heart broken I figure now is the time to go. Scared or not. SO I started applying for jobs in Oregon. I put on my apps that I am from Cali. ONly 2 jobs
got back to me. One wanted an interview. Then I thought wait a minute I cant fly back and forth for interviews. That wouldnt be cost effective. So instead I started looking for rooms to rent in Portland, Eugene and Salem.
I have enough money to tide me over for about 4 monthes.
I need advice as to the best way to go about something like this. I am only
bringing clothes, lap top and personals. I dont know wheather to bring my car.??? What is the likeyhood It can be a successful move?. I am a receptionist.
Some one, any one with good advice. Who maybe has done a similar move.
MAybe some one who could be my point of contact. I am a very down to earth person. NIce and responsible. I just need some guidance.
Thanks for any thing.

[Summertime]

You could type in the StatesmanJournal.com site and go from
there to classifieds to find what apartment rentals are available.

It might take some time to get thru it.

The paper often has receptionist jobs available,
i.e. for an attorney or some store. Saw one once
for a desk clerk at a Best Western.

Rentals aren't too high, in my opinion, but
home prices are rising along with the
number of people incoming.

Read here yesterday... 150,000 in Salem
400,000 in the 'metro' area.

If you like traffic, tailgaters, people who run
red and yellow lights, don't use turn signals,
(or even know that their cars were built with them),

over-development of the land, rising cost
of housing, schools that are not all that great,
(though there might be some with passing grades),

kids that hang out in black garb, heavy jackets
and long coats, despite the weather, mohawk
haircuts, earrings on the young males,

steady increase in crime, drivers that are fined and
then released after hitting a pedestrian....

this is the place to come to....

Some people actually like living here. They cite the
climate (rain all but 3 months out of the year)..

I am not impressed. 20 years here were 18 years too many,

Yes, we are selling and moving
soon as someone from California buys our place.

Maybe move to a small town in Calif. where people
drive slowly because of the sheep in the road.

lol

[Bill Marriott]

Moving can be very scary but exciting at the same time. I have done it 3 times. I look at this as an adventure. No one said that you cannot move back home.
The last move was probably the hardest for me this time I had my wife and two step childeren to concider. My daughter was a senior in high school. She fought the hardest, now that we are here she loves it and said she did not want to move back to Ohio. Go figure!
My dream has been to live in the mountains, I am now searching for a new place to move, sometime in the next few years.
Good luck and enjoy life!
Bill Marriott

[DavePautsch]

Oregonwannabe,
Can I take a few minutes to give you kind of an OPPOSITE perspective from Summertime?
My family and I moved here to Oregon 6 years ago. We came here via Hawaii and Southern California (I was 23 years Navy).
We settled in Albany in the mid-Willamette Valley and truly love living here. In just six years we have made many good friends and become part of this small community. My first impression of Albany, after living most of my adult life in large metropolitan areas was...oh my, what have we gotten ourselves into! The mall closed at 6pm on Sunday!
It grows on you! I drive down the street now and I usually see 3 or 4 people that I know. I can't get out of Costco on a Sunday afternoon without seeing at least 10 people that I have to spend 5 or 10 minutes yakking with!

My opinion (not always humble) is that EVERYWHERE you can live has things about it that some people won't like (tornados, earthquakes, hurricanes...snow, rain!) But people live there because they usually find something they like MORE than what there is not to like. (I hope that made sense). I've found that it is usually people!

Rents in the Albany area are affordable, between 500 and 800 a month can get you a pretty decent place I think. The Sunday paper has lots of job opportunities (check out Albany Democrat-Herald: Your Source for News in Albany, Oregon it's the Democrat Herald newspaper...or Corvallis Gazette Times: Your Source for News in Corvallis, Oregon that is the Corvallis Gazette Times). Check out the Real Estate companies...there are agents and offices who are always looking for good people with skills (reception, office management, advertising, transaction work).

Oh...and I'd bring the car! Public transportation is a great thing, but I think, to get started, you might need the flexibility of having your own wheels!

My last advice...Find a place to start meeting people and getting involved. Church works for many, other clubs and organizations are there too...if you are jumping in here alone, it can be scary...and I admire you for taking the leap!

goodluck.

Dave

[sandybeaches]

Have you considered renting a room instead of a house? You get cheaper rent and maybe someone to help point you around... at least for the first few months. Good luck. (Also, dont forget about volunteer work (while you are looking for a job at the same time) you meet people, make ocntacts and learn about the city a little.)

[oregonwana_b]

Thank you so much.
Sandy, Dave. Great help. Your very warm and friendly. Just what I needed.
I dont suppose you want to be my point of contact. LOL. JK.
I am looking for rooms to rent. I just have to use my judgement as to who is safe and who isnt. Very hard over the phone and email. But I am going in nose first leaping with only faith to guide me. I will let you know what happens.
And for the person that posted the first post. I understand where you are
coming from. Not everyone is going to have a fairy tale ending. Not every
body is going to like the place that they chose. But you only regret what you dont do. I appreciate your comments looking at it from an opposed side.

[oregonwana_b]

Originally Posted by Bill Marriott

Moving can be very scary but exciting at the same time. I have done it 3 times. I look at this as an adventure. No one said that you cannot move back home.
The last move was probably the hardest for me this time I had my wife and two step childeren to concider. My daughter was a senior in high school. She fought the hardest, now that we are here she loves it and said she did not want to move back to Ohio. Go figure!
My dream has been to live in the mountains, I am now searching for a new place to move, sometime in the next few years.
Good luck and enjoy life!
Bill Marriott

Wow 3 times. Did you know anyone at the places you went to?.
How do you usually sart such moves?. Do you search internet.,
What questions do you ask. Etc..

[DavePautsch]

oregonwana-b
One other resource for you...check out the University. There are almost always positions available for Office Specialists...there are multiple classifications that need more or less job skills, but you might find it right up your alley. Go to Home page for Oregon State University and look at the Employment link. You can do a position search there...I checked OS1, OS1pool, and OS2...found about 6 positions.

You might also check with: Duraflake, Wah Chang, Pacific Cast Technology, Target Distribution Center, Lowe's Distribution Center (Lebanon), Iron Mountain, and HP. The banks and credit unions may also have positions that your skill sets would work for...Umpqua, Washington Mutual, Citizens, Willamette Community, Willamette Valley, Key Bank, Washington Federal...they all have online HR info you can check out.

Just some ideas! Good luck.

Dave

[oregonwana_b]

Thanks. You are so sweet. I will check them out.