Job in Tualatin (Portland, Hillsboro, Aloha: extended stay, apartments, renter)

[LucyI'mHome]

I got a job in Tualatin, will move around mid June. Looking for a place to live. We are a lesbian couple, middle aged but still "hip n' cool"! We have 1 small, quiet, well-mannered dog that will go to work with me(I'm a groomer). I don't want to pay the equivalent of a month's rent for deposits for the dogs. So an apartment is probably out of the question. My partner will find work after the move. She's a chef, bartender, singer, musician, painter, all-around renaissance woman. We will be down to one car for a few months, so proximity to mass transit is important. So my question is whether it's possible or likely to find a single family house or duplex that would be less than $1000? Frankly, it should be more toward $700-800. 1 bedroom is fine. We now live in Palm Springs, CA in a mid-century 2 bed 1 bath with huge yard for $1025. A roomie pays $450 to bring it down even further, but we'd like to not have the roommate thing. Is this at all realistic? Where should we look to modify our "wants"? What if we looked at something further out? We could get a second car sooner.

[philwithbeard]

I trust you have used Google Maps with Satellite view. Thus you already know that Tualatin is deep in the 'burbs for Portland; strong traditional family orientated suburbia. (<-- this be code words !!)

Your Mass Transit options for commuting to work are going to be limited. The closer along highway W99 you get to Portland, the more comfortable you will be with your neighbors. I would suggest at a minimum, look at Multnomah Village or north into Hillsdale (don't confuse with Hillsboro.) Many more commute options as you go north, and thus closer to downtown Portland;Hillsdale, John's Landing, South Burlingame, Lair Hill, etc.

Some one may suggest Aloha, but I don't know about driving from Aloha to Tualatin in commuter traffic.

On the other hand, just to the NW of Tualatin, in Durham; there are is a very upscale mall called Bridgeport Village. Quite a few traditional chain (Franchise) type restaurants in and around that mall.

Phil

PS: Congratulation on the Job. Wonderful news. Best of luck to you both on your move. Please let us know how things work out for you.

[LeftCoastee]

Originally Posted by philwithbeard

On the other hand, just to the NW of Tualatin, in Durham; there are is a very upscale mall called Bridgeport Village. Quite a few traditional chain (Franchise) type restaurants in and around that mall.

Technically, Bridgeport Village is in Tualatin, although they don't like to admit it. My wife works for the company that owns the property. Also, Durham is much smaller than people think. Its a whopping 0.4 square miles (265 acres).

LucyI'mHome - From what I've seen living here in Tualatin for the past two years, most people wouldn't have problems with a lesbian couple. We're only 12 miles from downtown so there is still quite a bit of progressive Portland influence. While we may not lean as far left as Multnomah county, anti-LGBT is not even on the radar politically.

If you can't find the housing you need in Tualatin, you may want to try Ashcreek, Crestwood, or West Portland Park neighborhoods. They lie about half way between Tualatin and downtown. I mention those because I have a few friends that live in that area. The homes are a bit smaller, you'd be closer to downtown, the cultural diversity is high, and the commute to Tualatin would be easy.

[LucyI'mHome]

Thanks for the suggestions. I looked on craigslist at the towns you've mentioned, but all I see in my price range is apartments. Are there places other than CL I should be looking to find rentals?

[Nell Plotts]

Were I you I would rent in an extended stay hotel initially and then go on your home search. Nice houses rent in a nanosecond - often with just a sign in the yard, what you see on Craigslist will be gone before you can fill out an application from out of town. Also, most houses are owned by individuals who want to meet prospective tennants. No one wants to risk renting to a tweaker.

[Dom1964]

Originally Posted by LucyI'mHome

Thanks for the suggestions. I looked on craigslist at the towns you've mentioned, but all I see in my price range is apartments. Are there places other than CL I should be looking to find rentals?

try hotpads.com... they list houses as well as apartments, you can search by map area.

good luck.

[Dom1964]

Originally Posted by Nell Plotts

Nice houses rent in a nanosecond - often with just a sign in the yard, .

I am finding this to be very very true... you go look at a rental house and when you get there they tell you they already have 5 applications pending... it can get frustrating.

[LucyI'mHome]

I didn't think pets would be such an issue in Portland. I'm originally from the northwest, showed dogs, so I know there's a huge dog loving population. Must have been some bad apples spoiled the barrel. I understand the need for landlords to be careful who they rent to. But really. Background checks? 1st month rent + equivalent of 2 mo for security? $400 for each pet? Full credit check in this economy? Really? Really! I've owned rentals in the past. If I felt that unsure of the renter that I needed to do all that, well, I just didn't rent to them! Not like you're going for a top secret security clearance!
We are rethinking. We may put everything in storage and do a roommate situation. Looking on CL, lots of choices under roommate wanted. That will give time to drive around and get to know the areas, make friends, put out feelers for a great place to live... or an okay place even.

[Minervah]

Originally Posted by LucyI'mHome

I didn't think pets would be such an issue in Portland. I'm originally from the northwest, showed dogs, so I know there's a huge dog loving population. Must have been some bad apples spoiled the barrel. I understand the need for landlords to be careful who they rent to. But really. Background checks? 1st month rent + equivalent of 2 mo for security? $400 for each pet? Full credit check in this economy? Really? Really! I've owned rentals in the past. If I felt that unsure of the renter that I needed to do all that, well, I just didn't rent to them! Not like you're going for a top secret security clearance!
We are rethinking. We may put everything in storage and do a roommate situation. Looking on CL, lots of choices under roommate wanted. That will give time to drive around and get to know the areas, make friends, put out feelers for a great place to live... or an okay place even.

Very good idea. Many times it takes just as much networking to find a good apartment as it does a job in Portland.

My present landlord was the only one who never asked for all the stuff you mentioned above. That's because he knew me from living in the building across the street.

[sueisme]

Another option (if you can't find a share right away) is boarding your dog while you stay in an inexpensive hotel and search for a place. There are tons of doggie daycare and boarding places. While we were were waiting for our moving truck to arrive, we stayed in a hotel and boarded our dog at a place we like very much. (He's since stayed there when we've traveled.)