Another Housing Question for you Portlanders (Burns: sublease, subletting, apartment complex)

[TygrrEyzz]

Hi Everyone!

Lately my research has implicated that in order to nail down an apartment I need to show proof of having a job. I will be moving to Portland from Iowa next summer and it seems like a very tricky situation. My desire is to find a personal landlord who is renting out a mother-in-law type apartment or a duplex. I would also not mind living in a 4-plex, but big-complex-apartment life is getting very tiring for my boyfriend and I. I say this now, but I am not sure how likely it is that I will find a place that I so desire once I get to Portland. I'll take what I can get of course- the city is my main priority- but this IS what I want for my life when I move out there. What are my chances of finding something like this? As of now we are budgeting for 700 a month but for the right place can go a bit higher. And do you think that we would get rented to if we proved we had 10,000 or more in our savings accounts? Even if we hadn't found jobs. We work in Healthcare and have been told that finding a Heathcare job in Portland in a short amount of time is not an unrealistic expectation. Right now I am very attracted to the Southeast neighborhoods, but would consider living anywhere that is affordable and has that similar type of feel. Is there anywhere else like that you would suggest I consider? For instance, what does this link look like to you guys? (I hope this Forum lets me post a link, if it doesn't I am sorry.)

Available Mid August! Two Bedroom One Bath!

It is for a 900 SQFT apartment in the Brentwood neighborhood for 700.00 a month. That deal seems a little too good to be true. Is this something I can typically find in Portland? I would appreciate ANY sort of advice any of you has for someone like me. I hope I haven't been too vague, I know it's easier to give advice when I am being specific. Thank you all.

[davemess10]

That apartment is not in SE, its pretty farout SW. Notice also that it is on pretty major highways (I5 and 99) and across the street from a porn shop.
For all intensive purposes this apartment is in a stripmall area of the 'burbs.
I'm sure the apartment is decent, this just is definitely not going to be your ideal location. (PS. I don't really think this is Brentwood. I live in Brentwood-Darlington and this is at least 25 mins. away from us.)

Most places we looked at before moving wanted at least 6 months rent in the bank if you couldn't provide proof of income in the area. Yes, it's way more difficult than any place I have ever moved.

Finding a landlord owned individual property when out of state is next to impossible. You just need to be here and see the signs.

[Copsgirl73]

Renting from out of state is just silly and will be hard to do. There was another poster here recently who had a lot of difficulty securing a rental here while she was still in AZ (think it was AZ). That, coupled with all the scams and the fact that you cant show proof of income will make for a rough road ahead.
Like davemess said, that rental you linked us to is nowhere near Brentwood.

[hamellr]

I happen to be fairly familiar with that apartment complex. It's an OK area, but not really doable without a car. PCC and George Fox both have campuses fairly close by which is the same demographic of this complex. The entire area is an older suburb, larger lots, established houses, very little newer construction.

Five to ten years ago that used to be a heavy party complex on Friday and Saturday nights. I used to attend some of those parties, but I don't know how it is these days. The porn shop won't be a problem, it's geared towards couples and is set far enough from the road that it's not like there will be used condoms in the driveway, or even lots of loud noises. You'll be be overwhelmed with noise from the freeways and road far more.

There is a Winco, Fred Meyers and a Costco nearby for shopping. Buster's BBQ is one of the best overall BBQ joints in the entire country, as I'm constantly spouting off about on Yelp. Bannings is great for pies and late night/early breakfast, but will attract an eclectic yet pretty laid back crowd. The Regal Theater there is one of the better Regals, but is showing it's age.

The location is easy access to I-5, and Highway 217. Plus you're right on 99W to head to the Beach, or head east and you're dropped right down town.

[aajn1983]

wow, a two-bedroom for 700 is awesome! move now! lol...

it's always bothered me that studios and one bedrooms apartments are never much cheaper than two-bedrooms, it's a slap in the face to single people, imo.

anyway, if your move is a year away, the only thing i would really focus on at this point is saving, saving, and more saving. otherwise, you're likely to overthink the entire situation and i think that's the one of the biggest (and most unnoticed) problems for people trying to move out of state.

renting without proof of income will be next to impossible. you might try subletting a room for the first few months that you're out here. a lot of homeowner's offering rooms to rent might be willing to rent to you w/o proof of employment if you just pay the entire sublease (2-3 months) up front. good luck on your move!

[TygrrEyzz]

Overthinking things is something that I am good at-- and something that keeps me posting on this forum! LOL. It might not be all entirely too good for me. :-)

Okay so that is SW neighborhood then? Argh, this whole time I thought that area was called the SE. Silly me. So Woodstock, Brentwood, etc... is the SW neighborhood?

For what it's worth I am planning on spending a week or two in Portland immediately before moving to hopefully get a job and an apartment. I wasn't going to try and do all of it online and on the phone, gosh I can't imagine I'd get anywhere doing that. Do you think that would give me a better chance of finding what I want?

I am dedicating this entire next year to putting as much money in the bank as possible. I would love to hand my landlord a check for the first 3 months worth of rent. Hopefully no one thinks I am stupid for asking this but why is everyone so strict on wanting proof of a job in Portland? I have come across a few complexes like that here in Des Moines but if you have the money in your pocket most places will let you sign the papers. If it comes up that you can't pay your rent, you're kicked out and they keep the deposit and that's that.

Thank you all for the information on that apartment. I appreciate it very much. It's interesting to get to see completely different views of the same place. I agree it probably isn't what I want for my Portland Life but it's good to know if it came down to it, I could afford it and be content at the very least. You guys have been great! Any more advice/info is greatly appreciated! Thanks.

[Copsgirl73]

Originally Posted by TygrrEyzz

Overthinking things is something that I am good at-- and something that keeps me posting on this forum! LOL. It might not be all entirely too good for me. :-)

Okay so that is SW neighborhood then? Argh, this whole time I thought that area was called the SE. Silly me. So Woodstock, Brentwood, etc... is the SW neighborhood?

For what it's worth I am planning on spending a week or two in Portland immediately before moving to hopefully get a job and an apartment. I wasn't going to try and do all of it online and on the phone, gosh I can't imagine I'd get anywhere doing that. Do you think that would give me a better chance of finding what I want?

I am dedicating this entire next year to putting as much money in the bank as possible. I would love to hand my landlord a check for the first 3 months worth of rent. Hopefully no one thinks I am stupid for asking this but why is everyone so strict on wanting proof of a job in Portland? I have come across a few complexes like that here in Des Moines but if you have the money in your pocket most places will let you sign the papers. If it comes up that you can't pay your rent, you're kicked out and they keep the deposit and that's that.

Thank you all for the information on that apartment. I appreciate it very much. It's interesting to get to see completely different views of the same place. I agree it probably isn't what I want for my Portland Life but it's good to know if it came down to it, I could afford it and be content at the very least. You guys have been great! Any more advice/info is greatly appreciated! Thanks.

No, Woodstock and Brentwood are NOT SE neighborhoods. Look on the bottom of CL ads too, sometimes the area/neighborhood is mentioned. For instance, the ad you linked says "SW" at the bottom. I think its reaching to think you may find a job and a place to live all during a weeks visit. And the reason for proof of income? Landlords want to get paid, they want security and to know that their tenants arent flakes. They would rather not take chances on folks. I thought this was the norm, no?

[hamellr]

Originally Posted by TygrrEyzz

Okay so that is SW neighborhood then? Argh, this whole time I thought that area was called the SE. Silly me. So Woodstock, Brentwood, etc... is the SW neighborhood?

Let me make it a bit easier for you. The North-South split is generally Burnside. The East-West split is generally the Willamette River.

Except for a portion of Portland that is "North," most everything fits into these areas.

[EnricoV]

The problem was with the listing. The map links at the bottom were just to "65th" and were placed in SE. But the address of the apartment clearly was marked SW.

[aajn1983]

Originally Posted by hamellr

Let me make it a bit easier for you. The North-South split is generally Burnside. The East-West split is generally the Willamette River.

Except for a portion of Portland that is "North," most everything fits into these areas.

yeah.

though, it's worth pointing out that burnside and the willamette are the dividers of north, south, east, and west. not "generally", but always.