Moving to Portland in one year from Richmond, Va (Sunnyside: apartments, condo)

[PBC4130]

So I have done alot of research, some of it leading me to this site, and I think Ive made my mind up on moving to Portland. Im finishing up my nursing degree and will be an RN so finding a job wont be a problem, Ive heard its hard for service industry folks. I will probably work at the VA hospital or maybe OHSU. So I have some questions Im hoping you guys can answer for me, Ive talked to quite a few people in the area but its always nice to get more opinions.

1. I want to be able to ride my bike or walk (preferably) to work though Im not opposed to taking public trans if it will be economical and timely. Ive heard the Pearl district is nice, that Sunnyside is nice, etc. I'm looking for an area with lots to do, good art, a good venue for rock/punk/hxc shows, restaurants, etc. Where should I live? I should have between 800-1000 a month for rent if the salary is about what I think.

2. On that note, anyone know what kind of salaries RN's can expect out that way? Ive seen some stats on different websites but theyre either unreliable or cost money to view. I do know that the cost of living in Portland is very similar to that of Richmond so I would think salaries should be somewhat similar, if not more out there.

3. How bad is the weather really? I know this is tiring, but its the one thing thats keeps weighing on my mind. Here in Richmond, according to some climate reports, we get almost as much rain as you guys a year, its just all summer as well. Im a pretty active guy, I ride BMX (which your skateparks are perfect for), and I do alot of fishing on my kayak along with some camping/hiking as well. Is the rain so bad that I couldnt fish or camp/hike all winter long? I know the skateparks will be useless. I just dont want to sit around and get fat all winter with nothing to do but eat your good food and drink your dank microbrews. Are there clear days now and then because a friend told me you guys had something like 45 days of rain straight recently???

4. My girlfriend of 9 years will still be here in Richmond finishing up her doctorate of Pharmacy and I think shes pretty well swayed on moving to Portland as well. She's korean and I think I read that you guys have a decent asian market out there? Also, shes a shopper, what is that like out that way? I read mostly about awesome thrift stores, vintage clothing, etc. but shes more of a, I dunno, nice clothing not previously worn type. Is the fashion scene pretty decent? She hates the heat here and loves her jacket collection which would fit in nicely with the rain, haha.

5. Anything else I should know about or consider? I know I have more questions to ask but this is all thats coming to mind as of right now. Thanks a million guys and I hope to see you all about a year from now.

[oldtintype]

We did not have 45 days of straight rain recently! People pull stats out of no where on things like that all the time!

The weather is a personal thing. We get a lot of misty rain days, or days where it rains for a few hours and will be cloudy the rest of the day, or days where it doesn't rain but just threatens to and skies will be gray. We rarely get days with hard hard rain where you really can't go out--it's usually a light rain that stops and starts. If you're afraid to be damp or feel like if it's not sunny the majority of the time that's bad, then you may not like it. If you can deal with lots of gray days with light rain, beautiful days thrown in here and there, and a variety of half days--cloudy/wet in the morning, clear in the afternoon, etc. you'll be fine. There are very few days you couldn't go out and do what you want temperature wise, but if you're going to sit inside every day there's a bit of rain, the way some people seem to do (more common on this board than most places it seems), you'll make yourself miserable. I'm out and about just about every day doing what I want to do and I find I have a lot of company. My husband commutes to work by bike and I think there was only one day that he didn't ride this year due to ice. Goretex can be a very good friend. It's just an adjustment. I'd have a hard time adjusting to months of snow, or 115 degree days for months at a time so it's all relative.

[oldtintype]

Oh yeah, some areas you may be interested in: Sunnyside, Belmont, Hawthorne, Laurelhurst, Kerns, Clinton, etc. Anything inner east side and parts of inner north east will make a relatively quick and easy transport to the VA or OHSU. You can also just hook up with the aerial tram with your bike and get up the hill that way.

Your girlfriend may prefer NW/Nob Hill, NW 21st area or the Pearl, though she may like some of the inner east side areas too. Just depends. Prices will be a lot higher in the Pearl but you can still find some good deals in NW 23rd/21st.

[PBC4130]

Thanks for the info, is that the weather you would expect in the rainy months or all summer long too? It looked to me like the rain kinda dies off for 4 months or so during the summer.

For the locations, I wouldnt mind living in a nice studio or condo but would honestly prefer a small house, still within walking/biking distance to "where the action is". I have no desire to live in the suburbs in the sense of a place where you must drive to get to a restaurant/club/store. Are there any areas near the hospitals that could facilitate this? Id love to have a little back yard for a dog or a small garden, or a couple ramps I could ride when the skateparks are wet.

Also, on that note, and this might be a stretch, does anyone know where cheapish warehouse space is? Here in richmond my friends and I split the rent on a small practice space for playing music. Its in a pretty ****ty area of town but its dirt cheap and we can play all hours of the night. Anyone know if Portland has anything like this? Theyre pretty common in old warehouses/buildings here.

[John Shaft]

Like anywhere, RN jobs are in high demand. I have heard that getting hired at OHSU is a bit harder than elsewhere, but my wife had no trouble. However she had a few years' experience under her belt. That being said, she has mentioned new nurses joining OHSU so it still is a possibility. I don't know the wages for a starting RN at OHSU but I would expect $50K not to be too far off the mark in a hospital setting. Note: some of the hospitals in Portland are union, and some are not--OHSU is a union hospital. At OHSU you can, however, pay some kind of "non-voting" member dues for only $500/yr.

As for the weather, yes it very certainly is very rainy and cloudy from December through March (and April, this year). From June through August, it rarely rains and actually gets quite dry. And summer temperatures are very mild by southerner standards.

As far as living arrangements, the city of Portland is very much similar to what you are describing...walkable to local stores etc. You will generally pay a premium however for rent/housing. Due to the housing crunch, rental vacancies are extremely low right now which means rent prices will be going up.

If you end up working at OHSU, properties up on "Pill Hill" where the hospital is located are pretty expensive. You might consider the Johns Landing neighborhood which is just down the hill, although I don't think it will be quite as walkable/accessible as some others.

[Nell Plotts]

Originally Posted by John Shaft

...

If you end up working at OHSU, properties up on "Pill Hill" where the hospital is located are pretty expensive. You might consider the Johns Landing neighborhood which is just down the hill, although I don't think it will be quite as walkable/accessible as some others.

Well, they could bike to the tram, then levitate.

[EnricoV]

Music venues are going to be the hardest to work into a neighborhood. Especially if you're looking for a house. We do have indoor skateparks. And one under a bridge. So it's a year-round possibility. And it doesn't rain continuously, so you'll have dry days throughout the year.

I think the "fashion" scene is doing better, there's a plethora of high-end stores. And the no sales tax ought to help that bad habit.

Sounds like the things that are most important to you means you're going to want to find somewhere as close to the downtown as you can. Johns Landing is a good suggestion, as is Sunnyside. Further out, the Alberta neighborhood might do. Looking at the postings on Craig's List, there looks like a selection of apartments near OHSU, several houses split up into apartments in the Johns Landing area, too. All in your price range. The Pearl or Northwest is going to be tougher, but sounds like it'd be an area you'd like.

[Sunluvr]

I can only respond to #3 about the weather.

We may not have had 45 days of rain straight, but this has been a cold Spring. My heat is still on. While walking downtown on Saturday (and yes, we have a great downtown) it started sleeting. Same yesterday. And it is late April! I am actually on my way out of Oregon, moving to a much warmer place, and I can't wait. I've lived here 20 years and have never adjusted to the gray skies. Portland is a great city, great downtown, great restaurants, etc. The city itself is great. The weather, well it's just not my cup of tea. Summer is great, but it really doesn't start until July. More than one Rose Festival (the big June event) has been rained on. I have also spent more than one July 4 evening with a coat on! When the weather is good it's very, very good, but when it's bad it is awful.... (yes I stole that line from a children's book!)

Your girlfriend will like the shopping. Several malls, again a great downtown (Pioneer Square has some great shops), etc.

Try it. Sounds like you've done your research. If you don't like it you and your girlfriend have great jobs so you can always move. And you may love it. Good luck.

[PBC4130]

Originally Posted by EnricoV

Music venues are going to be the hardest to work into a neighborhood. Especially if you're looking for a house. We do have indoor skateparks. And one under a bridge. So it's a year-round possibility. And it doesn't rain continuously, so you'll have dry days throughout the year.

I think the "fashion" scene is doing better, there's a plethora of high-end stores. And the no sales tax ought to help that bad habit.

Sounds like the things that are most important to you means you're going to want to find somewhere as close to the downtown as you can. Johns Landing is a good suggestion, as is Sunnyside. Further out, the Alberta neighborhood might do. Looking at the postings on Craig's List, there looks like a selection of apartments near OHSU, several houses split up into apartments in the Johns Landing area, too. All in your price range. The Pearl or Northwest is going to be tougher, but sounds like it'd be an area you'd like.

I know all about Burnside but you cant really ride bikes there unless you go early AM. Skaters are pretty territorial about it. You guys have a ton of nice concrete parks and are building more, its basically going to be the Vancouver, BC of the states for bmx/skateboarding.

Could anyone give me an address in Sunnyside and one in John's Landing, just for reference on google maps? Ill be living here for approximately one year solo while my girlfriend finishes Pharmacy school here in Richmond. Once she moves here and gets a job, granted we want to stay in Portland, we would probably move to the pearl Im guessing. Basically Im the type who likes to live in what Richmond calls "The Fan", the artsy, dive bar infested, indie hipsterish area and she lives in "The Bottom" which has all your high end bars and restaurants. The Pearl would be more of a high-end situation right? Gotta make the lady happy first, I can bike wherever.

[gypsydoc]

There are some websites under property management and many of them have houses for rent listed. Here is one of them. Hope it helps!

Portland Houses and Homes For Rent Portland, OR

I've been here almost 9 years and this is the longest, coldest spring in my experience. The spring, when it comes, summer and gorgeous falls will more than make up for this. Sometimes, Cinco de Mayo is lovely and warm... followed by dragging out coats again for the Rose Festival. The Blues Festival is usually great, and 4th of July can see coats or not. Swimming in the ocean at the coast is for the brave with very high metabolisms to keep warm, or polar bears - and I'm not one of them... but there is easy, free access to the entire coast, incredible scenery, shells, rocks, tide pools and the like. Would I want to live elsewhere? No. I'll just be glad to see sun this year. Also, I've spoken with a few folks from other areas of the country lately and they're having a slow spring start as well... or at least more roller coaster temperatures than usual.

We don't have the many vacant warehouses like you may be used to. .. In fact I don't personally know of any that would be availble for late night music... The ones there were got condoed in the Pearl, for the most part... and if there are others, I'm not sure where. I know artists are looking for that type of venue.. and they have a difficult time as well.

Best wishes in your move here!