Moving Back to Portland - Need Some Information (Burns: apartment, rental)

[jgmedanth]

Hey all,
I moving back to Portland after 5 years of being in Cleveland, OH.
Moved here to work on my PhD, and missed Portland every moment.
Now that I am moving back, I have a few questions for the natives, if anyone has time to give me some info. I will need to rent a place for my partner, me, and the cat that is walkable, close to public transport, etc. You know, the typical needs for a Portland neighborhood. We would like to live in SE near Hawthorne, Clinton, or any other area that we can walk and use public transit to downtown. With my grant, I think we're on a budget of $800-900/mo for rent.
1. When I got my last place around SE 26th, I used a rental referral agency that was located closer in on Hawthorne by the movie theater and Vincente's. Is this place still there? Can't remember name or anything.
Is there a service similar right now in the city? I payed $75 I think and they gave me listings that weren't in the newspaper, so I didn't get stuck going to apartment buildings.
2. What is rent like now in SE? I payed $625-650 for a I bdrm on SE 26th in 2003. Ideally, we'd like a duplex.
3. Are they any other areas of the city that are worthwhile to look at renting that I'm missing? My friend rents in NE, but he can't really walk to groceries, store, etc. What about over by Laurelhurst?
Well, any advice you can give would be great. I just need to get re-oriented back to the city after being away for 5 years. I know I'm asking about a trendy neighborhood, and its expensive, but my partner fell in love with Hawthorne area while we were there last summer visiting.
Thanks!

[oldtintype]

Rents are a lot higher now. I know the place you're talking about but with Craigslist I don't know that they're in existence anymore. Landlords used to have to pay to list with them. SE 26th near Burnside now is really happening--more so than even Hawthorne in many ways as restaurant row is on SE 28th and it's full of people. If you haven't checked out that area recently you might want to give it another look! Lots to walk to.

You might be able to find a 1 bedroom duplex in Hawthorne for that price ($800-900) but you'll be out of luck for a 2 bedroom. You might be able to find a 2 bedroom apartment at that price but it's competitive.

[jgmedanth]

Thanks for the info...yeah, I kinda figured it would be like that in Hawthorne.
I actually like it a little better over at 28th/Burnside, too!
I will continue to look around.