from Alabama to Portland! need help w/rentals in Hawthorne District (for sale, apartment complex)

[skaloi]

Hi everyone! My husband and I are moving to Portland after graduation in Decemer 2008 from Huntsville, AL. We're VERY interested in the Hawthorne District (read: in love with it, as much as we can be from just seeing it on the Internet), and would love to rent something there. We have never visited Portland, and have no clue about apartment building names, etc.

We're interested in renting a house OR apartment in the district. Can anyone give me names of specific buildings to search for? A google search with "hawthorne district portland oregon apartments" doesn't really turn up actual building names, and since we won't be able to visit before we move, we have to rely solely on what we can find online.

We need a 2-bedroom, dog (under 30 lbs) friendly place, but if someone can just give me names, I can figure out whether or not they offer that.

Thank you so much!!

[ozymango]

Well, nowadays "Hawthorne" has sorta branched out (pardon the pun) to include Belmont street, unless you're a hardcore traditionalist ... :-) ... so you've got a few more options there ...

Doing a cold move where you haven't even visited the area would make me a bit nervous, as even all of Hawthorne doesn't really look like Hawthorne anymore ... if you're going by what you find on the web I'm guessing the real "heart" of Hawthorn might be 21st up to 50th ...

Anyway, forget the apartment complex searches, you can find what you need at Craigslist:

craigslist: portland, OR classifieds for jobs, apartments, personals, for sale, services, community, and events

Just search in the Housing/Apts section, key word "Hawthorne." I don't know what prices are in Huntsville but I strongly suspect you'll encounter sticker shock when you see the rents, but still, it is Hawthorne. I'd also search on "Belmont," as it's getting almost as trendy and it's just a few blocks over (Belmont runs parallel to Hawthorne).

You might even search on "Clinton" street but that's on the other side of Division and has pockets of cool-ness and not-so-cool-ness. Good luck on the move!

[Portlander]

Search 97214 and 97215 and you will find things throughout the Hawthorne corridor and the surrounding neighborhoods. 97214 is closer to downtown and 97215 is quieter. In addition to Craigslist you could also check individual property managers' websites and Housing Connections. The last 2 times I helped friends find rentals we drove the streets and found places with signs that were not listed anywhere...

[Minervah]

The last 2 times I helped friends find rentals we drove the streets and found places with signs that were not listed anywhere...

I have been living in this area for around 20 years and that is really the best way to look for a place in the neighborhood if you can possibly do that or have someone do that for you. Posting "For Rent" signs is usually the method with individual property owners who don't use property management companies. The property managment company I used to rent from used to put signs out but then they began to aquire waiting lists so the apartments get rented as soon as they become available in their buildings.
I would check out Craig's List, The Oregonian (online) and also online for the names of Portland realtors and find out what they have or maybe get your name on a list.