Moving To PDX in February (Portland, Gresham: nice areas, areas, cheaper)

[Leisesturm]

I'll have you know that's prime PDX real estate you are being dismissive of. The light rail and streetcar run on Morrison. From the eastbound PGE station you can look up at the complex you are talking about. I don't think its quite finished. Not my idea of living. Nor is hearing "coming down the backfield! Passes to Anderson, lines up and GOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!" over the stadium speakers. But that's me.

H

[hummingbird3]

Originally Posted by amandap

Hey so I'm moving to PDX in February and i'm looking for a place to live. i'd love to look for something temporary until i get there and look for a more permanent solution, but i live 4 hours away right now. I'm working down town and would love to spend like $700 a month or less in rent. ideally i would love 2 bedrooms but 1 would work. any ideas? any help? all the places i can afford seem to be come income restricted. thanks for your help.

It sounds to me as if you are on the young side and liberal side (social worker). You're not going to be happy in Beaverton or anywhere west, IMO. Multnomah Village might be OK if you are closer to your thirties. East side is best for social life, young culture, and yes there are ways to get something decent for 700 but only one bedroom. If you're OK with sharing a place, 700 will get you something pretty darn good. Otherwise, you'll need to go further out.

I just left the Hollywood area a few months ago, and the place I left was the last good deal there. Everything is going up and fast. Too much gentrification and congestion, and if you have a car it will be difficult to find parking overnight anywhere near Trader's or the MAX line. Vandalism and theft too (cars). But a mile away it's still good, yet still on the expensive side.

It just sounds to me as though you'd be happier on the east side, and the MAX really is the way to go, although it crawls through the Rose Quarter and downtown on the way to 6th and Oak. Better to live in SE and take one of the many busses across one of the bridges. But then you're looking at sharing a place instead of your own apartment, unless you're willing to go over 750-800. Don't move anywhere between 130th and 160th on the east side. Lots of drug crime and low income population there. But you probably already know that. Good luck in your search!

PS Stay in a per diem or per week place until you can find something permanent. No need to pay motel/hotel fees. Look under sublet/temporary on Craigslist!

[amandap]

I'd be willing to pay a little more just depending on what all the other things are going to cost me. plus what's important to me now, may not be important to me after having lived there for 6 months or a year. there seem to be a few things to look at and i'm checking them out this upcoming weekend. i've got a friend in gladstone i can stay with, not my ideal but i could do it cheap enough till i can find something a little more to my liking. i'd rather not share a house, but we'll see where i'm at in a few weeks i might change my mind. haha

[amandap]

So i think that i've decided that i want to live near ohsu, or johns landing? possibly hollywood or laureldale. any ideas ? the things i thought i'd like turned out to be real crappy.

[Minervah]

John's Landing, Hollywood and OHSU are all very nice areas but I think you would have to pay more than $700 because they are also popular. I have never heard of Larueldale unless you mean Laurelhurst. That too is a nice area but again it might be more than you want to pay.

[amandap]

Well i have no idea, i just had a friend tell me she had lived in those areas and thought i could get something in my price range. is st. johns the same as john's landing?

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by amandap

... is st. johns the same as john's landing?

definately NOT the same.

St. Johns is north of Portland ~ 10 min 200' above the river on a Plateau (Near U of Portland is good... this would be South St. Johns area)
much of St Johns is not too good (lots of 'subsidized' housing)

John's Landing ~ 5 min south of Portland and along River. Pretty spendy and trendy

[amandap]

Thanks for the info. i'm coming up next week to check some things out still hoping to find a 1 bedroom in the johns landing area around 700 or so. i'm moving on the 20th or so so i'm really in a crunch here.

[hummingbird3]

Curious what you have found in this market. And what areas you've decided on. Sounds like you're thinking of John's Landing/OHSU area. Not sure what it costs over there but if it makes for an easy commute and nice surroundings while you're home, it makes sense.

[chocobot18]

If you want a 2 bedroom for less than $700 in the city of Portland, you would have to look hard. Even in the cheaper areas that is getting harder and harder to come by.