Eviction? Really need some advice (Portland: rent, credit report, houses)

[jaynschool]

I just recently began looking for a new place to live and an eviction from 2006 popped up on my record. i really need to find a place near portland so i can keep going to school. I have recently come across some money, but it doesn't seem to matter when u have an eviction huh? Does anyone out there know of a private owner where i can rent a place.....

[subsound]

Certainly need to find a good private person renting out a room or group that needs a roommate. There are a good number out there, the problem is that many places to find one are inundated with scammers. I would check the campus newspaper, or there might be boards around campus (or online)...though my advice is pretty general places to start since I've done it when I was in college, just not around Portland.

Be very careful of craigs list though, there are good people on there but there is a lot of people that are abusing it. Remember the rules of thumb...
1) Never wire money, ever.
2) Never deal with people who say they are out of the country.
3) Never let some one mail you the keys after giving them money.
4) Never send a credit report for "pre-approval", especially with an agency they require.
5) Be wary of renting houses for a steal, often they just take the deposit and don't own the house.
6) Always investigate deals that seem too good to be true, they usually are.