Looking for areas with affordable rent with-in 45 minutes driving time

[Minervah]

Originally Posted by wanderbygrace

There are several houses on CL right now for around $1,200 in PDX.

Regardless, you must take into consideration cost of transportation if you are in outlying areas. For a very distinct comparison, if you are commuting an extra 20 miles each way per day at 20mpg at $4/gallon (which is where gas is headed), that's $176 per month for a 22 day workday month. That turns that $1,000 home in Sandy into $1,176. And again - that doesn't include wear/tear or aggravation, such as this morning when US 26 was moving along at 20mph in Sandy, due to the snow/ice.

$1200 for 3-4 bedrooms? I checked Craig's List and did not see any. I know a friend of mine was looking for a house to rent last year and she did find a smallish two bedroom for $1200 in North Portland.

I do agree with you that if the OP finds a suitable house in the 'burbs or any town outside of Portland he should factor in travel costs. The point I am trying to make is I don't think he will find a 3-4 bedroom house in Portland in his price range. So whether he has to pay in transportation costs or housing costs, it's going to cost more that $1200.

[wanderbygrace]

Originally Posted by Minervah

$1200 for 3-4 bedrooms? I checked Craig's List and did not see any. I know a friend of mine was looking for a house to rent last year and she did find a smallish two bedroom for $1200 in North Portland.

I do agree with you that if the OP finds a suitable house in the 'burbs or any town outside of Portland he should factor in travel costs. The point I am trying to make is I don't think he will find a 3-4 bedroom house in Portland in his price range. So whether he has to pay in transportation costs or housing costs, it's going to cost more that $1200.

Very first one on the page when I typed in 1100-1300 for Multnomah county 3 bedrooms.

1 1/2 bath house, recently redec, fncd both, quiet street, 2 car gara (http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/apa/2853807468.html - broken link)

4br, 2k' for $1,199 Foster/Holgate area.

[Minervah]

Originally Posted by wanderbygrace

Very first one on the page when I typed in 1100-1300 for Multnomah county 3 bedrooms.

1 1/2 bath house, recently redec, fncd both, quiet street, 2 car gara (http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/apa/2853807468.html - broken link)

4br, 2k' for $1,199 Foster/Holgate area.

Well I stand corrected.

[christiner81]

Originally Posted by wanderbygrace

Very first one on the page when I typed in 1100-1300 for Multnomah county 3 bedrooms.

1 1/2 bath house, recently redec, fncd both, quiet street, 2 car gara (http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/apa/2853807468.html - broken link)

4br, 2k' for $1,199 Foster/Holgate area.

there must be a typo?, because when i put in that address it's a 2bd house about 1200 sq ft.

PortlandMaps Detail Report

can anyone make sense of that?

[SETabor]

Illegal bedrooms in the basement.

[Bluesmama]

Boy! Since you're a year out from moving, why don't you fit in a few days to visit the area, rent a car, and check things out for yourself? And be sure to do this during the work week. Opinions vary, but there are many people ~ both native and transplants ~ who find commuting highly frustrating here. It all has to do with traffic flow and it depends on "where". It's one thing to just drive for 45 minutes and another to battle traffic snarls.

45 minutes would allow you a number of places to choose from. Check into the St. Johns area where rent should be more reasonable than, say, downtown or parts of SW.

Or try Beaverton or Hillsboro, especially in areas nearer to mass-transit. Because then you would have the option to NOT drive if you decide that traffic is a pain. It would be nice to have that little bit of freedom, and rents should be lower in spots.

Tigard commute to Portland can be a bear.