Neighborhood ideas (Portland, Gresham: apartment, rental, hotel)

[raubre]

Hello. I was just in Portland last week and I fell in love with your city. I am hoping to relocate sometime in the next couple of years and wondered what neighborhood would be right for me?

A bit about myself. I'm a 38 year old gay male. Into the arts (music, concerts, movies, pop culture, etc.) Into trying new kinds of restaurants, entertainment, going for walks in parks. Looking for convenient shopping as well as access to the Trimet (whether it's bus, street car or rail.) But I am also looking for something affordable (one or two BR apartment, doesn't have to be fancy, just practicle.) (Right now I am paying 525 for a 1BR in Pittsburgh.)

I stayed at a hotel in Nob Hill last week and liked the neighborhood a lot. I also spent a good amount of time in the Pearl District and liked it as well. I think those would be good fits for me, if I could afford them.

I do have some friends in PDX that can help me, but I am also looking at various other opinions as well.

Thanks you!

[Nell Plotts]

Frankly you can live in any neighborhood, just like a heterosexual, assuming you can afford the rent. You need to determine your priorities nearer the time you anticipate moving.

[davemess10]

You're not going to find anything in Portland for that price, so expect a pretty hefty increase in your housing expenses. At that price you might be able to find something Gresham, but that's not even in Portland.
For the NW neighborhoods you describe, minimum rent for a 1 bedroom is going to start at $900-950/month.

[raubre]

Originally Posted by davemess10

You're not going to find anything in Portland for that price, so expect a pretty hefty increase in your housing expenses. At that price you might be able to find something Gresham, but that's not even in Portland.
For the NW neighborhoods you describe, minimum rent for a 1 bedroom is going to start at $900-950/month.

That is what I figured. I can probably do it if I cut corners. Nothing is really set in stone. Just looking at options.

Thanks for your help!

[Minervah]

My neighborhood in close-in SE is also priced at $950-$1000 for a one bedroom apartment. If you are very lucky and happen to be around when the "For Rent" signs go up, every once in a while you can find one for around $850.

But you do not have to stick to the more trendy popular neighborhoods. The farther away from the city, the less expensive. Portland is not all that large so you can go pretty far from the core and still not be too far away. Some of these neighborhoods are experiencing upgrading but are not yet as expensive as those already gentrified.

Google "Portland Neighborhoods" and you will find a lot of information about the areas.

[raubre]

Originally Posted by Minervah

My neighborhood in close-in SE is also priced at $950-$1000 for a one bedroom apartment. If you are very lucky and happen to be around when the "For Rent" signs go up, every once in a while you can find one for around $850.

But you do not have to stick to the more trendy popular neighborhoods. The farther away from the city, the less expensive. Portland is not all that large so you can go pretty far from the core and still not be too far away. Some of these neighborhoods are experiencing upgrading but are not yet as expensive as those already gentrified.

Google "Portland Neighborhoods" and you will find a lot of information about the areas.

Thanks! How is public transportation in those further out areas?

[Minervah]

Originally Posted by raubre

Thanks! How is public transportation in those further out areas?

Some good some not so good. Tri Met is in the process of cutting back on bus service. If you stick to major lines ( I am only familiar with the SE part of town) you can do okay.

The #14, #15 and #4 are probably the most frequent. If you find an area you like you can look up the Tri Met website to determine what bus covers that area and how often it runs. Some, like the ones I mentioned, are considered "frequent service" routes and run evey fifteen minutes.

These buses are considered major lines and go from downtown to the burbs in some cases or pretty far out in the city.

If you choose the Hollywood neighborhood, you can live near the MAX but you would be paying a higher rent.

You may want to look into the Lents or Montavilla neighborhoods.

[davemess10]

Originally Posted by Minervah

You may want to look into the Lents or Montavilla neighborhoods.

She mentions these are they are right on the MAX line. Granted Montavilla will cost you a good bit more than Lents, as it's considered more desirable and closer in (which it is a bit closer to downtown as Lents is pretty far south).

Are you talking about transit as an actual commuting tool, or just to use once in a while?

There was a nice upstairs apartment in my neighborhood (Mt. Scott) which is kind of outer SE, it was a good place with about 750 feet one bathroom, nice redone bathroom and kitchen, and access to a garden plot, right around the corner from the park and community center and pool. It was renting for $800/month. We actually thought this was a pretty good deal, as it was really nice. The rental signs were up for 2-3 weeks, which was surprising. But that gives you just one example of what's out there. You could probably get a much worse place for $650-700.

[raubre]

Originally Posted by davemess10

She mentions these are they are right on the MAX line. Granted Montavilla will cost you a good bit more than Lents, as it's considered more desirable and closer in (which it is a bit closer to downtown as Lents is pretty far south).

Are you talking about transit as an actual commuting tool, or just to use once in a while?

There was a nice upstairs apartment in my neighborhood (Mt. Scott) which is kind of outer SE, it was a good place with about 750 feet one bathroom, nice redone bathroom and kitchen, and access to a garden plot, right around the corner from the park and community center and pool. It was renting for $800/month. We actually thought this was a pretty good deal, as it was really nice. The rental signs were up for 2-3 weeks, which was surprising. But that gives you just one example of what's out there. You could probably get a much worse place for $650-700.

I don't have a car so I was using transit as an actual communting tool