How is this map outline for apartment searching? (Portland, Sandy: apartments, rental)

[DrexlerMcStyles]

I have a friend that lives in Portland now, we used to be neighbors in Venice Beach and like the same kind of mixed, old neighborhoods. She knows I want to avoid the yuppie and hipster scene and can afford about $750 per month. She suggested NE Portland. These are the Boundaries she wrote up for me:

North - Ainsworth/Killington
East - 60th
South - Division/Powell
West - The River

That being said, she said the cream of the crop within this map is between 11th & 42nd. above the 30/84

What do you think? Any suggestion, disagreements, or comments of any kind?

All help is greatly appreciated

[sharkylittleton]

I'm pretty sure you won't avoid the hipster scene anywhere from...

North - Belmont
South - Powell
East - 12th
West - 50th

You might be able to live off a sidestreet within these boundaries and not be bothered but the main arterial streets (Belmont, Hawthorne, Division) are pretty trendy.

Originally Posted by DrexlerMcStyles

I have a friend that lives in Portland now, we used to be neighbors in Venice Beach and like the same kind of mixed, old neighborhoods. She knows I want to avoid the yuppie and hipster scene and can afford about $750 per month. She suggested NE Portland. These are the Boundaries she wrote up for me:

North - Ainsworth/Killington
East - 60th
South - Division/Powell
West - The River

That being said, she said the cream of the crop within this map is between 11th & 42nd. above the 30/84

What do you think? Any suggestion, disagreements, or comments of any kind?

All help is greatly appreciated

[philwithbeard]

Originally Posted by DrexlerMcStyles

......That being said, she said the cream of the crop within this map is between 11th & 42nd. above the 30/84

What do you think? Any suggestion, disagreements, or comments of any kind?....

If I understand correctly, your friend has suggested looking North of I-84, between NE 11th, and NE 42, which is along side of NE Broadway.

That is known as Sulivan's Gulch, and the southern part of Irvington neighborhoods. Extending East into a part of Hollywood Neighborhood.

Yes, that is as your friend described, 'cream of the crop'.

But know this, there are some apt. bargains (rent money wise) to be had along NE Sandy Blvd. Which is just south of I-84 and meets up with Broadway and NE 42. (Yes, inside joke, the "Hollywood" district is Broadway and 42nd street.)

From my apartment search back in August, and early September, I found the rent prices in that area had a large fluctuation in rent depending on how near the bus lines (and bus stops!) the buildings were. The more blocks you are willing to walk to a bus stop, the lower the rent.

Turn-over of apartments is kind of slow in that area, it is more of a Post-a-Sign and the apartment will be rented. My impression (and it just an impression) is a lot of Health Care workers live in the area your friend suggested; long hours, rotating shifts, exhausting work. Little tolerance for the loud party types, but there be lots and lots of places for you to let off steam not far away.

I don't have my notes anymore, but I am sure that there was a real quiet place for (about) $750 for a two bedroom + Utilities. That may be a bit of a reach for you. Also, you need to check out the car parking in that area, as it could be a bit of a problem. Off street parking is at a premium, and may cost extra.

If you find a place in that area, you will love it.
(BTW: a few hidden small apartment buildings along NE Multnomah and NE Clackamas streets near NE 22nd and NE 24th or so.)

Phil

[Minervah]

One thing you may want to keep in mind, while you may be able to find a great place for your price, rents go up quite often and sometimes the increase is quite a bit. Unfortunately, salaries do not seem to keep up with rent increases.

So you have to keep in mind that what you can afford today may not be affordable for you in a year or even less. If you are lucky you may be able to obtain a lease although I have not found many landlords who don't rent month to month. Possibly the larger rental managment companies do. And it never hurts to ask if you can have a lease if one is not offered.

[DrexlerMcStyles]

Originally Posted by Minervah

One thing you may want to keep in mind, while you may be able to find a great place for your price, rents go up quite often and sometimes the increase is quite a bit. Unfortunately, salaries do not seem to keep up with rent increases.

So you have to keep in mind that what you can afford today may not be affordable for you in a year or even less. If you are lucky you may be able to obtain a lease although I have not found many landlords who don't rent month to month. Possibly the larger rental managment companies do. And it never hurts to ask if you can have a lease if one is not offered.

Thats funny, almost everything we found online was Lease only or offered both. I know in most states theres a limit (%) that they can raise the rent annually. Is that not the case in Oregon?