Portland Apartment Reviews - Portland Apartments

Information About Portland Apartments

Portland has a lot going for it: the beautiful city is the “Greenest City in America,” and Popular Science names it as one of the greenest in the world. Its weather is temperate, its economy thriving, and its arts and culture scene remarkable in its diversity and depth. Portland is an exceptional place to live, but moving, even to the best of cities, can be stressful. Having a plan and knowing where to go for resources and information can help make your Portland apartment search a bit easier.

The first thing you should do, if possible, is give yourself time. Life doesn't always allow that, but if you can give yourself a month or two to find a Portland apartment. This helps ensure that you find one that is convenient for work, school, stores, and other amenities, as well as your budget. In this time, take a look at your credit report to check for errors. If you see anything that needs correcting or any outstanding bills that you can pay, now is the time. Good credit helps you secure better housing.

Set a budget. It can be hard to do this as you're looking at apartments and feeling the pressure to settle into a place. One bedroom apartments in Portland typically rent for $730 to $1000. The cost of living in Portland is about 20 percent higher than the national average, so this is something to keep in mind as you apartment hunt.

To start your search, take some time to check out Portland's various neighborhoods. While some will offer less expensive rents, it is important to consider the safety and convenience of the area in which you are going to move. Some areas to consider in Portland include: Downtown, Cedar Hills, Forest Heights, Garden Home, Woodstock, Rock Creek, Park Rose, Rockwood, North Portland, Northeast Portland, and Northwest Portland. Another good resource to use to check out the neighborhoods of Portland is NeighborhoodScout. Simply click on the interactive map for more detailed information. Forums are another great source of specific neighborhood information. Also look to apartmentreviews.net for help and advice.

Next, find several sites that have listings for Portland apartments for rent. There is any number of national sites that allow you to search by city. ForRent, ApartmentGuide.com, Apartments.com, Rent.com are all helpful and offer incredible ease of use. You can search by the number of bedrooms or bathrooms, price range, neighborhood, and amenities. If there are apartment move-in specials available from landlords or building owners, this is where you will find them. Often, you can get a discount move-in rate, discount rental rate, or other incentives.

Rental locator sites like those mentioned above offer a great way to target and categorize apartment listings. When confronted by dozens or hundreds of possibilities, it is helpful to narrow them down to find the Portland apt listing that is right for you. Create a short list and then contact the landlord or building owner. You can often check availability online, which helps you save time as well. As good as an apartment looks online, never sign a lease until you physically see the property and have a chance to ask the landlord or leasing agent questions.

Having a clear plan helps reduce stress, and it will help you find the best Portland apartment for your needs and budget.