Moving to Portland with potentially no job prospects? (fit in, apartment complex)

[eeford]

Hello everyone,

I am hoping to move to the Portland area next summer. I will be graduating from a dietetics program in MI and am hoping to land a job before I leave, but supposing I can't do that right away...how hard is it to secure an apartment with no steady source of employment? Can a person just pay first and last month's rent and still find a place? Or do you have to pay for the entire year (12 month lease)? Or is it just plain impossible to try to do that? If anyone's moved to Portland without a job and found an apartment to live in before finding work, please please please let me know how you did it or where you found housing?

Thanks a million to all who reply!!!

:-)

[Adamson865]

Don't move without a job, period. The employment picture in PDX is iffy.

[Washougal]

It's going to be difficult to rent anything in a standard apartment complex sort of place. They will all want to see current employment and will verify your work status.

My advice to you would be to look at craigslist.org and find rooms for rent. There are very nice areas of Portland (hawthorn, nw 23rd, Laurelhurst, thurman) where rooms are rented out quite cheaply, compared to individual apartment prices. You wouldn't have your own place but some people like living in a full-size house and sharing a Kitchen. Since the owner usually lives there too, they will often bend a little on requiring a current job if you pay a full deposit, plus first month, and explain your situation.

It also has the side benefit of being less lonely. You will need human contact in the winter! It get's really really dreary here for about 8 months out of the year and depending on how outgoing you are, it may take some time to build up a network of friends here in P-town. I found that people here were very reserved when I moved here at age 23, six years ago. It took me a year or so to learn the customs and break down the walls...I was from Hawaii by way of Texas so I did know how to get along with all sorts of different cultures, but the NW is vastly different than anything I've experienced. Think urban hippy yoga hipsters and you'll get the picture. It's definitely a little weird out here. Good luck.

[brandonlbrinegar]

you sound like you lack ambition and want to roll with the wind, you will fit in with these types here.

[Supernova7]

Originally Posted by Washougal

It's going to be difficult to rent anything in a standard apartment complex sort of place. They will all want to see current employment and will verify your work status.

My advice to you would be to look at craigslist.org and find rooms for rent. There are very nice areas of Portland (hawthorn, nw 23rd, Laurelhurst, thurman) where rooms are rented out quite cheaply, compared to individual apartment prices. You wouldn't have your own place but some people like living in a full-size house and sharing a Kitchen. Since the owner usually lives there too, they will often bend a little on requiring a current job if you pay a full deposit, plus first month, and explain your situation.

It also has the side benefit of being less lonely. You will need human contact in the winter! It get's really really dreary here for about 8 months out of the year and depending on how outgoing you are, it may take some time to build up a network of friends here in P-town. I found that people here were very reserved when I moved here at age 23, six years ago. It took me a year or so to learn the customs and break down the walls...I was from Hawaii by way of Texas so I did know how to get along with all sorts of different cultures, but the NW is vastly different than anything I've experienced. Think urban hippy yoga hipsters and you'll get the picture. It's definitely a little weird out here. Good luck.

I have read many posts and heard from various sources the things that your describing. Especially about the eight months of depressing, cold and wet weather and how difficult it is to get to know people. Honestly, for a supposed "liberal" community I find that quite shocking but then again not all people who claim to be liberal and socialist act in such a way. It's more of a makeshift label that people disguise themselves with. My impression is that Portland is not much different than any other city in the U.S. with regard to people. In America people's attitudes seldom shock me. However, I would like to believe, based on what I have read, that Portland has a unique feel to it, one of great tolerance and libery. I guess I'll assess it for myself in due time.

[Supernova7]

Originally Posted by eeford

Hello everyone,

I am hoping to move to the Portland area next summer. I will be graduating from a dietetics program in MI and am hoping to land a job before I leave, but supposing I can't do that right away...how hard is it to secure an apartment with no steady source of employment? Can a person just pay first and last month's rent and still find a place? Or do you have to pay for the entire year (12 month lease)? Or is it just plain impossible to try to do that? If anyone's moved to Portland without a job and found an apartment to live in before finding work, please please please let me know how you did it or where you found housing?

Thanks a million to all who reply!!!

:-)

It's better to have a job lined up. However, many people move to different cities without a job and end up securing work in no time. Either route will work fine depending on your level of courage, risk and confidence. You can find an apartment or rent a room provided you have income, they usually don't care unless you're renting from a premium Management Company. I suggest you have 6 months of savings prior to relocating to any city.