PSU’s Daily Vanguard has produced an excellent Renter’s Guide. The guide is aimed at PSU students returning for the fall term, but the information presented can be useful to anyone looking to rent in Portland.
The articles include a Renter’s Manifesto, explaining renters rights, and responsibilities. Tips from an industry insider on how to secure your “dream apartment” (though this sounds unlikely on a student’s budget). A Craigslist apartment-hunting saga. And budgeting and TriMet guides.
The guide includes articles that focus on the pros and cons of several areas around town: On campus, Downtown, Northwest, Southeast, Northeast (including North), and the ‘burbs.
Good stuff! It’s amazing the difference state to state when renting. Up here, they charge a non-refundable “move-in” fee. Sometimes a few hundred dollars. I have no idea what that is. I would expect a move-in fee means I’m paying beefcakes to move my stuff. I got no help! WTF!
Heather, the “move-in fee” is something we do when times are good (for landlords)–like now. It offsets the costs of the bad times for landlords (2001-2003) when we had to offer you $200 off your first month rent to get you to move in. It all works out evenly over time, methinks.