Madison to Salem, advice! (Portland: apartment complexes, lease, job market)

[heliotrope_rick]

Hello,

I'm looking for insight/advice from people in the Salem area on local apartment complexes. I'm looking to relocate.

A little background: 35, male, Administrative Professional, 2 cats, I have lived in Madison WI most of my adult life but spent 2 years in Portland from 2008-2010. Looking to relocate back to Oregon in June. I currently have $7k put away in savings for the prospective move, Salem is appealing for a number of reasons: proximity to wilderness areas, safe, decent cost of living, small, fairly healthy looking job market.

It was easy to move to Portland 9 years ago because I didn't have these 2 cats and all it took was finding a room for a few hundred bucks a month on Craigslist. But my roommate days are over. I've had my own place for 8 years and I can't fathom going back to rooming unless it was only for a few weeks.

I'm torn between flying out there for a week and going a blitzkrieg 1 br or studio/efficiency apartment search or taking a chance on applying for a place without seeing it. Anyone have advice? Pickings seem relatively slim. I check Craigslist everyday. A lot of places don't accept pets, some places don't accept out of state applicants, some places are affordable and accept pets then I read reviews on yelp or elsewhere and it's nothing but horror stories. Prime example is Willamette Terrace on Bush Street and on Owen, run by Encompass Management. Affordable, accepts pets, but apparently management is crap, loud kids running around, all the typical horror stories.

Then there's the bias of out-of-state applicants with employment. The experience in my field is: Why would we hire an Administrative Assistant for $16 from 2,000 miles away when we have a pool of local applicants to pick from?

Set me on the right course. I want to be living and breathing Oregon in a couple months. Thanks

[5gables]

Originally Posted by heliotrope_rick

Hello,

I'm looking for insight/advice from people in the Salem area on local apartment complexes. I'm looking to relocate.

A little background: 35, male, Administrative Professional, 2 cats, I have lived in Madison WI most of my adult life but spent 2 years in Portland from 2008-2010. Looking to relocate back to Oregon in June. I currently have $7k put away in savings for the prospective move, Salem is appealing for a number of reasons: proximity to wilderness areas, safe, decent cost of living, small, fairly healthy looking job market.

It was easy to move to Portland 9 years ago because I didn't have these 2 cats and all it took was finding a room for a few hundred bucks a month on Craigslist. But my roommate days are over. I've had my own place for 8 years and I can't fathom going back to rooming unless it was only for a few weeks.

I'm torn between flying out there for a week and going a blitzkrieg 1 br or studio/efficiency apartment search or taking a chance on applying for a place without seeing it. Anyone have advice? Pickings seem relatively slim. I check Craigslist everyday. A lot of places don't accept pets, some places don't accept out of state applicants, some places are affordable and accept pets then I read reviews on yelp or elsewhere and it's nothing but horror stories. Prime example is Willamette Terrace on Bush Street and on Owen, run by Encompass Management. Affordable, accepts pets, but apparently management is crap, loud kids running around, all the typical horror stories.

Then there's the bias of out-of-state applicants with employment. The experience in my field is: Why would we hire an Administrative Assistant for $16 from 2,000 miles away when we have a pool of local applicants to pick from?

Set me on the right course. I want to be living and breathing Oregon in a couple months. Thanks

I've been looking at apartments on the Salem Craigslist recently and looks to me like more places available than usual. I think it might have something to do with end of term for Willamette University. However, moving anyplace without a job lined up would be a risk I'd never take.

[Silverfall]

Originally Posted by heliotrope_rick

Then there's the bias of out-of-state applicants with employment. The experience in my field is: Why would we hire an Administrative Assistant for $16 from 2,000 miles away when we have a pool of local applicants to pick from?

Most landlords will want to know that you can pay your rent. They look at debt to income ratios. So if you have no job, I don't see you getting a lease easily.

I know these apartments take cats because I found them for a client.

Village at Creekside - https://www.apartments.com/village-a...em-or/lnh7nnf/

Overlook Point - https://www.apartments.com/overlook-...em-or/3fdq1mf/

Silverwood - https://www.apartments.com/silverwoo...em-or/g4bmy4y/