The Pearl District and Portland’s West
Hills are two of the priciest and most
desirable places to live, if you enjoy the
finer things in life like high-end shopping
and sweeping views of the city. The Pearl
District is home to many converted warehouses, as the area once served as the city’s
industrial zone.
Northeast: Northeast Portland is often
considered more settled and grown-up than
its neighbor quadrant to the South. It’s still
a great place for families, but the hipness
factor is going up these days — thanks to
hip families and singles, alike.
Mississippi Ave and Alberta Arts District
are two of the newest trendy neighborhoods, with young, artsy crowds flocking to
both. You’ll find Portland’s favorite chains
on these strips — drool-inducing storefronts include Salt & Straw ice cream and
Little Big Burger.
But there’s much more to Northeast Portland than the newest cocktail bars and
boutique clothing shops. Some of the more
diverse areas of Portland inhabit this part
of the city too, like the King neighborhood
along Martin Luther King Blvd.
Northeast Portland is a reflection of how
fast the city is changing as whole, but still
hanging on to the heart of its character.
North Portland: You might call it “NoPo”
if you wind up calling North Portland
home. This neighborhood is left out of the
city’s traditional four quadrants of reference
(SE, NE, SW, NW) but North Portland is
increasing in popularity as a place to call
home. You tend to find more established
Portlanders rather than transplants in this
part of town — but newcomers will find
plenty to appreciate here, from the Kenton
neighborhood’s 30-foot-tall Paul Bunyan
statue, to the stunning St. Johns bridge
and its gothic construction rising over the
well-trafficked Cathedral Park.
North Portland is arguably the least accessible to downtown, with an approximately
twenty-minute commute, but the affordable
housing options make up for the distance.
INSURANCE REGULATIONS
AND TENANT RIGHTS
As a renter in Greater Portland, just like
in any other city, it’s important to understand the rights and regulations that apply
to your living situation.
When you rent a home from a landlord or
a management company, you’re entering
into an important legal relationship that can
have a significant effect on your quality of
life. It’s crucial that you’re comfortable with
this relationship, and feel good about the
person you’ll be dealing with when renting
your home.
Reading the lease and understanding your
rights is the first step to entering a positive
relationship with the owner of your home.
Due to the high demand and low vacancy
rates of apartments in the Portland area,
it’s also important to know these things
well in advance. Once you find your perfect
apartment, you won’t want to delay. Understanding the small print, before you start
your search will point you in the direction of
the path to your perfect place.
Renter’s Insurance: Property owners in
Oregon are required to insure their buildings, but that insurance does not protect
tenants in the event that your property is
stolen or damaged. That’s what renter’s
insurance is for.
Renters insurance will also protect you in
the event that the apartment is damaged as a
5 TENANT TIPS
1
Be prepared. If certain rental properties are in high demand and
are selective in renting or leasing to applicants, you will gain a
competitive edge by having the following information with you: a
completed rental application; written references from landlords,
employers, friends and/or colleagues; and a current copy of your
credit report.
What you should know
2 Carefully review all the important conditions of the tenancy before you sign on the dotted line. Your lease or rental agreement may contain a provision that you find unacceptable, such as
restrictions on guests or pets, design alterations
or running a home business.
3 Purchase renters’ insurance to cover your valuables. Your landlord’s insurance policy
will not cover your losses.
4 To avoid misunderstandings, keep copies of any correspondence with the landlord and follow up any oral agreements with a letter, outlining your understanding. For example, if you ask your landlord to make repairs, put your request in writing and
keep a copy for yourself. If he or she agrees orally, send a letter confirming this fact.
5 Learn whether the building and neighborhood you are considering are safe. Get copies of any state or local laws that require safety devices such as deadbolts and window locks; check out the property’s vulnerability to intrusion by a criminal, and learn whether criminal incidents have already occurred.
Source: www.nolo.com
