It's been nearly six years since my ex threw me out - been renting a room ever since (excluding a brief period of homelessness), and I figure it's about time for me to find my own place.
My must-have requirements are pretty light - I want to be close enough to work in the downtown so that I can take mass transit (or alternatively, at least close enough so that I no longer have to cross the Columbia river with the freeway nightmare that entails), I need a place to park my car, and it's gotta have a dishwasher. Washer/dryer hookup would be nice, onsite coin-op or nearby laundromat is acceptable. Other than that, it's just got to be in a reasonably safe part of town.
Easy, right?
Wrong.
OK, I haven't officially rented in nearly 20 years. Things haven't changed that much, right?
Wrong.
Advertisements lie. (OK, so that hasn't changed).
A hint to advertisers and property managers:
* A 30-60 mile commute to downtown is not "close-in". Nor is it "close to everything". I think it could more accurately be described as "way the fuck out" and "not anywhere near anything, ever".
* A 300 square foot studio for $900 "near" one of the more desirable areas (The Pearl), but actually in one of the least desirable areas (Old Town) is not a "great deal". It's more like prison rape than a good deal.
* The junkyard district is not a "great area".
At this rate, it's going to be weeks before I even find something I want to look at.
My must-have requirements are pretty light - I want to be close enough to work in the downtown so that I can take mass transit (or alternatively, at least close enough so that I no longer have to cross the Columbia river with the freeway nightmare that entails), I need a place to park my car, and it's gotta have a dishwasher. Washer/dryer hookup would be nice, onsite coin-op or nearby laundromat is acceptable. Other than that, it's just got to be in a reasonably safe part of town.
Easy, right?
Wrong.
OK, I haven't officially rented in nearly 20 years. Things haven't changed that much, right?
Wrong.
Advertisements lie. (OK, so that hasn't changed).
A hint to advertisers and property managers:
* A 30-60 mile commute to downtown is not "close-in". Nor is it "close to everything". I think it could more accurately be described as "way the fuck out" and "not anywhere near anything, ever".
* A 300 square foot studio for $900 "near" one of the more desirable areas (The Pearl), but actually in one of the least desirable areas (Old Town) is not a "great deal". It's more like prison rape than a good deal.
* The junkyard district is not a "great area".
At this rate, it's going to be weeks before I even find something I want to look at.
