Renting in Portland is not as easy as it once was. The rental market has been exceptionally tight for several years and it seems to be getting even tighter. Where once a family could find an affordable house to rent in the Hawthorne district, those homes have largely been renovated and sold.
But don’t despair: There are still plenty of fantastic rental opportunities ready to be discovered. The following websites will make your search quick and simple:
Craigslist
Tried and true, Craigslist is one of the best resources for finding a place to rent in Portland. You can narrow down your search with criteria for the number of bedrooms/bathrooms and the price range you are seeking.
Additionally, the Craigslist now has a “favorites” function whereby you can click the best candidates and save the list for later. Don’t wait too long, though. Once you have a list of three-to-five candidates, go ahead and contact them to arrange a viewing. The market is tight, so act fast if you like a listing.
Rentals.com
This site caters to large apartment complexes and buildings in the Portland area. Its interface is very robust and includes useful features such as slideshows. If you are interested in a particular development, this is a great site, as it details the availabilities for each apartment community. Rentals.com allows you to click on available units and review a floorplan.
Zillow.com
Zillow’s website is primarily location-focused. Use their interactive map to explore available rentals in your favorite parts of town. It’s interesting to zoom in on your most desired neighborhoods to see what the overall rental market looks like.
Zillow is also a great place to find a single-family home to rent. Each listing provides a good deal of information for prospective renters, including bed/bath numbers, photographs, and school information.
You can also save listings for later review with your partner or family. Be sure to follow up on your favorites as soon as you can. Rental space goes very quickly in Portland these days.
Bonus Tip: Prepare a Cover Letter
Especially when seeking a single-family home to rent, you may want to be prepared with a cover letter for the owner that details why you and your family are great tenants. You might tell them something about your kids, your career, and your goals for the time you spend renting their house. You likely will not be the only prospective renters, so anything you can do to set yourself apart will be helpful.
Once you find your dream rental, contact Priority Moving Services for quick and easy moving services. Our friendly professionals are committed to providing you the best customer service possible. That’s why we continue to be the highest ranking moving company in the Portland metro area.