r/Eugene • u/Julesthewriter • Dec 01 '23

Is renting impossible?

Going through some renting struggles, wondering who can relate.

I already live here. I moved two years ago into a two bedroom for $1095 with two other adults who since moved out. The rent has since gone up to $1270, and I’ve managed to barely afford it on my own.

I now have two more adults I’m trying to get a place with. We found a spot in Eugene for $1370 (according to Zillow there’s 24 spots in Eugene Springfield right now for that amount or lower. Some of those “affordable spots” you have to contact the complex to find out what the rent is - probably not $1370.)

The company denied us, because we each individually need to qualify for the two bedroom apartment. I thought that was the point of applying with other people, to add up the incomes to make enough to pay rent.

Despite all three of us being adults (25+) with full time employment significantly above minimum wage, none of us qualify. Because of the rent increase, I no longer qualify for the apartment in which I currently reside.

Two of us don’t make enough, and they say the third doesn’t have enough rental history despite being a reliable tenant in the same unit for 8 years, despite making over $30 an hour.

At $1370, you need to work full time at $26 an hour to afford a place. Minimum wage is $14.20. If rent were to be affordable at minimum wage it shouldn’t exceed $760, yet there’s only two rental units on Zillow that much or cheaper in the entire Springfield Eugene area.

So are we just f*****? Is it just impossible to live and work in Eugene unless you want to move to the train tracks?

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10

u/BigHairyArsehole Dec 01 '23

Yea inflation in the rental market is out of control. We need legislation from Salem to combat this. Force landlords to keep prices lower! Good luck out there

-14

u/GingerMcBeardface Dec 01 '23

We need supply, not control.

7

u/BigHairyArsehole Dec 01 '23

Obviously more affordable housing is a huge need in Eugene and honestly the whole state. It just would be nice to have both I guess 😅

Salem continues to fail in many aspects of governance. Especially when it comes to housing and short term rental laws.

2

u/GingerMcBeardface Dec 01 '23

Agreed, but the same kinds of people keep getting elected. So we keep getting the same results.

Time for new people.

3

u/BigHairyArsehole Dec 01 '23

Oh I 100% agree with that! It’s all rigged anyhow. Don’t get me started on the Electoral College bs for the Presidential Puppet Show 🤬

-1

u/lolomgwtfuzz Dec 01 '23

Yep. That's the way I voted this last time round.

4

u/Aolflashback Dec 01 '23

“According to Zillow there are 24 spots in Eugene Springfield.”

the issue is the PRICE! There are plenty of places available, I see empty apartments for months all the time where I’m at, but for the smallest apt at the same complex it’s over $1400 a month. Absolute insanity. These multi-BILLION dollar INTERNATIONAL companies don’t GAF!

2

u/GingerMcBeardface Dec 01 '23 edited Dec 01 '23

Right, and here's an uncomfortable thing about the "free market" - you levy rent control. Those hig land holders? They just say cool, we aren't renting now. We are just going to hold on to these while we fight court battles and whittle your towns dry.

Rent control isn't the silver bullet. The issue HERE has been generations of nimbys limiting expansion and development in town, which has lead to a strangled supply.

"You see empty units all the time". No, we don't, I have friends in property management that do biweekly reports on pricing and availability in market and supply is at an all time low.

Edit to add: go look at what happened to Ireland's rental Market collapse when thr land holders took their balls and went home.

3

u/saucemancometh Dec 01 '23

We’re out here sharpening pitchforks, pal. Don’t come around here with a differing opinion on what the solution to the problem is!

7

u/GingerMcBeardface Dec 01 '23

Hey, an armed proletariat is a free proletariat. Don't let me stop you.

Just pointing iut that rent got worse not better with the passing of the existing rent cap.

Sharpen away my friend.

2

u/saucemancometh Dec 01 '23

Oh I’m fully on Team: SUPPLY. The free market is just doing its thing and without a violent upheaval of our entire economy, increasing supply is the easiest way to do it

1

u/GingerMcBeardface Dec 01 '23

Por que no los dos? upheaval AND supply!

3

u/CheckPrize9789 Dec 02 '23

Do both

1

u/GingerMcBeardface Dec 02 '23

Control is a great dissuader of additional iunits entering the market. Look what happened to Ireland.

The most effective "controp" would be state owned housing entering the market at artificially depressed prices.

1

u/CheckPrize9789 Dec 02 '23

This is exactly what I support, though it's important to point out that a reasonable price is going to be "artificially depressed" compared to a market in which prices have been artificially inflated to a ridiculous degree.

We are witnessing the consequences of allowing rentiers to dominate the real estate market and it is destroying the local economy right now. State housing provided at a limited rate of profit seems like a really good solution to me.