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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u/negiman4 Dec 01 '23
Yeah it's ridiculous. Just keep looking. My bf and I were stuck in a shitty 1br apartment for $1000 for years before we found the place we're in now. It's our first time living in a house, albeit a very small house, and it's only running us $1300, water included. Appliances are relatively new, looks recently renovated within the last 10 years. Backyard. Driveway. 2 bedrooms. Large kitchen. Not a bad deal, given the circumstances.
It's worth noting that we were extremely lucky, and we had to fight tooth and nail to get it. I'd rather own a house, but lol good luck with that.
It is doable. But the good deals are eaten up really quick and have loads of competition. My advice is to keep looking, every single day. Keep tabs on property management services, big and small. Give them a call once in a while to see if you can get in on a listing they don't have posted yet. Try to get hooked up with a private landlord.