Moving To Portland? Seven Things to Think About Img ©
1. You Won’t Have Gas Problems Here!
More specifically, you won’t have problems pumping gas. That’s because you won’t be able to do it. Way back in the fifties, Oregon mandated that people be trained in order to pump gas. Why? Because proper training reduces hazards, safety standards are hard to enforce against untrained customers, liability insurance is expensive for self-serve gas stations, grime and slick services are reduced with proper training, that grime is harmful to senior citizens, people who need full service because they’re disabled shouldn’t have to pay more for it, toxic fumes are dangerous, toxic fumes are dangerous to pregnant women, exposure to gasoline should be limited to as few people as possible and… There’s more. Really, all of those justifications and more are written right into the statute!
2. Insurance In Portland Is Cheaper Than You Expect
You’ll need Portland Renters Insurance, and it will be very affordable. Most people pay well below the national average. Credit is a factor, of course, but it’s not as significant a factor as it is in other states. Portland renters insurance is a cheap way to protect your family. It’s also a cheap way to protect yourself against being sued by someone who “think” you injured them but really just wants a quick payday. That’s why your policy includes defense coverage.
You Can Save A Bunch Of Money On Your Renters Insurance And You Won’t Even Have To Do This! (XKCD)
3. The Entire City Is One Big Water Ride
As in, you can expect to get wet because it rains constantly. You know how there was that flood, and then that rainbow that said there would never be another flood, and the rain got turned off… Yeah, so they forgot to turn it off in Portland and you can expect forty days and forty nights worth of rain every single day. Prepare yourself accordingly, and expect to be commuting by boat approximately half the year.
Actually, that’s what they call hyperbole.
It really doesn’t rain all that much in Portland, relative to the stories people will tell. You can safely move here without needing to know how to sail.
4. You Can Afford To Live In Portland
So, if you lived in San Francisco, it would cost you a cool million or more to buy a home. Seattle might set you back half that for the home of your dreams. Portland? In our beloved, affordable Portland you can buy a home for under $250k. The added benefit to this is twofold.
First, it means that the city is full of jobs that pay reasonable salaries. That’s good for everyone, including you. When salaries aren’t inflated, other things don’t get inflated in return, and prices stay in the “sane” range. Compare, again, to the price of absolutely anything in the Bay Area.
Second, it means that you can afford to rent in Portland. Whether it’s a long-term plan or you just need a few months to find the perfect home, Portland rents are reasonable for a city of its size in this area. That leaves you with less stress and more money to enjoy all of the other things that Portland has to offer, especially because you can buy affordable Portland Renters Insurance for your apartment.
The national average price of renters insurance is just $187.00, according to the III. That works out to as little as fifteen dollars per month. The vast majority of families can budget renters insurance easily at those prices.
Additionally, it's important to note that renters are at a significantly higher risk of experiencing loss than homeowners. Renters occupy roughly one third of total housing stock in the country, and yet they are fully fifty percent more likely to experience theft than homeowners, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics.
It only costs a few dollars a month to protect your family, and this cheap renters insurance is a great way to mitigate the additional risks that come with being a renter.
Renters insurance in Portland is often much less than that!5. Portland Cares. A Lot
Politics are important to most people who live in Portland. But it’s not the traditional two-party system you’ll find elsewhere. Here, you’ll find more varied and nuanced opinions. Some of those varied and nuanced political opinions will make Bernie Sanders look like a Republican. Portland falls heavily to the left of center, but there will always be arguments and debates to be had. If you’re political, you won’t have a problem finding things to talk about with people here!
The fact that Portland cares is also reflected in the city itself. The same kind of people who care about social issues and politics and fairness are also the kind of people who care about what their city looks like and feels like. You’ll find people making an effort to make Portland more livable in their own individual ways every day, and that’s never a bad thing.
6. No Regressive Sales Taxes
“Regressive sales tax” is, of course, redundant, but you knew that. We’ll spare you the explanation, but see #5 above. Oregon has no state sales tax, which is good for business and good for you as an individual. It’s lovely to live in a place where the price marked on the shelf is, in fact, the price of the item. It’s also lovely to live in a place where you get to keep more of the money you worked so hard for.
Oregon does, of course, have an income tax – services have to be funded somehow – but it’s not generally seen to be an onerous one. If you don’t make much, you won’t pay much, and vice versa – in theory. Many people believe that the lack of a sales tax is part of the reason for the growth of the city of Portland.
7. Don’t Drive In Portland
Not because the drivers are crazy, of course – they’re not. But because there’s really not much reason to. The city has worked hard to accommodate bikes. Portland has buses. Portland has commuter rail. Portland has light rail. Portland has streetcars. Portland even offers paths for bikes and people on foot.
Many other cities claim to be friendly to alternative transportation options, but Portland is the one people think of first when they think of places that they can live without having to drive or deal with terrible traffic every day.
If You’re Moving To Portland…
Remember that most rentals here are vacated with only 30 days notice. You won’t have much luck if you’re looking for housing several months in advance, except perhaps in the larger complexes. Many of the rentals are offered by way of signs that people see when they walk past, rather than on Craigslist or other corners of the internet, so being here is a definite advantage.
On the other hand, it’s easy to get renters insurance for your new apartment here in Portland. Just call (800)892-4308 or click to get covered - whether you need Oregon renters insurance quotes online or coverage anywhere else!
Effective Coverage offers the nation's only completely mobile platform to quote and purchase renters insurance right from your phone or tablet in just one minute. Get an online renters insurance quote today and protect your family.
What's Your Insurance Language?
- Do You Need Renters Insurance ASAP? Check out the fastest way to buy renters insurance online and get covered in just 60 seconds!
- Do You Feel Like Talking About It? Just call Effective Coverage and a renters insurance expert can help you get great coverage in minutes.
- Do You Need Some Time Alone With Your Thoughts? We understand, which is why we created the Oregon Guide To Renters Insurance.
- Just Want To Watch A Movie Together? See our Video Oregon Renters Insurance Guide!