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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Ashland High School's robotics team's season ends at district meet Ashland Independent Film Festival report: Documentary about building Russell Brand New park gets first major tree Police Reports Oregon Shakespeare Festival honored for preserving history Education Bracing for Common Core Ashland Kiwanis recognize Lillian Huang Chautauqua series brings author Jane Hamilton to Ashland Ashland Runs on Volunteers: OLLI classes pay dividends in joy of teaching, learning New Southern Oregon University board votes to bump tuition nearly 5 percent in the fall Environment Lots to celebrate at SOU Arbor Day rites Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 Mt. Ashland hopes coming storm will reopen ski area Wild Side: Selfish and other reasons for saving endangered species Business Ride & Drive: 2015 Ram ProMaster City Ashlander starts up a natural pet food supplement business Should workers be paid at least $15 an hour? Ride & Drive: 2016 Mazda CX-5 Cars We Remember: Car lover knows his 348/409 engines Politics and elections Arthur I. Cyr: Britain’s earthquake election Council wants changes to agreement with ODOT for I-5 welcome center Arthur I. Cyr: Afghanistan progress is uneven but undeniable Jackson County Commissioners plan no tax on marijuana for first year Grassroots group campaigns for Plaza paver do-over State News Runners to follow historic salmon migration path Nation - World Tsarnaev convicted on all charges in Boston Marathon bombing Obituaries Lawrence R. Hugo III Death Notices Gordon Geeseman William D. Enyart Death Notices Shareable Sports Latest Stories Grizzlies blow away Eagles Hits just keep on coming Ashland readies for Pacific Rim Bowl Baldrica sets pace for AHS girls SOU women's hoops coach Kennedy leaves to take Portland State job High school Grizzlies blow away Eagles Hits just keep on coming Baldrica sets pace for AHS girls Ashland High events postponed to today Upset-minded Raiders swept by No. 17 Concordia Southern Oregon University Grizzlies blow away Eagles Baldrica sets pace for AHS girls SOU women's hoops coach Kennedy leaves to take Portland State job SOU-OIT softball games moved to Wednesday Upset-minded Raiders swept by No. 17 Concordia Voices Latest Stories Letters to the Editor, April 11 Herb Rothschild Jr.: How we get along Matthew T. Mangino: Shooting a fleeing suspect in the back Our View: Ashland is prepared, Firewise Jeffrey Gillespie: Ditching the Western burka Editorial Our View: Ashland is prepared, Firewise Our View: Council should stop stalling on welcome center Our View: AIFF does Ashland proud Our View: One tree vs. the Ashland community Our View: Ashland climate plan: Small steps add up Letters Letters to the Editor, April 11 Letters to the Editor, April 8 Letters to the Editor, April 7 Letters to the Editor, April 4 Letters to the Editor, April 1 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Fremont cottonwood is not a hazard Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Guest Opinion: Hannah Thomas-Garner's father thanks the Ashland community Guest Opinion: Ashland is asking for trouble with new room rental rules Columns Herb Rothschild Jr.: How we get along Matthew T. Mangino: Shooting a fleeing suspect in the back Jeffrey Gillespie: Ditching the Western burka Guest Opinion: Fremont cottonwood is not a hazard Arthur I. Cyr: Britain’s earthquake election Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Community blog: Submit a poem Best Bets, April 9-16 Rhythm is on tap at the Northwest Percussion Festival Community blog: Get a poem a day A Country Cajun Revival comes to the Unitarian Theater Ticket Availability Ticket availability in Ashland theaters, April 7 Ticket Availability Ticket Availability Ticket Availability Music The Farr Side: Is Kelly Clarkson’s weight truly news?  Rhythm is on tap at the Northwest Percussion Festival The Farr Side: No Zayn Malik? One Direction stays the course A Country Cajun Revival comes to the Unitarian Futureshock: Kendrick Lamar release points to road ahead Visual Art More films, excitement than ever for AIFF Ashland's First Friday Art Walk Movies Movie review: ‘The Longest Ride’ is a sweet ride Movie Listings: April 10-16 'Furious 7' — buckle up for another great ride Movie review: Suspend all belief in reality — ‘Furious 7’ is just fun Movie review: The action is even more insane in ‘Furious 7’ Food and Drink Business profile: Couple opens second Pita Pit in Ashland Tot owners buy Playwright, hire Amuse chef Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Community Blog: Judgment and Misery Poet laureate joins art lovers in Medford App Finder: Top humor apps Looking Up: Watch the Lion chasing Jupiter Health Watch: Combat common running and walking ailments Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Rogues: Tales from the Valley Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Runners to follow historic salmon migration path ... Ticket Availability ... Ashland Independent Film Festival report: Documentary about building Russell Brand ... Runners to follow historic salmon migration path ... Ticket Availability ... Ashland Independent Film Festival report: Documentary about building Russell Brand ... NERDWALLET Survey: Ashland is an affordable rental market Typical ratio of rent-to-income is below 30 percent Comment By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Dec. 9, 2014 at 6:14 PM By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Dec. 9, 2014 at 6:14 PM » RELATED CONTENT • A 'seller's market' • Rental owners report few vacancies • Affordable housing proposal for the city » Social News Ashland and Medford placed in the top five places in Oregon to rent in a survey by the consumer site NerdWallet, which based its ranking on affordability, units available and jobs nearby. Ashland was number one. Medford was number five. How did an expensive burg like Ashland score atop the list? It may be spendy, said NerdWallet analyst Spencer Tierney, but that’s countered by the fact that Ashlanders spend only 22 percent of their income on rent, well below the recommended ceiling of 30 percent.  In addition, Ashland does well on the “rent-to-price” ratio (18.65), which means that, all things considered — taxes, insurance, yard maintenance, appliances, repairs — your monthly cost will be lower if you rent. Because of these positive factors, Ashland has only a 5.8 percent vacancy rate, the study says. That’s very low. It means there’s high demand and that means rents will go up. It also means “renting in Ashland is much cheaper than buying a house,” Tierney said.  That may help explain why 44.9 percent of Ashlanders rent, according to Tierney’s report. Still, says Ashland renter Cindy Zinn, “It’s not really affordable. It’s an expensive town. I have kids and would like a more affordable town. It’s somewhat hard to come up with every month. I’d like to buy, but I don’t think about that.”  Landlady Lena Price, owner of a duplex, said she loves her renters and has stabilized their rent for years, even though it’s worth more. However, she adds, “It’s a hard place to rent something affordable. People constantly ask if I know of anyplace for rent.”  In Medford, 48.8 percent of housing units are rented — and they pay 22 percent of median income for rent, says the report. Medford’s rent-to-price ratio is a low 13.9, meaning it’s very smart to rent instead of buy. It’s vacancy rate is 4.3 percent, says the study. “This absolutely makes rents go up,” says Lee Dunn, president of the Southern Oregon Rental Owners Association. “It’s supply and demand.” The area economy has to get over some hurdles laid down by the 2008 Great Recession, Dunn says, including getting home buyer credit scores up (to enable borrowing) and getting builders back in the market and able to build new rental units.  Despite trashed credit ratings and low job opportunities, rents have continued to climb, he adds, with nothing under $450, except studios going for $400. Regardless of price-to-ratio, he says, “It’s a good idea to buy, as the market has bottomed out. Homes aren’t on the market as long and we’ve seen little increase in price, so if you can fine a nice home in a good neighborhood, you need to buy.”  The expansive 104-unit North Poplar Village in Medford has zero vacancies and the reason is not far to see. They offer one- and two-bedrooms in the $735 to $880 range and that comes with all appliances, including washer/dryer, repairs, yardwork, sewer and water, says manager T.C. Clay.  One Poplar Village renter, retiree Kathy Servatius, says she has owned homes and wouldn’t dream of doing it again.  “Who would want to sell a house in this rotten market? And if something breaks, you are responsible. Here, we just call the owner and say my water heater just took a dump and that’s it. It’s quiet and well-kept. You meet people and you’re close to all the good stuff of Medford.”  Klamath Falls was the only other city in southwest Oregon to rank on the list at number seven. It has 52 percent renting (the second highest in the top 10). The vacancy rate was 7.4 percent because of a youthful population, surveyers said. In the study, availability was based on the percentage of renter-occupied units, plus the vacancy rate, says Tierney. The jobs score is based on work access, median household income and average commute time. Affordability was based on the Zillow database for rent-to-price ratios and other factors.  Using rent-to-price guidelines, under 15 means renting is very smart, over 21 means buying is the way to go and the range in between means use your judgment. By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Dec. 9, 2014 at 6:14 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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