Independence, OR 69 Apartments for Rent with Balconies

A suburb of nearby Salem, Oregon, Independence is home to about 8,500 residents. It was founded by honest-to-goodness pioneers (you know, the ones you killed with dysentery on the _Oregon Trail _on your elementary school's Apple IIe). Elvin A. Thorp founded a town called Thorp's Town of Independence in 1845. Two years later, Henry Hill founded Henry Hill's Town of Independence. Someone wised up to this nomenclatural inefficiency and incorporated both areas as Independence. As late as the 1950s, Independence's economy was largely based on its position as a shipping port on the Willamette (that's Wi-LAM-it) River, a hub for both rail and boat for lumber and agricultural products. These days, Independence is a thriving community along with its neighbor and twin Monmouth. And since progress took a bit of a holiday from Independence, its great historic core was saved from modernity's bulldozer approach to city redevelopment in the 1950s and '60s. View Independence City Guide

Balconies are a coveted amenity for many renters looking for high-rise views and opportunities for fresh air. However, you should keep in mind that balconies often come with restrictions.

Before signing a lease, ask about how many people can be on the balcony at once. Also, ask about whether you’re allowed to store a bike or other items.

You’ll also want to know about any maintenance schedules. Using your balcony as storage could result in fines and intervention from your property management.

Keep in mind that not all balconies are created equally. You may discover the views of the parking area are less than optimal or reduce your overall privacy.

Balconies can also get messy with debris, foliage, dirt, and pollen depending on your location. Renters are typically responsible for any clean-up and basic balcony upkeep.

Regardless of the issues to keep in mind, balconies are usually a big win for Independence renters. Ask about apartments on higher floors for the best views.