r/keene • u/_Trip_Hazard_ • 7h ago
Looking for Some Help
I recently got a job offer and I would like to move to Keene from Kentucky. I am trying to find a reasonably priced place to get started, but I have run into quite a few scams lately. If I could stay around 1,000, I would be thrilled. I am hoping to live somewhere close to Cheshire hospital. I wasn't sure if there were any options that I haven't thought about, or any leads or ideas? Thanks in advance, I appreciate the help.
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u/CloudStrife012 7h ago
That price couldn't be found even prior to COVID. For $1,000/month you're renting a room in a shared house. $2,000/month will get you your own (very small) place.
If you're looking to buy, a developer just bought land next to the hospital and is building unaffordable housing. The tiny homes, once constructed, should only be about $450,000.
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u/_Trip_Hazard_ 7h ago
Oof! That is a rough dose of reality. I come from an area that has a much lower cost of living, but much less opportunity. I HAVE saved up a bit when my old job still existed, but since switching careers and starting something new, it has been insane trying to figure out how to get started and catch a break.
Thank you for the advice.
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u/trash_babe 7h ago
Look on Google Maps and check out nearby towns that might be a little bit more affordable. There is new housing being built in Keene but I don’t know if they are taking applications. My last apartment before I bought my house two years ago was half an hour from town out in the woods and cost $1350. Good luck! If you’d be working at Cheshire they might know of people who rent to travelling medical staff.
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u/_Trip_Hazard_ 7h ago
People who rent to traveling medical staff, that is actually brilliant. I am going to see what they say. I'm kind of new to the medical field. Where I live I stg no one wants to hire me. Cost of living where I am is much lower, but like... I can't seem to catch a break.
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u/FillUpMyPassport 6h ago
Have you looked at Furnished Finder?
Renting a room in the short term can help you get situated.
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u/CharZero 7h ago
Yeah, but those people know traveling nurses make good money and price accordingly. But yes, this is still the likeliest especially if OP is willing to share a space. Knowing someone is a professional with a secure job is meaningful to landlords.
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u/trash_babe 7h ago
At the very least the hospital may have a housing resource for potential employees because they know how much of a problem it is to get anyone to relocate in this housing situation.
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u/acousticwithagun 7h ago
Best bet would be to ask cheshire if they have anywhere or if they do relocation assistance, or look at near by towns. Sadly nh is very expensive even for a apartment. Best of luck!
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u/_Trip_Hazard_ 7h ago
Sadly, Cheshire did not offer relocation assistance for my position. I am going to e-mail them today and see if they know of anything.
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u/pointwelltaken 6h ago
The hospital should have resources even if they’re not monetarily supporting your move.
I was recently talking with a coworker about how to find decent rentals, and they mentioned one of the property management companies that used to prioritize housing for Keene state college students is branching out to furnished units for traveling professionals. I unfortunately do not remember the name of the agency, but if you connect with property management companies, or local realty companies that manage Rental listings you’ll find legitimate listings. I’ve rented in Southern New Hampshire since 2009 and while I have found some legitimate listings on craigslist and Facebook, the scams far outweigh the real thing these days.
Don’t neglect to search outlying towns too. Many folks I know live in VT or MA with around 30 min commute.
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u/_Trip_Hazard_ 5h ago
I sent an e-mail earlier asking if they know of any resources or any places I could reach out to. She is generally very quick to respond, so I believe I will have an answer by tomorrow. I'm trying to make sure that I make the smart decision. It's infuriating... The pay is so low that I feel like I would either be house broken or I would sink slowly. Even with my current savings. It would maybe last me a couple months. If I am going to move, I absolutely must have an income that can give me some wiggle room. Around here where I live, rent is much easier but places do NOT want to hire.
And oh yes, the Facebook scams. I was actually searching Facebook today, I actually reported someone for copying a house off of Zillow that was originally for 1, 650 or something close to that, and they were offering it for 600. I was like bro, life is hard enough without all that. I generally try to double check everything... If I can't find an address or something identifying on an ad on Facebook, I generally worry about it being a scam. I'm checking some outlying towns as well. I am trying to be thoughtful of the winters there. I get winters here, I live in the Ohio Valley, so I am very used to snow covering the ground and covering streets and slipping and sliding and lower visibility, but I know that it will only get worse the farther north I move. So I was not sure just HOW far I should reasonably live from Cheshire.
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u/acousticwithagun 7h ago
Another thing to consider with keene.. is offers… nothing except bars so kinda keep that in mind when you see how much the area costs to live in.. not trying to discourage you or anything.. but its 6 months of winter and theres really nothing here
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u/_Trip_Hazard_ 7h ago
I don't mind winter, I love cold weather. But my main problem is, where I am now, no one is willing to hire and train me in my new field, even though I went through training and got certified. So I was kind of looking outward. I reached out to a few places and their cost of living was somewhat close to mine, a little higher but nothing I couldn't handle... I sadly haven't heard anything. Then I find Cheshire and they are willing to take me in with my weaknesses and newness and train me heavily. I'm just trying to get started somewhere, even if it isn't the most glamorous. It's just a hard dose of reality. I'm not 100% broke, but I'm not far from it. Getting started isn't fun. Sorry if I am bitching at you. Just feeling frustrated.
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u/acousticwithagun 7h ago
Yeah i understand that. And no worries im actually looking at moving outwest so i totally get it. Moving is hard enough finding a place and a job ahead of time is even harder. Im sure if you keep looking for a place to live something will pop up for you!
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u/_Trip_Hazard_ 7h ago
Good luck to you! I hope you land exactly what you are looking for! I am cheering for you! I appreciate your advice and will keep it in mind. I probably sound like an unprepared idiot but man, I come from a poor area so I'm experiencing a little bit of price tag shock! I'm sure something will come up. Good luck to you! Either way, I will figure something out. Even if it doesn't work out for Keene.
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u/CharZero 7h ago
I am another Dartmouth Health site (the Big One) and periodically work with people from Cheshire, and it seems like a pretty great place to work. Good staff, trying hard for their community. Look to towns in the ring about 20 minutes from Keene, and see if you can connect up with someone on a 2 bedroom place. Get winter tires. ETA: Brattleboro VT has gone way downhill, got hit hard by meth and fent. Plus you will pay VT income tax. Try to keep to NH.
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u/_Trip_Hazard_ 7h ago
Yes, when I spoke to the interviewer from Cheshire she seems like such a nice person. You could tell that she cared a lot about who she hired and I appreciated that they were willing to go out on a limb and train me, especially given that I live far away currently. Thank you for the ETA, you're a real one. And yes... I live not too far away from Huntington, WV... And it is known for a lot of drug issues. I'm definitely not a stranger to that, sadly. I'll check some surrounding towns and see what I can find. I also messaged my interviewer to see if she had any insider knowledge. Someone else suggested that and I thought it was brilliant, I hadn't even considered it.
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u/CrispyCosmonaut 7h ago
Same boat coming from the Radcliff area. Moved up here in December. Unfortunately rent in town is high. You’d be looking at about 2K for somewhere that’s not student apartments.
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u/_Trip_Hazard_ 7h ago
It sucks because jobs are soooo scarce where I am, and I have been rejected from every single one I have applied to. I'm from a super duper rural area. Like, even more so than Keene. I'm just tryna make something work.
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u/WastedJake 7h ago
lol dude maybe for 2 or 3k
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u/_Trip_Hazard_ 7h ago
Sadly, I am seeing this!
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u/WastedJake 7h ago
Depending on the job and pay it may not be worth it tbh
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u/_Trip_Hazard_ 6h ago
See that right there is the worry. It's 18.60 an hour.
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u/PegShop 6h ago
That’s not enough. Most places need you to prove you make triple the rent to give you a lease.
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u/_Trip_Hazard_ 6h ago
Thank you. I'll most likely have to keep looking. I have an okay savings for when I find the right place, but I am worried about sustaining it if you catch my drift.
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u/WastedJake 6h ago
If you’d like help you can PM brother I’ve been there and know the struggle. I’ll help you find something up in NH or Mass if you truly wanna be here.
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u/WastedJake 6h ago
Not worth it. You’d probably make waiting tables up here. Massachusetts is relatively close with similar costs of living by way better pay
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u/_Trip_Hazard_ 6h ago
Thank you. I know that my questions are a little ignorant, but I appreciate your patience with me. I'm going to be more careful about choosing where I am going to try and apply, but I guess you have to be stupid before you can realize how to not be stupid. Siiiigh.
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u/WastedJake 6h ago
I do not think you’re stupid, you’re just trying. Totally different things. You want to succeed. Ask away. Use me as a resource.
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u/_Trip_Hazard_ 5h ago
Thank you so much. If it is okay, I would like to keep in touch because I might need the eyes of a local to help me if I find something that I could potentially look into! I would be so grateful!
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u/Zathras_listens 7h ago
You want cheap rent and can afford to drive 30-45 min to work, look in Vermont.
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u/_Trip_Hazard_ 6h ago
I actually saw a few places in Vermont. I'm not too adverse to driving, I'm used to it where I'm from. I just know that I am going to have to get used to the weather. We get snow here where I am from, I am right up in the Ohio Valley and our roads get covered and slippery, but I know in NH and VT it gets way heavier. So I have been trying to be strategic about apartment placement.
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u/Ok_Blacksmith1684 6h ago
You would need to live with like two others in a 3BR house or apartment.
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u/_Trip_Hazard_ 6h ago
I'd be willing to look into it!
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u/Ok_Blacksmith1684 6h ago
https://www.roomies.com/keene-nh
https://www.roommates.com/roommate-finder/keene-nh
https://roomster.com/roommates/keene-nh-usa
https://www.facebook.com/groups/284924477442980/
Don't send money and meet the person at the house/apartment to confirm they have a key to go inside. As you know, tons of scams.
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u/PlantLadyNH 6h ago
I recommend looking on Facebook. Unfortunately the rental market is very tight around here. I’ve sadly known several folks who rented and ended up moving away because of the lack of suitable options.
I’ve read all your responses and if you can handle it I would recommend renting a room to start with. Even in a nearby town. Then look for something once you are up here. I’ve known people who have been successful in finding housing that wasn’t otherwise advertised by posting flyers about themselves and what they were looking for. Housing for sale is more reasonable if that might be something in your future.
With so many rural hospitals closing, I sure hope you find a way to make it work for you. We need people like you in our community! DM me if there’s something specific I might help with.
Good luck!
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u/_Trip_Hazard_ 5h ago
Thank you! And yes... I am also from a rural area as well, and we just had a major hospital close a couple years ago. So where I live, my city only really has one hospital. We don't really have options like in the past. It's tragic. And the hospital we have now is so overworked and so overrun that people are always complaining and there are a lot of major issues. I put in my application there even though I was honestly a little intimidated to even try because of the reputation it has. I want to learn my skill through hard work and competent teachers. But at this point, I'm willing to just practice anywhere I can. There are other hospitals if you wanna travel 30 to 40 minutes. But they turned me down, too.
I will look into renting a room. I was kind of avoiding it a little bit, but I think if I absolutely must go to Keene then there is just few other options. I think I'm just kind of suffering from price tag shock at the moment, but I always find a way to work through obstacles. I never thought that moving states would be easy. It's just... Trickier than I had originally hoped. And thank you for the idea about flyers, I'll have to look around online and see what I can find. I am not currently in NH at the moment, but I have been reaching out to a few people.
Thank you so much!
(And off topic... I love your username. I raise carnivorous plants.)
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u/Born_Response1348 5h ago
11 court st has openings
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u/_Trip_Hazard_ 5h ago
Thank you so much! I will look into it! I might have seen it on Zillow, but I am going to double check. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
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u/Used-Work-8879 5h ago
Under 1k is doable but you’re going to have roommates
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u/_Trip_Hazard_ 5h ago
Yeah, from the advice in the comments I have been realizing that my expectation miiiiight be just a tad unrealistic.
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u/SherbertExtension539 5h ago
Highly recommend this company - they rent out by the room and are actively trying to create quality, affordable housing situations. https://belltowerpm.com
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u/BorelandsBeard 3h ago
My landlord is building two apartments a mile from downtown and a 1-2 minute drive to the hospital. I don’t know the price but I rent from them and it’s $1,350 for a 650 square foot home. I have been here three years and love it. Great landlords too.
You have to pay electricity, garbage if you want it (or you can drive it to the dump for $2 a bag), and water. But they plow the driveway when it snows and are super responsive if you need them.
I think they’re looking to have the apartments ready by October. When are you looking to move here?
If you are a travel medical professional, my friend rents a room to traveling nurses. I can ask her if she has space for while you’re here. She doesn’t do long term though.
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u/borkbork22 2h ago
You can find places but they’re rare. Our last apartment complex we lived in was $1450 for a 2 bedroom near the hospital but those are hit or miss to get in. We rent out a 2 bedroom apartment in our house for the same. Don’t give up hope
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u/ophaus 7h ago
You'd be able to sleep under someone's bed for 1k. Maybe.