Wide angle lens

Maybe they didn't do this on purpose, but if they did it's hilarious. I should try using a wide-angle lens when showing pictures of apartments. Based on the photo to the left, that fridge looks about six feet deep! Anyway, if you want a studio in the John Ross over in SoWa for the affordable price of $1199, here you go.

Melcliff Apartments

I've always liked the Melcliff. $560/mo will get you a small studio with hardwood floors and a clawfoot tub. IPM has a corner unit available right now (facing south and west--BONUS!). 503-223-6327

1237 SE 47th

This ad on craigslist looks pretty interesting: Someone from Orange County, California is advertising a 650 sq ft apartment w/ 650 sq ft garage for $750/mo on SE 47th and Salmon. It might be one of those buyer-beware type of situations because portlandmaps says it's only 432 square feet. But, really, maybe it really is 650 square feet and she added an addition. Although that would be weird as well because you'd think that the city would know about it. Maybe I just don't understand how these things work. Might be worth checking out.

2133 NE Halsey

Palisades Properties has an interesting 1960s 2bd with hardwoods in a nice neighborhood for $995. It's dog-friendly even. However, I'm noticing this new trend where you're actually paying a monthly rental fee for your pet. In this case, it's $25/month. I'm not really big on animals that you can't eat ("Is that a pet bunny or a food bunny?" my Mom was fond of saying), so maybe this isn't a big deal to pet owners. But I'd be pretty crestfallen knowing that my dog was costing me $25 per month. But whatevs. I think my cat saw me writing that line about eating animals and is now hiding under the filing cabinet.
Link to picture of property on google maps.

How To: Use Craigslist & RSS to Find a Great Rental

Tim at the Seattle Bubble has found a remedy for the practice of hitting the refresh button on craigslist over and over again in an attempt to be the first one to respond to an apartment ad. It will probably keep you from getting in trouble at work, and definitely keep you from going fricking crazy when you find out you're the 30th person that's called on that vintage studio on SE 28th.

3935 NE Garfield

This is a weird one. It's a two-bedroom house AND a separate studio for $1000? Two kitchens, two baths, and lots of parking. I'm looking for it on google street view and I think it's this one. If it were me I'd probably rent the place and then sublet the studio for $500. But that's just me. Call Roman at 503.704.1561 if you'd like to check this one out.

4129 NE Mallory

One of my crazy contractors, Roman, is renting out this 3-bedroom place in Northeast. I'm not really familiar with this neighborhood, but I've rented this place out for him before and I know it's close to Alberta's shops and the vital N Vancouver bike boulevard. It will be ready on July 1st and it's only $1000. You can call him at 503.704.1561 if you're interested. Or maybe I'll meet you out there after he gives me the lockbox code.

Speaking of Lair Hill...

I have a studio at Curry Court for $695! Please rent it.

Lair Hill Victorian

According to the sign out front at 3504 SW 1st Avenue:
2 Bedroom $825. One-year lease. Extensive storage, washer/dryer. Entire 2nd floor. Tenant pays gas/elec. Available July 1st.
503.274.2107

It's an okay neighborhood. It's right where Barbur and Front Avenue complete their triangle, so there are a ton of bus options. And it's about 18 blocks from PSU.

My wife would live here in 1998

I saw this one today and was immediately reminded of my wife, who always lets me know how inexpensive housing is in beautiful downtown Lansing, Michigan. And how she used to have this wonderful place next to a bar called the "Peanut Barrel" that looked a lot like the one you see in the picture on the left for $385 per month. I've been to Lansing. They have snow. No thanks. Reliance Property Management has this place for $895, which seems about right for how cool it looks in the pictures. The only downside I can see is that I'd get pretty sick of the "Belmont Browns" at Cricket Cafe in about 4 days. Fact is, the "Belmont Browns" on that menu kinda give me the Belmont browns.

Taking the good with the bad

The good: Living within walking distance of all the trendy shops and restaurants you can't afford but probably work at.
The bad: Good luck parking your '83 Volvo 740 within 6 blocks of your apartment.
The good: Finding a studio in NW under $600.
The bad: They got rid of their old-schooly radiators so you're stuck with paying for electric heat in a 1920s building.
The good: Ad of tonight, it's still available.
The bad: They use the word "cute," which usually means about 300 square feet or less. At least, whenever I use that word in an advertisement that's what I mean.

Dream location

These people never take down their "studio available" sign even when they're full, so I'm pretty excited that they're actually advertising a vacant studio online. I've heard both good and bad things about this building, but it's a total dream of a location as long as you don't mind listening to people in drag doing the "time warp" on Saturday nights. I don't think I'd mind. It's kind of a funky-looking studio on the inside (with carpet) but it has a clawfoot tub and it's only $550/month.

More downtown St. Johns...

I've always loved this building for some reason. My friend Jill almost bought it a few years ago but I forget why she ended up skipping it. I also love downtown St. Johns because it reminds me of Hawthorne Blvd from about 1981, or at least my romanticized idea of what Hawthorne was back then. I'm a little surprised that Capital Property Management is advertising it as "perfect property for U of P students." That's what a lot of people would call "steering" and it's pretty illegal. At any rate, it's nice to see that you can still find a studio for $525 in this town within walking distance to everything you might need.

Downtown (St. Johns) Living!

Saw this in downtown St. Johns last night. I was trying to go to the James John Cafe but they always close right before I go there. If you can't read the crappy cell-phone pic, it says:

FOR RENT 503.285.9402
$600 per month rent
Includes heat lights electricity water garbage
$300 security fee
$30 app fee per person
no smoking/pets

No word on whether it's a studio or one-bedroom or what. It's right across the street from Proper Eats, so you got that going for you. I love St. Johns. As soon as they get that waterfront trail down to the Eastbank Esplanade it will be even better.