The Claire

I think it was about 2006 when this place almost burned to the ground. It was totally a different place back then: Filled with lifers from back when the neighborhood was mostly methadone clinics and biker bars, and even the Barley Mill Pub was a strip club. Oh, 1980s, such a simpler time.
Anyway, I was managing a building on 14th and Belmont in 2006 (since bought by StarMetro Properties--a fun google) when I smelled the smoke in my kitchen. Minutes later I heard the sirens. And then it seemed like everyone in the neighborhood was congregating behind the fire line in front of The Claire, watching the firefighters throw burning chunks of plywood over the roof line to crash in sparky showers on the pavement below.
I will be forever humbled and embarrassed about something I did that night: My building down the street had an available studio and an available 1bd. Having lived through a fire that was not half as bad as the Claire's, I knew that these people were not going back to their apartments any time soon--if at all. So I told a few of the now-former tenants of the nearly-destroyed building that I had some apartments available. Most seemed as appreciative as they could possibly be considering the circumstances, although dumbfounded and numb from evacuating a burning apartment building. But one guy put me in my place: He said something along the lines of, "What are you, some kind of vulture preying on victims of a fire?" I was honestly trying to help, so I was quite taken aback by his accusation. Later that night I realized that I had learned a lesson in empathy.
Oh, and it turns out that the fire was started by a model train enthusiast. So there are two lessons to be learned here: Number one, don't market your $550 studio before the fire department actually extinguishes the fire, no matter how big you think the closet is. And number two, don't run those silly electric trains on carpet.
$1125 for a 2bd is more than I can afford, but congrats to whomever owns this place now because it looks kinda nice.

Sellwood House #8

The Sellwood House has a studio coming up in a week or so. I think it's the last one we have to remodel, so everything in it is pretty brand-spanking new. I won't have a video of the apartment until it's done, so in the mean time here's another look at the outside of the building in 2007:

Your $700/mo rent includes pretty much everything: Water, sewer, garbage, hot water, heat, gas, electric, and cable. Give me a call if you'd like to see it before I put it up on Craigslist.
503.231.9169

2 things you don't see everyday

This one-bedroom apartment for $725 at 1511 SE Morrison has a fireplace, which is weird. The other odd thing about this place is that you share a bathroom with two other apartments. The ad says that the bathroom is cleaned for you, which is nice, but I wonder how often it's cleaned. It seems that the going rate for one-bedrooms in the neighborhood is about $825, so this seems like a good price. Guess it all depends on how considerate your two neighbors are. I hate to go all George Costanza here, but how thick is the bathroom door?

Sellwood House

Oh, vFlyer. I'm not sure if I like you or not.

Photo Gallery Description This beautiful studio is located at the Sellwood House in the heart of the Brooklyn neighborhood. Originally a Catholic School, the 1906 Sellwood House is an award-winning eco-friendly remodel with bamboo floors and many other green features. Please call 503-349-8679 to schedule a viewing. Price includes all utilities. Features Bedrooms: 0 Bathrooms: 1 Located on Floor #: 1 Floors in Bldg: 2 Square Footage: 360 Parking Spaces: 1 Pets Allowed: Cats Year Built: 1906 Powered by vFlyer.com vFlyer Id: 2461590

Sellwood House #4

I'm still sitting on this one. $695/mo includes all utilities: Water, sewer, garbage, hot water, heat, gas, electricity, and cable. I originally had it for $750 but that did NOT work at all. Oh, also there's no monthly cat rent here. Please rent it? 503/349.8679

Sellwood House #2

I'm renting this eco-friendly studio is on the first floor facing south. $775 includes ALMOST everything: Water, sewer, garbage, hot water, heat, gas, electric, and cable.
It's in a quiet neighborhood and includes storage, bike room, off-street parking, laundry room. It's on 3 bus lines: 70, 19, and 17.
503.349.8679

Stuff I have coming up...

Studio on Hawthorne w/ hardwoods
Crappy studio on Hawthorne that I hate
Killer studio in Brooklyn that I would totally live in if I were single

Villa Jené

So pretty. $735/mo studio, but probably not fun if it faces Burnside. Might be worth it though if you're close to one of those poor-man's balconies i.e. the fire escape. Nothing like coffee and a cigarette first thing in the morning looking down on that dude that passed out after leaving the Matador.
BONUS: Bristol Equities also has this place available. But the front of it looks like a mean jowly President Taft.

Stuff I have coming up soon:

Creston Villa #41:
Available 11/1ish: 800 sq ft 2bd facing east and a west-facing balcony. $825/mo. Here's a video of the place:

Creston Villa #27:
Available 11/5ish: Basically the same as #41 above but the windows face north and the balcony faces south.
Sellwood House #7:
Available 10/26ish: 360 sq ft studio facing south on the top floor. Award-winning green remodel of a 1900s convent for $750/mo. Rent includes water, sewer, garbage, hot water, heat, gas, electricity, cable. It looks almost exactly like this one:

Queen Marie #204:
Available 11/10ish: 460 sq ft studio facing east on the second floor. Beautiful 1920s building right across the street from the Eastbank Farmer's Market. $700/mo includes water, sewer, garbage, hot water. Looks almost exactly like this one:

Lynnwood #210:
Available 11/10ish: 340 sq ft studio on the top floor facing west with a sweet view of downtown. $640/mo includes water, sewer, garbage, hot water, heat. It kinda looks like this one:

As always, give me a call at 503.231.9169 if you'd like to check these out.

934 SE 31st

I could totally live here. $745/mo for this one-bedroom on 31st and Belmont seems like a pretty good deal when you factor in that sweet outdoor area. But it's probably time to take the bars of the windows, people. You can check out their craigslist ad here. I wonder if you have to fight the other two tenants to plant stuff in the raised bed next spring. Anyway, I'm assuming it's a private owner so they can have their quirks. This particular one says:

Please supply your own credit report with your application. I can send you application ahead of time as well as our occupancy rules if you are interested.

I wonder what that means, exactly.

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.

Sellwood House 1410

UPDATE: This apartment has been rented.
I have a really sweet one-bedroom available. It's on SE 14th and Boise in Brooklyn, and it's probably one of the cooler one-bedroom apartments I've seen.
Here's a list of some of the amenities:
Original oak floors from 1906.
All utilities included, including electricity, heat and gas.
Cable included.
Wi-fi included.
Two entrances (one exterior, one interior).
Yard. No one has a yard anymore. This apartment does.
Cedar picket fence w/ gate around said yard.
Off-street parking.
Eco-friendly apartment.


$40 application fee
$100 cat fee
$100 move-in fee
$400-$875 deposit, depending on credit and rental history.
Rent is $875, and that includes everything. You need only write one check per month.
It's almost (ALMOST) like having your own small house.
503.231.9169

Sellwood House #1

UPDATE 8/4/07: application pending
This apartment will be available 8/6/07:
Approximately 500 sq ft of all eco-friendly and recycled materials: Bamboo hardwood floors, true marmoleum floors in kitchen and bath, no-VOC paint, energy efficient lighting and fixtures, dual-flush Caroma toilet, recycled subfloor and insulation, resin-based caulk and wood putty, recycled antique door hardware, and much more.
The Sellwood House is a former convent built in 1906. We have off-street parking, laundry room, bike racks, and free storage units. We are a quiet, small, 11-unit complex that is independently owned and operated.
This studio is on the first floor facing west and north and gets lots of light.



All utilities are paid:
Water
Sewer
Garbage
Hot Water
Heat
Electricity
Gas (stove)
Wi-Fi
Cable

You only have to write one check per month for all of this.

$750/mo on a six-month lease.
$40 application fee.
$100 move-in/cleaning fee.
$400-$900 fully-refundable deposit depending on credit and rental history.

Please call 503.349.8679 or email me for an appointment. If you are from out of town and would like to rent this online, you can print out an application at this link (warning, pdf doc):

https://www.multifamilyforms.com/fc/pdfs/sample/or_forms/M002_OR_05-06.pdf

1024 SE 16th

This little converted 6-plex has a neat studio coming up for $595. According to her craigslist ad, she's having an open house on the 8th. My advice to you would be to get an application and submit it before the open house. The application fee is only $25 so I'd say it's worth the risk of you hating the place. You know that the first person that looks at it tomorrow is going to be ready with a completed application in hand. 503-232-4450

1522 SE Belmont

There's a neat 2-bedroom for rent right on Belmont between 15th and 16th for $995. According to the sign, it's a whopping 1300 square feet, and yes I used the word "whopping." It's a cute little triplex that seems pretty well taken care of. It has a fireplace, dishwasher, and off-street parking. Parking is horrible around there, so the parking space really helps. Since studios are running $600/mo in the neighborhood, it seems like a good idea to bite the bullet and move in with your boyfriend at this point. 360-696-1483

932 SE 12th

Pierson Property Management's receptionist tells me that this 1909 2 bedroom 1000 sq ft apartment is $810/month. I was actually at a party at this house once, but it was so long ago I don't remember anything about the inside. I can tell you that as far as Plaid Pantries go, the one down the street from this house has got to be one of the sketchiest.
503-331-0969

1007 SE 15th

This is a cute little 1907 7-plex with a small $685 one-bedroom for rent. This section of SE 15th between Taylor and Belmont is really dark and cavernous because of all the 60 foot chestnut trees, so if the available apartment faces east, don't plan on seeing much of the sun again. If it faces west or south, it's probably pretty bright. I found their craigslist ad here which contains no phone number, alas.

1534 SE Main

This seems like a ridiculously good deal. A studio in a four-plex for only $430/mo. This was built in 1907. I snapped this photo as I was walking by, but I'm not sure if the available studio is on the corner shown or the opposite corner. Either way, you should check out their craigslist ad if you're interested.

1321 SE Taylor

Ah, shared housing. I saw this sign up on a house on 14th and Taylor last night and thought I'd better mention it. I looked into it and it might be a 1904 5-plex. You have to share a bathroom, but you get your own kitchen and private entrance. So I guess it's not quite as bad as having roommates. You can still have naked breakfast, but you have to put on a robe when you get out of the shower. I found their craigslist ad, so if you're interested that has all of their contact info. Not to be sexist or anything, but if it's all dudes in there then you know that bathroom has gotta be disgusting.

Sellwood House #3

UPDATE: This apt is no longer available, but I have a similar one in the same building coming up 6/15.
As promised, here's the video for Sellwood House Apt. 3:



This apartment is available immediately. The rent on this 450 sq ft studio is $595/mo on a 6-month lease plus a $75/mo utility fee that includes water, sewer, garbage, hot water, heat, gas, electricity, cable, and wi-fi. In other words, you write only one check for everything from rent to wi-fi. This is an eco-friendly studio with sustainable caramelized solvent-free bamboo floors, non-toxic paint, dual flush Caroma toilet, marmoleum floors in the kitchen and bath. It also has some green features that you can't necessarily see, such as cellulose insulation, water-based wood putty, non-toxic caulk and cleaning products, salvaged lumber, and FSC-certified plywood. This is also one of the few studios I know about in southeast Portland that has a gas stove. This unit faces east and south.
The Sellwood House is a historic property lovingly remodeled in 2003 to green specifications. It has off-street parking, on-site laundry, and extra storage. It's on the #19 and #70 bus lines. There are indoor bike racks as well. The exerior of the building can be viewed here.
The application fee is $40.
The move-in fee is $100.
Cat fee is $100.
Deposit is $200-$595 depending on credit and rental history.

This apartment is available immediately. To schedule a showing or to learn more info you can email me or call 503-231-9169.