Virginia Lee Apartments

I'm so excited about this listing!

VIDEO TOUR of a similar studio in the same building: (the one we currently have for rent is approximately 50 square feet bigger than the studio show in the video)

This is a one of a kind studio in the heart of Ladd's Addition. It is in a small 12-unit building just minutes away from Hawthorne, Division, Belmont, Downtown and many other cool areas! We have a wonderful community of people here in our building, many of them long-term residents.This suite has a spacious living room. This studio also has a few walk closets and storage areas making it a very live-able space. Stunning hardwood floors throughout the unit, tile floor in bathroom, and many other nice amenities. This studio, as seen in the video, gets beautiful day light flowing in through the living room, kitchen and bathroom windows. This studio is nestled away from the main street (in the back corner of the building) so it remains very quiet. We have a 10 to 10 rule here, no loud noise before 10 am and after 10 pm.

I don't know where to start! Okay. Calm down. Patience.
I love the fact that--for no discernible reason--the video of the apartment has a fucking Gold Panda song in it. And it's a beautiful video. I say that only because it looks exactly like the videos for my apartments, but instead of my annoying, "Afternoon everybody, nice seeing you again," you get British electronica. Also! If you pause the video at :19 seconds, then I think I can see one of my ex-girlfriends. And it's kind of a pretty place, too: Hardwood floors, what looks like the original hex-tile in the bathroom, a toilet from the late 1940s. My only complaint is that they took out the steam radiators and replaced it with an ugly gas wall unit.
I've always liked the looks of the Virginia Lee because it reminds me of The Enchanted Forest. It was kind of a tradition to skip the last day of high school and drive down to Salem to smoke pot and get really creeped out by the sheer campiness of the whole place. I think they built Storybook Lane about the same time Gene Wilder was filming Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, and there's something kind of, well, off about those things. It's like watching an old episode of The Electric Company and feeling like you're getting away with something just by being a part of it. Kind of like you're having sex with your aunt's friend or shoplifting cat food.

Lynnwood Apartments #D

Available in a week or so:

Dear internet: By the time you read this, this apartment will be rented. Various economic factors have made any and all advertising useless. Random people from the Midwest show up out of nowhere and rent apartments from me without even looking at them. People have started to offer to pay more than the asking rent price just to be at the top of the list. Current residents have begun to rent other apartments in the same building out of speculation. Cats and dogs living together, mass hysteria.

Lynnwood Apartments #105

This apartment is already rented, but I like the video for it a lot.

Valencia Apartments

I've always loved the Valencia. Living above a yarn store would give me a weird yet warm feeling of safety, like snuggling up in a wool blanket with 1990s Cher. The studios are always immaculately clean when I go check them out, pretending to need a studio. That is my sad life.
$735 seems like a lot for a studio there, especially since I think you have to pay for your own heat, so I can understand offering a special to get people in the door. But seriously? A free month at LA Fitness? That's like, the worst special ever. It's like getting a free 24oz Sprite. Two sips in, and I'm thinking it's more trouble than it's worth.

Warnell Apartments #104

I have this studio coming available on Friday for a mere $610/mo. Rent includes water, sewer, garbage, hot water, and heat. If you or anyone you refer signs a 9-month lease with me for this place, I'll kick you over a $75 New Seasons gift card. 503.231.9169

Maison De Jardin

Although I'm a little upset that Hawthorne studios have apparently broken the $700 mark somehow, this place looks really pretty. It looks like it's been really taken care of, and you get a private garden. I'd live there if I were single.

Two apts I have this month...

Curry Court #19 is $650/mo:


Queen Marie #301 is $825/mo:

$50 gift card if you rent one of these from me and mention this blog.
$50 gift card if you send a referral to me and they move in.

Queen Marie #203

I have a pretty sweet one-bedroom coming up next week, and it looks a lot like this:

After she moves out I'll have a video of the actual apartment, but the one in the above video is pretty similar. $800/mo includes water, sewer, garbage, and hot water. It's right across the street from the farmer's market, and it's just an all-around sweet pad. Please rent it so I can stop worrying about having a vacancy over the holiday. I will make you a mixtape.

Hawthorne Court

I see Kathy has her sign out again, which is always rare at Hawthorne Court. This is one of the few dog-friendly buildings in the neighborhood. At least, I'm pretty sure dogs are allowed since I see people with dogs coming in and out of there all the time. I'm not sure how much her apartments are going for these days but if her one-bedrooms are less than $800 then I'd tell you it was a pretty good deal. 503.233.8865

2102 SE 12th Ave.

I never see apartments come up at the good ol' Virginia Lee, mostly because it's only a 12-plex. I've always really liked the front of the building, as it reminds me of the Enchanted Forest. $795/mo is pretty standard for a vintage one-bedroom in the neighborhood, but I'd be a little worried about paying for your own gas heat. I think the windows are the original wooden ones, so you could see a $100 NW Natural bill come winter. I could be wrong about that. Also, it's interesting how they work their cat policy. You have both a $150 one-time fee, and a $15/mo fee.
Pet rent is a relatively new concept to me. I personally think that it kind of encourages people with pets to move out sooner, whereas a one-time fee would encourage tenants to stay longer. For example, let's say you move into a place that has a $200 pet fee and you stay there for 20 months. You've basically paid $10/mo to have your pet. Compare that to, for example, a $20/mo pet fee and no one-time fee due upon move-in. That would be incentive for me to find a new place.
Of course, the Virginia Lee has both kinds of pet fees, so I'm not sure where the logic in that is. Maybe I just dislike cats.

UPDATE: Please see the comments about the heating bill! Also, see the comments about how I was totally wrong about the cat fee. It's OR not AND. I didn't read the ad carefully...
503/757.5201

Stuff I have coming up

Creston Villa #41 should be ready 3/10 or so for $775:

Creston Villa #30 should be ready on 3/8, and it looks a lot like 41 but with a better kitchen for $775.
Creston Villa #19 is a funky ground floor apartment that I don't have a video of, but it's only $720 and should be ready around 3/10.
Queen Marie #207 is $830 and it will be ready around 4/10:

At the Warnell, I have a one-bedroom coming up around 3/15 for a cool $700. It's not my favorite because it's on the ground floor, but it has hardwood floors and is pretty big. Sorry no video.
Available now, I have this, and this.

I'm giving out New Seasons Gift Cards for referrals these days. If you know someone that needs an apartment and they rent from me, I'll kick you back a $25 or $50 card depending on which property.

Live like Jerry Seinfeld?

Wait. What?
You ever notice how when the economy's down apartment ads start getting weird? What's the deal with that? And airline food...

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

2728 SE Main

For $965 per month, I would expect horizontality, if that's a word. Still there's a lot to love about this listing. The vacation photos on the fridge should give you a clue.

Lanning Court

Capitol Property Management has an ad for Lanning Court again. Kinda weird how things have changed since June of 2007. Back then, you could get a one-bedroom for $595, but now that's the price for a studio. Still a nice place, in my opinion.

Four words you never want to hear:

"Updated in the sixties." With the exception of the included picture, the apartment looks pretty nice. It's basically 30th and Belmont, which means you'll be having lots of breakfasts at the Cricket Cafe. And that means that sooner or later you'll realize why a certain menu item is called "Belmont Browns." The building itself doesn't look too bad either.
And $650 isn't really out of the question for a studio these days. Looks like they have new windows so even though the baseboard heaters look like they were also "updated in the sixties" perhaps your electric bill won't be too bad. I guess that if it were me, I'd check to see if your electric bill is tied into hot water. Turns out that water heaters are the most sucky appliance ever when it comes to studio apartments.
It's managed by Wampler Enterprises, which is a fun thing to say. Wampler. Wampler? I hardly know her!

$355/mo on Hawthorne!

Do you want to call Rogers Rentals and ask them what $355/mo will get you at 1831 SE Hawthorne, or shall I?
(waiting...)
Ok, you win. I'll call.
(ringing...)
I chickened out and didn't ask her what was $355/mo. But she is full and has no 30-day notices. Bummer. Kudos for answering the phone at 5:51pm on a Wednesday though.
Let me know if you figure this one out.

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.

The mother of all 2bds

Queen Marie #104 gave her 30-day notice yesterday. This apartment has two bedrooms, two living rooms, and probably 75 closets. One of the closets is seriously bigger than my bedroom. It's the funkiest and largest apartment I have. It's on the first floor and it faces north and south. I'm thinking that it was originally a studio, but then they added on the old manager's office and concierge's office to the apartment. That would explain the two living rooms. Wish I had a video of the apartment, but I don't. So instead, let's watch a video of the hallways and exterior while listening to some Camper Van Beethoven.
It's expensive: $1100.

Rose Court Apartments

Craigslist shows a one-bedroom at Rose Court for the low, low price of $965/mo. Oh wait: $20/mo water fee. So make that $985. No, there's a $15/mo cat fee. So call it an even grand. For a one-bedroom. Sorry guys. Hey, wanna play a fun game? Google "starmetro portland apartments." Anyone have anything nice to say?