Here's why we charge you an application fee

Check out this story from the SF Weekly. It's a long read--and I don't want to give anyone any ideas--but this guy's lived for years without paying rent just by knowing how to work the system.

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.

1011 NE Prescott

Capital Property Management has a cheap one-bedroom with hardwoods for just $615/mo. Looks like you can even rent a garage for $40 more. Google street view kills them though:

View Larger Map
Looks like they have bars on the windows, a slight graffiti problem, and the worst heat sucker ever invented: aluminum windows. I could be totally wrong, though. And $615 doesn't even get you a studio in SE anymore.

4033 SE Belmont

View Larger MapThis place is having an open house on Sunday from noon to 3 according to this craigslist ad. Open houses are a nightmare for landlord and tenant both. It sucks for you because by the time you get there at 15 minutes before the scheduled open house, there are already 5-6 people waiting at the front door. Curiously, that's why it sucks for me too. We legally have to take the first qualified applicant. My advice to you would be to not give them your application fee unless you know that you're first in line, because who wants to waste $40?
I had an open house for a studio yesterday from 4pm to 6pm, and the place was rented by 3:15. Depending on the landlord, maybe you can call them up and ask to see it a day or an hour early. Bring a bribe. Some landlords REALLY like two 22-ounce bottles of hard-to-find Full Sail varieties from Belmont Station. Just sayin'.

Upcoming Apartments

In case you want to get a jump on stuff I have coming up before I actually advertise them on Craigslist, here's a list of some apartment I have coming available in the next couple weeks:
Creston Villa #11:
This is a small one-bedroom with new carpet, kitchenette, ground floor, nothing special. $615/mo on a 9-month lease includes water, sewer, garbage. Should be ready around 8/15. I don't have a video for this specific apartment, but it looks a lot like this:

Warnell #109:
This is a small 325 sq ft studio facing north and west on the corner of 16th and Hawthorne. The last tenant lived there for over 38 years, believe it or not, so it probably won't be ready until the first week of September. $625/mo on a 9-month lease includes water, sewer, garbage, hot water, and heat. I don't have a video of this one either yet, but it looks kinda like this one:

Warnell #107:
Available 9/6, this 380 sq ft studio faces west. I kinda like this one, and it rents for $650. Here's the video:

Warnell #A:
Also available the fist week of September, this one is on the ground floor facing south and west. It'll run you $610/mo. No video for this one yet, but it kinda looks like this:

Creston Villa 29:
I'm not sure when this one will be available but I'm shooting for 9/1. It's a large 2bd with a balcony on the top floor. $795/mo. Can't really say much about this one until I get in there on Monday, but I'm pretty sure it will look a lot like this one:

Curry Court #6:
This is a deluxe/luxury studio at 11 SW Curry. Totally green, and totally cool. $695/mo and it looks like a new condo. Should be ready 8/15. No video of this one yet, but it looks like this:

Sellwood House #?:
Someone gave a 30-day notice at Sellwood House for the first time in just under one year. I'm not sure which one, however, so I don't know what to say except I'll probably have a studio coming up there mid-september. It's probably the best building I work for. So here's a video (w/ music!) of the exterior. You can search youtube if you wanna see what the units look like:

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?

Renter's Guide

The Daily Vanguard (PSU's paper) has a neat Renter's Guide. I haven't read all the way through it because I already know how to rent apartments, but maybe you'll find it interesting. I like how I'm "bourgeois scum that takes your money every month."
via Dave Knows: Portland