From BeavrWiki

Finding the right apartment to live in can be a really time consuming task. How close to campus? How much to pay? How many bedrooms? There are so many things to consider. This page is here to provide you with a good head start in your search for the right apartment. So here are some suggestions that were provided by Google and ForRent.com, that will hopefully give you an overview of what is out there. Please add whatever suggestions or experiences you have regarding apartments in Corvallis.

Contents 1 Apartment Website Resources 2 Apartment Complexes 2.1 Apartment Complexes managed by Sterling Management Group, Inc. 2.2 Apartment Complexes managed by Duerksen and Associates 3 Examples from Experience 3.1 Maple Tree Village 3.2 Crystal Lake Apartments 3.3 8th Street Redwoods Apartments 3.4 10th Street Terrace Apartments 3.5 Conifer Place Apartments 3.6 Townhouses on Conifer (Managed by Pinion) 3.7 Corvallis Plaza 3.8 Brick House 3.9 Campus Villa Apartments 3.10 Witham Hill Oaks Apartments 3.11 Grayson Apartments 3.12 Coolidge Court 3.13 Shadow Hills 3.14 Grove Street Apartments 3.15 Fall Quarters Apartments 3.16 Oak Park Apartments 3.17 Preferred Properties Northwest 3.18 Covey Row 3.19 Corvalla Apartments 3.20 Stone Terrace Apartments 3.21 Oak Vale Apartments 3.22 Wilsonwood 3.23 North Pointe 3.24 Spring Creek 3.25 THE GEM

Apartment Website Resources

• [[1] http://www.Rentals.corvallisclassifieds.net] - Website with almost all apartment buildings in Corvallis, Houses, Condos, 2,3,4 plexs included. Also interesting view by sorting which is closet to campus.
• [[2] http://www.forrent.com]

Apartment Complexes

Benton Plaza 408 SW Monroe Ave, Corvallis, OR (541) 753-4411

Oak Vale 3930 NW Wihtam Hill Drive, Corvallis, OR 1-866-447-4593

• Features: 1,2,3 room apartments, water,sewer, garbage & cable paid, sport courts, on-site laundry, no rent increase for a year, minutes from OSU
• Rent: $460 to $725

Park Plaza 124 NW 7th St, Corvallis, OR (541) 752-0300 Really nice, but loud on every party night since it's right on Monroe. Website

Witham Hill Oaks 4210 NW Witham Hill Dr, Corvallis, OR (541) 757-8957

• Features: 1,2,3 room apartments, fitness center, jacuzzi & sauna, sport courts, seasonal pool
• Rent: *$515 to $985

Pinion Property Management 1605 NW Monroe Ave, Corvallis, OR (541) 754-1213

Witham Village 4400 NW Walnut Blvd, Corvallis, OR 1-866-319-1472

• Features: Spacious 1 and 2 room apartments, seasonal pool, washer and dryer in select units plus on-site laundry center, on bus line, private balconies
• Rent: $485 to $765

Terway Apartments 124 NW 7th St, Corvallis, OR (541) 752-0300

Park West Apartments 975 SW 15th St # 102, Corvallis, OR (541) 758-5323

• Features: 1 bedroom flats, 2 bedroom town homes, basic cable and appliances included, pool, laundry care centers
• Rent: $525 to $830

Grand Oak Apartments 6300 SW Grand Oak Drive, Corvallis, OR 1-888-872-4474

• Features: Spacious 1,2,3 room apartments, pool and spa, washer and dryer included, garrages and carports
• Rent: $699 to $1109

Spring Creek 5032 SW technology Loop, Corvallis, OR (541) 753-7844

• Features: 2 bedrooms, pets, garage and storage locations, free expanded cable, washer and dryer or hook-ups
• Rent: $680 to $720

North Pointe 2675 NE Lancaster Street, Corvallis, OR 1-866-445-8264

• Features: Quiet, sport court, playground, picnic area
• Rent: $699 to $699

Creekside Apartments 1613 SW 49th Street, Corvallis, OR 1-866-447-4591

• Features: Spacious 1,2,3 room apartments, energy efficient, convenient to shopping, smoke free community, full size washer and dryer, extra storage and garages.
• Rent: $620 to $900

Timber Hill Apartments 2493 NW Garryanna Street, Corvallis, OR (541) 754-8478

Campus Court Apartments 605 SW 11th Street, Corvallis, OR (541) 753-7860

Campus Villa Apartments 1445 SW A Ave.

• Less than a block from campus
• Spacious rooms

(No Name)725 SW 13th St, Corvallis, OR

• Management lives in Apt. #6
• Cozy one bedroom, one bath apartment, full kitchen
• Only a few blocks from campus. Short walk/drive to downtown and shopping.
• Ten unit building, on-site parking and bike lock-ups, quiet neighbors, but only a block and a half from the train tracks.
• Rent: $500 a month, only $400 Jun.-Aug.

The Corvalla Apartments: 720 NW 5th St., Corvallis OR 97330 (541) 752-0046

• Features: 1, 2, and 3 bedroom apartments, water, sewer, and garage included in the rent, seasonal pool, on-site laundry facilities, and no rent increases with a lease.
• Rent: $450 to $725

Apartment Complexes managed by Sterling Management Group, Inc.

Personal Experience Sterling Management is trouble for many students. They are constantly understaffed and each new receptionist is nice for about the first week before they are yelled at by students and become rude. Sterling Management handles so many nice apartment complexes they are hard to avoid so one should just expect bad service. Their office has moved to Western which is much nicer than their original location on 6th Street which had standing room for 2 people but was always packed. If you would like to rent a unit with Sterling Management be sure to go in regularly to check their list for availabilities. They may take down names to put you on a waiting list but do not count on them calling you as they will give a unit away to a walk-in before they will call the list.

Ashwood Apartments

• Address: 2207 NW Fillmore, Corvallis, OR 97330
• Contact: 541.753.8909 – Manager
• Info: Quads & 1 & 2 Bedroom

Avondale Apartments

• Address: 205 NW Kings & 1745 NW Jackson, Corvallis, OR 97330
• Contact: 541.757.1290
• Info: Studio & 1 Bedroom (some with fireplaces)

Beeville Apartments

• Address: 1715 Maple St, Philomath, OR 97370
• Contact: 541.757.1290
• Info: 1 & 2 Bedrooms

Cascade Apartments

• Address: 525 NW Monroe, Corvallis, OR 97330
• Contact: 541.757.1290
• Info: Studio & 1 Bedroom

Chestnut Village

• Address: 2705 SW Pickford, Corvallis, OR 97330
• Contact: 541.738.0964 - Manager
• Info: 2 Bedrooms

Chintimini Apartments

• Address: 636 NW 27th, Corvallis, OR 97330
• Contact: 541.757.1290
• Info: 1 & 2 Bedrooms

Coolidge Court

• Address: 810 NW 23rd Rd., Corvallis, OR 97330
• Contact: 541.757.1290
• Info: 1 Bedroom

Fall Quarters

• Address: 1300 SW E Ave., Corvallis, OR 97330
• Contact: 541.757.1290
• Info: 1 & 2 Bedrooms

Fifteen Street Apartments

• Address: 1407 NW 15th, Corvallis, OR 97330
• Contact: 541.757.1290
• Info: 2 Bedrooms

Grayson Apartments

• Address: 1655 NW Division, Corvallis, OR 97330
• Contact: 541.757.1290
• Info: 1 & 2 Bedrooms

Grove Street Apartments

• Address: 840 SW Grove, Corvallis, OR 97333
• Contact: 541.757.1290
• Info: 2 Bedrooms

Harrison Court

• Address: 2615 NW Harrison, Corvallis, OR 97330
• Contact: 541.757.1290
• Info: 1 Bedroom

Hayes Street Apartments

• Address: 961 NW Hayes, Corvallis, OR 97330
• Contact: 541.757.1290
• Info: 1 Bedroom

Hobart Apartments

• Address: 960 NW Hobart, Corvallis, OR 97330
• Contact: 541.757.1290
• Info: 2 Bedrooms

Kings Landing Apartments

• Address: 1420 Kings Blvd., Corvallis, OR 97330
• Contact: 541.619.7471 – Manager
• Info: 1, 2 & 3 Bedrooms

La Gaviota Apartments

• Address: 750 NW 25th, Corvallis, OR 97330
• Contact: 541.757.1290
• Info: 1 & 2 Bedrooms

Leonard Street Apartments

• Address: 2320 SW Leonard, Corvallis, OR 97333
• Contact: 541.757.1290
• Info: 1 & 2 Bedrooms

Oak Grove Commons

• Address: 2835 SW Western Blvd, Corvallis, OR 97333
• Contact: 541.757.1290
• Info: 2 & 3 Bedrooms with Bonus Room

Orchard Crest Apartments

• Address: 3200 block NW Orchard, Corvallis, OR 97330
• Contact: 541.757.1290
• Info: 2 Bedrooms

Palatine Apartments

• Address: 514 NW 21st St., Corvallis, OR 97330
• Contact: 541.757.1290
• Info: 1 & 2 Bedrooms

Parkwest Apartments

• Address: 975 SW 15th, Corvallis, OR 97330
• Contact: 541.758.5323 – Manager
• Info: 1 & 2 Bedrooms
• Parkwest is nice in many ways for off-campus living. It is a very large complex so it gives a feel of a small community within the complex. The apartments, utilities and on-site facilities are all fairly nice. There is an on site manager, which is nice to have to be able to immediately contact them with your needs and concerns. This is not to say that they will necessarily always tend to you in the fastest manner, but they do try. There is also an on site laundry facility which is well maintained. It can be considered rather expensive, but it beats going to a laundry matt. Another additive would be the complex pool. It is outdoor and I believe it is at least slightly heated. There are garbage, mailbox and nearby bike parking units located in each parking lot.

The two bedroom townhouses are all on the upper two floors of the complexes, and the one bedroom flats are all on the bottom. The two bedrooms have one and a half bathrooms, and the one-bedrooms have one. There is a very big size and layout difference between the one and two bedrooms. The two bedrooms are quite spacious while the one-bedrooms can be considered rather small and cozy. All the apartments have dishwashers, bathtubs and showers, closet space, and lots of cabinet space. Like in most apartments, the walls are very thin, and yes, you can usually hear most of what is going on in the apartments around you, especially in the one-bedrooms which are on bottom. The two bedrooms run from $775 a month with a 12 month lease to $830 a month by month to month. The one-bedrooms run from $525 a month with a 12 month lease to $575 a month by month to month.

Parkwest is conveniently located close to campus, a 10 minute walk, and 5 minute bike ride. While the environment is nice once you’re in the complex, the surrounding areas may not be considered the most pleasant. It is on the south side of the railroad track which run between the apartment and campus. It’s not too bad as far as noise, it can just be inconvenient at times if you get caught by a train on your way to class. I wouldn’t suggest walking to and from it at night, especially for girls, as it is close to the highway and near busy roads. As opposed to the north side of campus there aren’t many restaurants or shops nearby, but the walk to these attractions isn’t too far. Besides these few down falls, Parkwest is overall a nice place for a student to live off campus. It is among the better selections in the near-campus housing options.

Pickford Apartments

• Address: 2480 SW Pickford, Corvallis, OR 97330
• Contact: 541.757.1290
• Info: 1 & 2 Bedrooms

Plum Tree Apartments

• Address: 300 NW 14th, Corvallis, OR 97330
• Contact: 541.757.1290
• Info: Studio & 1 Bedroom

Sovereign West Apartments

• Address: 215 NW 17th, Corvallis, OR 97330
• Contact: 541.757.1290
• Info: 2 Bedrooms

University Center

• Address: 2001 NW Monroe, Corvallis, OR 97330
• Contact: 541.757.1290
• Info: 2 Bedrooms
• By far one of the best locations in Corvallis for an OSU student apartment. These units are owned and managed by the OSU Bookstore and are very nice. They appear sterile upon entrance of the hallways and look much like a hotel. Once inside the unit there is a large living room with floor-to-ceiling windows and a bedroom to either side, again with large windows. The whole apartment is very “white” with new appliances and clean cupboards. The bathroom is across from the kitchen and huge for a bathroom. It has a bathtub with a shower and a decent counter space and one sink. Extended cable is included with rent and the only real bill is electricity which runs under $40 a month because internet can be “borrowed” from neighbors. These are very nice apartments if you can get one. The downside is they, like many apartments, have thin walls and you can hear everything. This includes your neighbors puking Friday morning, the garbage man at 5 am and the person in the hallway on their cell phone. The apartments are in a commercial/residential building with living quarters on the second and third floor only. If you don’t mind being above the new McMenamins Bar this is a great place to live because you can literally walk across the street and be in class. It is also close to breakfast Dutch Bros lunch (Qdoba or Sargos Subs) and dinner McMenamins.

Van Buren

• Address: 620 NW Van Buren, Corvallis, OR 97330
• Contact: 541.757.1290
• Info: 1 Bedroom

Apartment Complexes managed by Duerksen and Associates

Basic Company Info

• Phone: 541-753-3620
• Address: 2292 NW Kings Blvd. Corvallis, OR 97330
• Web Address: www.dureksenandassociates.com
• Application Fee: $35.00 Per Applicant
• Pet Fee: $150.00 per pet under 40lbs; $250.00 per pet over 40lbs

227 NW 11th #6

• 1 bed/1 bath
• w/s/g-coin laundry
• pet ok
• Rent: $375

33808 Melody Ln #2

• 1 bed/1 bath
• w/s/g-coin laundry
• pet ok
• Rent: $395

2311 NW Grant #5

• 1 bed/1 bath
• w/s/g-coin laundry
• pet ok
• Rent: $425

1635 Nw Divison #8

• 1 bed/1 bath
• w/s/g
• pet ok
• Rent: $425

306 Sw Monroe #1

• 1 bed/1 bath
• w/s/g
• cat ok
• Rent: $425

811 NW 26th

• 1 bed/1 bath
• w/s/g-coin laundry
• cat ok
• Rent: $450

809 NW 26th

• 1 bed/1 bath
• w/s/g-coin laundry
• cat ok
• Rent: $450

823 NW 26th

• 1 bed/1 bath
• w/s/g-coin laundry
• cat ok
• Rent: $450

2707 NW Harrison

• 1 bed/1 bath
• w/s/g
• no pets
• Rent: $450

111 NW 11th #4

• 1 bed/1 bath
• all utilities paid/on-site laundry
• cat ok
• Rent: $485

213 Nw 11th

• 2 bed/1 bath
• w/s/g
• cat ok
• Rent: $425

765 NW 5th #101

• 2 bed/1 bath
• w/s/g/on-site laundry
• cat ok
• Rent: $450

765 NW 5th #102

• 2 bed/1 bath
• w/s/g/on-site laundry
• cat ok
• Rent: $450

765 NW 5th #203

• 2 bed/1 bath
• w/s/g/on-site laundry
• cat ok
• Rent: $450

765 NW 5th #303

• 2 bed/1 bath
• w/s/g/on-site laundry
• cat ok
• Rent: $450

765 NW 5th #304

• 2 bed/1 bath
• w/s/g/on-site laundry
• cat OK
• Rent: $450

765 NW 5th #5

• 2 bed/1 bath
• w/s/g/on-site laundry
• cat OK
• Rent: $450

765 NW 5th #6

• 2 bed/1 bath
• w/s/g/on-site laundry
• cat ok
• Rent: $450

765 NW 5th #12

• 2 bed/1 bath
• w/s/g/on-site laundry
• cat ok
• Rent: $450

955 NW Hobart #1

• 2 bed/1 bath
• w/s
• cat ok
• Rent: $445

955 NW Hobart #6

• 2 bed/1 bath
• w/s
• cat ok
• Rent: $445

2521 SW Pickford #A

• 2 bed/1 bath
• w/s/g/on-site laundry
• no pets
• Rent: $450

33808 Melody Ln #3

• 2 bed/1 bath
• w/s/g/coin laundry
• pet ok
• Rent: $450

960 NW Cleveland #4

• 2 bed/1 bath
• w/s/g/on-site laundry
• cat ok
• Rent: $475

1695 NW Divison #2

• 2 bed/1 bath
• w/s/g/on-site laundry
• pet ok
• Rent: $485

554 Sw Jefferson #5

• 2 bed/1 bath
• w/s/g/on-site laundry
• no pets
• Rent: $495

2311 NW Grant #2

• 2 bed/1 bath
• w/s/g/coin laundry
• pet ok
• Rent: $495

1779 SE Lilly Pl

• 2 bed/1 bath
• w/s/g/-w/d
• pet ok
• Rent: $495

815 NW 26th

• 2 bed/1 bath
• w/s/g/coin laundry
• cat ok
• Rent: $550

560 NW 19th #3

• 2 bed/1 bath
• w/s/g
• no pets
• Rent: $575

555 NW Kinds #1

• 2 bed/1 bath
• w/s/g
• no pets
• Rent: $575

555 NW Kings #2

• 2 bed/1 bath
• w/s/g
• no pets
• Rent: $575

605 NW Kings #1

• 2 bed/1 bath
• w/s/g
• no pets
• Rent: $575

605 NW Kings #3

• 2 bed/1 bath
• w/s/g
• no pets
• Rent: $575

1661 NW Harrison #4

• 2 bed/1 bath
• w/s/g/coin laundry
• pet ok
• Rent: $575

Oak Park Apartments

• Address is SW 26th street Corvallis OR, 97333
• Offers Studio, 1 bedroom, 2 bedrooms with one bath, 2 bedrooms with 2 baths, and townhouses.
• Great location, right across the street from Reser right behind the Hilton Garden Inn.
• Includes Utilities and cable TV within the rent
• Many apartments also equipped with a washer and dryer

Examples from Experience

Maple Tree Village

Located on 15th and Western, these duel story condos come with 3 bed rooms, a place for washer and dryer, a kitchen and a rather large living room. The location of these condos could not be better, being just a few minute walk from campus. The price is not too bad either sitting at about 800 dollars a month before utilities. I have been living at maple tree village for going on two years now, and have nothing but positive things to say.

Although they are located pretty close together, the noise levels from other units is not too bad. If you crank up the music really loud though, you might have a complaint.

Most of the people living in these units are college students, although there are several units owned and occupied by older people.

The parking can be an issue. There is no way of knowing whos car actually belongs there, so often times there will be several cars parked in the few extra spaces that belong to people just using the parking for free.

All in all "the village" as it is often called is a great place for a college student to live.

Crystal Lake Apartments

I am going into my second year of living "at the Lake." Crystal Apartments is a great complex that is located about 1.5 miles off campus off of Highway 99 by Papa's Pizza. Crystal Lake has 1, 2, and 3 bedroom apartments. The apartments are very appropriately sized for all 3 apartment sizes. Choices are 1 bed 1 bath, 2 bed 2 bath, or a 3 bed 2 bath apartment. All units come with dishwasher, washer and dryer hookups with easy access to rental w/d. On-site laundry rooms, cable TV included in rent, and the ever important aspect of that there is always parking spots in the lot for you and your visitors. Crystal Lake is a great place to live and is only a short drive from campus. Avery Park is just minutes from the complex as well, which is a great park for running, walking, or throwing the football around. Crystal Lake is in a great location for proximity to campus, and also it provides some peace and solitude from the stresses of everyday camps life.

If I had to name one drawback to living "at the Lake," I would say that because of the close proximity to actual "lake" or pond maybe it should be called, is that there tends to be lots of bugs around the complex. The water attracts bugs, and since the apartments are so close, and some units are on the lake, that results in some bugs flying around and occasionally getting in your apartment. Overall my experience living at the lake has been a good one and would recommend living here to any college student or non student looking for a great apartment, in a great complex, in a great location.

8th Street Redwoods Apartments

The Redwoods is a 3 story apartment complex with 4 apartments on each level. The apartments are all two bedrooms and one bath, the master bedroom being substantially bigger than the other. My experience at these apartments has been a good one. For one the living room is a large square room. My roommate and I have no problems fitting three full size couches, an entertainment center, and a stereo in the room. The square shape also gives it a wide open feel. The dining room is also very spacious and able to fit a table and chairs with room to spare. The kitchen is also a good size with plenty of room for a couple people to move around. It is also has a dishwasher. The bathroom is a descent size and has a 4' shower tub.

Like every other complex, there are some drawbacks to the spacious redwoods apartments. For one, they are located right next to the train tracks. If a train passes by you are guaranteed to hear it. Another negative is the laundry room. There are only 2 washers and 2 dryers for the 12 apartments. Not only is the room short handed but most of the time one of the washers or dryers is not working. The final drawback is the parking lot. Each room has only one reserved parking spot and there are only 4 extra parking spots. This makes it hard to have a couple friends over without them having to park on the street.

One thing I can say about the Redwoods apartments is that between the good and the negative, Duerksen and Associates are always good about taking care of maintenance needs. We have had a couple problems with the apartment but a maintenance person is always sent out with in a couple of days. So if you can stand hearing a train a couple times a day I would recommend the Redwoods Apartments.

10th Street Terrace Apartments

The 10th Street Terrace Apartments, are brand new just opened the summer of 2006. They offer 1 and 2 bedroom apartments, as well as studios. The apartments are new, so they all contain new carpet, and appliances. The Kitchens are open, and contain, a stove, dishwasher, and disposal. The main bathrooms are very large, and the 2 bedroom apartments have a second smaller bathroom attached to the master bedroom. The major problem I have is that you need to scan your HID to get into the building, while I appreciate the added security, if you have guests you will have to come to the lobby yourself to let them in, since there is no way to buzz them in. They have already switched managers in the past three months, they are currently managed by IPMG, Inc. So I can't comment on the management yet.

• Laundry There is a laundry room on each floor, but only contain 2 washers and 2 dryers for a whole floor. And a $1.25 is charged per wash, and a $1 per dryer. Also there is no change machine, so you will need to have quarters on hand when ever you want to do laundry.

• Rent The rent for a 2 bedroom is $900, and I am unsure of the price for the singles, I believe the are around $600(i'll update when I find out). The rent includes water, sewer, and garbage. The only other extra you must pay for is electricity, or cable and internet. And they charge $800 dollars for deposit, with only a $300 refundable.

• Parking Numbered parking is assigned, and there is room for one per apartment, but since not all tenants have vehicles the other spots can been given to roommates.

Conifer Place Apartments

213 NE Conifer Boulevard
Corvallis, OR 97330
Phone: 1-541-754-8443
Website

Conifer Place Apartments is a wonderful apartment complex to live in. They offer 1, 2, and 3 bedroom apartments that come with energy efficient windows, a refrigerator with an ice-maker, a self-cleaning oven, a dish washer, washer and dryer and a garbage disposal. The two bedroom apartments have two bathrooms and a balcony with a small storage unit. They also have a fitness room that all residents receive a key to, and a rec room with couches, a kitchen area and a big screan t.v that can be reserved at no charge. They have tennis/basketball courts and are in the process of adding a pool. Their monthly prices are as follows: One bedrooms are $615, two bedrooms range from $690 to $720, and the three bedroom townhouses are $995.

Townhouses on Conifer (Managed by Pinion)

287 NE Conifer Blvd Corvallis, OR 97330

These townhouses sit about .25mi from the intersection of 9th St and Conifer and are managed by Pinion Property Management. Each building consists of four units, each unit has two bedrooms. Units feature a half bathroom on the first floor, along with kitchen, dining, and living rooms. A full bath and two bedrooms make up the second floor. Many units have been recently (2006) renovated with new windows, doors, appliances, carpet, fixtures, and paint. Speaking strictly for 287 Conifer #1, heat is forced-air natural gas, and hot water is provided by natural gas.

The unit has provisions for a washer and (electric) dryer. All units have small, fenced, back yards. Water, sewer, and garbage service are provided with rent (which ranged from the mid-500 to mid-600 range as of September 2006). Phone and cable connections are present in the living area and bedrooms.

Parking is adequate with two spaces allotted to each unit, with ample overflow.

The buildings were constructed prior to 1975. Water pressure is sufficient, though the building insulation seems to be lacking. Especially with recent rennovations, these apartments seem to be quite a bit of housing for the money.

Corvallis Plaza

145 NW 16th Street, Corvallis, OR 97330

Corvallis Plaza is managed by Pinion Property Management. It is a six story building. The apartments come in styles of studio room, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom. The studio costs only $395 per month while one-bedroom and two-bedroom cost $495 and $695 per month, respectively. This price includes water, sewer, and garbage. The parking lot is available at an additional cost of $10 per month. The contract is a month-to-month basis which requires only one month deposit. However, it is a pretty old building. But its location and its monthly contract are very practical for students. Currently, most tenants are international students.

Brick House

330 NW 23rd Street
Corvallis, OR 97330
Phone: 541-757-0810

The Brick House is a former fraternity turned into an apartment style building. All rooms are studio or one bedroom with open kitchens, bathrooms, and living rooms. There are recreation rooms in which table tennis, a pool table, couches, and a big screen TV are located. Wireless Internet is free but computers are available for residents to use, also free. Rent is $340 a month and covers all utilities. It's a three story building with a basement level with two rooms and laundry services. All residents are entitled to a mailbox and kitchen storage space. Work jobs are required, generally taking place once weekly. Parking spaces are located behind the building in the alley between 23rd and 25th street and are generally open, as most residents do not drive. The proximity to campus is a benefit of living at the Brick House, being only about a 2-3 minute walk to Monroe. The general populace is about 20-25 students, mostly made up of graduate students and international students. The house is actually made out of brick and is slightly rundown. Cable TV is provided via the big screen TV but personal use of cable in individual rooms requires individual purchase of a cable package.

Campus Villa Apartments

1445 Sw A Ave Corvallis, OR 97333 (541) 754-6851
Manager: Althea Madison

Campus Villa Apartments is probably one of the closest apartment complexes to campus The mailing address is A Street, but the apartments are basically on 15th and Washington (Across the street from Parking "Services" ), just to the south of the train tracks, It's a few blocks from the campus core, but if you get caught by the train, expect to wait ten minutes to get across. Callahan and McNary dorms are within the eyesight from the complexes. Rent is very affordable, at $645 for a two-bedroom with a bathroom, living room and kitchen. All units are fitted with a baseboard electric heater or through the ceiling heater in bedrooms and living room and some units have a through-the-wall air conditioner in the living room as well, although considering their age, it's probably very inefficient and cost you big time on the power bill. Water/sewer and garbage is included in rent. You will have to pay for cable TV and electricity. There's also a decent sized pool(although, if you're an OSU student, you're better off to just use the pool at Dixon Rec Center) and washing machines and dryers right next to it. The apartments are fairly old, I'd say 30 years or so, but the rooms are definitely bigger than most other places. I checked out nearly every apartment complex within 5 or 6 blocks of campus last year, and the rooms are definitely the biggest, probably because it's an older complex. It may be a bit dreary looking on the outside, but it's nice and clean, and you really can't complain at all about it. The only negatives I can think of are my neighbors, who tend to stand outside on the porch and talk loud and drunkenly sometimes, and also sometimes a train comes by in the wee hours of the day and wakes you up. Overall though, for the price, location, and size of the rooms, I don't think you can beat it. I'm living here for the rest of my college career for sure.

• Parking

Each apartment is assigned one numbered space and each lot has unmarked areas to be used by roommates. Parking is quite often a problem and you may end up having to park at a different parking lot within the complex or the street.

• Maintenance response

The quality of maintenance is questionable. Washers and dryers are from the 70s and they're not maintained too well. One of the dryers has been missing a fin in the tumbler since I moved in and its still in the same state. The doorbell in my apt. did not work upon moving in and Ms. Madison's response was "We don't fix broken door bells". If they chose to fix something, don't be surprised if it doesn't get fixed the first time or get a hack job. Our toilet fill valve stopped working and the manager gave me a bucket to fill the tank with until the maintenance people can fix it. Before it decided to become unbearably slow(took 10 minutes to fill), I noticed it was starting to get slow, but didn't think much of it. When I went to request maintenance, manager gave me shit about not reporting it immediately when I noticed the first sign of something odd. The maintenance came the next day, but did a hack job and the water never stopped. After being made to wait another day or two, they got that fixed.

Hack job #2: our faucet developed a dripping. They got the dripping fixed, but after the repair, the direction of "hot" and "cold" were reversed.

Witham Hill Oaks Apartments

4210 NW Witham Hill Dr Corvallis, OR 97330 (541) 757-8957

For some, Witham Hill Oaks is a great place to live. But be warned, this is not Great Oaks or Witham Village: both are nicer than Witham Hill Oaks and are priced about the same. Don't be fooled by the website, if you're looking from a virtual distance. The actual apartments don't look as nice, inside or out and are probably due for renovation within 5 years or so. The apartments come in styles of one, two or three bedroom. For a one bedroom, the price is about $500/month. The two bedroom costs about $600 and the three bedroom is more. If you want to be on the second floor, you'll have to pay more. This includes cable, water, sewer, and garbage. The only other extra you must pay for is electricity of course, or high speed internet if you prefer it. These apartments allow you to have pets, but hit you with a hefty pet deposit. Per pet, the deposit is $200. $100 is refundable when you move out; agreeing that you left no use for that money but the other $100 is non-refundable.

My personal experience with this apartment is that although they are decent sized apartments, noise seems to travel too easily through the walls. You can hear your neighbor walking into their front door and it sounds as though they are walking into yours. They also tend to stay very cold in the winter. Otherwise, they're great and not a bad deal.

I would have to disagree with much of what was said above. I have lived in 2 different apartments at Witham Hill Oaks. I love living here. It is just far enough away from campus to not hear or be worried about a huge party right outside your bedroom window, but is still close enough to campus you can easily ride your bike or walk. I had a pet and that is why I chose to live in these apartments and even though the pet fee was a lot, it was worth it to have my dog. There are lots of very nice wooded areas to take your pet outside and let them run around. The apartments are always kept very clean as far as landscaping goes. They are constantly laying new bark dust and cleaning the parking areas. It has a good size pool which is amazing in the summer time with lots of lounge chairs to lay out on. I have never had trouble with the noise here. Yeah, you can hear a lot through the walls but I have never had it be a problem. Some things are out of date but they are always working to improve them by doing walk through and evaluations of each building. Parking is not a problem, there are always spaces open. You can also rent a covered space if you wish to do so. Those are harder to get close to your apartment, usually just because they are all reserved. You can have a washer/dryer in your apartment for around 25 dollars more a month rent. They are not full size, but the one where the dryer is on top of the washer. It is much nicer than having to pay to do your laundry. For my first couple years at college, I thought I made the right choice in living at Witham Hill Oaks.

Grayson Apartments

1655 NW Division Street Corvallis, Oregon 97330 (541) 757-1290

Grayson Apartments are managed by Sterling Management Group, Inc. in Corvallis. The apartments are in a great location directly off Ninth Street near the Best Western Hotel. The apartment complex has three levels of both one and two bedroom apartments. The one bedroom apartments cost $465.00 per month, not including utilities. The two bedroom apartments cost $615.00 per month, not including utilities. The monthly costs include water, sewage, garbage and basic TV cable expenses. There is currently an on-site laundry facility with two washer and dryer units. While we have pre-assigned parking spaces, there is limited off street parking for visitors and no pets, smoking or aquariums are allowed. Currently, we have no on-site managers.

My personal experience living two years in these apartments is that they are typically very quite and provide a lot of square feet in comparison to others in the area. The down side to living in the Grayson Apartment complex is that it’s approximately 1.5 miles from campus so you will need a reliable car for transportation. Other then the lack of additional parking and distance from campus, the Grayson Apartments are a great place to live at a reasonable price.

Coolidge Court

810 NW 23rd St Corvallis, Oregon 97330

The Coolidge apartments are one of the most well maintained, quiet apartments that I have ever seen. Most of the apartment complex is only on story, with a few units near the back that have are on the second story. The majority of the units are 1 bedroom, each costing $375. There are a few 2 bedroom apartments available, and those cost $575. For the amount of space you get in either of the sizes, the prices are definitely worth it. I thought one downside would be that there was only one washer and drier, but the complex is so small that i have never found myself waiting on anyone that was already using the machines.

One of the best parts about the Coolidge apartments is that they are located 2 blocks away from Fred Meyers. Although this may seem like a small thing, from personal experience, not having a store near you, and no car to get to one, location becomes a huge factor in trying to find good apartments. This statement actually leads me to the one downside about the apartments; they are about 1.5 miles from OSU, so it will be a 20 minute walk. If you have a bike or a car this should not really be a problem though. Overall, the Coolidge apartments are a great for the price. I will personally be staying in these apartments for three reasons 1) The constant maintenance on the apartments keep them in really good shape 2) The complex is located 2 blocks away from Fred Meyers 3) for the size of these apartments, the price is great

Shadow Hills

2740 SW Western Blvd. Corvallis, OR 97333 I would recommend renting an upper level apartment if possible. While it may be more of a hassle to move in, you will hear less of the foot traffic as well as less of the bums rummaging around in the garbage cans in the back of the building. The garbage/recycling area can often get overcrowded with garbage and boxes. Residents will either just throw the trash there or else the bums will come through and throw everything around in their pursuit for cans. However, as the apartment complex is right next to Reser Stadium, it is very convenient for parking on football game days; just as long as you park the night before in the lot. There are not enough parking spaces for the number of residents. Often, the residents will create their own parking spaces making it extremely difficult for parked cars to maneuver their way out of the lot.

Maintenance issues have always been easily resolved. There is a 24 hour phone number to call in case of emergency. I have easily to call and have maintenance come over to change my locks and fix the garbage disposal within a reasonable amount of time. The office staff at Pinion Properties, located conveniently on Monroe Avenue, is not as efficient. It can take up to more than a week for a rent check to be cashed. However, it is convenient to pay your rent, as you can drop it off anytime in a drop off box at the office or mail in the rent.

The residents in Shadow Hills are very friendly. People will hang out outside of their apartments and socialize with neighbors. Some residents will barbeque outside which creates a fun, social atmosphere.

Shadow Hills is managed by Pinion Property and it is a great place to live. The apartment complex is only a couple years old and there are four floors. There are both 1 and 2 bedroom apartments which are both affordable for students. The 1 bedroom apartments are $525/month, and the 2 bedroom apartments are $725/month. Each apartment includes a dishwasher, refrigerator, garbage disposal, and your own washer and dryer which is very convenient since you won't ever have to take your laundry somewhere else to do it. Shadow Hills is located very close to campus across from Reser Stadium on Western Blvd just west of 26th street. The location is great for walking or riding a bike to class. The apartment complex is well maintained and fairly quiet.

From my own experience, I think Shadow Hills is a great place to live. It is well built and I have hardly ever been able to hear my neighbors through the walls. In my opinion, Shadow Hills is a friendly, college atmosphere where most of the residents are college students. It is a great place to live if you want to meet people that are close to your age. Another great thing about Shadow Hills is that the rent is month-to-month. There is no lease so you are not obligated to stay there for a year if you don't want to. Whenever you want to move out, all you need to do is fill out a 30 day notice for when you plan to move out. One thing about Shadow Hills that I think is negative is that there are limited parking spaces. There are no assigned parking spots for residents and it gets very full during the school year. So you are never guaranteed a parking spot if you get off work late at night, for example. You may have to park at Reser Stadium. Other than that, I highly recommend Shadow Hills for off-campus living.

Another person's opinion:

• Parking is horrible at Shadow Hills. People were resorting to parking in handicap places until the cops started to notice and several people have gotten tickets so don't try it. Pinion lied to me on two different occassions about parking before I moved in. I was told there was a spot for everyone and that they would start doing parking permits. Once I moved in and realized there was no parking, I called Pinion and they told me they would never do permits because there are not enough spots for every apartment. And the parking lot design is ridiculous. Pinion also decided to stop doing recycling for the apartment. There is only garbage and corragated cardboard recycling. So if you ever want to recycle paper or water bottles, you cannot. You can put cans out and the bums will take them away, as they come several times a night, every night, and are very noisy. Yes, Shadow Hills is nice and having a W/D and dishwasher is great, but Pinion is not very respectable and parking is very frustrating. If you plan on being out past 11 pm, expect to park on the street. And on football game days, families park there so don't expect to ever drive anywhere on a game day and get your spot back. And of course, Pinion does nothing to stop non-residents from parking there.

Grove Street Apartments

840 SW Grove Street Corvallis, OR 97333

Grove Street Apartments is managed by Sterling Management Group, Inc. Built in 1978, but recently renovated these apartments are two bedroom, one bath for $525/month. Aside from bedrooms and bathrooms, each apartment has a decent sized living area and a kitchen that comes with cabinets, stove, oven and refrigerator. There is an on-site laundry room that costs two dollars in quarters per load (one dollar for washer, and one dollar for dryer). Grove Street Apartments are located a block from Reeser Stadium, which makes it about a 20 minute leisurely walk to campus. The complex is well maintained and fairly quiet, and also conveniently located nearby is the Western Market, a small store on the corner of Western Blvd. and Grove Street.

In my opinion Grove Street Apartments is a good place to live. Being built in 1978 you can definitely feel the cramped space every now and then, especially moving furniture up the narrow staircases. My room was around 10 by 10 feet, but with tetris-like skills I was able to fit a full office desk, night stand, dresser and twin-sized bed in it. The living room and kitchen are large enough to fit a good deal of furniture in, and feel quite spacious with some clever arrangements. The real selling points of Grove Street Apartments were the month-to-month payment option, and proximity to the Oregon State Campus. Some of the downsides of the complex are the limited parking spaces, pay-to-use laundry room, and the game days for OSU. During game days you can definitely hear the stadium's cheering and marching band play, and after the game is done good luck getting into Grove Street Apartments. The roads surrounding the apartments undergo some odd changes and it makes navigating murderous. All-in-all, the proximity to stores and campus is great, and the cheap price of the apartment makes Grove Street Apartments a good deal.

Fall Quarters Apartments

1300 SW E Avenue Corvallis, OR, 97333

Fall Quarters apartment complex is located to the south of Oregon State's campus off of E Avenue, directly behind Parkwest Apartments. Although they are not located directly on campus, campus is no farther than a five minute walk. Fall Quarters was built pre 1975, and offers three stories of one and two bedroom apartments managed by Sterling Management Group. Each apartment has a refrigerator, dishwasher, stove, and air conditioner. Most appliances within the apartments are newer appliances, excluding the air conditioner. The entrance to each individual apartment is an external entrance, and shares a stairwell with 5 other apartments. The stairwells are covered which makes it nice during Corvallis's rainy season (which apparently is most of the year). Not only are the stairwells covered, but each apartment has a covered balcony as well. These balconies are rather large and are facing E Avenue. If you enjoy riding your bike, you don’t have to worry about your bike’s safety. Bike racks, holding up to ten bikes, are located outside every stairwell. Another bonus is Fall Quarters game room. Located in the middle of the complex, this game room contains two pool tables, both of which are open for tenant use. The complex’s vending machines are located here as well.

Laundry: Laundry facilities are located towards the center of the apartment complex, and can only be accessed with a key that has been given to the tenant. There are four washers and four dryers. Both washers and dryers are coin operated, with the washers costing $1.25 per use, and the dryers costing $1.00 per use. The laundry room is equipped with folding tables, as well as a table to be used for studying while you're waiting for your laundry to finish. Pop vending machines are also located here for tenant convenience! This facility is very convenient, and its secure location provides confidence that your clothes will be there when you get back. Which is a relief.

Rent: Rent at Fall Quarters is very reasonably priced. Rent is paid at the beginning of every month, on a month-to-month basis. No lease is required. The rental rate of a one bedroom apartment is $515 per month, and the rental rate of Fall Quarters two bedroom unit is $625 per month. Included in rent is ALL utilities, except for an internet option (can be subscribed for by tenant). Water, sewer, garbage, and basic extended cable are paid for in full, and the tenant receives a $50 electricity allowance. This means, that if your electricity bill isn’t more than $50, you never have to pay electricity! I’ve been living there for 4 months, three of which were during the hotter weather when we were using the air conditioner and I haven’t seen an electricity bill yet!

Parking Availability: Parking is hardly ever a problem at Fall Quarters Apartments. There is on street parking available off of E Avenue, as well as a parking lot located behind the complex. This parking lot stretches the entire length of the complex! This is almost the length of two neighborhood blocks. The only time that parking can occasionally be a struggle is on Beaver game day. Considering Fall Quarters is located only a couple blocks from Reser Stadium, the street and the parking lot becomes crowded with avid Beaver fans looking to get to the football game.

Maintenance: So far I haven’t experienced any problems at Fall Quarters. The only maintenance emergency my roommate and I have experienced is that the day we moved in we were without a bathroom door (quite a dilemma). We called Sterling Management, and within an hour someone was there with one. Like I said, this is the only time I’ve needed maintenance help, but it was a very efficient response.

Mail: Each individual apartment is assigned a mailbox. The mailboxes are located off to the west side of the Game room, and can only be accessed by the tenants key.

Contact Information and Management: The best way to find out more information about Fall Quarters Apartments would be to contact Sterling Management Group (SMG). They are located off of 15th and Western Bvld., suite #190. You may also visit their website, or call their Corvallis office at 541-757-1290. The SMG website contains information regarding current availability, as well as upcoming vacancies. There is an onsite manager at the apartment complex, Barbara, who is there to answer any questions you have, as well as assisting in onsite complications. Barbara is located in apartment #109, and can be reached at 541-757-8627.

Oak Park Apartments

• Address is SW 26th street Corvallis OR, 97333
• Offers Studio, 1 bedroom, 2 bedrooms with one bath, 2 bedrooms with 2 baths, and townhouses.
• Great location, right across the street from Reser right behind the Hilton Garden Inn.
• Includes Utilities and cable TV within the rent
• Many apartments also equipped with a washer and dryer

Oak Park is a great place to live if you are looking to move off campus. Extremely good location, just off of 26th and Western, right across the street from Reser Stadium. They have a wide variety of types of apartments to choose from. You can get anywhere from a studio apartment to a 2 bedroom, two bathroom. Most places have there own washer and dryer, which is very easy and saves a ton of money compared to other places. The rent is very good, a 2 bed 2 bath costs $735 a month, so split down the middle with a roommate its $367.50. I would definitely recommend Oak Park as a place to live.

Preferred Properties Northwest

Brand New 2006!!

• Address is SW 10th st. Corvallis OR, 97331
• 5 bedroom with 2 bath, small balcony, 2 car garage + outside parking spot, and 4 bedroom with 2 bath
• Location couldn't be better, one block from campus right next to the McNary Dorm
• cable TV and garbage paid for
• washer, dryer, and two Refrigerators included

These townhouses are great. The location could not be better, only one block from campus right across from McNary dorms. Four and Five bedroom townhouses brand new this year (2006). Washer and Dryer included and the best part is the two refrigerators also included. Cable Internet (not TV) and garbage is all paid for. There are two rows of the townhouses with balconies facing each other and the parking lot. The rent is very reasonable. $2,300 for the 5 bedroom townhouses which is $460 per person and the 4 bedroom townhouses are about $1,800. The management is very friendly and always on top of things when you need help. This is a great place to live and an excellent place to meet new people.

Covey Row

• Address is SW 15th street. Corvalls OR, 97330
• 4 bedroom with 3.5 bathrooms, small garage (usually turned into a bedroom) and small balcony.
• Great Location. Only 2 blocks from campus, Mini Mart and local Bars.
• $300 summer rent and $350 during regular school time.

These townhouses are great! The location is perfect, close to campus, mini marts and to the local bars. There are 8 townhouses all of which have a their own garage and located on its own private drive way. Space for vehicles is limited and overflows will have to buy city parking permits which are only $15 for a whole year. Rent is about $300-$350 depending on the season. It is located in between 15th and 16th and Van Buren and Harrison. Right next to Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. It is a great place to meet new people and tenants are usually very friendly and outgoing. Socail gatherings are frequent and parties are always to be found here. The land lord is pretty laid back about throwing parties as long as you keep your yard clean. I recommend living here.

Corvalla Apartments

The Corvalla Apartments are managed by Linda and Bob; they are a great place to live in a central location of Corvallis. This apartment complex is made up of four buildings on the West side of 5th street and one the East. With the bulk on the apartments on one side of the street, here you will find the two and three bedroom apartments, and then across the street is where the one bedroom apartments are located. The one bedroom apartments are $450/month, two bedrooms are $525/month and the three bedrooms are $725/month. Each apartment includes a dishwasher, refrigerator, garbage disposal and on the three bedroom apartments you also have a deck, access to the pool and laundry facilities and also you have water, sewer and garbage included in your rent. There are three on-site laundry rooms costing in total $2.25 ( $1.25 to wash and $1.00 to dry). There are also 3 parking lots located throughout the complex, which makes parking very easy, especially since a lot of people don¡¦t drive in these apartments. The kitchen and living room are pretty well sized, following a single bathroom and your bedrooms which size is delegated with how many rooms you have, normally from smallest to largest. The Corvalla Apartments are located on the North end of Fifth Street by the baseball field and the car dealerships. Making this about a twenty minute walk to campus, and less than a 5 minute walk to downtown.

Stone Terrace Apartments

- Located on 26th and Harrison, the Stone Terrace Apartments are managed by Althea Madison at the Campus Villa apartments. Stone Terrace offers 1 and 2 bedroom apartments costing $440/month for a one-bedroom and $600/month for a 2 bedroom. Included in rent is sewer, water, and garbage, so you only have to pay electricity. Each apartment has a full size electric range/oven, a refrigerator and a garbage disposal (no dishwasher.) The one-bedroom apartment is spacious for the price, with a relatively large living room, and lots of closet space. This is one of the nicest features, because many apartments don't have enough space to put your stuff. One-bedroom apartments at Stone Terrace have 3 full-size closets. The kitchen is small, but has very ample cabinet space for storing all your foodstuffs and cooking gear. The apartments are old, but in good condition. Some have been renovated with new carpet, paint and windows, as well as bathroom fixtures. The benefits are a short walk to campus (5 minutes) and good maintenance response times. I had a leaky faucet and it was fixed within 2 days. It's across the street from Chintimini Park, which is a definite advantage during nice weather as there are 2 baseball fields, 4 sand volleyball courts and a playground for kids right next door. The apartments also have one parking spot for each apartment, plus two unmarked spots. Usually no-one takes your spot, and there is often parking on the street. The main disadvantage is that it is located next to the Sigma Pi fraternity house, which can be quite loud on the usual party nights.

Oak Vale Apartments

(541) 752-8931 3930 NW Witham Hill Dr. Corvallis, OR 97330

The apartments are only a five minute drive from campus. All the managers are very friendly and helpful. If you report any maintenance problems, they usually get to it the next day. Most of the apartments sit back away from the road and all the oak trees and grass give off a peaceful, relaxing, environment. Right behind the apartments are wilderness trails that are great for hiking. All the apartments come with cable tv, garbage, sewer, and water. You have to pay for rent, electricity, and internet if you want it. There is no reserved parking, but there is always parking available. Oak Vale apartments have two different types of apartments: phase one and phase two.

Phase one

These apartments are much older. They do not come with washer and driers. If you want to wash your clothes you have to go to a laundry mat. They do have one at the apartments that has decent prices. These apartments come in one, two, and three bedroom apartments. They are available on either ground level or second level. These apartments are not that nice, but they are affordable. In these apartments you are allowed to have a dog or a cat with a nonrefundable pet fee.

Phase two

These apartments are only about ten years old. They all have their own washer and drier. The ceiling fans are not in that good of condition. They are either first level or second level apartments and they come in two different floor plans; both of which are over 900 square feet. They all have huge walk in closets that really make these apartments. The bathrooms are also huge and have two sinks. There is a lack of room in kitchen cupboard space. There is a master bedroom in these bedrooms that are nice and significantly larger than the other bedroom. These are great for couples who share an apartment and would like an office. The second level apartments are a little bit more expensive than the ground level apartments, but it is worth the extra money. They have vaulted ceilings and stay worm during the winter. You save the money with the electricity bill during the winter. You never need to turn the heat on. In these apartments you are allowed to have a cat with a nonrefundable pet fee. These apartments are more expensive than that phase one apartments, but if you have the money, it is worth it.

Wilsonwood

502-545 NW 28th Street,
507B-529 NW 29th Street,
519A-2857 NW Tyler Ave.,
2854-2856 NW Polk Ave

I have been living in the Wilsonwood apartments for nearly one school year. They are managed by Pinion Property Management and the the rent for a 2 bedroom townhouse is $549 a month including water, sewer, and garbage, but not electricity or cable.

The Good

These apartments are very spacious. The upper story consists of two bedrooms and a bathroom. The two bedrooms are different sizes, with the one being almost twice as big as the other. Nevertheless, the smaller bedroom is significantly larger than a double-sized dorm room. Both bedrooms have ample closet space too. Downstairs is the living room, which much larger than those of any other apartment I have seen around town. I should note that there is wood flooring everywhere except the bathroom and kitchen, which are linoleum. This is kind of nice, but also means you should invest in some rugs. Adjoining the living room is the kitchen which includes a refrigerator and electric stove. Unfortunately, I have more to say about this in the next section. Outside both the front and back doors, there are small planting areas to satisfy one's gardening urges. There is plenty of off-street parking, and finding a spot has never been a problem. Like other apartments, the dumpster here has its share of regular vagrants, but you can also score a lot of free furniture from it, so keep an eye open.

The Bad

This property is old, and it shows. When I moved in, the bathroom sink was backed up and the whole drain pipe had to be replaced. Just recently, dirty water has been coming up the drain of the bathtub and creating a pool a few inches deep. Still waiting for the maintenance request to come through on that. During winter the place gets quite cold. Each room has an electric space heater, but that gets quite costly. Better to have effective insulation. Furthermore, it gets rather stuffy around here during warm weather. The windows use a spring and latch mechanism that only opens half way. Perhaps the most distressing part is that I was actually able to break into my own apartment without much difficulty through the window on a couple occasions when I left my keys. The plumbing in the laundry room is wonky too. The washing machines will often not drain completely after the spin cycle, leaving all your clothes in a pool of water, while leaking all over the floor. This is after all the machines were replaced. The walls are somewhat thin, so if you have neighbors who love to party-hardy, you could lose some sleep.

The kitchen is poorly located and poorly laid out. The back door leads right into it, and mud usually gets tracked onto the kitchen floor. It completely on the other end of the apartment from the bedrooms, so getting a snack is pretty inconvenient. Dishes can be quite a hassle without even a double sink, let alone a dishwasher. Furthermore, the cabinets hang over all the counter space so even using a counter-top dish rack is difficult. The electrical outlets are placed such that all your appliances will be either crammed together at one end of the counter, or on top of the refrigerator.

I am ambivalent toward Pinion Property. On the one hand, the turnaround on maintenance requests has been pretty good so far, and the office staff are generally friendly. However, they seem to take extraordinarily long lunches, and moving in was a tremendous hassle (and I did expect some difficulty due to the start of the school year). They won't give you a receipt for rent or a copy of documents unless you ask for them.

North Pointe

I have been living in these apartments since the first of September and I absolutely love it here. There are two phases to the North Pointe and the entire complex is non smoking, which may be a disadvantage to those who smoke, but is a very nice advantage to those who don't. There is an area available across the street for residents who do chose to smoke though.

Each apartment has a full kitchen, 1 full bath, two bedrooms, dining room, and living room. Cable is included in the rent and there is a $15 water, garbage, and sewer fee. This is mainly due to the fact you are equip with a washer and dryer, which is really convenient. Parking is also not a problem in the complex. There is one numbered parking spot for each apartment, and then there is free parking across from those that are free parking for other residents or visitors.

Personally, the only disadvantage about living here are the trains that go by during the night, so I recommend applying for an apartment that is furthest away from the train tracks.

Spring Creek

5032 SW Technology Lp

I have been living in these apartments since September and it has been an okay experience. First off I have a two bedroom one bath and it is very spacious. The living room is huge and the kitchen and dining area are fairly well sized also. Our rent is $720 a month with cable, water, and garbage included. We only have to pay for electricity and cable in addition to to our rent. Location wise it is a bit of a drive out of town, but about a 7 minute drive to campus. The residents here are quiet and I have noticed a mix of older and college age students. Some of the problems with this apartment include loud motorcycles and diesel trucks. They are both easily capable of waking you up in the morning and there's not much you can do about it. The main problem I have with Spring Creek is the complete lack of parking. Each apartment is only afforded one spot and if you want to purchase another one for $5, it will likely not be close to your apartment. There's only about ~8 parking spots open to others around my apartment and they are taken by residents most of the time so your friends often have to walk long distances to visit you. Overall I'd recommend this place if you only have one car or don't drive very much and don't have friends visit you.

THE GEM

155 Kings Blvd.

The Gem is owned by OSU, but will be managed by College Housing Northwest Corvallis for 35 years. The Gem occupies the 1960s cement building formerly known as College Inn, but its brightly colored interior with sleek, modern architecture and luxury amenities bears little resemblance to the old complex. Monthly rent at The Gem varies, starting at $450 for a studio, $570 for a large studio, $670 for a deluxe studio, $735 for a one-bedroom, $545 for a room in a two-bedroom suite and $520 for a room in a three-bedroom suite. Studios account for 199 of the units, and there are 12 handicap-accessible apartments. Some deluxe studio lofts on the ground floor have their own doors with outside access. Prices within each category vary, based on room size and view. Rent includes furniture (a mini-fridge, bed, desk, file cabinet, sofa chair and bureau for smaller units, while larger apartments have full refrigerators and include a sofa and dinette table), utilities, phone, cable TV, high-speed Internet and access to shared facilities. The Gem has a basement, with a fitness center and coin-operated laundry machines, ground level and six stories. No two apartments have the same floor plan. This gives the units a unique flair, but also presents somewhat of a gamble, since students cannot request specific apartments. In addition to the fitness center and laundry facilities, The Gem also boasts a yoga area, game room with pool tables and foosball, coffee shop, business center, on-site management, live-in assistant manager, four resident assistants, and communal kitchen and big screen plasma TV. The building is smoke-free. Residents will access the building and specific floors with key cards. Ten- and 12-month leases are available, with the option to renew. More about THE GEM at Corvallis Gazette-Times and Housing Northwest Corvallis.

The GEM is a great option for transition students between OSU resident dorms and living farther away from campus. It is great everything is included in one bill and the building location is right across from campus. The GEM has longer office hours for checkout of vacuums, and picking up packages. Your first lock out is free, after that you have to pay $12. One downfall is no screens on the windows and you can only turn on heat in your room, the only way to make is cooler is by opening the window. I enjoy the large windows that hit all the way to the floor. I wish more light was provided in the actual room, the kitchen and bathrooms are well lit, but there is only one light in the room.