What $3,500 rents you in Oakland right now

Welcome to Curbed Comparisons, a regular column exploring what you can rent for a set dollar amount in different neighborhoods. Today we head across the bay once again to Oakland. Is one person's studio another person's townhouse? Let's find out. Today's price: $1,800.

↑ Oakland is a town that takes its lofts seriously. Consider the case of this two-bed, two-bath, more than 1,400-square-foot space on Adeline Street in North Oakland, clinging to the Emeryville border. “This former industrial space has been converted into a totally modern and upscale urban loft,” says the property manager, a boilerplate line that, at least in this case, is true. The price is $1,450. Pets included. The ad even cautions that the unit can only legally fit five people—which it may well have a fair shot at filling out.

↑ By contrast, compare that loft to this bizarrely cool live/work in Melrose, a monstrous 2,700 square foot unit that’s technically qualified as a studio. Granted the place looks more like the berth of a ship than a standard Oakland apartment, but the building (dubbed the Boise) bills itself “a collection of artist spaces,” though at a very specific $3,483/month it’s a stretch for most East Oakland artists. The ad warns that no bands or cannabis-growing operations are permitted, despite (or maybe because of) the seemingly ideal layout. The lease allows cats, but no dogs.

↑ Up in the Montclair Hills on the edge of the Huckleberry Preserve sits a gorgeous A-frame house renting two bedrooms, two baths, for $3,500/month. Notice this is one of those hillside homes in wooded areas with porch railing on every side that creates the illusion of a most spectacular treehouse. And indeed the slant of that towering frame adds certain similar eccentricities to the interior rooms. The ad doesn’t mention pets, although it does say “price negotiable,” so perhaps they’re in a mood to bargain.

↑ By way of a potentially more practical Oakland rental, here’s a three-bed, one-bath Craftsman bungalow in Hoover Foster (which the ad tries to call Temescal, since it’s trendy, but that is a stretch) for $3,500. “The original tiled fireplace and Wedgewood gas stove are fully functional,” the ad notes, adding “a flexible floor plan allows any combination of up to three bedrooms or three home offices.” The riddle of what kind of household needs three home offices may perhaps go forever unsolved, but at least there’s the option. Note that this duplex splits a hot tub between both units and permits both cats and dogs. (But not in the hot tub.)

↑ And finally, renters can opt to retreat to a two-bed, two-bath condo in Claremont next to the freeway for 1,119 feet at $3,500. “Custom upgrades made by the owner including granite counter tops, new carpets, beautiful tiled fireplace, and new garbage disposal,” according to the ad, which also promises no freeway noises despite the proximity. No pets, though.