The strangest things happen when you least expect it. I took an ad out in our local newspaper stating, “Artist wants to buy house walking distance from ferry and will pay $50,000.”

It all started because so many artists have been coming to Bremerton looking for an inexpensive studio space. Most wanting space to both live in and work in, for about $500. These are mostly single people or couples just out of school, or mature long-standing artists. In any case, when one decides to become a full time or part time professional artist, a brain surgeon’s salary is not in the realm of reality.

For some reason the combination of housing and artists in Bremerton hasn’t been clicking the way it should. There’s a need. There’s a demand, but the understanding is up in the air. Right down the street from my gallery are one bedroom apartments with new drapes and carpet that rent for $385, but that’s the last thing an artist needs. Nothing makes an artist run away faster than new carpet.

In the last couple of weeks I’ve had five sculptors come into the gallery looking for workspace. The high ceiling, ventilation, and noise considerations narrowed the field. Most of the painters needed ventilated, heated areas where paint damage wouldn’t be a problem. Potters were concerned with water and electricity to outbuildings such as garages. Cheap rent, no frills and basic work conditions were the answers.

So if I could find a house for $50,000 or less, and it met certain artists needs, and it could rent for about $500, I’d go for it. The ad that I placed in the paper opened a floodgate of real estate. I had hesitated at first selecting such a low amount, but to my surprise the phone began to ring off the hook. Of two dozen offers, I looked at about fifteen houses, and may even buy one or two.

Several interesting things came to light. First being that there are many Bremerton area houses that can be purchased for less than $50,000 and some lower than $40,000.

About a third of the calls were from multi rental owners who had bought houses ten years back and were expecting a windfall from a booming Bremerton recovery. That didn’t happen.

Now, ten years later, frustrated landlords have lost patience. I told the callers that whether or not I purchased the house I would help them with tenants in the way of artists. To those still wanting to sell, I suggested a number of Realtors sensitive to the needs of artists.

In conclusion, Bremerton is a buyer’s market. But the signs of progress are upon us, and today’s buying opportunities might not be there tomorrow. In the middle of all this are artists.

In a moment of revelation it came to me why artists and this community aren’t quite clicking when it comes to housing. One of the reasons is that there are dozens of rental houses out there that are in bad shape and they sit empty. The carpet is shabby. There are holes in the wall, and the drapes need mending. The owners don’t think the house can be rented, and the cost to “fix up” is too costly weighing the low rental market. Please put these on the market. Rent them as is. Lower the rent and designate your house an artist live/work space.