Samish Commons
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1000 Otis Street
Bellingham, WA 98225 (map)
Whatcom County


Property Category:

Individual/Family

Properties for Individuals and Families

These properties have open eligibility in that they do not restrict occupancy to a particular age population (seniors) or disabled households. Most properties will require that the head of household be over the age of 18 or an emancipated minor. The number of persons in an apartment will be restricted to bedroom size, in most cases, and a few properties have set-aside certain units within their property for seniors and/or persons with a disability. Single persons, roommates, couples and families are welcome at these properties- unless otherwise indicated on the listing.

Please call the MAIN CONTACT on each property listing for specific program or property eligibility.

Approximate Wait:
No waiting list at this time

Availability Detail:

We do not hold a waitlist, first come first serve. The rent and unit you can qualify for is based on your annual household income and other factors. Income and rent limits apply for households making below 30%, 40%, 50% and 60% of the area median income.Please come in on or around the 10th of each month to have the best chance at applying.

WE DO NOT HAVE AN ONLINE APPLICATION. THE ONE ON SAMISH COMMONS WEBSITE DOES NOT CURRENTLY WORK. DO NOT APPLY ONLINE. Apply in person or via email.


Special Eligibility:

Move In Qualifications:
Samish Commons provides affordable income and rent restricted housing through the WSHFC Tax Credit LIHTC program. Maximum allowable income for households cannot exceed 30%, 40%, 50% and 60% of the area median income levels. Each unit is designated as a specific income set aside. Each vacancy will require a new household to income qualify at the designated set aside amount based on income and household size. Some units may also be set aside for individuals or families with Special Needs.

We also have a limited number (35) units set aside with Project Based Subsidy. Qualifying for those units is through the Bellingham Housing Authority. Please contact the manager for more information on how/where to apply and wait list times for those project-based units.

1. Screening Application
The screening application includes a credit, criminal, and landlord reference check. Please note that a screening fee of $44 per household member 18 years of age and above will be due at the time of the application and is non-refundable. There is also a $150 refundable holding deposit required at this time. Before applying, please review our screening criteria on the documents page on our website https://www.samishcommons.com/

2. Income & Eligibility Verification
After your screening is approved, you will need to complete income verification to confirm your eligibility for the program. Each household member must provide documentation establishing their eligibility, including, but not limited to:

  • Proof of income (such as pay stubs or benefit letters)
  • Government-issued photo IDs for each adult household member
  • Birth certificates for minors
  • Student status documentation (if applicable)
  • All expected household income for the next 12 months must be disclosed.
  • Most households made up entirely of full-time students will not qualify, but there are exceptions. Please reach out if you have questions about this rule.
  • Our compliance team will review your documentation to confirm that your household qualifies. Each year, we will recheck your income to make sure you still meet the programs requirements.

  • Description:

    Be the first to enjoy the comfort of brand new construction at a convenient location. With 69 residential homes to choose from ranging from one- and two-bedrooms to three-bedroom townhomes, you'll love the unrivaled lifestyle that awaits in Bellingham's newest affordable living community. Our brand new mid-rise features modern interiors and contemporary touches you won't find anywhere else. Be among the first to enjoy these amenities at Samish Commons!

    Community Amenities

  • Availability 24 Hours
  • Public Transportation
  • Elevator
  • Controlled Access/Gated
  • Underground Parking Garage
  • Courtyard (Coming Phase 2)
  • One- and Two-Bedrooms, and Three-Bedroom Townhomes Available
  • Walking Distance to Shopping Center
  • Walkable Neighborhood
  • Apartment Amenities

  • Microwave
  • Cable Ready
  • Efficient Appliances
  • Washer/Dryer
  • Non-Smoking Community
  • Trash, Gas, Sewer, Water included in rent
  • Wheelchair Access
  • Refrigerator
  • Pet Policy

    Pets are not allowed on the premises. Only service animals will be accepted per Section 504 requirements. 


    Main Contact for Inquires and Application

    Name: Rose Huentelman Phone: 360-988-3240
    Title: Leasing Consultant Fax: 360-392-8107
    Company: Indigo Real Estate Services TDD: Call 711 for free relay service
    Address: 321 Samish Way Suite 105 Email: samishleasing1@samishcommons.com
    Bellingham, WA 98225 Website: https://www.samishcommons.com/
    Office Hours: M-F 8am - 5pm
    Management Contact

    Name: Indigo Real Estate Services Phone: 206-230-9874
    Title: Property Management Fax:
    Company: Email: indigo@indigorealestate.com
    Address: 5415 California Ave SW Website: www.indigorealestate.com
    Seattle, WA 98136

    Program Type(s)

    Properties that offer subsidized apartments through other City, Local or private funding

    Properties that offer subsidized apartments through other City, Local or Private funding

    Subsidy is available through a City, Local or private funding program to qualifying households.

    Examples include:
    1. Shelter Plus Care offers subsidy for disabled individuals involved with a participating agency.
    2. Vash- HUD Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing provides vouchers for subsidized rent to homeless veterans and their families as part of case management and services through the VA.
    3. Salvation Army Homeless Family Assistance (HFA) Program assists homeless families with move-in costs, rental subsidy and case management to help maintain affordable housing for a specified period of time.

    Please call the MAIN CONTACT on each property listing for specific program or property eligibility.

    Properties that Accept Housing Authority provided Tenant-Based Vouchers

    Properties that accept Tenant-Based Housing Authority Provided Vouchers

    Properties in this category are private or publically owned properties that accept applicants with a Housing Authority provided Housing Choice Section 8 voucher or certificate. You must first have applied and received a voucher through your local housing authority program. You should contact your city or county Housing Authority directly for an application for their voucher/subsidy program.

    All properties listed on our site that do not have Project-Based subsidy through another government program will take a Section 8 voucher. Vouchers are portable and transferrable because they stay with the household, not the property, once you move out of the property. Then you can take your voucher to a property that accepts them and receive a subsidized rent.

    With a voucher or certificate, you will generally only pay 30% of your monthly household income for rent. Maximum rent amounts that the owner can charge are designated by the Federal Government and income limits apply. If an owner wishes to charge more than the maximum rent authorized by the housing authority, the tenant may be asked to pay all or part of the difference.

    Please call the MAIN CONTACT on each property listing for specific program or property eligibility.

    Properties that offer Washington State Housing Tax Credit Affordable apartments (non-subsidized)

    Properties that offer Washington State Housing Tax Credit Affordable apartments (non-subsidized)

    These properties have entered into a long term contract with the Washington State Housing Finance Commission to keep rents affordable to low income households for at least 21 years. In exchange for their commitment, owners of Tax Credit properties (LIHTC) are able to reduce their IRS tax assessment as long as qualified families are placed in their apartments and remain income qualified.

    These properties do not have Project-Based subsidy, so unless there is another subsidy program "layered" into a Tax Credit property, or you have a Housing Authority Section 8 Voucher, your rent will not be subsidized. The rent you will qualify for at these properties are restricted by HUD rent limits and will depend upon your annual income level. These are called income set-asides. The property may have rent ranges, lowest to highest, but a family in a higher income level may not qualify for the lowest rent level. There may also be some other set asides at the property, called occupancy set asides, such as for large families, disabled households or farm labor households. Properties with these types of set asides would give preference for rents and units to households that qualify.

    Waiting lists can also vary greatly at these properties. There are often much longer wait times for the lower rent amounts and may be no wait at all for the higher rent amounts at the property. In addition, often your annual income level may determine which unit you will qualify for. This can also effect the time you may need to wait for a unit to become available.

    For example,
    Let's say a property has a Tax Credit income set aside of 30% units at a rent of $350 per month. That rent is only available if your gross annual income is less than, for example, $15,000 per year. If all of the 30% units are currently occupied, your household could not immediately move-in to a 30% unit. You may have to either wait for a 30% unit to become available, or, if you can afford a higher rent, you can move-in more quickly.

    Tax Credit properties usually have more than one income set aside, so units are generally offered at varying rents between 30%-80% area median income. They will also generally have a minimum monthly income requirement, such as 2x the amount of the rent.

    Please call the MAIN CONTACT on each property listing for specific program or property eligibility.

    Other Program Details:

    Project Based subsidized units through the Bellingham Housing Authority

  • 0 Bed: 26
  • 1 Bed: 7
  • 2 Bed: 2
  • 3 Bed: 0
  • Income Limit Category: Extremely Low, Very Low, Low,
    Income Limit Details:

    Samish Commons provides affordable income and rent restricted housing through the WSHFC Tax Credit LIHTC program. Maximum allowable income for households cannot exceed 30%, 40%, 50% and 60% of the area median income levels

    Amenities

    Additional Storage
    Cable TV Hookup
    Community Room
    Computer Lab
    Covered Parking
    Deck or Patio
    Elevator
    Garbage Disposal
    Garden Setting
    Non-Smoking Property
    Laundry in Unit
    Utilities Included

    Handicap Accessible Units
    Property offers Wheelchair Accessible Apartments

    These properties offer apartments that are accessible to persons in wheelchairs or have features desirable and useful to persons in wheelchairs or with mobility impairments. Some properties have apartments that are fully accessible and some have apartments that have been adapted to include accessible features. In accordance with the Fair Housing Act and ADA, all properties that are not specifically exempt will have common areas, pathways and offices that are accessible, or must make arrangements at the property to accommodate persons with mobility impairments. Accessible apartment features vary from property to property, but may include one or more of the following features:
    Walk in showers or adapted bath tubs
    Grab bars
    Hand held Shower
    Widened doorways and larger rooms
    Lowered cabinets and countertops
    Accessible countertops and sink
    Accessible appliances
    Levered door and faucet handles
    Accessible switches and plugs
    Lowered peep holes in doors
    Hard flooring (non-carpeted)
    Visible doorbells, smoke detectors, braille signage and documents

    Please call the MAIN CONTACT on each property listing for specific accessibility features available at the property and in the apartments.


    Proximity to transit: Front Door Pickup


    Other Amenities:
    Water, Sewer, Garbage and Gas included with Rent.


    Background Screening Information

    Accepting Comprehensive Re-usable Tenant Screening Reports
    Not Accepting Comprehensive Re-usable Tenant Screening Reports


    Screening Information and Cost (If Any):

    $41 per person application/screening fee
    $150 Application holding deposit.

     

    A comprehensive re-usable tenant screening report (portable report) means a tenant screening report, prepared by a consumer reporting agency at the direction of and paid for by the prospective tenant, and made available directly to a prospective landlord at no charge. Reports are re-usable for 30 days for multiple landlords.

    In accordance with Senate Bill 6413 effective 6/9/2016, landlords have the option to either accept or not accept portable reports, and the landlords decision must be included in the landlord’s posted rental criteria.

    If the landlord indicates its willingness to accept a comprehensive reusable tenant (portable) screening report, the landlord may access the landlord's own tenant screening report, regarding a prospective tenant, as long as the prospective tenant is not charged for the landlord's own tenant screening report.

    Bedroom Sizes and Rent Structure

    These rent amounts are generally the lowest and highest rents currently reported at this property. Please call the main contact listed above for details and requirements.

    # of Bedrooms
    Rent Range
    # of units
    Studio$569
    -
    $113826 Unit(s) 
    1 Bedroom$610
    -
    $122030 Unit(s) 
    2 Bedrooms$732
    -
    $14648 Unit(s) 
    3 Bedrooms$845
    -
    $16915 Unit(s) 

    Total Units:Directly Subsidized (Project-Based) Units:
    69 Units0 Units

    Rent Detail:

    Rental ranges listed are for our non-subsidized LIHTC affordable units. Each unit is designated as a specific income set aside. Availability of units may depend on unit income limit setaside and other factors.

    We also accept Housing Choice vouchers in our non-subsidized units. 


    Equal Housing Opportunity -
    This Page was Last Updated February 12, 2026

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