When/how to look for a rental? (St Augustine)

[rwbil]

I am a Real Estate Broker and Property Manager. You will need a Realtor if you want to see homes that are listed on the MLS. Some Property Management companies only list on the MLS and do not advertise in Craigslist. Your biggest problem is the Pit Bull. The insurance companies now have a "HUGH" list of dangerous breeds and pit bull as at the top. You might be able to buy your own liability insurance for the pit bull and convince a Landlord to accept that. But the problem is there are always conditions the insurance uses to get out of Dog Bite claims. For most landlord it is just not worth the risk to me to rent to someone with a Pit Bull, especially when people sue for Millions these days.

[EricBoyd]

Originally Posted by rwbil

...You will need a Realtor if you want to see homes that are listed on the MLS...

OP, if you end up convincing a Realtor to show you a bunch of MLS-listed rentals, please tell them up-front that you have a pit bull.

[RAZmonkey]

Thanks everyone. Her DNA came back mixed but with many of the "bully" breeds listed (Am Staff, Bull Terrier, etc). We are looking into getting her tested by the AKC as a Canine Good Citizen....basically an obedience/manners/personality test. We already have renters insurance with her listed as a pit. It doubled the cost of the policy, but we still were able to get it.

We are still looking. We don't really want to expand outside of the island/StAugBeach area....but as we get closer to July we will have to.

Just a curiosity, for those that rent out homes, do your homeowners insurance policies forbid breeds or do they require you to pay for an additional rider? Would you be willing to pass that cost onto the tenet?

[madcapmagishion]

Some homeowners associations do not allow dangerous breed list dogs like Pit Bulls, Rottweilers (I have 3), German Shepherds, Dobermans and one dog I have never even heard of Canaris(?) from the Canary Islands. So check that out before you rent.

* Presa Canario had to look it up

[ssclulow]

As a homeowner, you can get a policy written which excludes coverage for liabilities relating to your dogs, but you cannot pay extra for a rider which would include the coverage. As a landlord, I cannot get such a policy and I would not accept putting myself in that position of liability even if I could get a policy written excluding the coverage. I love all animals and feel your pain in this matter. I would seriously consider buying a home and abandoning the idea of renting. I don't believe you will find anyone who accept the liability and will rent to you, unless they are completely clueless about the insurance issues.

[RAZmonkey]

We found a place. Thanks all for your suggestions and help.

My take-home advice for this process would be:
1. Scan all realty ads, craigslist, classifieds, etc for a few weeks to months in advance of when you want to rent. It helped me get a gauge of typical rent prices and trends.
2. Be prepared to rent on the spot. Many houses I called on were rented within hours to a day of being listed.
3. Don't be overly forthcoming with the fact you have a pitbull. Whenever I mentioned it from the start of a convo I was immediately shot down. The rental market seems pretty hot right now. Landlords can be as picky as home buyers these days. So it's no sweat off their backs to turn me down. It will inevitably come up, but don't make it an issue before it needs to be.

[ssclulow]

So good to hear that you found a place to rent:-) !! Best wishes as you move your family here. I'm sure you will be very happy here.