Rental Help in Sarasota/Venice areas (Port Charlotte, North Port: apartment complexes, renter, HOA fees)

[PAWJOE]

I know this must have been asked in the past but I'm looking for an updated version. My wife and I are looking for a nice gated apartment development to stay in for six months to a year. We will be using it as a base to search for homes in the area.

[Sunshine Rules]

What is your monthly budget for rent? Do you have any pets that you will have with you? If you would provide the additional information we may be able to make suggestions.

I will mention that 6 month rentals will be difficult to find this time of year as most of those types of rentals are already booked for the winter season.

[PAWJOE]

rent amount isn't that important as long as you get what you pay for. 1 pet a pug.

[PAWJOE]

I don't need it to be seasonal can do a year as we will be looking to buy. Just want to be somewhere nice while we are looking if it has to be a year so be it.

[ahvolare]

PAWJOE-I am now looking for a place to buy as well and will need a rental, I can look into these myself, but if you have a recommendation, I appreciate all the help provided. I am curious did you buy if so, where? I am leaning towards Venice, maybe Naples...but it is all so confusing

[macrodome2]

We looked in Naples first, then went to Venice. Ended up buying in Venice. Naples was more expensive and more crowded. You could get more house for your money, the HOA fees were lower and the taxes also seemed to be lower in Venice. Naples does give you the feeling of more money being around if that matters to you, and it is spread out further if you include the southern areas of Fiddlers Creek/Lely up to North Naples and east to Golden Gate. We're not golfers so we were only looking for a nice pool in the community.

[sware2cod]

There are 2 kinds of rentals in the areas: Seasonal and what is usually called Annual.

Seasonal: Rentals that are for 6 months or less require you to pay taxes on top of rent. I think this might be approx 12% but can vary slightly- ( 7% county tax if Sarasota county plus a 5% state tax). Usually these rentals are fully furnished with all utilities/maintenance covered by landlord. Seasonal rentals can be very short term, or for a month or even for 3 or 6 months.

Annual: Usually a 1 year lease. Usually non-furnished and renter typically puts utilities in their name. If a SFH, sometimes renter does lawn care and sometimes landlord pays for lawn service. No tax due on the rental.

Sometimes you will find a rental for 7 months that is non-furnished and is similar to an annual rental except shorter period but still they usually are at least 7 months because of that tax issue. As long as rental period is longer than 6 months and 1 day, then no tax required.

[PAWJOE]

Originally Posted by ahvolare

PAWJOE-I am now looking for a place to buy as well and will need a rental, I can look into these myself, but if you have a recommendation, I appreciate all the help provided. I am curious did you buy if so, where? I am leaning towards Venice, maybe Naples...but it is all so confusing

Sorry I can't give you a recommendation. It is tough to get info on this site as far as I've seen. I just wanted information on a good gated rental community to rent 6 months to a year and it is almost impossible. I get the seasonal vs annual vs all the other stuff I was just looking for a place people think is nice to live. Amount doesn't matter as long as it is worth the price and yes I have a dog but from what I have seen most rental communities allow dogs under 20lbs. I just wanted to know which are the ones they have heard people enjoy living in?

[loves2read]

why don't you post list of apt complexes you found that allow small pets --based on price point and location and what you found desireable--and ask specifically about them for input/reaction...

[TamRE]

There are not many gated apartment complexes. You might find a gated condo community to rent in. Try Toledo Club Apartments in North Port which is just south of Venice. There is also Lakes of Tuscana in Port Charlotte which is close to I-75 if you want to travel north into Sarasota County.

Otherwise, you can try to the rental sites that were provided in a previous post. Many of my customers find a place on Vacation Rentals by Owner. Even if you are looking for a 6 month rental, you can still try that site.