Thornton & College Park - Suggestions for renting a small home? (West Palm Beach: apartments, rental homes)

[SeeraLynn]

I'm so excited I found this forum, this is the best. Everyone's posts I've read have been so helpful already. My boyfriend of 4 years and I moved to West Palm Beach from Worcester, MA 3 years ago. We are 25 and 27 and are looking to live somewhere else now and I need help finding a house to rent. Thornton Park and College Park sounded like the best fit from reading all the posts, so if you could tell me what specific areas to avoid looking at, or specific areas in those places to check out, it would be so great. We want to rent a house/bungalow in a real neighborhood. We'll look at condos and apartments, but we miss the neighborhood feel. We want to stay around $1000/month not including utilities, and we'd like 2+ bedrooms. We'd love to live near people close to our age too. Also, we don't have a realtor yet if you know one or are one! Thanks for any suggestions!!

[annerk]

Try Craigslist.org, lots of places listed on there.

[earthfaries]

I will send you a private message with my realtor info. He is a member here and has been extremely kind and helpful with finding us a rental home

Good luck with your move!

[annerk]

A lot of the homes in those areas aren't listed with a Realtor, or if they are they never make it to the MLS, so other Realtors don't know about them.

I have a friend in College Park who found his rental by driving around the neighborhoods he wanted to be in looking for "For Rent" signs, and then calling the landlord direct. He ended up with several to choose from, and got a 2/1 with a living room, kitchen, and alcove room that could be a dining room (he uses it as a home office) plus a garage for $950 a month. Lawn care is included. Just to let you know, in those areas in your price range you are looking at 1920's bungalows with small rooms. (ie king sized beds will probably not fit, and even queens could be a bit tight.)

Thornton Park is truly urban living with all the benefits (and problems) that come with it. Higher housing costs, parking problems, vagrants in your neighborhood, higher crime that leaches over from Parramore a few blocks away. But it's also walking distance to great restaurants and the downtown entertainment district.

[Crane's Rooster]

The best suggestion is what's already been mentioned.

1. Drive around the neighborhood looking for rental signs, most rental homes here are rented directly by the owners.

2. Craiglists.

There really are no bad parts in either of these neighborhoods but some areas are less convenient than others. For instance if you want to stay in college park I would try to stay as close to Edgewater drive as possible because that's where the stores and restaraunts are located. In Thornton the main areas are Central and Summerlin but Thornton is easier walking neighborhood so just about anywhere will give you the same benefits. That being said, just my advice, but you may want to consider living further off the main strips in Thornton because they do get very busy and can be somewhat noisy from Wed-Sun. Both neighborhoods are great. College Park will have more selection in your price range but Thornton park is closer to the age demographic you're looking for. Hope this helps and good luck!