Relocating to sarasota area. (Bradenton: for sale, foreclosure, renters)

[sakari5]

Hi, My boyfriend and I will be moving to sarasota area next year sometime to be closer to my son who has a Brain injury from a car accident. We plan to rent and need some advice to finding affordable housing. I seen craigslist.com gives some good listings, does anyone know of other. Your help would greatly appreciated. Thanks! Sarah

[sware2cod]

The MLS has rentals. Choose Type=Rentals.

Here is a link.
Florida Homes for Sale direct from MLS

[Sunshine Rules]

While some rentals in our area do get listed in the MLS, most can be found on other websites such as these below:


Rentals.com http://www.rentals.com/Florida/Sarasota/ (easy to use search engines)

Real Rentals http://www.realrentals.com/houses_for_rent/?city=Sarasota&state=Florida+FL


RentalHomesPlus.com http://florida.rentalhomesplus.com/Sarasota

RentalHouses.com http://www.rentalhouses.com/find/FL/SouthwestFlorida/SARASOTA-BRADENTON

Rent Range www.rentrange.com


FlipKey http://www.flipkey.com/search/l/34618/?featured=true&gclid=CLql6oiwtqsCFY125QodFhQwiw

SarasotaRent.net http://www.sarasotarent.net/

Trulia www.trulia.com/FL/Sarasota/

Ebay classified http://sarasota.ebayclassifieds.com/homes-for-rent/?catId=100043


For pet friendly rentals: http://www.petvacationhomes.com/search/Florida/Siesta+Key/vacation-rentals/index_141.html




You might try the classified of the local newspapers:

Sarasota Herald Tribune http://www.heraldtribune.com/


Bradenton Herald http://www.bradenton.com/



Here are also a couple of the better known property management companies in our area that handle rentals:

Stringer Management
Sarasota, FL
941-922-4959
http://www.stringermanagement.com/


Sarasota Management
Sarasota, FL
941-377-8400
http://www.sarasotamanagement.com/owners_choose.html?gclid=COiWw9qvtqsCFYlM4AodaE9Ze g


I'd like to offer some additional information for you and others looking to rent in our area. There are still homes and condos in foreclosure that the owners are renting out, since the foreclosure process can literally take years to complete. These are often offered at prices slightly below the average for the area. You do have to take some precautions if renting a property in foreclosure.

There have been significant changes to the federal law as of 2009 that are of benefit to tenants of homes in foreclosure that you should be aware of. Before May of 2009, most renters lost their leases upon foreclosure. The rule in most states was that if the mortgage was recorded before the lease was signed, a foreclosure wiped out the lease.

These rules changed on May 20, 2009 with the "Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act of 2009." This legislation provided that leases would survive a foreclosure -- meaning the tenant could stay at least until the end of the lease, and that month-to-month tenants would be entitled to 90 days notice before having to move out.

An exception was made for the buyer who intends to live on the property (owner occupy). This buyer may terminate a lease by giving the tenant 90 days notice.

There are some other concerns about renting from a landlord who's property is in foreclosure. It is doubtful that the owner will maintain the home or make repairs if something breaks, such as A/C, appliances or leaks.

If you rent a property that is in foreclosure, it might be a good idea to contact the attorney listed on the foreclosure documents and forward a copy of your lease to him/her so the owner's lender is aware that a tenant is residing in the property. You wouldn't want to come home one day and find the bank sent an asset management company over to change the locks because they thought the home was vacant.

One other thing - most landlords in foreclosure are also neglecting to pay the mandatory HOA or condo fees on the property. FL just passed a law that states that a community association is entitled to recover the monthly rent amount from a tenant when the owner who is renting the property is delinquent in the payment of association assessments. So in a case such as that, the monthly rent would be paid to the HOA instead of the landlord until back due fees are recovered. There is a specific process in place for HOAs to follow in order to do so.


To see if a property you are looking to rent is in foreclosure, you can go to the Clerk of Court web site in the county where the property is located and look up the owner's name. If you see a Lis Pendens filing, the foreclosure process has been started.

For Sarasota county, the clerk's web site is:
SARASOTA : Clerk of Circuit Court & County Comptroller (click on "online services" & then "official records")

For Manatee county, the site is: Home




Good luck with your move.

[Big House]

Originally Posted by sakari5

Hi, My boyfriend and I will be moving to sarasota area next year sometime to be closer to my son who has a Brain injury from a car accident. We plan to rent and need some advice to finding affordable housing. I seen craigslist.com gives some good listings, does anyone know of other. Your help would greatly appreciated. Thanks! Sarah

Sorry to hear about the accident! I know your all going to enjoy it here!

[TamRE]

I would recommend working with a rental specialist at a rental agency. They can work with you to help you find something that meets your specific needs and it may not be listed in the MLS or online.

www.rentmeflorida.com

www.stringermanagement.com

[sakari5]

thanks for all the advice it was a big help. Sarah

[karminghia]

What about paying rent if owner is not paying mortgage? Does a tenant have to pay rent if owner is not paying mortgage? The statue states that it's illegal to use money for personal use. Any feedback?

BTW, I've heard Stringer management does not give security back.

Originally Posted by Sunshine Rules

While some rentals in our area do get listed in the MLS, most can be found on other websites such as these below:


Rentals.com http://www.rentals.com/Florida/Sarasota/ (easy to use search engines)

Real Rentals http://www.realrentals.com/houses_for_rent/?city=Sarasota&state=Florida+FL


RentalHomesPlus.com http://florida.rentalhomesplus.com/Sarasota

RentalHouses.com http://www.rentalhouses.com/find/FL/SouthwestFlorida/SARASOTA-BRADENTON

Rent Range www.rentrange.com


FlipKey http://www.flipkey.com/search/l/34618/?featured=true&gclid=CLql6oiwtqsCFY125QodFhQwiw

SarasotaRent.net http://www.sarasotarent.net/

Trulia www.trulia.com/FL/Sarasota/

Ebay classified http://sarasota.ebayclassifieds.com/homes-for-rent/?catId=100043


For pet friendly rentals: http://www.petvacationhomes.com/search/Florida/Siesta+Key/vacation-rentals/index_141.html




You might try the classified of the local newspapers:

Sarasota Herald Tribune http://www.heraldtribune.com/


Bradenton Herald http://www.bradenton.com/



Here are also a couple of the better known property management companies in our area that handle rentals:

Stringer Management
Sarasota, FL
941-922-4959
http://www.stringermanagement.com/


Sarasota Management
Sarasota, FL
941-377-8400
http://www.sarasotamanagement.com/owners_choose.html?gclid=COiWw9qvtqsCFYlM4AodaE9Ze g


I'd like to offer some additional information for you and others looking to rent in our area. There are still homes and condos in foreclosure that the owners are renting out, since the foreclosure process can literally take years to complete. These are often offered at prices slightly below the average for the area. You do have to take some precautions if renting a property in foreclosure.

There have been significant changes to the federal law as of 2009 that are of benefit to tenants of homes in foreclosure that you should be aware of. Before May of 2009, most renters lost their leases upon foreclosure. The rule in most states was that if the mortgage was recorded before the lease was signed, a foreclosure wiped out the lease.

These rules changed on May 20, 2009 with the "Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act of 2009." This legislation provided that leases would survive a foreclosure -- meaning the tenant could stay at least until the end of the lease, and that month-to-month tenants would be entitled to 90 days notice before having to move out.

An exception was made for the buyer who intends to live on the property (owner occupy). This buyer may terminate a lease by giving the tenant 90 days notice.

There are some other concerns about renting from a landlord who's property is in foreclosure. It is doubtful that the owner will maintain the home or make repairs if something breaks, such as A/C, appliances or leaks.

If you rent a property that is in foreclosure, it might be a good idea to contact the attorney listed on the foreclosure documents and forward a copy of your lease to him/her so the owner's lender is aware that a tenant is residing in the property. You wouldn't want to come home one day and find the bank sent an asset management company over to change the locks because they thought the home was vacant.

One other thing - most landlords in foreclosure are also neglecting to pay the mandatory HOA or condo fees on the property. FL just passed a law that states that a community association is entitled to recover the monthly rent amount from a tenant when the owner who is renting the property is delinquent in the payment of association assessments. So in a case such as that, the monthly rent would be paid to the HOA instead of the landlord until back due fees are recovered. There is a specific process in place for HOAs to follow in order to do so.


To see if a property you are looking to rent is in foreclosure, you can go to the Clerk of Court web site in the county where the property is located and look up the owner's name. If you see a Lis Pendens filing, the foreclosure process has been started.

For Sarasota county, the clerk's web site is:
SARASOTA : Clerk of Circuit Court & County Comptroller (click on "online services" & then "official records")

For Manatee county, the site is: Home




Good luck with your move.

[Sunshine Rules]

What about paying rent if owner is not paying mortgage? Does a tenant have to pay rent if owner is not paying mortgage? The statue states that it's illegal to use money for personal use. Any feedback?

BTW, I've heard Stringer management does not give security back.


The state of FL has specific statutes that regulate rental properties, includng the return of deposits.

Here's what the statutes state regarding deposits:
"When you move out, the landlord must either return your deposit within 15 days of termination of the rental agreement, if the landlord does not intend to impose a claim upon the security deposit; or justify in writing by certified mail, to the tenant's last known mailing address within 30-days upon termination of a rental agreement, as to why they are keeping a portion of or all of the deposit. If the notice is not sent as required within the 30-day period, the landlord forfeits his/her right to impose a claim upon the deposit, unless you fail to give proper notice prior to vacating."

If someone you know did not get their initial deposit back from Stringer, either there was valid reasons the deposit was not returned or someone should be talking to a lawyer.

Most legal experts say stopping rent payments can be a mistake. The landlord owns the property until the bank actually forecloses, and the landlord can evict you for failure to pay rent (while keeping your security deposit), then rent the property out again to another tenant.

The state of FL's Division of Consumer Services has a toll free phone number for tenants to call and ask questions such as yours. It's on their web site at: Florida Landlord/Tenant Law Division of Consumer Services, DOACS (http://www.800helpfla.com/landlord_text.html - broken link)


I think you should be able to get answers to most of your questions there.

[DoctorRain]

I think if you have friends and a significant other you are happy about having, you can make Sarasota work. It was a real challenge for me to live in Parrish, but all in all, if you have friends, a wife and something to live for, one can be happy in Sarasota I feel. As a single with few friends, not many job prospects and no love life to speak of, its not such a great place. I also learn that no matter where the place is located, if you did not pick the place to live yourself, good chance you will be unhappy or dissatisfied with more vs the place you pick directly from your own research and studying + visiting first. Oregon is that place for me since I researched it and know its where I eventually want to move to. FL could be the same for someone else depending on what they are looking for. My asking price was just a little too high although I thought it wasn't. I always said to myself, with a good social life and a girlfriend, I could stay for awhile, but since I don't have it, off I go and theres nothing for me to be here for. I will keep moving until I get it.. I am that dedicated.. yes THAT dedicated.