We want to move to Sarasota, Florida and start a bookstore business (Bradenton: sales, apartments)

[Heatheraurelia]

Is there any good apartments and/or places to lease in this area? Me and my partner are moving in four months and want to plan ahead before we make the big move to Florida from Maine.

[kyle19125]

So let me get this straight, you want to move to one of the most economically depressed states to open a business concept that is dying across the country (see Borders Books and hundreds of independents)? I would really rethink that...

[jambo101]

With the introduction of Ereaders real books are soon to be going the way of hard copy music and films..

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by Heatheraurelia

Is there any good apartments and/or places to lease in this area? Me and my partner are moving in four months and want to plan ahead before we make the big move to Florida from Maine.

You might want to re-post on the Sarasota forum. You will also need to provide more info - what type bookstore? There are some small, niche bookstores in Sarasota that are thriving, but large mainstream bookstores are struggling and/or closing. At any rate, you will get more answers on the Sarasota forum.

[FloridaKash]

Bookstores are obsolete.

[Harbor Hopper]

I agree with the others about bookstores being a failing business concept (good luck getting any kind of financing for it).
Regarding rentals "in the area", Sarasota encompasses a large area. Anyone helping you would need to know which areas of Sarasota you're interested in.
Lastly, you're planning to move in 4 months and you're just now researching? That's not really planning ahead. You're already WAY behind.

[Obrero]

You can lease the spaces left by the bookstores in Lakewood Ranch that closed due to low sales....

[siestachica]

The used book store in siesta village have had a 20% increase in sales the past year, not all book stores are declining but I think you would need to find a real niche.

Good Luck in your search, move and new business venture

[Sunshine Rules]

My question would be do you have sufficient funds to carry you over for a length of time? By moving here in June you will be starting your book store after the winter season, when even established local retailers have to cope with lower sales as the bulk of the tourists and all of the winter residents are gone from the area until late in the fall.


As to rentals, there are quite a few sites where you can search for something to fit your budget and needs.

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


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 and throw out your belongings because they thought the home was abandoned.

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")

[Mrs. J. Ogre]

WOW!!!!!
That's a lot of info Sunshine