Reasonable, clean and safe rental for someone who isn’t a snowbird (Sarasota: renter)

[LFJourney]

I just sold my house of 29 years in Central Florida about 3 weeks ago. I brought some things with me, but I got rid of my furniture and mostly everything. I originally planned to buy a new construction home in Venice, but I now think I need to also really consider Sarasota.

In the meantime, I’m looking for a rental that’s reasonable, clean and safe just to get me by while I make it my mission to find my next home. It may be that I need to also look nearby like in Bradenton and not just focus on renting in Venice and Sarasota. I don’t know how long it will be before I decide on my new home so I’ve been looking for short-term. It’s difficult because it could take longer or less time than I anticipate. I want to keep my rental expense as low as possible because this move has already cost me way more than I anticipated. I’d love to maybe find a mother-in-law suite or studio that’s furnished and includes utilities, but my main goal is that I rent something clean, safe and reasonable. This is all weird for me because I’ve always pretty much been a homeowner. I haven’t rented since my early 20’s and that was only briefly. I’m a 61-year old single female so it’s just me. I don’t have any pets, and I’m very clean and responsible. For what it’s worth, when I sold my home and got rid of my furniture, etc., which was also 29-years old, everyone was shocked at how my house and everything in it still looked new. This is because I’m picky and keep care of things.

I’m currently renting in Venice from my friend’s boyfriend, who doesn’t live here full time. He usually comes for about 6 months, but he hasn’t been able to because of COVID. However, this is just a temporary solution as long as I need it through the latest the end of December because he has a seasonal renter that comes every year in January and stays for a few months.

I'm worried about what I keep hearing or seeing as to “we’re going into season” as to rents. I’ve lived in SW or Central Florida pretty much my entire life and was born in Manatee County so it’s not like I’m trying to get away from the cold winters up north. It’s just my bad luck that I closed on my house so late in the year.

If anyone has some ideas that they can share as to where I should look or what sites, people or companies are good resources, I’d really appreciate you letting me know. I’ve looked at several sites, including Airbnb, but most of those are private rooms. Some things I’ve seen are pretty scary looking. I was also wondering if anyone knows of someone from up north that may not be coming down this year due to COVID and might consider renting to someone like me. I’ve been told that a lot of Canadians typically come here, and they can’t now. They always say it’s not good for a home to sit empty for a long time, and they’d have someone watching their property on top of it so it would be a win-win.

Thank you so much for any advice. I’ve just been so frustrated because not everyone who is trying to rent here is from up north. I’m sure there are plenty of other people who have been in my position – they sold their homes and just need something while they look for their new one.

[beach43ofus]

Don't sweat the "going into season warnings". That is only true for seasonal month-by-month rentals, some with 90-day mimimum. Most of those units are already taken by now.

The year round rental market is typically a different group of properties. You don't want to be in the seasonal property market, because there's too much coming, and going, of neighbors. Some have both, but I'd gravitate towards mostly full-time, annual lease communities.

I rented from a realtor who was also a property management specialist who also handled rentals....seasonal and year round. She specialized in 1 commuity called Stoneybrook.

Stoneybrook's a golf community in Palmer Ranch. They have single family homes, townhomes, and condo's (most 3 or 4 story) They have some 90 day minimum condo's, & they have snowbird rentals, but it also has a lot of year rounders. Gated, nice clubhouse w/ restaurant. If you don't golf, don't worry, they won't make you

I know you prefer furnished, but that drives price way up, because those are the same units that rent seasonally.

In that area, there are some consignment furniture shops where you can buy used furniture at good prices. Remember, their prices are negotiable, and try to bundlemultiple pieces to get the best deal. You can also rent furniture at companies that only do that, and you'll get new, or near new, stuff.

Good Luck!

[LFJourney]

Originally Posted by beach43ofus

Don't sweat the "going into season warnings". That is only true for seasonal month-by-month rentals, some with 90-day mimimum. Most of those units are already taken by now.

The year round rental market is typically a different group of properties. You don't want to be in the seasonal property market, because there's too much coming, and going, of neighbors. Some have both, but I'd gravitate towards mostly full-time, annual lease communities.

I rented from a realtor who was also a property management specialist who also handled rentals....seasonal and year round. She specialized in 1 commuity called Stoneybrook.

Stoneybrook's a golf community in Palmer Ranch. They have single family homes, townhomes, and condo's (most 3 or 4 story) They have some 90 day minimum condo's, & they have snowbird rentals, but it also has a lot of year rounders. Gated, nice clubhouse w/ restaurant. If you don't golf, don't worry, they won't make you

I know you prefer furnished, but that drives price way up, because those are the same units that rent seasonally.

In that area, there are some consignment furniture shops where you can buy used furniture at good prices. Remember, their prices are negotiable, and try to bundlemultiple pieces to get the best deal. You can also rent furniture at companies that only do that, and you'll get new, or near new, stuff.

Good Luck!

Thanks, Beach. I always learn so many things from you, and I'm very grateful for your very helpful response this time.

Do you happen to recall the realtor you used who was also a property management specialist and handled rentals?

It seems I've been handling this all wrong. Because I don't know how long it's going to take me to decide on my new home, I didn't want to be locked into an annual lease so I've been looking at month-by-month rentals even though I'm not a seasonal person. I will now do as you suggest and gravitate towards mostly full-time, annual lease communities, but I hope they'll consider something less than an annual rental. I'm really happy to know that Stoneybrook has some 90 day minimum condo's that are different from snowbird rentals because I definitely don't want to be lumped in with that group.

I'm also now not going to look at furnished so thanks for this awesome advice, too! I'd much rather keep my rental expenses lower and sacrifice convenience while I'm looking for my new house. I don't need much to get me by other than a bed. I feel I've already lost my shirt selling my house and getting rid of my stuff. The last thing I need is to make this situation even worse financially because I'm already beating myself up enough and having major seller's remorse.

Thanks again.

[beach43ofus]

I'm not sure if I can provide names here, so private message me, and I'll give you her info. I'm guessing she's still doing it.

You could also call the HOA, or their Clubhouse, and they'd know who I'm speaking of and could put you in touch. I think she is pretty well known there.

[LFJourney]

Originally Posted by beach43ofus

I'm not sure if I can provide names here, so private message me, and I'll give you her info. I'm guessing she's still doing it.

You could also call the HOA, or their Clubhouse, and they'd know who I'm speaking of and could put you in touch. I think she is pretty well known there.

Thanks, Beach. I just sent you a PM.

[beach43ofus]

Originally Posted by LFJourney

Thanks, Beach. I just sent you a PM.

Share your findings with us, even if I was off-base. We are all constanly learning, and want to provide the best advice possible. My info was from 3 years ago, & things change. I know the location is ideal, and that hasnt changed, but geez the road construction on along 41 just South of there just keeps on going and going and going.

If you decide to move there, you'll have to go to WalMart at off times to avoid the constructon traffic, or take the back way Honore to Bay St. to 41, & turn left, Wal Mart's on your left...and the post office too.

[LFJourney]

Originally Posted by beach43ofus

Share your findings with us, even if I was off-base. We are all constanly learning, and want to provide the best advice possible. My info was from 3 years ago, & things change. I know the location is ideal, and that hasnt changed, but geez the road construction on along 41 just South of there just keeps on going and going and going.

If you decide to move there, you'll have to go to WalMart at off times to avoid the constructon traffic, or take the back way Honore to Bay St. to 41, & turn left, Wal Mart's on your left...and the post office too.

Sorry it took me so long to update this post. Moving after 29 years in the same house and to a different town has been quite challenging.

Finding a rental going into season was extremely difficult, to say the least, including in Stoneybrook in Palmer Ranch, which was way out of my budget anyway. I called so many people, realtors, property management companies, etc., that I lost track of how many. I always got the same message from everyone - that I moved here at the worst possible time, and if I didn't want to sign an annual lease, then I would have to pay seasonal prices even though I'm not a snowbird. It was an awful experience, but I finally found that needle in a haystack. It's not an ideal situation in several respects and I'm definitely sacrificing, but I'm trying to deal with it for now.

[Ladywithafan]

Originally Posted by LFJourney

Sorry it took me so long to update this post. Moving after 29 years in the same house and to a different town has been quite challenging.

Finding a rental going into season was extremely difficult, to say the least, including in Stoneybrook in Palmer Ranch, which was way out of my budget anyway. I called so many people, realtors, property management companies, etc., that I lost track of how many. I always got the same message from everyone - that I moved here at the worst possible time, and if I didn't want to sign an annual lease, then I would have to pay seasonal prices even though I'm not a snowbird. It was an awful experience, but I finally found that needle in a haystack. It's not an ideal situation in several respects and I'm definitely sacrificing, but I'm trying to deal with it for now.

IMO, it's not so much "season rentals" that are the issue many face right now, but fact that since COVID19 began, the normal rent/move/rent cycle in Sarasota did not take place, i.e. people have stayed put due to the pandemic as well as pricing out of the market. Why move if it's more expensive, in other words.

DM me and I'll send you the number of my management company as they have a rental department.

[LFJourney]

Originally Posted by Ladywithafan

IMO, it's not so much "season rentals" that are the issue many face right now, but fact that since COVID19 began, the normal rent/move/rent cycle in Sarasota did not take place, i.e. people have stayed put due to the pandemic as well as pricing out of the market. Why move if it's more expensive, in other words.

DM me and I'll send you the number of my management company as they have a rental department.

Thanks for your feedback. I already have a rental now, but I just wanted to update this thread as to what I experienced. I now need to find my new home because I hate renting. If something changes where I am, I'll get that info from you, but my guess is they'll tell me what everyone else did when I was looking for a rental. My issue was I didn't want to sign a year's lease, and I didn't want to pay seasonal/snowbird prices because I already lived in Florida before I moved here. Pretty much landlords wouldn't even consider less than a year unless they got the seasonal rates, and most didn't want to do less than a year anyway.