ANNUAL RENTALS

HOW TO FIND YOUR ANNUAL RENTAL!!

The web has changed how people search for and find rentals. As a renter, YOU are now empowered with various rental websites, Google maps, Zillow estimates and other tools to help you find the perfect home to rent at the right price.

Please go to my website at www.stocktonrealtyadvisors.com to see my listings! Most rental agents/property managers focus on renting their properties and do not rent other agents’ properties. Since all leasing agents advertise on the web, you can save time by finding our properties online and dealing with the rental listing agent directly.
  1. For Annual rentals here in Sarasota and most of Bradenton – prices go by the size of the home.
    The average price is $1.00 per sq. foot of heated space. If the home comes with a pool, is in a gated community, has a fabulous location, great school district or is highly upgraded, the price can go to $1.25. Downtown Sarasota can be as high as $2.00 a sq. ft.
    A normal 2 bedroom/2 bathroom house is 1,200 sq ft or $1,300- $1600 a month. The average rental in Sarasota is only on the market 4 days if it is priced correctly. Since time is of the essence, be prepared to make a decision quickly, and be ready to put money down right away to secure your rental. Here in SRQ (those are the call letters at our airport) most rentals will require the 1st month, the last month and a security deposit. So be ready to pay three times the rental price at move in. Apartment complexes sometimes only require 1st month and security.

  2. You will be required to show an income of three times the rental price in gross pay.
    Example: If you are renting a home for $1000.00 per month then you will need to show $3000.00 a month in total gross pay of tenants on the lease. In most cases, the leasing agent will also take into account savings and other investments, especially for retired people or others who cannot show sufficient monthly income but have significant net worth.

  3. When it comes to renters, Florida is not the most pet friendly state. Most condominiums don’t allow pets and if they do, they must be small. Almost no one will accept aggressive breed dogs as it may jeopardize their homeowner’s insurance. If you are allowed to bring your pet, you also may be required to get renter’s insurance to help protect the owner should your dog bite someone. Agents have discovered that having a cat is perhaps one of the most difficult challenges when renting properties.

  4. Most rental agencies and most home owner associations will require a full criminal background and credit check. KNOW your credit score BEFORE applying because every time someone checks your credit score, you may be penalized a point or two. If you’ve had a recent bankruptcy or other major credit issues, it’s best to be upfront with the leasing agent, as they will find out eventually when they run a credit check. Leasing agents and owners are well aware that times have been difficult for many people and appreciate straightforwardness and can sometimes make exceptions. There are several FREE websites that will run your credit score. YOU do not get penalized for checking YOUR score. It’s only when someone else checks it that it may be affected.

  5. The following websites are particularly useful for finding the right home to rent: www.zillow.com (Zillow provides estimates for appropriate rental rates, which can give you an idea of what the rent should be. However, since these estimates are generated with mathematical algorithms, the estimates are not 100% accurate.)


    Craigslist (https://sarasota.craigslist.org/) offers cheaper rentals as many of the homes are posted by homeowners who are not paying a management company. PLEASE be aware of scams and check with the county clerk website to determine if the person who is renting the home is actually the owner!

Good luck and welcome to Sarasota!!
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