Are you wondering how to find a rental home in St. Johns County FL? Let’s dig through your options and what the process looks like.
How to Find a Rental Home in St. Johns County FL
Effectively, you have two options – start searching yourself (looking at popular online websites) or contacting a local Realtor. There is often overlap in the major online websites and what a Realtor might find in the MLS. Why? Syndication. Most listings posted to the MLS are syndicated out to partner sites (i.e. Realtor.com, etc.). That said – if you plan to search for your own rental – know that some of the listings you find may well be outdated. From experience, many a client has come to me with a list only for me to say “so I see this was closed out in the MLS 3 months ago.”
Renting on Your Own
If you plan to search yourself: I would strongly urge you to ask all your questions up front. Ask about things like rental criteria (typically, you can expect an income level of 2.5-3x the monthly rent), minimum credit scores and deposits. If you’re looking for things in advance of your rental timeline, ask when the property is available and how long they will hold it from acceptance. This can make a big difference if you’re relocating in from outside the immediate area. Remember, every landlord is different in what they require. I would go so far as to say ask for things in writing. That way if there are any disconnects – you can ask for clarification. Why are you taking this step? To prevent applying for homes where you might not meet qualification requirements and spending money on application fees.
Please always pay heed to the advice “if it seems to be too good to be true, it probably is.” Working on your own? Google the address and see if the same listing comes up at a different (often higher) price. If you start seeing differences places – or someone reaches out to you with a special offer – you are quite possibly on a path to being scammed.
Renting with a Realtor
If you want to work with a Realtor: Find someone familiar with the area. They can help answer all the questions you have about a rental home in St. John’s County, FL. They’ll be able to show you desired properties that align with your house search. Remember, St. Johns County is a large area. A good agent will ask where you’ll be working (or if a commute is a consideration), if there are family/friends you need/want to be around, ask about communities you might have heard of/interested in. This all in addition to standard questions like bedrooms, bathrooms, fenced yard, pets and budget.
You Find a Rental House in St. John’s County – Now What?
With a list of homes identified – get out and see these homes for yourself. Out of the area and/or unable to get here to look? You certainly can take advantage of video tours. Here are some additional thoughts on house hunting from afar. What are you looking for? Everything from location to general thoughts on the house, community and general area. Basically – can you see yourself living there? Think about ranking the houses you’re seeing to reflect back on at the end of your tour/day.
I often recommend people see no more than 4-5 homes in a day. Beyond that – they can start to blend together. Remember to take pictures/video along the way to help with your reflection and decision making process.
At the end of the tour – compile a list of questions to ask the landlords/property managers/listing agents. If you’re working with a local real estate agent – they’ll submit these questions on your behalf.
With answers to your questions and feedback on the rental criteria – you should be poised to start the application process. Depending on your timeline and budget, you may want to apply to one or more homes. There is no right or wrong answer to when, where and how many to apply to. If you are looking at homes with specialty features (i.e. a pool at the home) and they are in limited supply – always remember that if you wait, you could be risking the opportunity on that house. Your agent should guide you on all of these considerations.
Why St. Johns County?
Most people truly look to St. Johns County for the top rated schools. That said – beautiful beaches, great weather and communities with top notch amenities add to the allure of the area. Do not feel limited in search for a standalone house. There are also options for townhouses and apartments throughout the county.
Which communities to consider? Some of the most common asks revolve around Nocatee, Beachwalk, Beacon Lake, SilverLeaf, Shearwater, Julington Creek Plantation and RiverTown. These are all amazing places to call home but don’t overlook some of the smaller and/or older communities in the area.
What Else Should You Know?
In general, on the management front – you can expect everything from private landlords, to property managers to corporate landlords. One is not better than another – it depends what you’re looking for in the management of your rental home. All will adhere to FL state statutes. Every rental should have a lease. Make sure you have a fully executed copy of your lease following the application approval.
Most homes typically rent out for a year and yes, some will rent for a shorter time frame. Look to have everything documented in your lease.
Are you looking for a rental home in St. Johns County FL? Please contact me and let’s start your search. The good news is, unlike home purchases, the rental timeframe is much shorter.