Many newcomers moving to South Beach, Brickell or Midtown Miami are often shocked to find out that renting is not just as simple as walking in the building, choosing a floorplan and setting a move in date. 

Many Miami and Miami Beach property owners, hire Realtors to manage their rental transactions.  Typically they do this because they don’t have time to market and show the property or they live out of town. 

Brickell, Midtown Miami and South Beach are metropolitan areas, with hundreds of high rises with thousands of individual units and thousands of property owners.   Even if the building has an on-site property management company, rarely if at all, do they ever participate in the rental transaction, other than the application process. 

Realtors list these properties in our Multiple Listing Service which is a huge database of Real Estate.  Often when you are searching on Real Estate websites, these listings are aggregated from our MLS database.   

To get an idea of this database, you can search for rental properties on my website at Search for Properties.  However, if you are not from the area or if you are looking for something very specific and want to narrow down your results, it’s probably better to use an experienced agent to assist you.  An experienced agent can narrow down the buildings and then the units that best fit your needs.  They will also call through and confirm availability and set up all of the appointments with the listing agents in an organized fashion.   Typically the owner pays the agent’s commission for finding a tenant so this service is free for the renter. 

How do I find properties for rent?
You can start by looking through online websites like Craigslist Miami & Miami New Times Backpage . You can go directly to the MLS through my website and start searching.  (Be sure to click on  RENTALS). 

**Although a lot of Real Estate business is starting to be completed via the Internet, be smart when dealing with people over the Internet.  Be sure to check license numbers (it’s very common to ask a Realtor their license #), if they don’t like it bad, too bad, verify EVERYTHING.  I have heard of some scammers doing rentals online.  So trust your gut and make sure they are legit.   

Then What? 
The most important criteria you can choose up front to save you time, aggravation is to choose THE AREA where you want to live.  If you are not sure, get out and drive around.  If you are from out of town, it is very advisable to come here at least one time, drive around, drive to your new job, speak to people about the areas and get a feel of what most fits your lifestyle.  Go online, do some research.  There is no way you can preview units all of the way from Aventura to Coral Gables.  Well you could but I doubt most agents would do this. Even South Beach to Brickell is a large area.   Find an agent who specializes in your area and who really knows the buildings, this is worth its weight in gold. 

From the area, then you need to choose your monthly rental budget, from there this will determine the buildings that you can afford.  Preview a couple of units in a couple of buildings.  Once you find a building you like then you can start focusing in on certain floor-plans and then of course make an offer on the unit.  (yes, we make offers on rentals).

By the way, I have also heard about the guy who negotiated a $5000 a month rental for $2000 a month with no deposits.  If you believe this, I have some land in the Everglades for sale too.    Just kidding.  Be realistic and know that just as your agent can pull the comps in the building, so can the owner’s agent.  They are not going to give away a property.  Everyone knows the rental rates, we post them each month after a property rents.  Plus, do you really want to live in a building or in a unit where the owner/s are desperate to pay the bills each month? 

I am in love with a unit, I want to rent it!
After you find a property you really like, you will need to make an offer on it.  This is basically a contract that you and your Realtor will fill out stating the details the lease, the start date and more.  After some discussion back and forth, hopefully you and the owner will come to agreement that best meets everyone’s needs. 

Next the lease, the deposits and the application.
You and the owner will sign the lease.  You will place your deposits.  The building will require you to fill out an application and submit the lease and the application to the management company/condo association.  Know that there are going to be additional fees associated with the application process.  Usually the application is around $100-$150 per person on the lease, usually there is an elevator deposit for moving and sometimes there are just plain additional fees for this and that.  Always double check before submitting because with applications taking anywhere from 1 to 2 weeks, you don’t want a small detail to hold it up. 

You are approved.
On the start date of the lease the owner or their Realtor will meet you to exchange the keys.  You will do a walk-through and that’s about it.  Now you get to do the fun part, move.  Don’t forget to ask about which utilities you need to turn on in your name. 

**Each rental transaction is different but this is pretty much what you can expect when renting in a building in Miami Beach, Brickell or Midtown Miami. 

I hope this helps you to understand the rental process in Miami and Miami Beach, if you have any additional questions, please feel free to write me and ask away! 

Good luck with finding your place and if you need help, I am here for you!