Florida winter rental ?

bigdog · 06-03-2015, 07:07 AM

Planning ahead, and looking for a Florida rental for Feb-Mar 2016.

Small home, condo, or double-wide will do... Maybe with the possibility to purchase... TBD.

Of course 'I'll Never' sell my Winnie home !

Anyone either have something to rent or know someone who does?

Thanks,
BD

SAMIAM · 06-03-2015, 07:35 AM

Bigdog, since you're a boater, my advice is SW Florida......there are lots of properties that you discribe in the Ft Myers/Cape Coral area that are on canals that lead to some beautiful gulf boating. Lots of restaurants, islands and beaches to explore.
Try the vacation rentals by owner website (VRBO)
You'll want to remember that canals are all no wake so you'll want to be within 1/4 mile or so of open water.
Good luck

bigdog · 06-03-2015, 07:59 AM

Thanks SAMIAM.....

I've been going to SW Fl for 20+ yrs I think..... Ft Myers, Naples, etc
Thinking this winter going further north towards Sarasota, St Pete, Clearwater.

Unfortuntely I won't be taking my boat to FL, however, we always rent a boat
several times on our trips, usually a center console, like I own here at the lake.

Very familiar with the canals and sandbars in SW FL, they can be a challenge.
Without a chart or GPS you can get lost easily or more important find yourself sitting on a sandbar !

Thanks,
BD

8gv · 06-03-2015, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigdog

Thanks SAMIAM.....

Very familiar with the canals and sandbars in SW FL, they can be a challenge.
Without a chart or GPS you can get lost easily or more important find yourself sitting on a sandbar !

Thanks,
BD

Yeah but...

There you just come to a softly screaching halt.

Here in New England you hole the boat on the reef, your wake carries you past it and then you sink in 80' of water on the other side...

BroadHopper · 06-03-2015, 09:00 AM

Been scouting for a vacation home from Venus Beach to Sarasota. I am amazed at the number of people wintering in the area from NH!

Most of the time I find someone who will board us at a reasonable fee. One gentleman from NH is right on Sarasota Bay! Spectacular view!

VRBO is great for finding a rental. It would be ideal if one will swap homes. Unfortunately very few FL folks want to winter in NE.

I found two families from Texas that would love to do a seasonal swap as they are skiers. Unfortunately they are located inland far away from water recreation. =(

Happy Gourmand · 06-03-2015, 10:03 AM

We are also looking for a place in the St Pete/Bradenton area hoping to become snowbirds. Looking for a great resident owned 55+ community for our winter home.

Billy Bob · 06-03-2015, 10:41 AM

We have lived and owned a large Real Estate franchise in St Pete for several years . we spend weekends in the spring and fall at the lake ( to hot here ) and most of July and August.
We live right on the Gulf and the fishing and quality of life here is outstanding.
( tarpon are running hard right now )

The past 3 winters , with the economy improving a lot and the poor weather in the north we have had an explosion of snow birds return to the area.

Your time frame is the most popular and you will find a lot of the better properties are already 100 % booked for next year.

My advice is if you are serious book your winter getaway now or be disappointed and licked out !!

If you are buying the same is true as prices are going up and opportunities have been limited . We now have a huge population of folks with lots more on the way that now think the over 55 properties on the water are a good winter lifestyle .

jacka82942 · 06-04-2015, 06:59 AM

I live in riverwood right on myakka river. lots of marinas and boat lauch sites. great golf course in gated community. many rentals from homes, duplexes and condos

Smokienorm · 06-05-2015, 12:03 PM

We have spend over a month in each of the past 2 years in a condo community on Longboat Key, a barrier island off Sarasota. Very pleasant without the third world "charm" of SE Florida.

Friends from the Lakes Region have rented from Naples & Venice in the South all the way up to St Pete areas North. Some have found places on Siesta Key, which is just below Longboat Key.

But time is critical. each year the areas seem to sell out for rentals quicker than before.

The agency we have used is the following:

RVA Resorts Vacation
(877) 415-4570
www.rvafl.com

Good luck!

06-03-2015, 07:07 AM	#1
bigdog Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Central MA-Gilford Posts: 1,443 Thanks: 339 Thanked 117 Times in 94 Posts	Florida winter rental ? Planning ahead, and looking for a Florida rental for Feb-Mar 2016. Small home, condo, or double-wide will do... Maybe with the possibility to purchase... TBD. Of course 'I'll Never' sell my Winnie home ! Anyone either have something to rent or know someone who does? Thanks, BD

06-03-2015, 09:00 AM	#5
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,569 Thanks: 3,201 Thanked 1,101 Times in 793 Posts	Venus Beach area Been scouting for a vacation home from Venus Beach to Sarasota. I am amazed at the number of people wintering in the area from NH! Most of the time I find someone who will board us at a reasonable fee. One gentleman from NH is right on Sarasota Bay! Spectacular view! VRBO is great for finding a rental. It would be ideal if one will swap homes. Unfortunately very few FL folks want to winter in NE. I found two families from Texas that would love to do a seasonal swap as they are skiers. Unfortunately they are located inland far away from water recreation. =( __________________ Someday may never be an actual day. Last edited by BroadHopper; 06-04-2015 at 07:21 AM.

06-03-2015, 10:41 AM	#7
Billy Bob Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Tiera Verdi Fl & Moultonborough Posts: 315 Thanks: 128 Thanked 166 Times in 100 Posts	SW Florida We have lived and owned a large Real Estate franchise in St Pete for several years . we spend weekends in the spring and fall at the lake ( to hot here ) and most of July and August. We live right on the Gulf and the fishing and quality of life here is outstanding. ( tarpon are running hard right now ) The past 3 winters , with the economy improving a lot and the poor weather in the north we have had an explosion of snow birds return to the area. Your time frame is the most popular and you will find a lot of the better properties are already 100 % booked for next year. My advice is if you are serious book your winter getaway now or be disappointed and licked out !! If you are buying the same is true as prices are going up and opportunities have been limited . We now have a huge population of folks with lots more on the way that now think the over 55 properties on the water are a good winter lifestyle .

06-04-2015, 06:59 AM	#8
jacka82942 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 67 Thanks: 1 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	port charlotte I live in riverwood right on myakka river. lots of marinas and boat lauch sites. great golf course in gated community. many rentals from homes, duplexes and condos

06-05-2015, 12:03 PM	#9
Smokienorm Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 92 Thanks: 6 Thanked 47 Times in 27 Posts	SW Florida- Longboat Key We have spend over a month in each of the past 2 years in a condo community on Longboat Key, a barrier island off Sarasota. Very pleasant without the third world "charm" of SE Florida. Friends from the Lakes Region have rented from Naples & Venice in the South all the way up to St Pete areas North. Some have found places on Siesta Key, which is just below Longboat Key. But time is critical. each year the areas seem to sell out for rentals quicker than before. The agency we have used is the following: RVA Resorts Vacation (877) 415-4570 www.rvafl.com Good luck!

06-03-2015, 07:35 AM	#2
SAMIAM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 2,891 Thanks: 334 Thanked 1,673 Times in 584 Posts	Bigdog, since you're a boater, my advice is SW Florida......there are lots of properties that you discribe in the Ft Myers/Cape Coral area that are on canals that lead to some beautiful gulf boating. Lots of restaurants, islands and beaches to explore. Try the vacation rentals by owner website (VRBO) You'll want to remember that canals are all no wake so you'll want to be within 1/4 mile or so of open water. Good luck

06-03-2015, 07:59 AM	#3
bigdog Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Central MA-Gilford Posts: 1,443 Thanks: 339 Thanked 117 Times in 94 Posts	Thanks SAMIAM..... I've been going to SW Fl for 20+ yrs I think..... Ft Myers, Naples, etc Thinking this winter going further north towards Sarasota, St Pete, Clearwater. Unfortuntely I won't be taking my boat to FL, however, we always rent a boat several times on our trips, usually a center console, like I own here at the lake. Very familiar with the canals and sandbars in SW FL, they can be a challenge. Without a chart or GPS you can get lost easily or more important find yourself sitting on a sandbar ! Thanks, BD

06-03-2015, 10:03 AM	#6
Happy Gourmand Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Ruskin FL Posts: 1,027 Thanks: 188 Thanked 322 Times in 179 Posts	We are also looking for a place in the St Pete/Bradenton area hoping to become snowbirds. Looking for a great resident owned 55+ community for our winter home.