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There are so many great cities in which to rent rather than buy a home right now, and for not all that much money. The latest Trulia Rent vs. Buy Index shows that even though it’s a better deal to buy than rent in 72 percent of the U.S. at the moment, rental rates are pretty low in most places.
Still, the study behind the index found that a “nation of renters has emerged as more Americans rent by choice or due to unforeseen financial difficulties.” And yet, renting is only less expensive than buying in four of the cities covered in the study, including New York City and San Francisco.
But even though buying is a great deal, no one at Trulia is surprised that U.S. consumers are renting.
“Since the start of the ‘Great Recession,’ many former homeowners have flooded the rental market. Following the principles of supply and demand, renting has become relatively more expensive than buying in most markets,” said Pete Flint, CEO and co-founder of Trulia, in a press release announcing the study.
“Though necessary for achieving true economic recovery, stricter bank lending practices have also further aggravated the struggling housing market in the short term. Even highly-qualified home buyers face intense scrutiny on their income, savings, existing debt and credit history before they can get a mortgage loan.”
The 10 best cities to rent rather than buy include:
Fort Lauderdale has been reimbursed for preparations it took last summer in case the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico affected South Florida.
City Commissioner Bruce Roberts said BP has paid the city $70,000. The company had promised to cover costs of government responses to its spill.
In the wake of the spill, then-City Manager George Gretsas signed an emergency deal with the engineering firm PBS&J to develop a crisis plan and begin sampling and testing water and sediment along the city's beaches and waterways. Gretsas said the work would establish a baseline to determine any damage that results if the oil spill comes here.
The oil spill, though, never reached the currents that would have pulled it toward the southeastern coast of Florida.
Manatee Festival Site in Downtown Crystal River
U.S. Highway 19 and Citrus Avenue, Crystal River FL 34429
Been There, Haven't Done That!
You've seen the theme parks, the big cities and the major attractions in Florida. Here are 124 of your new favorite offbeat roadside attractions.
NORTHWEST Apalachicola
1) Apalachicola Maritime Museum and Boss Oyster103 Water St. and 123 Water St., (850) 653-2500 and (850) 653-9364, http://www.ammfl.org/ and www.apalachicolariverinn.com/boss.html
Recently reopened, the Apalachicola Maritime Museum encompasses the heritage of the Apalachicola waterfront and the Apalachicola/Chattahoochee/Flint river system. Historic sailboat trips daily. Nearby, ranked one of the top 10 oyster bars in the United States by "Coastal Living" Magazine in 2004, Boss Oyster serves up freshly caught seafood including the blue crabs and bay scallops the area is famous for.
2) The Gibson Inn and Avenue Sea
51 Ave. C
(850) 653-2191,
http://www.gibsoninn.com/
A beautiful, fully restored Victorian inn with all the charm of its era. Built in 1907, this historic inn features the award- winning Avenue Sea restaurant. Learn more about the inn and restaurant, as well as the surrounding areas, in VISIT FLORIDA's Authentic Florida Expert video about the Forgotten Coast of Florida.
Carrabelle
3) World’s Smallest Police StationUS Highway 98
www.carrabelle.org/worldssmallestpolicestation.asp
Plagued by decades of prank phone calls—the dial was finally removed from the phone—the World’s Smallest Police Station in Carrabelle has been housed in a phone booth since the 1960s. This off-beat landmark has been featured on “Ripley’s Believe it or Not!” and “The Today Show,” but is no longer in use today.
4) Dwarf cypress forest at Tate’s Hell State ForestOff coastal Hwy 98 about 5 miles west of Carrabelle (5.5 miles into Tate’s Hell State Forest on forest roads)
(850) 697-3734, http://www.fl-%20dof.com/state_forests/tates_hell.html
A 19th century legend has it that local farmer Cebe Tate went in search of a panther that was killing his livestock. After wandering the forest for seven days and nights, Tate stumbled into a clearing near Carrabelle and proclaimed, “My name is Cebe Tate, and I just came from Hell!” Today, the cypress trees at Tate’s Hell may be under 18 feet tall, but they are fully grown—and over 150 years old—at their diminutive stature.Fort Walton Beach
5) Indian Temple Mound Museum at The Heritage Park & Cultural Center139 Miracle Strip Parkway SE(850) 833-9595, http://www.destin-%20fwb.com/
The Indian Temple Mound Museum in Fort Walton Beach reflects 12,000 years of spiritual, technological and artistic achievements of Florida's native peoples. The Indian mound itself measures 17 feet tall and 223 feet across its base. Excavations have unearthed artifacts about the area's native inhabitants.
Marianna
Read More :Been There, Haven't Done That!
By VISIT FLORIDA staff July 2008
