Bee Ridge, FL 466 Apartments for Rent

Bertha Palmer, the widow of Potter Palmer, purchased 90,000 acres in the Sarasota, Florida, area in 1910 and started developing the Bee Ridge community.

Bee Ridge, Florida, is a 3.9-square-mile neighborhood in Sarasota that has easy access to downtown Sarasota, plenty of residential rental options, and relatively inexpensive properties compared to the surrounding area. Its name came from the plethora of bees that make their home in this area, with beekeepers making this a perfect area if you want to get into urban beekeeping or you need to keep honey on hand at all time. This suburb of 9,598 residents at the time of the 2010 U.S. Census offers a variety of rental options with new apartment complexes, condos, townhouses, and single family houses.

Moving to Bee Ridge

Bee Ridge has townhouses for rent and luxury apartments, with the majority of properties 15 years or less. The modern apartments and houses have quality construction, modern amenities, and high efficiency materials. Modern houses and apartments help keep the house cooler during the Florida summers, so you can enjoy it in comfort instead of figuring out how low you can set the air conditioning.

Look into a duplex for rent during the moving off-season so you get rent specials from apartment complexes such as Ridge Manor Apartments. Most Florida landlords are feeling the money bite when the tourists aren't picking up the vacation properties, so they're more likely to cut you a good deal or allow you special negotiation terms when you sign up for a long term lease.

Many properties are handled by property management companies or real estate companies, so be prepared to deal with application fees, employment verification, credit checks, and background checks. Employment verification is simple if you are a wage earner, as you bring in your pay stubs. If you run your own business or are self-employed, bring in your tax return, profit and loss statements, or bank statements. Employment verification is only slightly more difficult if you run your own business. Show invoices or other proof of employment so the landlord doesn't worry about whether you can consistently pay your bills.

Neighborhoods in Bee Ridge

Bee Ridge is a small Sarasota neighborhood, so it doesn't have neighborhoods of its own. Bee Ridge is a roughly rectangular shaped neighborhood that is bordered by Bee Ridge Road, Clark Road, and Honore Ave. Bee Ridge does not have a long commute time to Sarasota, and other nearby Florida cities due to ease of highway access. This highly accessible area keeps you out of the congested traffic areas and helps you relax after you're off work.

Living in Bee Ridge

Bee Ridge, like the rest of Sarasota, has a mid-range walk score in the 50s that gives you easy access to major needs, such as grocery stores. You still need a car in order to get to work, school, and entertainment options. You're also only a few miles from miles of beach front, so if spending your spring and summer sunning yourself at the beach is your idea of a good time, Bee Ridge offers an affordable rental option for easy access.

It's also a highly rated area for retiring, as public transit options help seniors get around town, and the low crime rates and relaxed space of living help make the retirement a calm and collected one. Florida is always a good bet when you're looking for a retirement community, but Bee Ridge is especially well-suited for seniors looking to settle down for a long retirement.

In addition, the town's population gets higher during the winter months, as vacation home owners and renters come down to get away from the northern winter. If possible, spend some time in the area during the winter months so you know what it's like when the population is higher than normal. In general, the demographic in Bee Ridge encompasses a those who are looking to relax and enjoy the casualness of what's around. Basically for people who want to stop and smell the roses, so to speak. Golf courses, parks, and other outdoor recreation gives you plenty of opportunities to enjoy the salty sea air as you walk around town. The Sarasota area in general is known for its small town feel, even if it's a relatively large city, and this carries over into Bee Ridge.