Westview, FL

983 Apartments for Rent

Westview is home to Miami Dade College's first campus, North Campus, located on 245 lush acres of land. Incorporated into the grounds of North Campus is the Miami International Sculpture Park, which displays 69 contemporary and modern sculptures and is open to the public free of charge.

Westview is 3.2 square miles in area and is home to 9,650 residents (2010 U.S. Census). It is not an official city or town but a census-designated place (CDP) in Miami-Dade County, Florida. But don't let the designation fool you, Westview has its own identity separate from the hustle and bustle of nearby downtown Miami and the white sandy beaches just to the west.

Moving to Westview

When planning any move, you should start researching the area at least several weeks to two months in advance. This is especially important if you are unfamiliar with the city and its surroundings. Demand for housing in Westview tends to be lower than the demand in nearby downtown Miami, which features premier apartments, but you will still need some lead time to find apartments for rent or other types of housing for rent before you can move in.

Types of Housing

After you have decided on the timing of your move, you should become familiar with the available types of places to rent an apartment in Westview. Rents in Westview are substantially lower than in downtown Miami or Miami Beach, so you are in luck! You can spend all the extra money you save by making shopping trips to the city. Apartments including 1 bedroom apartments are plentiful, as are rooms in single family homes. Pet friendly apartments can be found with a little bit of searching.

Take a Tour

Once you have found available apartments, schedule a tour with the owner. Check the entire unit to make sure it was described accurately in the listing and that it has all the features you are looking for. If the unit is in an apartment complex, make sure you tour the entire property, including laundry facilities, pools, fitness centers and other public areas. Also check for safety features such as dead bolts and gated entrances. If everything meets up to your standards, it's time to sign the contract!

Signing the Contract

But before signing on the dotted line, you will need to understand all the terms of the agreement. Is it a month-to-month rental or a one year agreement? When can the owner increase rents? Are all or some utilities included in the monthly rent? Make sure you know the answers to all these questions before signing. When you sign the contract you will be required to pay the first month's rent, a security deposit, and possibly a separate cleaning deposit. You will likely need to provide some type of proof of income to show you can afford the monthly rent, as well as a list of personal references the owner can call to make sure you will be a good tenant.

Westview Neighborhoods

Westview has three distinct neighborhoods, all with their own characteristics. Although they are all residential areas, you will want to check out their differences during your apartment search to find the right fit.

Westview Country Club: Westview Country Club is in the center of Westview, between NW 22nd and 27th Avenues to the east and west, and NW 135th and 107th Streets to the north and south. Most of the rental housing in Westview can be found in this area, including apartment complexes such as Westview Terrace Apartments and Westview Garden Apartments, which is for seniors.

Seaboard Industrial Park: Seaboard Industrial Park is just to the east of Westview Country Club. It is home to Miami Dade College, which takes up most of the area in this neighborhood. There are fewer housing options here, but they are all convenient to the college.

Westview Manor: Westview Manor is a small triangular area that sits between Westview Country Club and Seaboard Industrial Park. Because this area is so small, you will likely have better luck looking for housing in the other two neighborhoods. But keep an eye out for the rare chance to live in this area.

Living in Westview

Westview is primarily a residential area, but you won't have to travel far to find restaurants such as Mama Lucy's Home Style Cooking (serving comfort food) on 119th Street and Conch Heavens, which serves casual Bahamian seafood. Westview is convenient to Florida State Road 924, which you can take west to Interstate 95, leading you south to downtown Miami or north to Fort Lauderdale. If you want to stay in town, Westview is serviced by the Broward County Transit, which has bus routes along the major streets in Westview.