Petal, MS

31 Apartments for Rent

Petal was once home to the International Checker Hall of Fame until 2007 when part of the building sadly caught fire!

Petal is a city in Forrest County, Mississippi with a population of 10,454. It's located along the Leaf River and is part of the Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The city covers about 10 square miles on the map. It's a great place to live and constantly attracts newcomers because of its diverse economy, strong sense of community and its perfect location in South Mississippi. Camp Shelby, the largest National Guard Training Base east of the Mississippi, is located just south of here. Here you'll find short, mild winters and hot, humid summers. If you're not from the south originally, it might take you a few weeks to acclimate to the heat, so make sure to drink plenty of water and stay hydrated!

Moving to Petal

If you're planning to search for apartments in Petal, you should be in good shape! It's a friendly and welcoming community and there are a fair amount of vacancies here. Still, you should make sure to set aside 4 to 6 weeks to conduct a thorough apartment search. The more time you have to find a new place, the better. Think about what you want from an apartment and then go after it! It's exciting to move to a new city and you should be in the best possible situation to make sure you have a great experience in your new home. Don't worry, however, because you don't have to do the whole search on your own! You can contact realtors or use an apartments locator to help you search for apartments. When you make appointments, check out places in different parts of Petal. Depending on where you live, you'll find different price levels and different perks, like living closer to a beautiful park or living close to a grocery store. It's all a matter of personal preference so once you have a firm idea of what you're looking for, you'll be well on your way to finding it.

What You'll Need

Petal is a small community that is home to many people who work in nearby Hattiesburg. They are very welcoming to newcomers and will greet you with open arms! Set up appointments to see a variety of homes and put together all of the leasing documents you'll need in order to land an apartment before you meet your prospective landlords. This includes a copy of your ID, your credit report, rental application, pay stubs, bank statements and whatever else your landlord asks you to bring. This will help make sure you can rent an apartment quickly and not get held up in the process. If you're planning on bringing a pet, just make sure that you have all the necessary paperwork for your pet as well -- you'll need records from the vet proving they've had all their shots and vaccinations. Don't be shy about asking around about your neighborhood and the apartment you're thinking about! It's best to ask questions before you move in rather than waiting until you're already moved in to find something that you're unhappy with. Luckily, most of the apartments in Petal are going to be pretty and well-maintained. It's worth mentioning that looking for apartments in the summertime is usually a little easier. That's the time of year when people are heading to different jobs and transitioning between apartments. And also don't feel shy about asking your landlords or management company if they're willing to wiggle a little on prices. If they find a renter they like, they are sometimes eager to come down on the price a bit!

Neighborhoods in Petal

There aren't any real neighborhoods in Petal, but here's a little info on what you'll find in the different sections of town.

East Petal: This part of town runs right along Route 42 and is fairly rural. If you have a home here, you'll likely be surrounded by wide, open fields! It's also home to Dickey's Barbecue Pit, one of the locals' favorite restaurants.

West Petal: The West side of Petal is pressed up against Gordon's Creek, which is a nice place to go fishing or to take a dip when the southern heat gets to be too much. The area is more populated than the east side and you'll find a lot of beautiful subdivisions here with single-family homes and a few rentals.

Living in Petal

Many people use Petal as a bedroom community and commute into nearby Hattiesburg for work. The city is home to several national businesses such a Kohler Engines, BAE Systems Inc and the Coca-Cola Company, among others. Housing here is a little below the national median and about a quarter of the units here are rental apartments, meaning you should be able to find something great if you spend a little time looking. There's also an above average vacancy rate here. The area is mostly residential with two commercial hubs. The first is on Route 42, which cuts right through the center of town. There's a Wendy's, Chili's Grill, the Huddle House, Golden Dragon and a few other restaurants along with some shops and grocery stores. Further west along Old MS Hwy 42, or East Central Ave, you'll find more local spots, like El Mariachi Loco and Yamato Steakhouse. The rest of town is mostly residential and tree-lined with a good mix of single-family homes and apartment complexes. So what are you waiting for? Now is the time to start looking for houses!