Housing Options

Pet Vacation Homes
(Pet Friendly Rentals Homes Condos Hotels Holiday Villas)

Most of the condo "non pet" rules are outdated. They are inherited by new owner's based on
rule's set up 20/30 years when the Condo first opened. As building's change they rules should
be updated to let all owner's be happy, even the minority shareholder's of the condo's who would
like to own pets. -- comment on our petition

"I'm a realtor and most of Palm Beach island is restricted against pets of any kind. If you own a condo that allows pets, you actually have a much more desireable building and it's easier to sell. It's a benefit and owners should vote to amend their rules and regulations. All the new towers on Singer Island allow pets!!" -- Kevin Dickenson, Realtor, commenting on our petition

As half of a working couple considering Florida for retirement, I think I'll persuade my partner to abandon the idea. We don't want to live without our companion animals! We'll seek out real estate in another state and add to THEIR tax revenues. -- comment on our petition

...From my experience in real estate I do understand the resistance to these changes. Most condos that had been friendly to pets soon changed their by-laws account of a few people who deserved this action. Leaving an animal unattended in an apartment for days and barking through the night at the annoyance of other residents is a valid reason. The practice of careless owners messing up and littering on property is another one. Generally the number of owners that practice this kind of abuse is rare. Most everyone loves their dog and would think less to be a part of such cruel and irresponsible behavior. Yet an account of the few negligent owners the majority suffers.

The availability of condos that are friendly to pets is indeed a rare find. The benefits of this rule however serves these owners in hard times and in strong markets. They sell very quickly.

Citizens for Pets in Condos believes that no-pet deed restrictions make properties less valuable in today's culture. South Florida Business Journal reported a $1 billion dollar drop in residential property values in 2007. Read more here.

"...on average it doesn't seem to be the case from our data that people with pets cause more damage," says Josh Frank, co-founder of the Foundation for Interdisciplinary Research and Education Promoting Animal Welfare (FIREPAW). 'And even in cases when they do cause damage, it's less than
any pet deposit, so it's not an amount that affects the profitability.'"

As a Realtor, I know the value of a condo DECREASES when pets are not allowed. It is time to realize that people do know how to clean up after their pets, and will do so. Open up the world to the friendship of pets!
-- comment on our petition

Not being able to have pets in condos has ruined many sales in our complex. Ladies living alone want to have companion small pets (4-legged) but our condo rules state NO pets. It would be wonderful to be able to allow small pets. Would make life easier for many elderly single homeowners.
-- comment on our petition

How Pets Can be Good for Both Renters and Landlords (Sunday, May 24, 2009) by Marilyn Wolf, BS, CPDT - Pet Trainer & Behavior Consultant, New Port Richey, FL www.KorrectKritters.com ,

Note: Many places that say "Pets Welcome," are actually only talking about cats and small dogs, under 15 pounds. People who have the larger dogs really have to be careful, because many of these Pet Friendly places, be it condos or rental-apartments, don't indicate that they only allow the small pets, not the larger ones.

Beware - just because a development allows pets, rules can change. If they do change, your existing pets should be grandfathered in, but you may be prevented from replacing your pets down the line. This caution is of particular concern for new housing areas, because developers tend to have less restrictive rules to try to sell out as quickly as possible.

ASPCA advocates supporting a bill "A 2645" in New Jersey to make more animal-friendly housing available. If you live in NJ, please urge your legislators to support A 2645 which would prohibit landlords from refusing to rent to persons with companion animals. (3/7/06)

NOTE - Even though there are these relatively few housing choices where pets are allowed, there is still a SERIOUS problem finding places to live with larger dogs. That is a shame because often the larger dogs are calmer and bark less.

Here is something we have said since many years: The more restrictions the less potential buyers. Please read: "Wynmoor residents fear rules may hurt sales" at: http://www.ccfj.net/condoWynmoor.html Wynmoor is a typical example for these old 55+ communities. They restrict nearly everything -- and haven't figured out that the new generation of retirees looking to buy condos (if there are still some coming down to Florida) hate too many restrictions -- starting with pets! But as the saying goes: Can't teach on old dog new tricks!

quote from What can you do if your condo doesn't allow pets, Palm Beach Daily News, 5/4/2009:

...Many brokers here would agree with Douglas Rill, president of Century 21 on the island, who said, "We have found that it's harder to sell a condo if they don't allow dogs and cats. You can generally get more money for a place in a pet-friendly building. And no-pet properties may lead people to buy elsewhere — for example, Singer Island, where almost all the new condos allow pets."

There has been a recent study of pets and condo sales in Fort Lauderdale by Tim Allen, professor and director of the Carter Real Estate Center at the College of Charleston. He said that his study of condominium sale prices, "clearly demonstrates that allowing pets has a significantly positive effect on condominium prices in this market."

Rick Theise, president of the condo association at The Reefs, has found this to be true in our area as well.

"We find that 20 percent of those interested in moving in won't even look at a place if it's not pet-friendly," he said. "And after they do move in, allowing pets makes a building friendlier because the pet people get to know each other."...

Phoenix’s prestigious Zazu Pannee Park Regent has redefined corporate relocation and temporary short term housing to include, among other things, Pets Welcome + Pet Watch Service.

Snowbirds care about allowing pets in condos! A Toronto, Ontario, Canada web site has a link to us: Houses for sale in Toronto