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Pet-Friendly Housing in Boca Raton Florida

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Real Estate Agent with LoKation Real Estate 3087750

Pet-Friendly Housing in Boca Raton Florida

                                                                                                    

                                                          Shadow enjoying the beach in south Florida after many cold winters up north                                                                                                                                                                

  WHAT DOES PET FRIENDLY MEAN?                                                                                     

When people search for pet-friendly housing in Boca Raton FL they often run into problems.  This is because the term pet friendly can mean many things.   The building you are looking at may accept one cat but no dogs.   Or it may accept one dog up to 25 pounds or two dogs up to 60 pounds.  You need to know what you are dealing with up front.  You need to know what the pet regulations of the building or community you are looking at are.  Otherwise, you're wasting your time.   Why fall in love with a house in a community that accepts one pet when you have three?  Or a building that is pet friendly to a 25 pound dog when your's weighs 40 pounds?

 

I have had people call hysterical the day before closing where they have been approved by the condo association but their beloved pets have not.   This is not a good situation to be faced with. (I was not their agent.)  Don't let this happen to you.

 

Are you looking for a home with a Golden Retriever or a maybe a condo with two small dogs or even two big dogs?  This all comes into play and listings tend to be vague.   Price factors in as well.

 

When looking for pet-friendly housing in Boca Raton FL, you need to tell your agent what type of pets you have.  Tell them their breeds,  their weights and how many pets you have.   Numbers factor into the equation as well.  Multiples of anything can be problematic.  For example, two small dogs weighing 5 pounds each will likely not be accepted in a community whose regulations state one pet maximum weight of 25 pounds.   I know it sounds crazy, but it's true.  

 

 

 

ARE THERE ANY COMMUNITIES THAT WILL ACCEPT MY PETS?

 

The answer is likely yes, but please know upfront, depending on the breed and number of pets you have, your choices will be limited.   As a pet lover and owner, I'm ok with this.  You need to be too if you want to go into a gated community, condo or subdivision.    

 

Many communities in Boca Raton are pet friendly.  Some will accept one or two pets up to a maximum weight of 25 pounds.  Some will even accept three or more.  Some will accept up to 40 pounds.  And in some communities, there are no weight restrictions but there are breed restrictions.  And that brings us to the next step.  And the rules can and often do change from time to time.  Please check this carefully!

 

Some pet-friendly communities in Boca Raton do not allow what they consider aggressive breeds in their condo and homeowner associations.  In Boca Raton, pet-friendly communities are not pet friendly to restricted breeds. What they mean by restricted breeds are pit bulls, rottweilers and in some cases they have gone further and included other large breeds. Each association is different so this needs to be checked carefully.

If you have what is termed a restricted breed, I know you love him or her, but plan on buying a house on a street, not in a community.  There are virtually no pet-friendly communities that will accept them. 

 

                                                    

 

CAN IT BE DONE?

 

The answer is yes.  I have found homes for people with pets ranging from cats, small dogs, medium-sized dogs, Golden Retrievers, American Bulldogs and Labradors.  Yes, it can be done but it takes time and patience and someone willing to do the work.

 

MY DOG DOESN'T BARK

 

I believe you, but you still can't sneak them in.  Someone is going to find out and then you're going to have a problem.  So why not go to a pet-friendly community to begin with and avoid the headache?

 

 For more information about pet-friendly housing in Boca Raton FL and Boca Raton Real Estate, please contact me.  I am a Boca Raton Real Estate Agent.  You can read what others have said if you click on that link.  I can be reached at (561) 716-7824, by text or by email at Elyse@ElyseBerman.com.

 

Thank you for reading about pet-friendly homes for sale in Boca Raton FL.

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Helping buy and sell Boca Raton, Highland Beach, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach and surrounding areas.

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Comments(17)

Bill Reddington
Re/max By The Sea - Destin, FL
Destin Florida Real Estate

The associations in South Florida are certain;y very controlling. Worked there for 11 years. Even a 3 month winter rental required an interview. Lot different here in Destin. Lots of what I called condo commandos in the south.

Apr 12, 2014 09:34 AM
Florida Tolbert Team Keller Williams Advantage
Keller Williams Advantage III Realty in Lake Nona - Orlando, FL
Keller Williams Land Luxury Division Specialist

We are still running into issues with the approved dog list here in Florida.  Many folks just don't understand that while they have the sweetest Pitbull on the planet, 90% of them are not and are thus banned to own by most home owner insurance agencies. 

Apr 12, 2014 12:13 PM
Lou Ludwig
Ludwig & Associates - Boca Raton, FL
Designations Earned CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC

Elyse

Thanks for sharing an informative post on pet friendly housing in Boca Raton Florida.

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig

Apr 12, 2014 12:49 PM
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

Those looking for housing with pets should call a local professional who knows which ones accept pets, and the restrictions.  Elyse Berman should be your first choice for the Boca Raton area.

Apr 12, 2014 09:45 PM
Captain Wayne - Rowlett Real Estate School
Rowlett Real Estate School - Panama City, FL
Rowlett Real Estate School / Owner and Instructor

Hi Elyse, This is good news for all them pet lovers out there looking for a great place to live.

Apr 12, 2014 10:08 PM
Elyse Berman, PA
LoKation Real Estate - Boca Raton, FL
Boca Raton FL (561) 716-7824

Bill,  You're right but some are more lenient than others.  

Kevin,  Exactly.  It isn't us who makes the rules but we do have to abide by them.

Lou, You're welcome.  It's something I'm asked about all the time.  

Gabe,  Thank you!

Captain Wayne, It is; they just need to be directed to where they and their 4-legged friends will be accepted.

Apr 13, 2014 11:05 AM
Curtis Van Carter
Better Homes & Gardens Wine Country Group - Yountville, CA
Your Napa Valley Broker Extraordinaire

Elyse

How is Boca these days. I visited there 3 times but it has been quite a while back. cheers cvc

Apr 14, 2014 03:00 AM
Elyse Berman, PA
LoKation Real Estate - Boca Raton, FL
Boca Raton FL (561) 716-7824

Curtis,  Boca is great.  They have really built it up.  Thanks for stopping by.

Apr 14, 2014 11:44 PM
Judith Parker
ProStead Realty - Charlotte, NC
CRS, GRI, CMRS, Charlotte, NC

Good evening Elyse ... great post and you are definitely the agent to call by are buyers wishing to move to Boca Raton ... especially if they have pets.  You care and will take great care of them.

Apr 15, 2014 01:03 PM
Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA, PSA, TRC - Greater Clearwater Florida Residential Real Estate Professional
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Safety Harbor

I wish the MLS would REQUIRE all pet information. Allowed or not; all pets or only cats (or only dogs); weight limits; number of pets allowed. I really get sick and tired of emailing and calling people to get this information when they should have entered it when they entered the listing.

Apr 16, 2014 05:53 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Elyse

This is a great idea for a post on area housing that is pet friendly. It's rare that we have a complex that does not allow at least 1 pet. It's a much bigger issue for those who are renting, at least in my area.

Anyone in the Boca Raton area now knows the person to call for pet friendly housing 

Jeff

Apr 18, 2014 04:49 AM
Lou Ludwig
Ludwig & Associates - Boca Raton, FL
Designations Earned CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC

Elyse

Thanks for sharing the information of pet-friendly housing in Boca Raton Florida.

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig

Apr 18, 2014 01:03 PM
Elyse Berman, PA
LoKation Real Estate - Boca Raton, FL
Boca Raton FL (561) 716-7824

Judith,  Thank you.  I really do care abou them, especially when I've had people call hysterical the day before closing that the condo association accepted them but their 4-legged pets were not welcome.  The agent had sold them a condo in a no-pets allowed community.  

Barbara-Jo, So do I; it would save countless hours of reading recorded documents.  I call but sometimes the rules change so I always double check.

 

Apr 18, 2014 05:34 PM
Elyse Berman, PA
LoKation Real Estate - Boca Raton, FL
Boca Raton FL (561) 716-7824

Jeff,  We have many buildings at the beach that are not pet friendly at all.  Now people come with doctor's letters saying they are comfort animals.  Some buildings accept them; others will not and insist that the dog be certified.  It is also a big problem as far as renting.

 

Lou,  You're welcome.  I hope it helps people who love their animals.

Apr 18, 2014 05:36 PM
Lisa Von Domek
Lisa Von Domek Team - Dallas, TX
....Experience Isn't Expensive.... It's Priceless!

Hello Elyse,

You have touched on such an important, and can be, difficult market...even though it is hard for us pet lovers to understand why anyone would not be pet friendly!

Apr 18, 2014 10:30 PM
Elyse Berman, PA
LoKation Real Estate - Boca Raton, FL
Boca Raton FL (561) 716-7824

Hi Lisa,  It is a very difficult market here.  And, I'm with you, why would anyone not be pet friendly?  But there are folks that have allergies and some are just plain afraid.  We have to respect that as well.

Apr 20, 2014 01:49 AM
Anthony Barone
Balistreri Real Estate - Boca Raton, FL
Realtor Associates

Are there any breeds that are banned under state laws? I lived there about 15 years ago in East deerfied beach and worked up the road in Boca and I remember seeing Pit-bulls but also remember hearing about state laws banning that breed specifically.......

Mar 12, 2015 10:34 PM