Alright, here's our opinions about the rentals we found. We visited apartments in the morning and then met up with a realtor who showed us some higher-end (but reasonably priced) condos in the afternoon. All of the listed prices are either a studio or a 1-1.
Seybold Pointe - I loved it, but my fiance really wants Brickell for the location. We technically didn't meet with the realtor for the building (a really nice maintenance woman snuck us in and gave us a tour of some open units), so we can't be sure on price... however, online the 1-1 go from $850 to about $1000. Apparently several med students live in the building (we met a few of the guys and they seem great). Nice size of room, w/ washer and dryer in unit. There is 1st floor bike storage and the building is near a grocery store and right across from the metro. Free guest parking. Not the best area of town, but I was comfortable in it and it didn't seem dangerous at all. Biking distance or one stop on the metro from Jackson. This one is one of our top three picks.
Highland Park Lofts - hardwood floors and granite countertops, very close to Seybold Pointe. $850-1000 for a 1-1, and biking distance to Jackson (walking to metro). Small deck provided (BBQ anyone?), but no overhead lights in bedroom (alright, I'm picky). Lots of drawers, comes w/ dishwasher, fridge, microwave, several med students in building. You can rent-to-buy if you like it (the units go for $180,000 on the market, but the manager told us we'd steal it at $140,000... appraisal value is $125,000 so sounds a little iffy to us). You get one parking spot with the room. No workout room (all other buildings had one), but I liked the kitchen a lot. Fiance thought the building felt a little cold... not our favorite place, but it's more upscale than Seybold for those of you who are looking for something a little nicer and close to campus.
Miami Bay Club - this is up NE of campus, in the Biscayne Bay area. The building literally is on the bay, and it's not high-rise style (sprawled out a little more). Gated community with free BBQs (yay!) and a weight room (w/o dumbells). There's a tennis court and pool. Pet-friendly building, but no washer/dryer in room (there's one set per floor for $1.50/wash or dry). Each unit gets two parking spots, one in the gated parking area and one in a covered gated parking area. Prices range from $995 - 1050ish right now for a 14 month lease (there's a deal going on right now that might be extended) - normal prices are only about $50 more. The more expensive apartments are on the side overlooking the bay. There's a bus stop nearby, but the building is not on the metro. I'd have to get a second car ( 🙁 ), but they do have free parking for it... and it's a pretty decent place if you have transportation. Contact is Mayra Almanzar (305-573-1987) if anyone is interested.
22 Biscayne Bay - same area as Miami Bay Club. Double-closet in pretty large room, w/ washer+dryer in unit. Granite countters and cabinets all over the place (I like storage space). One parking spot provided, $75/mo for an additional. Pet friendly, and dumbells in the w/or room. Prices range from $1000-1250. Management appears friendly (she was bouncing around happily before we showed up - we saw her through the window). Again, driving distance to campus (no metro).
In Brickell:
One Plaza West Brickell - somebody visit this building and let us know how it is, please! We didn't get a chance, and our realtor said there weren't any open units (in her database).
Camden Brickell - apartment complex right next to metro and people-mover, with a Publix nextdoor. Pet-friendly with no monthly fee for animals ($500 one-time fee). Leases range from 7-15 months, with 14-15 months having the best rate. There are studios, 1-1, 1-1.5 and 2-2 available. The people seem very down-to-earth, which we liked... the marketing manager saw that we were laid-back and sat on the counter to talk to us in the show-unit. $125 app fee per resident (unless you're married) and $360 admin fee. Prices range from 900-1300 for studios, 1300+ for 1:1 (didn't ask about anything bigger). The building has the best w/o room we've found. Washer/dryer in unit. Pretty large rooms... the counters are not granite or anything, but the room feels more liveable (for the same price as the more upper-class condos around it). Quite a few med students live in the building. This is one of our favorites in Brickell, but the style of living might not be for everyone, depending on what you're used to / looking for. I'm willing to pay the same price for a homey feel instead of a big city high end feel. Free internet outside of your room, but you have to pay extra to get it in your own room. Water/electricity/heat/etc. not included.
AXIS on Brickell - another of our favorites in Brickell. This one is a condo complex, with prices around $1450/mo. Definitely more high-end, but still friendly. Washer/dryer in unit. This one is the granite countertop-wooden floor type. Rooms are pretty large, and the building is literally across from Camden/the metro.
Wind by Neo - do you like meditation rooms? how about gossamer drapes in all-white rooms? do you consider yourself to be a "chic young professional urbanite"? this place might be for you! ... Alright, seriously... the rooms are actually cheaper than any of the other Brickell places we found ($1300-1400ish for a 1:1), and the feel is very high-end big cityish. They have a racketball court in the workout room (yay!), but I felt the place felt a little stuck-up. Again, if you're trying for the fancy big city thing, this place might be a perfect fit. Granite counters, hard-wood floors, etc. I think internet is included in rent. Pet-friendly, and there may or may not be a size limit on dogs (we saw a big one!). Not right next to the metro, but definitely less than a 5 minute walk from it.
Latitude on the River - we actually liked this one a lot, but it's about 5 minute walk to the metro. Large rooms, with reasonable rent (the seller of one is asking $1550, but we heard one of the realtors in charge of the building say the seller would take $1450 for sure). Granite counters and hardwood floors, but friendly (not too showy). Internet and water are included in the price. Pet-friendly, with free parking spot included. I'm sure there is guest parking - there is also valet parking, and it may be the same thing.
Hope this helps some people! We're going to be watching AXIS, Camden and Seybold as our top three.
