Miami Realtor Hunt: How to Avoid the Hustlers and Find Someone Legit

If you have been reading the rest of this guide, you by now probably have your choice of areas narrowed down. But where do you go to find your own little slice of heaven? Fun as it is cruising the streets looking for “For Rent” signs and calling numbers that rarely answer in a language you speak, there are easier, less frustrating ways to obtain a decent place to live.

That Guy Driving Your Taxi Can Probably Sell You A House

If there is one thing Miami has a lot of, it is bad drivers. But next to that, it’s realtors. I’m not joking, walk into any bar in Dade County and chances are the guy serving you drinks has a real estate license. That guy next to you on line at Publix? He’s got listings from Aventura to Cutler Bay. The girl you met last night at Novacento? Gave you her card, didn’t she? It is not hard to find people to find apartments and/or houses for you.

The problem, of course, is they may charge you fees, not be able to find exactly what you want, or find you places that are more expensive so they can make more money. It’s South Florida. We’re all on the take.

The best way to find a realtor that actually knows what they are doing as opposed to using it as a secondary source of income is to get a recommendation. If you have any friends in the area, see if they know a realtor they used that did a good job. Not their friend, not their nephew Carlos, and not the girl at work who just got her realtor’s license, but a real-live professional realtor. While personal recommendations are often helpful, there are no guarantees unless they have actually worked for the person suggesting them to you.

Educate Yourself In This Volatile Market

Without personal recommendations, consider walking into a local real estate office—even if it's a rental-focused spot in South Beach. But don't let a beach-area rental agent handle inland searches like Pinecrest—they might claim expertise to snag a commission, but there is a good chance this person not only doesn't know about real estate in Pinecrest, they probably couldn't even find it on a map. Local geography is not the strong suit of most South Floridians.

If you'd rather go solo, skip outdated or risky sources. Craigslist and the Miami New Times classifieds (once reliable) are no longer trusted for Miami rentals—they've become hotbeds for rental fishing scams. Scammers post fake listings (often copying real photos/descriptions from legitimate sites), lure with below-market prices, then demand upfront deposits, application fees, or wire transfers before vanishing.

Safer modern alternatives:

• Reputable sites like Zillow, Rent.com, or Realtor.com—they offer verified listings and owner/agent details.
• Facebook Marketplace or local groups—use cautiously.
• Drive/walk neighborhoods for "For Rent" signs—contact owners directly for off-market deals with fewer fees.
• Search the address on county records and Google Street View.

Bottom line: Miami's rental hunt isn't hard, but be extremely wary—if it looks too good to be true (ultra-low rent, no viewing allowed, pressure for quick cash/crypto), it's almost certainly a scam. Always verify the landlord/property (via public records), insist on an in-person tour, never send money sight-unseen, and trust your gut. Plenty of legit help exists—just steer clear of the shady corners of the internet.

Editor’s Note: Originally published April 15, 2007. Updated in 2026 with new photography; Matt Meltzer’s original writing remains unchanged.

Gus & Michelle Moore's Realtor (2026 Update)

We sold our Plametto Bay home in 2022. Drew Kern was our realtor. Drew specializes in Pinecrest and Palmetto Bay real estate, while his twin brother, Matt, is a general contractor. Matt remodeled our home—including the bathrooms and kitchen—which Drew later sold for over asking. They’re both hardworking, honest professionals, and Michelle and I can’t say enough about our positive experience working with them.— Gus Moore