It is a difficult time for all aspects of real estate in South Florida and surrounding areas.  So just how difficult is it to find a tenant and what can an owner expect?  Well, the conventional options of finding a renter include choosing to find a renter yourself or hiring a realtor.  If you choose to find your own renter understand there are advertising and time costs that should be accounted for.  You will need to list it online or the newspaper as well as minor local distribution areas may be of assistance, i.e. (gyms, schools, hospitals, etc).  Then there is the time spent on the phone explaining the unit and driving to and from the unit for showings.  This is indeed not an enviable task. 

The other option includes hiring a realtor.  Realtors typically charge one month of rent or 10% of the annual rental amount.  It seems like a steep price to pay but understand they handle all aspects of the transaction for you and they most likely will have to split the commission with another realtor.  Then you will need a property management in Fort Lauderdale or South Florida to manage the daily tasks of running a unit, which often runs 6% to 10%. As you can see these are difficult times for all and these additional expenses will definitely eat into your profit but it is necessary to hire the right people to avoid even further headaches.