Top 10 Best Places To Buy Property for Rental in Florida
(Based on My Actual Portfolio)
People love making long lists about the “best places to buy rentals in Florida.”
You’ve seen them — Top 50, Top 100, Top 200. They look scientific, they have charts, they have colorful maps, and most of the time the author doesn’t even own a single property in the cities they’re recommending.
So let’s do something different here. Let’s make a list based on real life — not theory, not hype, not headlines.
This list is based on my actual portfolio, the 38 properties I personally own across Florida.
Every one of these cities made the list because I put real money there, real tenants live there, and real returns happen. If a city didn’t work, trust me, it would’ve kicked me in the ribs years ago and I would’ve stopped buying.
So here it is — the top 10 best places to buy rental property in Florida, proven by the cities where I buy most often and why they actually work.
Let’s keep it simple, keep it friendly and keep it fun — the way real estate should be.
Tampa
Tampa isn’t just the first city on my list; it’s the heartbeat of my career. This is where I learned the BRRRR strategy, where I made my biggest mistakes, and where I made my biggest gains.
Most of my rentals here are in the same core areas:
• East Tampa
• Seminole Heights
• Sulphur Springs
• Old Seminole Heights
• North Tampa
These neighborhoods aren’t fancy, but they are working-class engines. Tenants are nurses, cooks, mechanics, warehouse employees, childcare workers, and people who appreciate clean, affordable housing.
Why Tampa belongs at #1:
• Tons of jobs
• Tons of renters
• Year-round demand
• Predictable appreciation
• Strong rent growth
Tampa has been my training ground for two decades. If you want a city where rentals consistently work, this is it.
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is Tampa’s cool younger brother — artsy, growing fast, and packed with neighborhoods where tenants stay long term.
My rentals are concentrated around South St Petersburg, an area that’s been transforming steadily over the years.
Why St Pete makes the Top 10:
• Extremely strong demand
• A unique local culture
• Blocks improving every year
• Tenants who stay longer than average
If Tampa is my bread and butter, St Pete is the dessert — always sweet and always reliable.
Jacksonville
Jacksonville is one of the largest, most affordable cities in the entire country, and easily one of the most underrated rental markets in Florida.
I personally own multiple rentals all in the same compact neighborhood of West Jacksonville — a strategy I highly recommend. Owning on the same street or within the same few blocks makes management easier, creates consistent tenant profiles, and gives you control over the feel of the area.
Why Jacksonville ranks so high:
• Lower purchase prices
• Solid rent-to-price ratios
• Military, port, healthcare, and logistics jobs
• Huge supply of long-term tenants
If Tampa is where you learn speed, Jacksonville is where you learn scale.
Lakeland
Lakeland sits quietly between Tampa and Orlando, like the middle child who doesn’t complain but steadily wins.
My rentals here are all in classic working-class neighborhoods with strong family demand and predictable returns.
Why Lakeland works:
• Families love the area
• Tenants commute both directions
• Prices haven’t exploded yet
• Very steady rental performance
If you’re trying to grow without chaos, Lakeland is a perfect city for slow, steady wealth building.
New Port Richey
New Port Richey is one of the most dependable rental markets in Florida. It’s not flashy — and that’s why it works.
My properties here are in quiet, stable neighborhoods where tenants appreciate affordability and stay for years.
Why NPR deserves its spot:
• Strong rent-to-value ratios
• Very predictable tenants
• Affordable purchase prices
• Easier management compared to big metros
Most new investors chase “cool” markets. NPR quietly prints money.
Port Richey
Just like New Port Richey, Port Richey offers affordable homes, solid rents, and simple management.
The neighborhoods I buy in are filled with long-term tenants who work locally and aren’t looking to move anytime soon.
Why Port Richey works:
• Consistent cash flow
• Lower buy-in cost
• Working-class stability
• Low investor competition
This area is perfect for investors who want clean numbers without the drama.
Temple Terrace
Temple Terrace is one of the easiest rental markets to understand:
USF + medical centers + hospitals = endless tenant demand.
My rental here sits near a pocket of student and medical-worker demand. I love markets where you don’t have to convince people to move there — they’re already coming by the thousands.
Why Temple Terrace is worth it:
• Fast, easy leasing
• High demand year-round
• Strong rents
• Reliable tenant base
If you want consistency, buy near universities and hospitals. Temple Terrace checks both boxes.
Seffner
Seffner offers suburban peace with quick access to Tampa. Tenants here tend to be families looking for a safe, quiet place to raise kids.
My rental in Seffner has always attracted long-term residents, which is exactly what a buy-and-hold investor wants.
Why Seffner made the Top 10:
• Family-friendly neighborhoods
• Good long-term tenants
• Strong rental demand
• Lower price points than Tampa
This is the kind of city that quietly builds wealth over time.
Hudson
Hudson gives you something rare in Florida: coastal living without coastal price tags.
My rental here stays full because people love being close to the water without paying Clearwater or St Pete prices.
Why Hudson scores high:
• Affordable coastal rentals
• Retiree and working-class demand
• Low competition
• Appreciation potential as coastal cities get pricier
Hudson is a “quiet winner” — not loud, not flashy, but profitable.
Holiday
Holiday finishes the Top 10 because it delivers steady cash flow and simple tenants who appreciate affordable homes.
My rental here has always been one of my easiest to manage because people want stability more than luxury.
Why Holiday belongs here:
• Strong working-class renter base
• Affordable entry prices
• Easy leasing
• Low drama
Holiday won’t impress tourists — but it will impress your CPA.
What All These Cities Have in Common
If you step back, you’ll notice something powerful:
None of these cities require perfect timing, perfect deals, or perfect luck.
They share 5 simple traits:
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Real people live and work there
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Rents are strong
-
Prices are still reasonable
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Landlords can cash flow
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Demand is stable year after year
Most importantly, these cities reflect the way real families actually live, not the way spreadsheets pretend they live.
That’s why they work.
The Real Lesson
Anyone can make a Top 10 list.
But a list is only valuable if the person writing it has skin in the game.
These 10 cities made my list because I own property there, because these markets survived recessions, hurricanes, insurance spikes, and everything Florida throws at landlords.
This isn’t theory.
This is a map proven by real addresses, real tenants, and real returns.
If you want a blueprint for where to buy rentals in Florida, here it is — simple, friendly, and backed by two decades of investing.
Keep it consistent, stay patient, stay true—if I did it, so can you.
This is Jorge Vazquez, CEO of Graystone Investment Group and all our amazing companies, and Coach at Property Profit Academy.
Thanks for tuning in—until the next article, take care and keep building!
If you’d like to connect directly with me, feel free to book a time here:
https://graystoneig.com/ceo
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