Bay Minette, AL 40 Apartments for Rent

The name "Bay Minette" sounds so European, as well it should. The city was named for the bay and the bay was named for a French surveyor with the last name Minet. Go figure!

Bay Minette is an exotic name, implying there should be men wearing berets and ladies sipping wine on verandas. The town does have French roots, but you're more likely to see people driving to Mobile Bay than you are to see them sipping wine. Bay Minette is located south of I-65, close to the Mobile-Tensaw Delta, and 36 miles north of Mobile. Though it officially claims about 8,044 residents, there are another 20,000 living in Baldwin County. The city is surrounded by forests, so timber is a major industry. But try to calm your inner environmentalist, because there are other industries too, including manufacturing and services. This is a nice city in a nice place with lots of nice outdoorsy things to do in the immediate area.

Moving to Bay Minette

Bay Minette is often described by how close it is to other, bigger cities. Wonder if this fact gives the city a complex? Besides being close to Mobile, it's only 75 miles from Biloxi, Mississippi and 45 miles west of Pensacola, Florida. Highway 31 runs northeast to the city center and turns south. Highway 287 runs north, branching off Highway 31. This makes it super simple to reach any neighborhood, which is great for moving and living.

Getting Ready to Live the Good Life

When renting an apartment, you may get water and sewer included in the rent. Some do, while others add an additional fee to the rent, or renters pay the utility directly. There are all types of rental properties available, including apartments, condominiums, townhouses, houses, cottages, and you-name-it. That's why over one third of residents are renters.

You know what that means, don't you? If you don't look for a place to live a month in advance, it is possible that you may end living in your last choice. Allow yourself plenty of time to shop around and submit the inevitable paperwork or "online work". Most apartment complexes let you apply online, and the application fee can be paid by credit card. Once approved, get ready to lighten your wallet after paying a security deposit, first month's rent, pet deposit and utility deposits.

By the way, people move here year round because of the nice Gulf Coast climate. It's a consolation prize for the light wallet.

What's a Creole Cottage?

When looking for house rentals in Bay Minette there' s a good chance you'll come across a property described as a Creole cottage. Here's an architectural lesson in 10 seconds or less. The Creole cottage can have many design features, but it almost always has a full front porch, a gabled roof, maybe a couple of chimneys, and possibly a raised basement.

Another term used is Gulf Coast cottage, which seems to be similar to the Creole version. Both styles are designed to accommodate the warm weather. If you rent one of these, plan on doing some serious porch sitting while sipping a glass of sweet tea.

Bay Minette Neighborhoods

Bay Minette is a renter's dream in that there are lots of rental properties of all configurations. It is a renter's nightmare because the vacancy rate is lower than average. Finding perfect 3 bedroom apartments could take some doing. A rental locator could become your best friend.

City Center: There are one-bedroom apartments for rent in the city center, as well as studios and two-bedroom units. The several apartment complexes are quite close to the Bay Minette Shopping Center.

North of D'Olive Street and Highway 31: This is a hotbed of rentals. Numerous apartment complexes dot Highway 287. This is also a good spot for finding house rentals since a large chunk of the residential area is here.

South of D'Olive Street and Highway 31: More premier apartments are found in complexes spread around the areas. Some are on Highway 31, while others are located away from the main road.

Living in Bay Minette

Living in Bay Minette must mean going outdoors‰Û_a lot. The Live Oak Landing has recreational activities and preserves coastal habitat at the same time. They call that multi-tasking. The George B Halliday Park in the city center has a covered pavilion and athletic fields. It's the surrounding area that draws people off their front porches and into the great outdoors.

Plenty of people own boats and trailer them to Mobile Bay which feeds into the Gulf coast. Of course, when it's time to eat, it's seafood calling at the Shrimp Basket restaurant or Street's Seafood Restaurant. The living in Bay Minette is coastal-style, meaning casual. If you like front porches, seafood and forest scents, you're home!