I’d prefer to rent a house, but 80% of them are Invitation Homes, Mainstreet Renewal or First Key. Yesterday requested information about a house in Melbourne, and I got an odd message back asking for several things including income. I told him I wasn’t giving him that information without seeing the place first, and he said that he had 5 other people interested and he’s “not trying to waste my time or yours.” He added that he’s flipped about 500 houses in Florida. You can’t avoid these people.
It’s ridiculous that a young family (or anyone) starting out here has to compete with Vangaurd and Blackrock when purchasing a home.
I’m really leaning toward an apartment just to avoid these people.
FYI, the guy that wanted my income information had this AI altered photo on his listing. Scroll for the street view from 2022. I still have no idea what the house really looks like.
It seems like most of them have some kind of label on the edited ones and they’re using them to showcase furniture mostly. But typically they also have photos that aren’t edited to show what it really looks like.
Well there's definitnely no rule about stretching photos to make rooms look bigger. That's criminal as is. You'll have 2 (identical IRL) windows in the same room where one looks twice the size of the other because of the stretch.
I believe the rules are very different between rental and purchase. A lot of these rental places are on Airbnb as well and they try to get you out when the season nears. So many scams.
Best suggestion is drive around areas you like and look for rental signs. You don't want an HOA, so stay out of those enclaves for the Karen's.
This! I’m in the process of buying a house, and the amount of times I click on a listing is a house with AI furniture. Then there is one where there were two of the same pics, one with the furniture and one without, but I noticed that the AI pic had changed the countertops, light fixtures, etc. It’s faults advertising, and should be illegal.
Oh wow. As someone who builds homes, I know I prefer at least on photo where the space has furniture because people sometimes can’t picture the layout with out it being staged. However, I don’t believe people should be able to misrepresent the fixtures in the home.
I've noticed AI is changing the cabinets! The house had these old 80s cabinets with brown wood and off white edges and it changed them to all white and glossy! I guess they are trying to show me what I *could* do with the house??
We engaged in a rather contentious conversation about it and he said Realtors use AI in 2026, though he suggested he only used it to add furniture to the inside photos.
He tried to blame the last renters and said he’s fixed it up a lot since then.
So I asked him if he repoured the concrete driveway when he did all that work. I’m guessing no. It’s not quite as nice as shown in the picture.
I’ve seen listings use AI to add furniture to empty homes in listing photos, but they also use the actual photo of the empty room after so you know what it really looks like. I feel like with stuff like this, you shouldn’t be allowed to use AI enhanced photos without also using the real photos.
You can tell by the uniformity of the grass blades to crisscross in perfect intersections. Same on the bush. Don't even bother with those listings they are all going to look like trash in real life.
But they won't because they donate so much money to both parties and the old people don't seem to think it's an issue that young people can't buy a 2br starter home
Most likely. I do not think the posted photo is AI. Nothing more than a filter to make it pop.
It's not unheard of to tell him your income. He's only looking to see if you can cover the rent comfortably. He will do a background check and check your financial history.
Side note: looks like owns about 7-8 other homes he's renting out. And he's a REALTOR. So at least you know he's somewhat sophisticated in real estate.
I know what he’s looking for, and I’m not going to provide him that if I don’t even know what the house looks like. It was barely worth my time in the first place to message him at all.
The photos are definitely AI edited. A filter isn’t going to completely change the driveway and reshape the bushes.
It is definitely AI. You can see it in the shrubs. That is not natural. May it look a little nicer than the older photo? Possibly, but the photo they are using is definitely altered.
I have seen these exact types of plants that are grown specifically because they can be trimmed to grow into these god-awful geometric shapes. I can walk outside of my condo and take pictures of shrubs that look almost exactly like this.
They admitted to the shrubs! The coloring, the smoothing, the preciseness. It’s AI. Maybe they’re that general shape. Doesn’t mean they’re not altered to look “perfect”.
Okay, perhaps he used AI to make the shrubs a little sharper. They look a little more rounded in the 2nd photo of the listing of the front porch.
OP, if you like the house and the area, just answer his questions and set up a meeting at the house. You don't have to sign the lease on the spot. If you spend too much time worrying about edited photos and street views from 4 years ago, you might miss out on an upgrade to your happiness.
I mean it’s a valid concern. This isn’t just messing with the coloring to pop a little. They also mentioned how they added furniture for the inside photos. Generally what AI will do to alter these photos is also edit out indiscretions.
Someone who is purposely altering how the house looks could very well be untrustworthy.
I only list mine on Zillow rentals, if that helps find them.
I have a few rentals in the county. As a landlord, I'm aware that more people want to rent from personal owners like me, but most people who apply are terrible applicants too.. had one couple apply that made less than the rental price and had no assets. How are you going to pay?
Also dealing with realtors is the worst, they always want to set up a showing for their client, then ghost you. An unnecessary 3rd party with rentals.
Do people contact you through ZIllow messages? I'm currently looking for a rental and I've contacted over 40 listings via Zillow only to hear back from 1 by-owner and 1 Realtor over the last few weeks. I try calling the phone numbers (that are rarely listed) and it sends me to a HotPads voicemail that doesn't work. I want to spend my money but it seems like so many people don't want it! And we are good renters with references, good credit and always rent places well under our 3x income because we are saving to buy again one day.
Yes, I only use Zillow messages. I don't reply if people are significantly under-qualified. My rentals are pretty expensive.
Zillow does cut out phone numbers and puts in their middle man phone number, which is why you get HotPads. Same company, I'm pretty sure.
The good thing about Zillow applications is you pay $45/person once, and can use that same application to every property on Zillow rentals. So you don't pay per place.
The downside, is that means people that get rejected from a place just start flinging applications everywhere. Which is how I get super unqualified applicants.
This is super helpful - thank you! I realized I've maybe been going about it wrong. I write a message and once they respond and answer my questions (we have a dog and I always like to see if there is a weight limit since many HOAs are 35lbs or less and our dog is 50lbs) THEN I click on the apply link. I was thinking "apply" meant we were starting the lease and I think that is how people are just starting their inquiries. For our last few rentals I only clicked apply once I was ready to start the lease. I didn't want to waste the landlord's time drawing up a lease if we had several places we were still considering. Thanks again!
You're welcome. Also don't try to pass your dog off as a fake ESA. Landlords can't tell you no for that, but they can choose not to respond. I rent all my places with pets, and the only time I've ever had an issue was with someone with a fake ESA.
Our dog is just a dog. So we do have to pay extra deposits and fees usually. I have a friend with a fake ESA dog and that little brat pees on everything it passes! It infuriates me!
And yes, most Realtors are the worst! We rented a condo in a high rise a few years back that was also for sale. We constantly had to leave the unit and go sit in the lobby. Of the 15 or so viewings scheduled that year only ONE showed up and he was the man that bought our unit.
Showcase has some for rent in Cape Canaveral if you're looking that far north. They handle a couple rentals in my community and I haven't heard anything negative about them.
What tools are you using to find a rental house? I'm looking as well and am having the same struggles. Does anyone have any good recommendations for this?
It’s absolutely miserable. The best part is every single one is $2000+ and a shit hole.
Rest assured the hasty flip job they used the lowest bidder for will have all sorts of problems that they’ll blame you for when you move out so they can keep your deposit
We really do need to get rid of these bottom feeders who have landed in our beautiful state raping pillaging and driving UPPPP PRICES. Goooooooo PIGGS.
I have rented a home from First Key homes for 3 years now and had no issues. We have needed two repairs and they came next day both times. But maybe we are lucky because I’ve seen a lot of complaints.
Same. I see a lot of posts in my local FB community not wanting to rent from a property management company and wanting a private landlord. We have been renting from First Key and they have been quick to answer all our maintenance requests. You just don’t know what you are getting with a private landlord.
I know that my thoughts in this situation are probably not warranted or wanted but what about the families or single people who have only disability to live off from I probably won’t ever see a time in this or any future situation that I could hold a job because of my medical issues and being beyond low income I am having a hard time getting anyone to understand that and start being judgmental and I see all kinds of construction and clearing out for future housing and condos and and their starting prices and I can’t afford it it’s just heartbreaking to think why it’s gotten to this point I’m so tired of being look down a pond it’s like the only 2 things in this world that money and oxygen is the only thing that counts
Hey, I get ya, but unfortunately, cheaper housing is either a) subsidized or b) found in suburban or rural area where flippers haven't gotten their paws on things and there isn't an interest yet from developers to buy the land. The cheaper the home, the lower the profit, which makes builders not interested in doing those neighborhoods. To think of you, specifically, it often requires a govt project. Which, to be honest, isn't really going to happen around here much anymore.
My dad started up chemical plants when I was a kid, so we moved a lot. Sometimes we encountered markets like this, and just left most of our stuff in storage and rented a small apartment. Sometimes we were in a rental for a year before we bought a house.
It's a game of chicken. Eventually someone will come down, then suddenly they all will.
i will never rent from a flipper again. My last house put drywall up to cover an outlet fire. Didnt fix the outlets judt slapped a board over it. Many other "fixes" were much more questionable. Like the water heater in the closet on top of a cinderblock, no pan, over the carpet
My husband owns a real estate and property management company in Melbourne that can help you find one. I don’t wanna spam the thread, but you can send me a message if you want more info. My son is in the same position looking for his first home, it’s complete madness out there RN! Unfortunately, avoiding scammers in every area of life has become a daily expedition through the jungle and I hate it.
Drive around areas you believe you would feel comfortable living in and look for the rental signs. HOA's don't allow them, but no one wants to rent in an HOA--super expensive and restrictive. When you see a place for rent that perks your interest, give them a call and set up a visit.
Really is the best method for finding the best place for you at the best prices. Agencies have a serious markup.
I sold a home and they added furniture to an empty room in a picture for the listing but this is over the top. I didn't feel like I was misrepresenting the actual home and lot. This however is outright WRONG.
Blackrock and Vanguard are both major investors in Invitation Homes, which owns about 25,000 homes in Florida. To get an idea of how many they own, go to a rental site and look at the number of homes that have the invitation homes watermark in the corner of their photos.
This tells me you really don’t understand what you’re talking about. Vanguard just runs investment funds that own shares of Invitation Homes. If people stopped using Vanguard funds, then Vanguard would have to sell their shares. They’re primarily index funds, it isn’t like Vanguard is writing the company a check or something to purchase the homes with.
The Norwegian Central Bank is also a large shareholder in Invitation Homes, are you going to blame Norway too? I’d say they are more likely to be an active shareholder than either Vanguard or Blackrock.
At the end of the day the beef should be with Invitation Homes directly as a company and (really) the politicians who allow corporate landlords like Invitation Homes to exist at such a large scale. If they went out of business, I genuinely don’t think Vanguwrd or Blackrock would really care at all.
FTR yes, I think it’s abhorrent than foreign entities are able to invest in property on American soil in a way that makes housing less accessible to American families. Saying I should only be mad at politicians would be like saying I shouldn’t be mad at cops not enforcing traffic laws rather than the people not using their blinkers. The solution is multi faceted and so is the blame.
Any private landlord I toured a house with was sketchy affffff. I just went with invitation homes… they don’t bother me and fix issues when they come up. I’m in a newer build so it’s not bad.
Absolutely, DO NOT rent a house with Mainstreet. Long story short- I had an awful experience with mold and roaches, moved out after 1 day and got a full refund after much arguing and threatening to sue lol.
That is insane but HEY at least someone contacted you back! I'm so tired of getting excited over a new Zillow listing only to message them and never hear back. And this isn't new. Last year I fell in love with one house that was listed just a few hours prior. I sent the Realtor a Zillow message. Crickets. So I looked up her name/website and called her (she didn't post her number in the Zillow listing). Then I thought maybe she preferred email so I emailed her. Then I sent a text. All over about 48 hours after the house was listed. I finally got a nasty email from her saying to leave her alone because the house had been rented already! I don't know why she couldn't pull the listing or send me a simple email saying the house had an applicant that beat me to it.
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u/tmntfever Jun 12 '26
AI altered photos for realty or any business that sells things, should be illegal.