Team Donovan Blog - Orlando

How to Prepare Your Orlando FL Vacation Home for a Hurricane

Orlando is blessed with a temperate year-round climate that includes warm, sunny weather. However, much like the rest of the world, we can’t hide from Mother Nature. We do have an established hurricane season from June 1 to November 30th. 

Because Orlando is located right in the heart of Florida, storms are not as common, nor as severe as those that hit coastal cities. And since the hurricane forecasting ability has improved greatly due to advances in technology, we can be proactive instead of reactive if a storm is predicted.

If you own a second home in Orlando, it’s wise to seek a property management firm that takes preventative measures before a storm hits, and necessary actions after the storm to help protect your home.

When the state…

5 Mistakes Investors Make when Buying Orlando Real Estate

Orlando is a popular area for real estate investors who want rental income because it’s one of the top U.S. tourist destinations and the theme park capital of the world, thanks to Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Sea World. More and more holiday travelers are opting to rent vacation homes instead of staying in hotels because they are less expensive, and you often get just as good, if not better, amenities. 

The area is a popular draw for investors from overseas, especially the U.K. But buying a property from such a great distance can be challenging, especially if you’re attempting to do it on your own. If you make a decision solely on price, for instance, you may find yourself in big trouble. Orlando has many excellent areas for rentals and…

How to Make Your Vacation Home Stand Out from the Competition

Orlando is probably one of the top vacation rental home markets in the U.S., if not the world. People come from all over the globe to visit Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Sea World. With the theme parks offering substantial savings the more days you visit, many families spend at least one week or more when they come here on holiday.

That’s why vacation home rentals are so popular. A private home offers more space, and sometimes just as many amenities as a hotel. And vacation home rentals are more affordable than hotels too.

Since there are so many vacation homes available for short-term rental in Orlando, you may have to get creative in order to make your home stand out from the competition. Here are a few suggestions to ensure that…

What UK Investors Need to Know About Buying an Orlando Vacation Home

A growing number of UK investors are investing in Central Florida vacation homes. The area offers beautiful weather, world-class theme parks, golfing, recreation, and other features that have made it a popular destination for visitors from around the globe.

Investing in Orlando vacation homes lets UK investors take advantage of low property prices and earn additional income through property rentals. 

Why Invest in Orlando 

Choosing the right location is essential to investing in a vacation home. Orlando has all of the characteristics of an ideal investment location. 

Orlando’s population continues to grow and has strengthened the local economy. The area near Disney offers beautiful neighborhoods that allow short-term rentals, so you can…

4 Ways You Can Put Your Home Loan in Jeopardy

So you’ve decided to buy a second home in Orlando. Congratulations! If you plan to finance your holiday home purchase, you should be careful about what you do between the time your loan is approved, and you actually close on the purchase. 

Lenders have been known to rescind a loan offer shortly before the scheduled closing if the buyer makes one of the following missteps: 

1. Making a big purchase – Buying property is a big enough transaction. Don’t spoil the chances of your loan going through by purchasing any other items such as a new car or furniture for that vacation home. A big purchase (especially one you plan to finance!) can change a buyer’s debt-to-income ratio. That ratio is what the lender used to approve the home loan. Save those…

What to Do before Buying a Vacation Home in Orlando

Are you a Canadian who visits Disney World every year and dreams of retiring to sunny Central Florida? If so, you may want to buy a vacation home or condo in Orlando now that you can rent out until you’re ready to make your permanent move to the States.

Once you’ve made that decision, it’s time to do some research and determine how much money you’re willing to spend on a property. 

Here are a few things to do before buying an Orlando vacation home: 

1. Determine how much home you can afford to buy. Factor in the cost of the house itself, as well as insurance, taxes, and maintenance costs, which include repairing and replacing appliances. 

If you plan to rent out the property before occupying it full-time, you’ll need to decide whether you want…

Orlando Ranks #2 in U.S. for Rental Real Estate Investors

Investors interested in vacation rental properties should find plenty of opportunities in Orlando this year. HomeUnion ranked The City Beautiful #2 in the nation for single-family rental investment opportunities in 2017, after Atlanta. 

The online real estate investment management firm ranked 31 metro areas based on several factors including yields, rental demand, investment home prices and capital markets conditions.

HomeUnion’s report noted the Orlando market has the second-highest projected employment growth of all Florida metro areas, thanks to demand for technology and tourism-related jobs. 

Orlando’s robust economy is creating demand for housing, which has placed upward pressure on median sales prices for investment homes and…

How to Buy Your Dream Golf Course Vacation Home

Have you dreamed of owning a vacation home right on a golf course? Orlando is the perfect location since it has dozens of golf communities to choose from, idyllic weather and the added bonus of being the theme park capital of the world! 

Owning a golf course vacation home can be a smart investment whether you’re a social golfer or PGA pro. Country club communities offer all of the amenities of a high end golf club right outside your back door. Plus, many golf course homes are located near Disney World, making them attractive short-term rental properties too. 

Which Golf Course Community is Right for Me? 

Choosing the right golf course community to purchase a vacation home can be a challenge, especially if you don’t live in the area. You may…

Orlando Adds Major Sports Events & Facilities to Attract New Visitors

If you’ve been thinking about buying a vacation home in Orlando, you couldn’t have picked a better time. The area is already the theme park capital of the world, and the most visited-destination in the United States. Now, the city is playing host to a variety of marquee sporting events in 2017 – sure to attract fans from all over the world. Many of these visitors will rent a vacation home for their stay, rather than book a hotel room. Here’s a rundown on the key sporting events and facilities on the calendar for this year: 

NFL Pro Bowl – Orlando’s newly renovated Camping World Stadium plays host to the NFL Pro Bowl, the league’s end-of-season all-star game, on January 29. The game has traditionally played in Honolulu, Hawaii. But Orlando…

Why Buy a Vacation Pool Home in Orlando

When you decide to buy a vacation home in Orlando, one of the decisions you’ll have to make is whether to buy a home with a pool.

Some home buyers don’t want the upkeep or expense of a pool. Pools do require regular maintenance and over time, repair. And they can be hazardous to young children. Heating a pool can also drive up your monthly utility bill. 

However, there are some very good reasons why it’s worth the investment in a vacation pool home, especially in the Orlando area. 

The biggest reason why you should consider buying a pool home is if you plan to rent it out on a short-term basis to holiday travelers. In that case, a pool is a MUST. Vacationers look for properties with a pool because it provides a much needed break from the crowds…