Orlando Real Estate Blog | Sellers Education Library | Team Donovan - Sellers Information

Seller Net Sheet Calculator: Know Your Net Proceeds | Team Donovan

Know Your Bottom Line: Introducing Our Seller Net Sheet Calculator

Selling your home is one of the biggest financial transactions of your life. But between commission, taxes, insurance, and closing costs, it can be hard to figure out exactly what you'll walk away with. That's why we built the Seller Net Sheet Calculator—to give you instant clarity on your net proceeds before you list.

Launch the Calculator

Why Transparency Matters in Your Home Sale

When you're selling your home in Central Florida, there's a lot happening behind the scenes. Property taxes, title insurance, documentary stamp taxes—the list goes on. Many sellers are surprised when they reach closing…

Read Full Post

Published August 5, 2026 • Financing & Mortgage News

Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac Condo Loan Changes 2026: What Orlando Vacation Home Buyers & Sellers Need to Know

If you're buying or selling a condo in the Orlando vacation home market, the rules for conventional financing just changed — in a big way. On March 18, 2026, Fannie Mae (Lender Letter LL-2026-03) and Freddie Mac (Bulletin 2026-C) announced coordinated updates to how condominium projects are approved for conventional loans. The biggest of those changes took full effect on August 3, 2026.

Some of these changes are genuinely good news for buyers of resort condos near Disney. Others mean more paperwork and more scrutiny of the condo association itself. Here's everything explained in plain…

Read Full Post

Legislation & Ownership Costs

What Amendment 3 Actually Means for Your Orlando Vacation Home

Published 29 July 2026  ·  Team Donovan

Half a dozen owners have forwarded me the same article this month, usually with some version of the same question attached: is my tax bill about to be cut in half?

The short answer is no. The longer answer is more interesting, and there is one part of it that genuinely matters if you are buying or selling in the resort communities this year — though it isn’t the part being written about.

What is on the ballot

In a special session at the start of June, the Florida Legislature put a property tax amendment in front of voters for 3 November. It needs sixty per cent to pass. The headline provision raises…

Read Full Post

Published July 1st 2026

June "numbers" from the Resort Area Market...

June's median home price came in at $380,000, down 0.2% from May and 1.3% lower than the same month last year, when the median stood at $395,000. The average time for a home to sell and close during June was 145 days — unchanged from May but 10 days longer than a year ago. Homes that came to market over the last 30 days spent an average of 96 days listed, comfortably below the 104-day average recorded over the past 12 months. The resort area recorded 369 closings in June, up from 349 in May and ahead of the 329 closings seen in June 2025. Pending sales — homes under offer or contract — totaled 581, slightly below last month's 604 but above the 535 recorded in June of last year.…

Read Full Post

From Inverness to Indianapolis: Where Team Donovan's Sellers Call Home

When people ask what makes Team Donovan different, we often point to one number: the distance between us and our clients. A typical month at our Orlando office means closings with sellers in the Scottish Highlands, snowbirds in Ontario, condo owners in Brooklyn, and vacation home families in Cheshire — all in the same week.

We pulled together a snapshot of where our recent sellers have been based, and the picture is genuinely global. Here's who we've had the privilege of working with — and what they had to say afterward.

A Strong UK Foothold

The largest international group of sellers we represent comes from across the United Kingdom. Recent closings have included clients…

Read Full Post

 

The Truth About the Spring Market for Vacation Homes

Unlike primary residential homes, most buyers in communities like Reunion, Margaritaville, and Windsor Hills are not relocating locally.

They’re coming from:

  • Other parts of the United States
  • The UK, Canada, and international markets
  • Investor groups focused on short-term rental returns

That means their timing isn’t driven by school schedules or job moves. Instead, it’s influenced by travel plans, currency exchange rates, financing conditions, and confidence in the investment.

As a result, the traditional “spring surge” is often less aggressive in the vacation home market.

There is still demand—but it is more selective, more analytical, and far more price-sensitive than…

Read Full Post

 

Thinking of Selling Your Residence at Embassy Suites by Hilton Orlando Sunset Walk? Here’s How to Maximize Your Return

The Embassy Suites at Sunset Walk has quickly become one of Orlando’s most sought-after condo-hotel destinations. With its prime location steps from world-class dining and minutes from Disney, these residences are "lifestyle investments" that offer a unique blend of Hilton-branded luxury and high-demand vacation rental potential.

However, selling a specialized property like a condo-hotel requires more than just a "For Sale" sign. It requires a strategic partner who understands the nuances of the Sunset Walk market and knows how to reach a global audience of investors.

Why Now is the Time to Review Your Investment

Whether…

Read Full Post


International Sellers & Orlando Short Sales: How to Navigate FIRPTA and IRS Hardship

Selling a vacation home in the Orlando area is a big decision, especially when market conditions or personal financial changes lead you toward a short sale. For our international clients—whether you are located in Canada, the UK, Europe, or beyond—this process comes with an added layer of complexity: FIRPTA.

At Team Donovan, we specialize in helping non-U.S. residents navigate the "perfect storm" of a short sale combined with foreign seller tax requirements. Here is what you need to know to ensure your sale doesn’t just get approved by the bank, but actually makes it to the closing table.

The FIRPTA Hurdle in a Short Sale

The Foreign Investment in Real…

Read Full Post

Is Your Reunion Resort Vacation Home “Underwater”? How a Strategic Short Sale Can Save Your Financial Future

If you own an investment property in Reunion Resort, you likely bought it with a clear vision: a world-class vacation rental in a community featuring three championship golf courses—the Palmer, Nicklaus, and Watson—and high-end luxury living just six miles from Disney.

But sometimes, even in a premier resort like Reunion, the market shifts.

If your mortgage balance is now higher than the current value of your home, you are what the industry calls "underwater." Whether you own a luxury condo in Seven Eagles, a spacious townhome in Carriage Pointe, or a grand estate home in Liberty Bluff, it is important to remember: You haven’t failed—the…

Read Full Post

Selling Your Florida Vacation Home Due to Medical Reasons: The Care You Deserve

Life is unpredictable. Many of our clients purchased their piece of the "Florida Dream" with visions of family holidays in Orlando or winters spent golfing in Reunion and Champions Gate. You likely planned to hold onto this home for years to come.

However, we understand that life doesn't always go according to plan.

At Team Donovan, we recognize a hard truth: You may not want to sell this home.

We know that selling due to medical reasons is often a necessary sale rather than a wanted one. It is a decision driven by health and necessity, not by a desire to leave. We approach this reality with deep compassion, understanding that you are not just closing a…

Read Full Post