- Disney World

Why a Vacation Home is Better than Staying in a Hotel

If you plan to spend frequent holidays in Central Florida with your family, you should consider investing in a second home, rather than stay in a hotel. Vacation homes in Orlando offer many of the same amenities you’ll find in a hotel, as well as some other big advantages. Here are a few reasons why it doesn’t pay to stay in a hotel, year after year. 

Not enough space – Fitting a large family into one hotel room is no easy feat. There’s the problem of where everyone will sleep. Siblings will probably have to share a bed, which is often a recipe for disaster even among children that normally get along well together. Plus, you’ll have to take turns sharing the bathroom, which can be another huge hassle. You can always rent another hotel room, but that…

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…

Floridays Resort Recognized Again as Top Family Friendly Hotel

Floridays Resort has been recognized for a second straight year as the top Family Friendly Hotel in the U.S. by TripAdvisor. The Orlando luxury condo-style resort was singled out as the best among 25 family friendly U.S. hotels and #10 in the world, in the 2017 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice™ awards. Floridays General Manager Julia Phillips stated, “Winning the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence again this year is a true source of pride for the entire team at Floridays Resort.” 

TripAdvisor highlights the world’s top properties based on the millions of reviews and opinions collected in a single year from travelers around the globe. The hallmarks of Travelers’ Choice winners are remarkable service, value and exceptional quality. “Travelers planning…

Community Profile: Windsor Palms Resort

When it comes to resort-style living in Orlando, Windsor Palms Resort is one of the finest in the area. This 24-hour guard-gated community, formerly known as the Wyndham Palms Resort, is located just minutes from Walt Disney World in delightful Kissimmee, Florida. 

Windsor Palms offers a variety of beautiful vacation homes for sale including comfortable 2 and 3 bedroom condos, 3 bedroom townhomes, and luxurious 4, 5 or 6 bedroom pool homes. Home buyers will appreciate the exceptional features in these homes, such as a large master suite, fully equipped kitchen with breakfast area and dining room, one or two living areas, and a washer/dryer. Many homes are fully furnished and include a game room with activities like billiards, table tennis and air…

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…

How to Use Photos Effectively in Your Vacation Home Listing

Renting your Orlando vacation home is a popular way to generate income, especially if you don’t plan to use the property for your own personal use too often. Listing your home on rental websites like Airbnb, HomeAway, VRBO and FlipKey are a popular way to help you generate interest for your home. 

If your home is located near Disney World, you will face quite a bit of competition from other properties in the area. Since you only have about 30 seconds to grab someone’s attention, using great photos of your home will help your listing attract interest. Here are a few simple tips to get the most out of your vacation home listing’s photographs. 

1. Hire a professional – The best way to ensure high quality, high resolution photos is to hire a…

How to Promote Your Vacation Home on a Rental Website

Buying a vacation home near Disney gives owners an opportunity to generate rental income, since millions of vacationers from all over the world flock to this area each year. Savvy travelers are no longer satisfied with hotel stays. They prefer the comfort and convenience that comes from staying in a private home. That also means competition among rental properties can be fierce. According to TripAdvisor, recent surveys show over 80% of travelers would prefer to book online. Here are a few ways to make your listing stand out on a vacation rental website. 

1. Display plenty of great photos – Vacation rental home website FlipKey says on average, listings with over 20 photos receive more interest and bookings than listings with fewer photos. But don’t…

New Federal Financing Rules Could Jumpstart Orlando Condo Market

Thinking about buying an Orlando condominium as a second home or vacation property? A new federal law set to take effect October 27 could make financing that purchase a little easier.

The new law will allow buyers to get federally-backed mortgages to purchase condos in buildings where two-thirds of current residents are renters. In the past, at least half of residents had to own units to meet the mortgage rules. 

Condo prices in Orlando and in Polk County, which is near Disney World, have been slow to recover since the housing market began its collapse a decade ago. According to Zillow, Metro Orlando’s midpoint prices for condos are $106,900 – far below their peak of $182,700 in 2006. 

Cash investors began buying properties when the market…

Why Buy a Vacation Home in Four Corners Florida

If you are thinking about buying an Orlando vacation home, one of the most popular areas to consider is Four Corners, near Disney World. The name “four corners” refers to the point where Lake, Orange, Osceola and Polk counties meet. 

This area,  also known as Citrus Ridge, has grown in popularity in recent years because of its ideal location. You can easily commute to Orlando, Tampa and areas in between via I-4, US Hwy. 27 and US Hwy. 192. There are a wide variety of residential and vacation properties to purchase in the nearby cities of Clermont, Davenport, Kissimmee and Orlando, including single family homes, condominiums, townhomes and luxury villas. 

Four Corners' vacation homes come in a variety of styles and floor plans to suit your taste and…