- ORLANDO VACATION HOME

How to be a Successful Long Distance Landlord

The Orlando area has long been a popular destination for British and Canadian tourists because of our warm weather, recreational activities, and of course, world-class theme parks like Disney World. Many of these visitors purchase a second home in Orlando for holiday visits and for use when they retire.

If you want to get the most out of your investment until you’re ready to settle in the States, you might consider renting the property to other holiday visitors when you’re not using it. Managing a property from another country can be challenging though. So here are a few tips on how to be successful long distance landlord. 

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Investing in a property management team is your best bet when it comes to managing property from…

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…

Lake Buena Vista Resort Village & Spa Wins Top Vacation Award

 Lake Buena Vista Resort Village & Spa has been recognized as a 2017 Interval International Premier Resort for the third year in a row. The vacation exchange network awards the annual distinction to properties that rise above Interval’s top affiliation standards and provides guests with an outstanding vacation experience. 

The Lake Buena Vista luxury condo/hotel complex is located right in the heart of the major attraction areas – just minutes from Walt Disney World. Buyers seeking to purchase a vacation home or an investment property often choose Lake Buena Vista because the property includes hotel-like on-site management for worry-free ownership and collection of rental revenue. 

The property management team provides owners and their guests with…

Why Owning a Vacation Home Can Benefit Your Health

Some people think owning a vacation home is a luxury. But owning a vacation home in Orlando can be an excellent financial investment, and it may be just what the doctor ordered. 

More than half of American workers (55%) left vacation days unused in 2015, according to a study released by the U.S. Travel Association’s Project Time Off. And most of those who do take time off for vacation aren’t taking a total break.  A Glassdoor-Harris Interactive survey found that 61 percent of Americans work while on vacation, despite complaints from family members.  

Vacations Reduce Stress, Improve Mental Health

This is a big problem because employees who don't take time off are less productive. You are at risk of suffering from mental fatigue, which is just…

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…

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 Promote Your Orlando Vacation Rental on Facebook

Vacation rental websites like FlipKey and HolidayLettings are probably the most popular way to secure guests for your Orlando vacation rental home. But they are not the only medium available. Facebook is a terrific tool to attract new rental guests, as well as to turn existing guests into repeat visitors and generate referral business.

One reason for Facebook’s popularity is its global reach. The social networking site has over 1.79 billion monthly active users worldwide! Since Orlando attracts visitors from around the globe, it’s in your best interest to make use of this marketing tool.

The first thing you will need to do is create a Facebook page for your vacation rental. If you don’t have one yet, you can set one up here. (include link) Unlike…

Why It's Important to Get Reviews for Your Vacation Rental

If you plan to list your Orlando vacation home on a rental website like FlipKey or HomeAway, there are several things to do to ensure that your listing stands out from your competition, such as having good photos and a good description. But it's also important that you have a process in place to collect guest reviews.

Why Guest Reviews Matter

Here are a few reasons why it matters for you to acquire guest reviews for your Orlando vacation rental. 

#1 - Plain and simple, guest reviews help you rent out your property. Studies have shown that 81% of travelers find user reviews important on travel booking sites.* Prospective guests read reviews to see how much other visitors have liked a particular property, and whether there were any problems with…

How to Set the Best Rates for Your Orlando Vacation Rental

Orlando is a popular area for vacation home rentals since millions of tourists come here every year to visit attractions like Walt Disney World® and Universal Studios Florida®. If you plan to purchase a home to use as a vacation rental, you need to know how to price that property to attract guests. Price it too high, and you’ll lose business to the competition in the area. Price it too low and you may not be able to make a profit. Plus, you risk attracting people who may abuse your property as a cheap rental.

Here are some tips on how to set the best rates for your Orlando vacation home. 

1. Know your expenses – Before you can determine what price to charge, you need to know your fixed expenses for the property, such as insurance, taxes,…