- ORLANDO

Why a Second Home is the Best Investment You Can Make

Many people dream of the idea of purchasing a vacation home in Orlando. While purchasing a second home isn’t right for everyone, it could turn out to be the best investment you can make. Here are a few reasons why. 

1. Ease Stress – Everyone knows one of the best ways to relax is to take a vacation. Owning a second home in a resort area like Orlando allows you to get away from the stress of work and have some fun! You can spend time at the area theme parks, play a round of golf, go swimming, kayaking, or fishing. The possibilities for enjoyment are endless! 

2. Quality Family Time – Purchasing a vacation home is a great way to spend quality time with the family. And if your relatives live hundreds or even thousands of miles away from each other,…

What You Should Know about Buying Short Term Rentals

For years now, Europeans and Canadians have invested in Orlando vacation homes near Disney for use as a short-term rental to holiday visitors. Vacation homes have become a popular option for tourists who spend longer than a week in Central Florida, as well as large families on vacation, since the rental cost is cheaper than a hotel stay. Many vacation homes are located in resort communities too, so they offer hotel-like amenities such as luxury pools, spas and fitness facilities.

If you’re thinking about purchasing a vacation home in Orlando to use as a short-term rental, there are a few key points to keep in mind. 

#1 – Check to see if the home is located in a gated community. These properties are usually more desirable to tourists because they…

Why buy a Waterfront Vacation Home near Disney

Many people choose to buy vacation homes near Disney that they can rent to other Orlando visitors when they are not using their property. Some buyers choose homes that are near golf courses because they are avid players. Others want a home that backs up to a wooded, conservation area for added beauty and privacy. But some people prefer a waterfront vacation home. Here are a few reasons why you might want to choose this option. 

1. Lifestyle – Buying a lakefront home gives you and your rental guests the opportunity to enjoy waterfront living at its best. That means enjoying beautiful sunsets, and water sports like canoeing, kayaking, fishing and water skiing. Central Florida is blessed with over 1000 gorgeous lakes, including the famed Butler Chain…

New Orlando Vacation Condo Resort to Open Near Disney

Buyers looking for a luxury vacation home near Disney have a brand new option to consider: The Grove Resort & Spa. This 890 unit condo resort hotel is located less than 5 minutes from Walt Disney World™ and features fully furnished two and three bedroom condos, priced from the $250s. 

The Grove Resort & Spa is situated on 110 acres around beautiful Lake Austin, and offers home buyers all the amenities you’d would expect from a luxury resort including concierge service, water park, restaurants, bars, convenience store, spa and fitness center, game room, meeting space and event lawn. 

The water park includes a lushly landscaped lagoon pool and lazy river, two-story playground pool for younger children, as well as Orlando’s only vacation home surf…

Team Donovan Listings Sell for More

Every home seller dreams of closing the sale of their property quickly and at a final price that’s as high as the asking price. Of course, a home buyer wants to get that same property for a price as far below the asking price as possible. Where the two parties meet depends on many variables, starting with the overall market condition. 

The key to getting the most money out of your Orlando home is to price it appropriately from the start. Some home sellers want to list high, but this strategy can backfire. If you don’t get any offers, your home could languish on the market for many months and you could wind up selling for a greater discount than if it was priced right to start. 

Pricing your home correctly from the very beginning will help ensure a…

Why It’s Smart to Invest in a Vacation Home in Orlando

Thinking about buying a vacation home in Orlando?  You’re not alone. An estimated 1.13 million vacation homes were sold in the U.S. in 2014 – nearly a quarter of all residential transactions. That’s the highest number since the National Association of Realtors (NAR) began collecting data in 2003.

Why are people buying vacation homes instead of renting them? On the face of it, renting seems like it would be more cost-effective for vacationers. But buying a vacation home can be a smart investment.

Some people buying vacation homes are baby boomers who have sold their family homes for cash, and now choose to invest some of that money in a winter home in a warm climate or other future retirement destination. On the other hand, the NAR has found that half…

Proof that You Can Make Money with a Vacation Home

Thinking about buying a second home in Orlando? Many people dream of buying a vacation home and renting it out so they can recoup part of their investment. The key to generating a profit with a vacation home is making sure that the property is in a desirable location.

There’s no doubt that Orlando is a popular vacation destination. Visitors come here from all over the world to go to Disney World and Universal Studios, for starters. And the city’s location in the center of the state makes it easy for vacationers to drive to Tampa, and enjoy the beaches on the Gulf of Mexico, or head east to Cocoa Beach on the Atlantic Ocean and all the attractions there, like Kennedy Space Center.

Before you buy a vacation villa, it’s important to realize that there…

4 Reasons Why It's Smart for Snowbirds to Buy a Home

Many Canadians and residents of states like New York, Michigan and Ohio spend their winters in Orlando every year – trading in the cold and snow for Florida’s balmy breezes and warm sunny skies. If you’re one of these “Snowbirds,” you know that Orlando has a lot to offer, including world-class theme parks, championship golf courses, fine dining and exceptional shopping. 

Renting a home may seem like a good option for part-time residents. But it may wind up costing you more in the long run. Here are a few reasons why snowbirds should consider buying a second home in Orlando instead of renting one. 

1. No Surprises – A typical snowbird can spend upwards of $15,000 to rent a home for 3-4 months out of the year. Besides the cost, the downside of…

Top 10 Things to do at the Windsor Hills Resort

Windsor Hills is a popular vacation resort community, located less than 2 miles from Walt Disney World. Many people decide to buy second homes in this Kissimmee gated community because of the amazing amenities it provides, worthy of a 5-star resort. To give you an example, here are ten things you can do during your Orlando, Florida vacation at Windsor Hills.

1. Enjoy a relaxing day in the community’s luxurious lagoon-style heated pool – swimming, sliding down an 80-foot water slide, or soaking your tired muscles in a steaming hot tub.

2. Gather your family together to play a game of beach volleyball on the sand court.  

3. Dunk some hoops on the basketball court, or play a round of tennis.

4. Rain threatening to derail your theme park plans? No…

How Currency Exchange Rates Affect Home Sales

If you’re in the market for a second home in the Orlando area, this is a good time to look at vacation properties. Over the last few years, buyers from Canada, Great Britain and elsewhere in Europe purchased second homes to use for vacations and as rental properties. Now, many of them are selling those homes and condos, and they're willing to negotiate with buyers to make a deal. 

Many people who buy an investment home in Florida do so for a number of reasons. Some buy a second home to use as a destination for family vacations, some buy a home to provide additional income as a rental property, and others buy strictly as an investment, since real estate generally increases in value.

Non U.S. residents who buy a property in Florida are, in effect,…