- Real Estate

How to Search for Vacation Homes Next to Disney

There are a wide variety of vacation homes for sale next to Disney. Some are single family homes, some are condominiums, others townhomes. It can be confusing trying to find a property that fits both your needs and budget. That’s especially true if you live outside of Florida and only have the internet as your guide. 

Team Donovan’s new website aims to take some of the guess work out of finding an Orlando vacation home. Our map search feature allows you to see at a glance all of the homes for sale in the Disney World area. When you hover your mouse over one of the house icons, a window pops up and gives you the following information on that property:

• Property Address
• MLS number
• Listing Price
• # Bedrooms
• # Baths 
• Square Footage
• …

Does it Pay to Buy an Orlando Vacation Home with a Privacy Lot?

Privacy seems to be at a premium these days. With smartphones and security cameras prevalent everywhere it seems, most people want to enjoy their privacy, especially at home. 

If you’re planning to buy a vacation home in Orlando, you may want to consider a property on a privacy lot. In simple terms, this is a lot which is not overlooked by the neighbors. A privacy lot could be on the waterfront, facing a conservation/preserve area, or even on a golf course. Typically, privacy lots are the most in demand lots after waterfront lots. 

Privacy lots and vacation homes near Disney are highly desired pieces of real estate. And it’s no wonder. The owners get to enjoy their privacy when using the property. And they can advertise the rental property as being…

How Will Brexit Impact the Orlando Vacation Home Market?

The stunning move by U.K. voters to abandon the European Union has roiled world financial markets in recent days. But what will Brexit’s impact be on the Orlando real estate market?

Some analysts believe the decision could be a boon for home sellers. Mortgage rates, which were already at low rates, have fallen further, making housing more affordable for buyers who wish to finance their purchase. Orlando’s housing market has already been gaining strength.  The Orlando Regional Realtors Association reported that home sales rose 7 percent in May, compared to a year ago. 

Erin Lantz, VP of mortgages at real estate hub Zillow told USNews.com there may be more international interest in U.S. real estate assets in the days and weeks ahead, "because it may be…

What Size Vacation Home Should I Buy?

There are many factors to consider when buying a second home, such as location, whether you need rental income and of course, how much it will cost. One of the decisions you’ll have to make as you start your vacation home search, is how big a home you need. 

There are a wide variety of housing choices to consider in the Orlando area for your vacation home. If you don’t need a lot of space, you could opt for a one or two bedroom condominium. There are several condo/hotels next to Disney that provide the amenities of a luxury hotel with the ability to rent the unit out when not in use. Properties like the Blue Heron Beach Resort or Floriday’s Resort provide on-site management that takes care of cleaning and maintenance, as well as all interactions with…

How to Know if You Should Buy an Orlando Vacation Home

Do you dream of owning a vacation home in Orlando? What’s holding you back from making those dreams a reality? Could it be that you find the idea a little too intimidating? Believe it or not, it’s actually easier than you may think. You just need to keep a few things in mind before you make the commitment. Here are some things to consider to help you analyze your options. 

1. Match housing choices to your lifestyle – Many people make the wrong assumption that you must own a primary residence before owning a vacation home. But that’s not a hard and fast rule you have to follow. The important thing to focus on is matching your housing choices to your lifestyle. 

Perhaps you live in a big city and want a lot of space that is just not affordable where you…

Love Disney World? Now You Can Really Live There

Ask a super Disney World fan if they would like to live there forever, and chances are the answer you’d get is a resounding, “Yes!”

If you have at least $2 million to spend on a new home, you can make your Disney dreams come true at Golden Oak. This luxurious resort community is the first to offer custom single-family homes for sale at the Walt Disney World® Resort.   

Golden Oak features four neighborhoods – Marceline, Carolwood, Silverbrook and Kimball Trace, as well as private residences at the Four Seasons Resort Orlando. Floor plans range from 3,000 to 12,000 square feet of living space on homesites ranging from one-quarter to three-quarters of an acre. The communities include parks, gardens, golf courses and sculptures of Disney characters.…

Where Can I Find Vacation Rental Properties to buy in Orlando?

Are you looking for a vacation property in Orlando to buy so you can generate rental income? If so, one of the best areas to consider is next to Walt Disney World.  Many of the communities located near Disney permit short-term rentals. And since most people who come to Orlando on vacation do so to visit the theme parks, you’ll likely have little trouble attracting holiday visitors to your property.

The city of Orlando has a variety of housing options available to home buyers, such as single-family homes, condos, townhomes and condo/hotels. But short-term rentals are only allowed in condos and townhomes. If you’re interested in a single-family home, you’d be better off looking for a property in the neighboring cities of Kissimmee, Haines City or…

How to Save on Closing Costs for Your New Vacation Home

Buying a second home in Orlando is a decision that requires careful study of your finances to make sure this investment is one you can truly afford. Once you’ve committed to the idea, and have enough funds on hand for a down payment, you can explore ways to save money on closing costs for your vacation home.

Closing costs are the final fees a buyer pays before completing the purchase of a property. These fees are paid to third parties that assist with the mortgage, such as the lender, as well as optional ones, such as mortgage discount points and fees that must be paid to others parties for title/escrow and insurance. There are two types of closing costs – recurring and non-recurring costs.

Recurring costs that need to be paid more than once include:

When is the best time to buy a second home in Orlando?

If you’ve been contemplating whether to buy a second home in Orlando, now is an excellent time to do so. Forbes magazine recently rated Orlando #2 in its list of the best U.S. cities to invest in housing in 2016. While rising housing prices and stagnant wages may dissuade first-time home buyers from entering the market, current economic conditions are excellent for investors who want to put their money into rental properties. 

Forbes teamed up with data company Local Market Monitor to compile the Best Buy Cities list. Orlando and the other top cities were cited because they boast healthy job growth, strong population growth, and anticipated home price appreciation. 

Housing prices fell sharply in the Orlando area during the recession as would-be…

5 Important Questions You Need to Ask When Buying a 2nd Home

Buying a second home in Orlando for retirement or as a family vacation home requires serious thought. Choosing where to buy in Central Florida depends largely on what you can afford and whether or not you plan to rent out the property when you’re not using it. Here are a few core questions you need to ask before purchasing a home: 

How much will it cost?

When you buy a vacation home, there are additional costs to consider besides the sales price. You will have to factor the same costs you have with your primary residence such as taxes, insurance, utilities and maintenance fees. Plus, when you’re not living in a home on a daily basis, you may not have the ability to tackle small problems before they become big ones. That can translate into higher…