- Team Donovan

4 Ways You Can Put Your Home Loan in Jeopardy

So you’ve decided to buy a second home in Orlando. Congratulations! If you plan to finance your holiday home purchase, you should be careful about what you do between the time your loan is approved, and you actually close on the purchase. 

Lenders have been known to rescind a loan offer shortly before the scheduled closing if the buyer makes one of the following missteps: 

1. Making a big purchase – Buying property is a big enough transaction. Don’t spoil the chances of your loan going through by purchasing any other items such as a new car or furniture for that vacation home. A big purchase (especially one you plan to finance!) can change a buyer’s debt-to-income ratio. That ratio is what the lender used to approve the home loan. Save those…

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 Take Title of Your Orlando Vacation Home

After purchasing a second home in Orlando, some buyers decide they want to change how they took title to the property by adding a family member or spouse, or even transferring the property to a corporation or trust. However, it’s important to know that such a transfer could create unintended tax liabilities. That’s why Team Donovan recommends that you consider how to take title to a property before you enter into a purchase contract.

There are several ways to take title to Florida real estate. Each variation has its own potential advantages and limitations. Here are the most common options to consider when buying an Orlando vacation home: 

1. Sole Ownership – Buyers who wish to hold property in their own names may use this form of ownership.…

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
• …

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…

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…

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…

Community Profile: Encantada Resort

It’s easy to see why so many vacation home buyers become enchanted with Encantada Resort in Kissimmee. Imagine coming home to a tranquil, tree-lined community, stepping into a hot Jacuzzi after a long, exciting day at the Magic Kingdom, and finally, curling up in a comfortable bed inside your very own spacious town home. 

You can turn those vacation home dreams into reality when you purchase one of the two, three or four bedroom town homes at Encantada Resort. Conveniently located just 5-1/2 miles from Disney World, this popular vacation home resort is perfect for the buyer who wants a second home or an investment property that can be rented out on a short-term basis. 

The beautiful two-story town homes include nine-foot ceilings on the first floor, a…

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: