The Encantada Resort Report

The Flamingo Group has visited he Encantada Resort in Kissimmee, FL and gives it two thumbs up!! Please watch out video review below and if you want to find out what these properties are selling for you can search all Encantada Townhouses For Sale Here

Five Things To Consider Before Buying a Kissimmee Condo

Condo investments are the most popular investment choice right now in the Disney and Orlando areas. Many people are flocking to them due to their very inexpensive price tag and convenience with upkeep and maintenance. There are factors you need to consider before you just jump into bed with a condo community here in Orlando. The last thing you want to do is wake up with regrets when you get slammed with a huge special assessment shortly after the closing and you find out your condo association is broke!

1. Know the Vacation Rental Restrictions Up Front!
Most people read the condo association bylaws after they are under contract to buy a property. . . this is not the best time to be reading that heaping piles of rules and regulations. You always want to get a copy of the bylaws before your due diligence period starts so you have one less thing to worry about. What are you looking for in the bylaws? Rental restrictions of course. Some of the most common are short term rental restrictions, just because the community is zoned for short term renting doesn’t mean there still aren’t restrictions on the minimum time period a renter must stay. You also want to make sure you aren’t buying in an age restricted community if you plan on being able to rent to all ages!

View Exclusive Condo Private  Inventory Not Found on MLS

2. Condo Association Stability!
Orlando, Kisimmee and Davenport Condo associations are going bankrupt left and right due to the foreclosure epidemic. What that means to you is you could be buying into a community that is not financially stable and you may end up having to pick up the slack for other people who aren’t paying, what do I mean by slack? SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS!!  You need to make sure the association is not in debt, they have a healthy reserve fund, all major renovations such as new roofs, landscaping projects or structural issues such as elevators have been recently replaced and when the last increase in the fees were.

Watch Quick Video Tip on Condo Association Stability

3. Do They Have a Private Management Company?
Many condo associations outsource their property management to larger companies who handle several associations and they are not present onsite. It’s always good to live in a condo community that has an onsite property management company for both the homeowner’s and the renters. This means they will be able to address your concerns faster, deal with any emergency issues quicker and you can walk right over to the office and speak with them if you need anything.

Top Three Recommended Disney Area Condo Communities For Vacation Rental: Windsor Hills, Windsor Palms, Bahama Bay.

4. How Vacation Rental Friendly is the Condo Community?
Many vacation rental zoned condo communities are a large mix of both long term renters, owners, snowbirds and vacation renters. If your goal is to book, book, book than you really want to stick with he communities that are vacation rental friendly and have the resort style amenities such as fitness centers, convenience stores, move theaters, fancy clubhouses with restaurants and extravagant pool areas. Those are the communities that are going to attract more short term vacation renters than long term.

Search All Condo Communities For Sale in the Orlando Disney Areas

5. What type of  Vacation Rental Rates Can You Expect To Get?
That’s the million dollar question right there. In most cases you get our of it what you put into it. If you’re buying in a cheap, run down condo community and there are very little amenities for guests you’re not going to be raking in the big bucks on rental revenue. You’re going to get discounted rates for a discounted place. With condos being so inexpensive right now, it makes sense to spend a little more for the nicer community  because you will be earning more with rental rates. Always check the rates that other owners are asking for condos in the community you are looking. You can do that on VRBO.

Did you find this information useful? If so, consider subscribing and get our Free Report: Top 20 Most Critical and Frequently Asked Questions About Buying and Owning an Orlando Vacation Rental Home

Top Five Most Common Complaints From Kissimmee Vacation Home Renters That Could Cost You Money

I had the pleasure of speaking with one of the reservations managers recently at Global Resort Homes and had a nice chat with her about the most commonly complained about items when renters get to their vacation rental home. Many owners lose bookings due to these factors and it costs them money.

Complaint #1. Pool Heat Not Working
This is the number one complaint by guests staying at Orlando vacation rental homes.  The pool heat issues seems to happen quite frequently and it upsets many guests as they were looking forward to jumping in that warm pool after their long flight to Orlando.  They will asked to be credited money back for the pool heat and in many cases if the issue cannot be resolved quickly they will want to switch houses.

Watch Video- Orlando Property Tip: Pool

Complaint #2. No Pool Cover (To Trap Heat)
This is one of those things that many owners don’t really think about but the guests certainly do.  They complain about the pool not having a cover to trap the pool heat and surprisingly it’s a common complaint. I know many owners don’t have a pool cover for their pool as they find it unnecessary because the pool is locate din a screened enclosure but if the money is in the budget it may be worth investing in one.

Watch Video- Orlando Property Tip: Hidden Fees

Complaint #3. Carpets are Stained
The simplest things in life are sometimes the most overlooked things.  If your carpets are stained and dirty your guests will request to be switched to another property almost immediately.  One of the biggest reasons that people rent a vacation home in Orlando is because they don’t like nasty hotels.  The last thing they want to do is walk into a nasty house.  Keep your carpets clean and as free of stains as possible. Ask your management company to have your carpets steam cleaned at least once per year. I recommend every six months if you have a busy property.

Watch Video- Orlando Property Tip: Furnishing

Complaint #4. Ugly Furnishings
For the love of all things vacation homes. . . DON’T GO CHEAP ON YOUR FURNISHINGS! The less you invest the less you get in return.  There are so many other properties in Orlando that owners have put in extra time and effort into the furnishings, this is your competition.  You property may still rent with cheap, ugly floral couches but you certainly won’t be getting the high rent on the street and what you will be attracting is discount renters.  If your goal is to make money at this whole vacation home thing than invest in your investment!

Watch Video- Orlando Property Tip: Gamesroom

Complaint #5. Too Far From Clubhouse
This can be a big deal for some communities. If you’re all the way back at the end of the neighborhood and you don’t supply any type of bikes at your rental property than people are going to get tire very quickly of walking back and fourth to the clubhouse, especially in the middle of summer when it’s blazing hot.  If you found a property and it’s an amazing deal but at the back of the neighborhood, don’t sweat it just supply your property with some bikes.  I personally am a big fan of Radio Flyer wagons!

Did you find this information useful? If so, consider subscribing and get our Free Report: Top 20 Most Critical and Frequently Asked Questions About Buying and Owning an Orlando Vacation Rental Home

Six Signs You May Be Ready For an Orlando Vacation Rental Home Investment

1. Taking Frequent Vacations to Orlando
Do you find you and your family are taking frequent vacations to Orlando? Maybe it’s Disney World or Universal. Whatever the attraction, consider how much money you spend on lodging, dining and activities.  Generally the cost of all that combined annually could be a down payment on a vacation home.  When you’re not using it you can rent the property out which helps offset the cost of owning it.

Search Properties For Sale in Kissimmee’s Top Notch Vacation Rental Neighborhoods

2. Already Own a Timeshare
Timeshares are great for some people but with the real estate market at rock bottom prices on vacation homes have never been lower. Unlike a timeshare, if you own a vacation home you can visit the property as much or as little as you like and there are no penalties and unlike a timeshare you can rent your property out when you’re not using it.  Often times, the carrying costs of owning a vacation home that is being rented out ends up being almost the same as an upscale timeshare.

Everything You Wish You Knew BEFORE Buying a Florida Vacation Rental Home

3. Planning Your Retirement
Many people who plan their retirement already have a set place in mind that they would like to retire to.  If you are one of those people consider the financial benefits to investing in a vacation home for your retirement.  The ability to offset the cost of owning the property until retirement and still use the home for vacations is a huge perk as well as the equity that you will be building towards your retirement nest egg.

4. 1031 Exchange
Many investors who are selling off their investment properties are looking to take advantage of the 1031 exchange for tax purposes.  What a great opportunity to invest your gain into a vacation rental property.  You not only save on taxes but now you gain a vacation home that you can retreat to as well as offset the carrying costs of owning.

5. House Exchange
Ever wish you could be part of a house exchange and travel across the world all while living like a local? The only downside to house exchanges are if you don’t own a vacation home, you would have to rent out your own personal residence to strangers.  I don’t know many people who would be okay with that.  Owning a vacation home now gives you the flexibility to trade up your house with someone else’s and not have to worry about personal belongings.

Windsor Hills Resort Homes For Sale in Kissimmee

6. You Just Want a Good Florida Real Estate Investment
If only for the reason that you’re looking for a property that will appreciate in value than buying a vacation home could be the best investment you ever make. Vacation rental properties are in a specialized category of real estate and due to their zoning flexibility for short term renting, there is always a demand for this type of property from international investors.  Vacation rental homes, in my opinion, could be one of the safest real estate investments you can buy.

Did you find this information useful? If so, consider subscribing and get our Free Report: Top 20 Most Critical and Frequently Asked Questions About Buying and Owning an Orlando Vacation Rental Home

Largest Modern Day Palace in Orlando Goes Up For Sale

The largest modern day family home in not just Orlando but all of America goes up for sale this week. This extravagant mansion, currently under construction in the Reserve at Lake Butler Sound in Winderemere, FL;  is fit for a king and is actually modeled after the royal palace of Louis XVI. If you know anything about Windermere, FL you know that it’s not only home to the famed golf legend Tiger Woods but many other well known athletes and celebrities such as Shaquille O’Neil and is one of the golf capitols of America.

View All Properties For Sale in the Reserve at Lake Butler Sound Here

What type of price tag can you expect to roll out for a Windermere mansion the size of approximately 40 average single family homes? $100,000.00 is the listing price of this Butler Chain of Lakes beauty. So what exactly does your $100,000.00  buy you beside a Windermere address, celebrity neighbors and some fancy architecture? Here are some of the features you can expect in this unique Windermere gem:

Windermere Second Homes For Sale

The property is located on a 10+ acre peninsula with 12,000 square feet of shoreline on the famed Lake Butler chain of lakes. The property has 13 Bedrooms and 23 Bathrooms, Three Pools, a 20 Car Garage, 60×120 Grand Hall, 47 ft high Stained Glass Dome, a 6,000 sq ft. Master Bedroom, Fitness Center, Multiple Spas, Children and Adults Theaters, Arcade, Bowling and Two Tennis Courts, a Boathouse, 1 Story Gatehouse with Apartment, a Baseball Field, 10 Satellite Kitchens, Two Story Wine Cellar, Rock Grotto with Three Separate Spas behind an 80 Ft. Waterfall, Indoor Roller Rink, a Japanese Steakhouse Island that seats 12, a His and Her Office with a 12 ft. two sided Aquarium and the list goes on! So how’s that for a Windermere, FL vacation home?

Orlando Mansion Foreclosures For Sale

If you would like to know more about this property or other properties for sale in the South West Orlando area you can contact us today or begin searching Orlando homes here.  For a free, private consultation on owning a second home in the Orlando area you can contact us here.  We’re happy to answer all of your vacation and second home questions!