Four Free Ways To View Local Orlando Real Estate From Afar

Trying to find the perfect vacation rental investment from thousands of miles away can often become a very frustrating task. Homes might look great in the pictures online but what does the surrounding area look like?  If you’re not utilizing at least one of these five free mapping tools listed here than you you may be in for a huge surprise when you arrive here in Orlando for your property inspection trip.

1. Bing Birds Eye View: Birds Eye View from Bing is one of my favorite free mapping tools on the market. It’s so easy to use and gives an very clear picture of not only the home but also the surrounding area. It also offers an ariel/satellite view which is similar to what google has.

2. Google Street View: Some pretty funny stuff has been caught on Google street view but we’ll save that for the What the Flock section. Google street view is great for just about anything but above all it’s amazing for researching real estate.  It’s the second best thing to actually being able to walk or drive the streets your self.  Google street view offers you a 360* view of the street.  This is great if you want to see what your future neighbor’s houses look like or what your walk to the clubhouse will be like.

3. Map Quest:

Compared to Bing and Google, Mapquest seems to be the awkward kid at school but even the awkward kids are good at something and mapquest is still my number one choice for driving directions and route planning.  Mapquest even has the 360* and ariel view options. What’s great about Mapquest is you can map the route with an ariel view and also add tons of cool options to your route like gas stations, traffic reports and much more. Mapquest is a very useful program for checking the distance and route from your potential vacation home to Disney or other popular destinations.

4. Google Earth:

Google Earth deserves it’s very own post but I’m throwing the short version in because it’s THAT important to know about and utilize in your property searches.  Google earth integrates street view, ariel view and so much more.  You can view the sun exposure at any hour of the day, see what your neighborhood looked like 3 years ago and if you’re an astronomy nerd like me you’ll love that you can even view the night sky from the house that your researching.  How cool is that? Google earth is  free to download and will become your best friend when trying to purchase and research a home from thousands of miles away.

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Important Things You Need To Look For Before Renting an Orlando Vacation House-Part 2

Guest Post by: Dave Pollock

Also Read: Important Things You Need To Look For Before Renting an Orlando Vacation House-Part 1

All About Deposits

After you select an Orlando vacation home, and confirm the dates, you will have to put a deposit on the home. This is normally around $200.00 per week. If you are renting directly from a home owner, they usually accept a certified check, PayPal, or even a credit card. I’m okay with any of these forms of payments. If you use a credit card, you will most likely have to give your credit card number, name, and security code.  Not all people are comfortable giving this out, it’s up to you.  A security/breakage deposit is often also required. It will be around $200.00 and is returned after the house is verified it’s in the same condition as before you arrived. If you cancel your rental, it will cost you the deposit or the full rental amount if it is within a certain number of days before arrival. If you are not a risk taker, consider travel insurance or be prepared to give your neighbor an early Christmas gift. The balance owing is usually due around 35 days before your arrival date. Always read the terms and conditions before you decide to proceed with the rental.

Amenities
I wouldn’t rent a Florida vacation house unless it has the following amenities:  A South facing pool. Trust me, you will want this. I made the mistake once, and never again. If you get a cold snap, the sun can help make up for the colder temperatures. If you find the sun too hot, remember that 99% of the pools are covered by a screen that helps block the sun’s intensity. A covered lanai is also a must. A lanai is basically a part of the patio covered by a roof. This is great for eating lunch shaded from the sun or taking a break watching the kids swim. A games room is also valuable. Games rooms are great for those rainy days or a break from the theme parks. They are usually converted garages, that have such games as air hockey (good for the Canadians eh!), pool, electronic darts, and foosball.  Look for stools or chairs in the home pictures, to chill out and watch the pool game. Bring your laptop with you, because you’ll want the house to have Internet access, preferably wireless. This is great for researching day trips, restaurants, or other activities.  Calling home for free is very convenient. Homes should provide, free long distance calling to the U.S. and Canada.  Not to be forgotten, the basic amenities should be a fully equipped kitchen, cable TV and DVD players in each room, a large screen TV in the great room, stereo, games console, chairs and loungers on the patio, and house alarm.

Plan Ahead!

Before you leave for your trip, make sure you have been provided the required information. This includes the electronic door lock and/or lock box codes, house alarm code and instructions, property management phone number, and driving directions with full house address (great for a GPS). Bring change with you in case you hit a toll on the highway. It happened to me, it was around midnight and I hit a toll with no attendant.  Whoops no change! I kept going and hoped they would see I had a rental car and not fine me. For the record, I never received a ticket. Take note of where the closest grocery store and pharmacy are. The home owner’s house web site should have this. If not, when you get the address of the house, use Google maps to find them.

When you arrive at the home, take a few minutes and do the following: Take a walk around the house and if there is any damage, take a picture and then call the property management company. You don’t want to pay for someone else’s mistake. Take a stroll over to the pool, and if you paid for heat, make sure it feels warm. Take a drive over to the grocery store, which you research earlier right? Pick up food and a few cold ones. While you are at it, hit the pharmacy if you forgot to bring pain killers. Don’t want to make a run to the pharmacy if you have a headache.

After your vacation is over, and you are sporting the sunburn, there are a few things you have to take care of before you leave the home. Normally this involves removing the sheets from the bed, putting the used towels in the bathtub, start the dishwasher, put all trash in garbage can etc. After a few weeks you should also get the security/breakage deposit back, if you didn’t leave that spaghetti sauce on the carpet.

Renting a vacation home is a great way to spend a vacation with family and friends. If you do your homework upfront, you will most likely have a fantastic vacation with wonderful memories and dreams about next year’s trip.

About The Author: Dave Pollock and his wife Lois own a beautiful Davenport vacation home in Sandy Ridge. It’s the perfect retreat for anyone looking for an affordable vacation home with a private pool. The home is located  within a short 15 minute drive to Disney and other Orlando attractions. Consider renting the Pollock’s “Sun Retreat” next time you come to Orlando.  www.OrlandoHouse.me

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Important Things You Need To Look For Before Renting an Orlando Vacation House-Part 1

Guest Post by: Dave Pollock

Many people are turning to renting vacation homes in Orlando instead of the more traditional hotel rentals. Over the last five or six years my family has rented houses in the Orlando and Tampa, Florida area. This past spring we purchased a house in Davenport, Florida. Davenport is just outside of Orlando, 15 minutes from the theme parks.  We are currently renting this house as well as using it for our own personal vacation retreat.

Because I have been on both sides of the fence, renting a home and renting one out, I can give you several tips on renting a vacation home.

Start Your Orlando Vacation Rental Search Early

Six months or more in advance is best. This will take the stress out of renting a  home, especially if it is during the vacation season. The good homes go early, so the sooner you start the better.  The Internet is a powerful tool. Use Google to help your research. You can also search popular web sites such as VRBO
where Orlando vacation homeowners rent directly to customers or use a travel agent to help out.  If you inquire about a vacation rental home, directly to an owner, you should get a timely response, if not move on.
Do not rent an Orlando vacation home that does not have at least 8 pictures showing the exterior and interior of the home. This helps eliminate any surprises you might encounter when you arrive. Who wants to sit on a pink plaid couch or wake up to purple walls! Second to pictures, is a virtual tour which provides video of the home.  If there is no virtual tour provided, consider another home, it’s that important. Also, many home owners have a personal web site of their home which provides additional details of the home and surrounding area.  Not only is the additional information handy, it shows commitment on the owner’s part.

What You Need To Ask

How do you gain access to the home? If you arrive at midnight, do you have to go to a property management office to pick up the key? I’ve read a couple of horror stories where families have had to wait outside all night or rent a cheap motel until the next morning. At a minimum, the home should have a lock box with the key inside. You will be given the lock box code a few weeks in advance. Even better, a door lock with an electronic keypad. This allows you to punch in the code on the keypad, and presto you’re in the house. There should also be a lock box, in case the electronic keypad malfunctions.

Are you provided with a local property management phone number? Who are you going to call if the AC unit fails, the pool heater is not on, or toilet is plugged?  You should be provided with a phone number you can call 24/7. Do not call the phone number outside of normal business hours unless it is a real emergency. If you call after hours, and it’s not an emergency, it will cost you money. The pool heater can wait until the next day!

About The Author: Dave Pollock and his wife Lois own a beautiful Davenport vacation home in Sandy Ridge. It’s the perfect retreat for anyone looking for an affordable vacation home with a private pool. The home is located  within a short 15 minute drive to Disney and other Orlando attractions. Consider renting the Pollock’s “Sun Retreat” next time you come to Orlando.  www.OrlandoHouse.me

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Why Orlando is a Great Choice for Canadians to Own a Vacation Home

Guest Post by Dave Pollock, Davenport Vacation Homeowner

As a Canadian, living in Ottawa, Ontario, I can relate to many people wanting to escape to the warm climate of the southern United States. Having a young family, we were drawn to Florida because of its unique qualities: It is very easy to get there by a relatively short plane ride, or for the adventurer you can drive, and of course there is so much to see and do for all ages. We had been renting houses in the Orlando area for several years; and after a couple of years I said “Honey, we should look into buying a house in Orlando” – “Sure, dream on” my wife says with a smile.

We love Orlando; it has so much more to offer then just the well known theme parks, shopping, and restaurants. You could be in the countryside in less than 20 minutes, and on the beach in approximately 1.5 hours. It also has great neighborhoods with highway access nearby. Oh, and let’s not forget NHL hockey in Tampa, less than 1 hour away! We discussed buying a home more seriously, about a year ago, and while there on another 2 week vacation we hooked up with a Realtor from the Pink Flamingo Group, and went and looked at around 10 houses. Not only did we want to own “a piece of paradise”, in our own minds, this would also be a great location to rent out to people from all over. We had certain criteria in-mind, which the house had to meet. It had to be in a neighborhood that was under 5 years old, within 15 minutes to the theme parks, 4 bedrooms, south facing heated pool, reasonable HOA fees, and need little or no repairs. We thought it was crucial to have these qualities to help rent the house out as well as meet our own needs. We had experience with renting, so we knew what renters would want.

We finally found the perfect house in a great neighborhood named Sandy Ridge, which is in the city of Davenport. Davenport is a very attractive location for renters because of its close proximity to all that Orlando has to offer. It feels like a country retreat because of the undeveloped area and it’s just far enough away from all the hustle and bustle. Looking back…would we do it all again? Absolutely! Orlando has turned out to be a great location to own a rental home. Not only do we get to take our vacations with friends and family to our very own “Sun Retreat”, we help supplement the expenses of the home by renting it when we are not there.

About The Author: Dave Pollock and his wife Lois own a beautiful Davenport vacation home in Sandy Ridge. It’s the perfect retreat for anyone looking for an afforable vacation home with a private pool. The home is located  within a short 15 minute drive to Disney and other Orlando attractions. Consider renting the Pollock’s “Sun Retreat” next time you come to Orlando.  www.OrlandoHouse.me

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Emerald Island-DON’T EVEN GO THERE!

Every now and then I come across very funny vacation home reviews for the Disney area resort neighborhoods.  This one was by far one of the funniest I have ever read! I still love Emerald Island!!

Emerald Island: DON’T EVEN GO THERE!

From: Trip Advisor
“As this was our fourth time to florida we knew what to expect,NO NO NO BIG MISTAKE,on arriving at are home we could not get in the lady at the clubhouse said sorry cant help you,we were told to ring are travel agent in the uk,what a joke it was 11pm back home,we finally spoke to the management who told us sorry the house you booked has been sold but she did have another house for us,when we arrived at the new house what a DUMP and i mean dump the house was FILTHY, FURNITURE was well worn we payed a lot of money for the house for it to be fit for SQUATTERS.after many phone calls we were finally moved,with only 4 days left to are holiday,we WOULD NEVER EVER stay at emerald island again even if it was free,back to remmington for me and my family nxt year only come here if you like DIRTY USED HOUSES CHEAP TATTY FURNITURE OTHER PEOPLES PUBIC HAIR ON YOUR TOWELS DIRTY USED BEDDING SIX MONTHS OF DIRT IN THE POOL AREA BROKEN GAMES ROOM LEAKING ROOFS AND A POOL YOU CANT USE DUE TO FLIES, if you enjoy this type of holiday then EMERALD ISLAND IS THE PLACE FOR YOU.”

The Pink Flamingo Says: Wow! That’s a good reason not to tick off your guests! Maybe they should dump the “tatty furniture” and clean the towlels. . . gross.  This is also what happens when you hire a bad property management company!

Everything You Need To Know About Legacy Dunes Condos in Kissimmee & Why They are So Cheap!

Why are Legacy Dunes Condos in Kissimmee So Cheap?

Top 20 Most Critical and Frequently Asked Questions About Buying and Owning an Orlando Vacation Home

Reason #1: Legacy Dunes Condo Association Fees are Very High  for What You Are Getting
Now I’m not against Condo fees like some of you may think, I am all for them when they are within reason but Legacy Dunes Condos not only charge high condo association fees but they don’t even justify it by including much.  The condo fees cover the common areas, and trash removal. . . don’t all cheer at once.  The fees are different per floor plan however paying almost $200 per month for a 1/1  600 sq ft condo probably doesn’t excite many Kissimmee home buyers.

Request Legacy Dunes Condo Association Fees List

Reason #2: Legacy Dunes in Kissimmee is Not a Fannie Mae Approved Community
If you’re a cash buyer this basically means nothing to you however for those of you who will be going through the process of taking a mortgage and putting less than 20% down this property does not qualify for your loan.  So to compensate and reach the cash buyers the prices in this community have dropped drastically.  This one fact makes Legacy Dunes condos in Kissimmee a steal of a deal for cash buyers only. . . bringing me to my next point.

Orlando Fannie Mae Approved Neighborhoods

Reason #3: The Legacy Dunes Condo Association Delinquency Rate is Rumored to be at or Exceeding 15%
With over 400 unites in the complex this shouldn’t necessarily raise too many eyebrows but the reason I bring up this point is because if you are taking a non- FHA loan and even if you are putting at least 20% down the property still may not qualify for the loan.  Lenders will not lend on properties with a homeowners association delinquency rate of more than 15% so even though you qualify for the loan the property itself does not.  I have not spoke to the HOA regarding their delinquency rate however if you run the numbers in my opinion it’s safe to assume the rate has exceeded 15% or will be soon.  There are currently 77 condos listed for sale in Legacy Dunes and only 13 of them are bank owned.  The rest are all short sales which puts you at 64.  It’s safe to assume that at least those 64 people are not paying their monthly condo association dues.  When you factor that number in with how many units there are in the neighborhood the number is right around 15%.

Reason #4: 90% of the condos currently for sale in Legacy Dunes are Short Sales
This is the biggest reason why Legacy Dunes condos are so cheap.  There are currently 77 Condos for sale in Legacy Dunes, 64 of them are short sales.  Short sales are NOT real prices unless stated “bank approved” which is why all the prices look so low.  I’m not going to get into all the reasons why you should avoid short sales like the plague (that’s a whole new article) but if you want to actually close on the condo and become a homeowner in Legacy Dunes the smartest course of action to take would be to stick with the bank owned condos and those are competitive to buy. Please look for our up and coming guide on “How To Buy a Bank Owned Vacation Home Near Disney”.

Legacy Dunes Bank Owned Condo List

That being said, Legacy Dunes is not necessarily a bad option for the vacation home buyer who wants on site management (they take 40% of your booking), who can pay cash and doesn’t mind the steep HOA fees.  You can get a great bank owned deal in Legacy Dunes Condos right now however please keep in mind that the community itself is not as glamorous in reality as it is in the pictures.  If you dont mind the drab colors and not so fancy clubhouse than jump on it because there are currently bidding wars on the bank owned condos in Legacy Dunes and if you’re not ready to make a move you will miss out.  The prices have hit rock bottom in there and now is the time to get in on it.

Get Our Free Legacy Dunes Neighborhood Report Packed With Everything You Need To Know Before You Buy

Legacy Dunes HOA Contact Information
Legacy Dunes HOA Fees
Legacy Dunes Long and Short Term Rental Rates
Legacy Dunes School Zoning Information
Legacy Dunes Property Tax Information
Legacy Dunes Neighborhood Information
Legacy Dunes Property Management Contracts and Much More!

Regal Palms, Don’t Know What You Got Till It’s Gone!

I’m not one to talk about hype or anything like that but I felt compelled to write this post for those of you who may be considering purchasing a bank owned townhouse in Regal Palms but may be hesitating or waiting for prices to drop even more.  I have spent the past two weeks showing property almost everyday in Regal Palms and the past year watching the Regal Palms pricing and market, I can finally say that now is the time to buy in Regal Palms.  The bank owned properties are reaching all time lows in the 60K range.  Most of the bank owned townhouses in Regal Palms that are coming on the market are the smaller floorplans (1400 sq ft) and they aren’t flying off the shelf (but are still selling).  It’s the larger floorplans (1800-2000 sq ft) lock out units that are going under contract almost within days of being listed.

Regal Palms Townhouses in Davenport, FL

I just talked to the listing agent of one of the bank owned 2000 sq ft units in Regal Palms, I had a buyer who wanted to place an offer, and she said that before she could even get updated photos and market the listing online she has multiple offers on the property.  It pretty much flew off the Regal Palms real estate shelf in a matter of 48 hours.  The other 1800 sq ft lock out townhouse was gone within a few weeks and seemed to get multiple offers all at one time.  When it rains it pours in Regal Palms.  My advice to any buyers hesitating or waiting to put an offer in on a Regal Palms Townhouse is to strike while the iron is hot.  These townhouses are a hot ticket right now, buyers are reacting to the the all time low prices and I predict than when summer comes and the real estate market in Davenport picks up that the Regal Palms bank owned inventory will start to clear out. 

I don’t foresee prices dropping much more on the bottom end units that are alreadyi n the 60K range.   I do think that some of the townhouses priced above $150,000 will be forced to reduce their pricetag over the next six months but I would be very surprised to see the lower priced twnhouses (Under 80K) drop anymore than they already have.  It’s turning into a bidding warzone and buyers are acting.  So if you’ve considered a Regal Palms purchase you may want to take advantage of the current low prices. 

View All Regal Palms Bank Owned Townhouses For Sale

The 6 Best Reunion Resort Bank Owned Home Deals On The Market

The criteria that was used to evaluate these homes as the best bank owned deals in Reunion was price, value, square footage and condition of the home.  There are currently 24 bank owned properties in Reunion ranging in price from $129,000 up to $1,150,000 but only these six home were hand picked by the Flamingo so you can have first choice of the best bank owned Reunion Resort properties.

1. 7630 HERITAGE CROSSING WAY # 102

Price: $129,900
Type: Condo
Sq Ft: 1344
Why it’s the Best Deal: This one is simple, it’s the cheapest bank owned condo in Reunion and it’s in great condition.  The HOA fees are a bit steep at $422 per month but when you consider that the building insurance is covered in that it makes it a better value.
See Full Profile and Photos for 7630 HERITAGE CROSSING WAY # 102
Search All Reunion Condos For Sale

2. 837 ASSEMBLY CT

Price: $159,900
Type: Townhouse
Sq Ft: 1686
Why it’s the Best Deal: This townhouse is a hot price for that square footage in Reunion.  We love that it’s bank owned and the bank is ready to play ball on this one.  The interior of the Reunion townhouse is very clean but it’s mostly carpeted in the living areas which I am not a fan of.  At this price you can just rip up those ugly carpets and install tile. 
See Full Profile and Pictures for 837 ASSEMBLY CT
See All Reunion Townhouses For Sale

3. 1409 FAIRVIEW CIR

Price: $279,900
Type: Single Family House
Sq Ft: 2296
Why it’s the Best Deal: It’s the best priced bank owned pool home in Reunion and surprisingly the interior of the home is not too shabby.  It’s upgraded with tile and nicer appliances and for sitting vacant so long it’s in good shape.   We like that it has two porches and lake views and quite frankly don’t understand why anyone would pay more for a non-bank owned home like this in Reunion when you can get this baby under $280,000.
See Full Profile and Pictures for 1409 FAIRVIEW CIR
See All Reunion Single Family Homes For Sale

4. 7412 DEVEREAUX ST

Price: $364,900
Type: Single Family House
Sq Ft: 2478
Why it’s the Best Deal: This home has bedrooms and we mean bedrooms!  It has five to be exact and when considering using a Reunion Resort Home as a vacation rental you’re going to want bedrooms.  You can maximize bookings with the extra space and create more booking potential.  It also has a pool and a great floor plan making it perfect for not just bookings but a primary residence as well.
See Full Profile and Pictures for 7412 DEVEREAUX ST
See All Reunion BANK OWNED Homes For Sale

5. 115 WATSON CT

Price: $599,900
Type: Single Family House
Sq Ft: 3733
Why it’s the Best Deal: If you like large estate homes in resort communities than stop reading this right now and come check out 115 Watson. The Pink Flamingo knows luxury estate homes and we know that this Reunion Resort estate home is such a flaming hot deal that we should call the fire department (okay so that was cheesy we admit). This is one of the best price bank owned estate homes in Reunion right now and is perfect for a luxury vacation home rental or corporate home rental. 
See Full Profile and Pictures for 115 Watson Ct
See All Reunion Resort Estate Homes For Sale

6. 7401 GATHERING CT

Price: $894,900
Type: Single Family House
Sq Ft: 4742
Why it’s the Best Deal: Here it is, the mother of them all.  The largest bank owned home in Reunion.  The perfect luxury vacation home retreat and even better it’s golf front.  Pull up a chair and watch the pros play in the yearly Ginn open right from your backyard in this Reunion mini-mansion.  This home is just too beautiful to be sitting around vacant.  I do anticipate the price being a bit high however, the bank will entertain ALL offers.
See Full Profile and Pictures for 7401 Gathering Ct
See All Reunion Resort Bank Owned Estate Homes For Sale

$104,900 :: 103 ATHABASCA DR, KISSIMMEE FL, 34759

3 beds, 2.00 baths
Property Size: 1,889 sq ft
Lot Size: sq ft
Added: 01/23/09, Last Updated: 03/13/09
Property Type: Residential / All, Residential / Single Family
MLS Number: V4618562
Tract: POINCIANA SUB NBRHD 6 VIL 7
The Price of this Listing was last reduced on 3/14/2009 by 0%

Bank Owned. 100% financing may be available. Seller will assist with closing costs upto4%. This is a brand new home and has never been lived in.

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Brought to you by The Flamingo Team at Cozy Homes Real Estate. Contact us today for more information on this property.

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The Ultimate Guide To Disney Area Golf Course Communities

This Disney area golf course community list was created for my fellow Orlando golf lovers, there’s nothing like owning a vacation home and looking out onto the golf course while you sip your morning tea.  The only thing better than a gorgeous view of an Orlando golf course is to look out onto the ocean but since we are at a loss for salt water here in Central Florida the golf course is the next best thing.

Best Disney Area Golf Course Neighborhoods

Highlands Reserve in Davenport, FL

The Highlands Reserve development includes a championship 18 hole (par 72) public golf course, a large communal swimming pool, a children’s play area and tennis courts. The Highlands Reserve clubhouse features a pro-shop and serves snacks and drinks. Highlands Reserve Golf Club

All Highlands Reserve Homes are set on generous plots and are not all crammed together as is found on many other developments. Most Highlands Reserve Homes benefit from conservation or golf course views, fully taking advantage of the beautiful setting at Highlands Reserve.  Right now you can get an amazing deal on  bank owned golf front homes in Highlands Reserve starting in mid $160,000 range. The low Highlands Reserve Homeowners Association fees of $480 annually  also make it a smart Davenport vacation villa investment choice.

Highlands Reserve Golf Front Homes For Sale

Reunion Resort in Reunion, FL

Forget the water park, spa and tennis, the Reunion Resort offers not one, not two but THREE championship golf courses designed by by Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus. You can also improve your swing at the ANNIKA Academy at the Reunion Resort.  Reunion Resort Golf Club

The Reunion Resort is made up of several smaller developments within the community such as Terraces at Reunion, Villas at Reunion Square, Reunion Grande and several others.  So what does it cost to live in paradise?  The cheapest bank owned Reunion home is starting in the high $120,000 range and monthly Reunion dues can range upwards of $400 per month.  A small price to pay for this kind of luxury.

Reunion Resort Golf Community Homes For Sale

Artisan Park in Celebration, FL

Artisan Park in Celebration does not have any exclusive rights to the Celebration Golf Club but shares it with the public and many of the other Celebration neighborhoods such as North Village, Celebration Village, South Village, East Village, Lake Evalyn, Roseville Corner and Aquila Reserve. The Celebration Golf Club is a public 18-hole golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., and Robert Trent Jones, Jr., the par-72 Celebration Golf Course is 6,865 yards from the black tees and includes a 16,500-square-foot clubhouse designed by Cooper, Robertson & Partners. A three-hole youth practice course and aqua range are also open.

Artisan Park Homes For Sale

There are many bank owned home deals to be had right now in Artisan Park which is Celebrations newest community.  The exclusive community of Artisan Park has its own luxury clubhouse which members enjoy exclusively.  Some of the luxury amenities of the Artisan Park clubhouse include: 25M Lanes for fitness swimming and water Aerobics, Fully equipped fitness center, Spa and Hot Tub for relaxing socially or after a workout, Bar and Grill, Great room with fireplace and 2 large plasma TV’s, High Speed Internet Connection, 2 Billiard/Pool Tables and Private Conference rooms for meetings or for dining. Aside from this the Artisan Park club hosts community social events, classes and activities throughout the year. 

Celebration Homes for Sale

The Expense vs Income Vacation Home Chart

DISNEY AREA SHORT TERM RENTAL MATH

So, where is the profit?

The following figures assume that, doing your own bookings, you will be able to rent out the house for 35 weeks a year and the outgoings are taken from my own homeowners accounts. You will note that the expenses between the different size of homes do not vary all that much which is an important consideration with regard to the amount of mortgage a home can stand.

INVESTMENT PROPERTY ANALYSIS
	3 BED HOMES	4 BED HOMES	5 BED HOMES	6 BED HOMES
Income per week (average amount over years doing your own bookings)	$600	$700	$800	$900
Annual Gross Rental	$21000	$24500	$28000	$31500
OPERATING EXPENSES
Real Estate Taxes	$2900	$2900	$3000	$3000
Hazard Insurance	$650	$750	$800	$850
Homeowners Assn	$250	$250	$250	$250
Management Fees	$1080	$1080	$1440	$1440
Pool/Lawn/Pest Care	$1860	$1860	$1860	$1860
Utilities	$3720	$3720	$3720	$3720
Cable TV/Phone	$720	$720	$720	$720
Cleaning fees (25 per year)	$1375	$1625	$1875	$2125
Licensing Fees	$200	$200	$200	$200
Estimated Total Outgoings	$12755	$13105	$13865	$14165
Income Left after Expenses	$8245	$11395	$14135	$17335
Mortgage Payments
Based on an interest rate of 6% you will pay approx. $720 per year per $10000 borrowed, so the mortgage amount set to break even on the above figures would be approx. as follows:
	$114514	$158264	$196320	$240763
The amount of down payment is your investment that dictates the final price of the home you can afford. The important thing is to keep your mortgage payment close to the parameters above. Please remember that the rental income shown above is based on you doing your own bookings. Most management companies will not pay this amount. Some will pay a fixed rate for each week rented out, others will pay you a percentage of the income they take. When you think that the average price of a 4 bed home is ranged between $250,000 and $300,000 you will be looking at a minimum investment of $100,000. But don’t be put off if you do not want to put down so much money and don’t want to do your own bookings.

The Mandatory Tax and Legal Procedures Associated With Buying a Disney Area Vacation Home

The Federal The State of Florida The County where the Home or Unit is located. —–The County may have sublevels such as: —– City —– Subdivision or Zoning

. Federal or IRS The owner or owners need to obtain an Identification Number issued by IRS for each owner listed on the DEED of the property. If it is a corporation then a Federal Tax ID number is issued to the corporation. For individuals that are United States citizens, the social security number is what will be used both on the contract when you purchase the home or unit and for the process of licensing the home and your tax requirements. If you are not a US citizen you must obtain an Individual Tax Identification Number known as a ITIN before you can obtain a license, tax certificate or occupational license to operate your short term rental business. Ideally your ACCOUNTANT should start this process as soon as you decide to purchase a home in Florida. If you do not have an accountant that specializes in short term rentals near Disney your Realtor should be able to point you in the direction of one. For all non US citizens a W-7 needs to be filled out and then taken to the IRS office with your passport and another form of ID. The nearest office is at 850 Trafalgar Court, Suite 200, Maitland, Florida. This application process can also be done at the US Embassy in your country. Once you have selected a property management company or rental revenue source the form W-8ECI from every owner on the deed should be filled out and given to them. At year end you should each expect to receive a 1042S. All names on the deed will be expected to file a separate US tax return. When you set up your bank account a W-8BEN will be needed. Once this process has started you then proceed with the next level down. The State of Florida Dept. of Revenue also known as DOR. Fill out the Florida Dept of Revenue Sales Tax application along with $5.00 and submit your request for a STATE sales tax certificate. If you have not received your (ITIN) Individual Tax Identification Number yet, please enter ‘applied for’ and you will be given a little time to operate your business until it is issued. Once it is issued update the applications. Keep in mind that it does not matter where the sale is finally made, whether you are here in Florida or from another State or Country or half way around the World and booking and receiving rent revenue for this home, the tax must be submitted back here in Florida. The State and County’s position is that since the home is located here in Florida the money received is subject to a remittance of tax on the rental. It also does not matter whether you charged or collect a tax from the guest. You must calculate and remit a portion of the total collected for the accommodations and services to the State and County for the Sales and Resort tax. If your property management company uses an umbrella certificate for the State of Florida, please BE WISE and get your own numbers. The pitfalls of an umbrella certificate will be explained later. State level is the licensing process with the Dept of Business and Professional Regulations. The license that you will be applying for is with the Division of Hotels and Restaurants. You are in fact getting a Hotel License. The first year is $121.00 plus $50. application fee. Then it would be $121.00 for each renewal period. I do suggest that you BE WISE and get an individual license for your home/homes in your name only. The pitfalls of an collective license will be explained later. County Level Within the county your home is located in. There are subtle differences for Orange County, Polk County, Lake County and Osceola County short term rental laws. For the County of Osceola you will need an occupational license which is $30.00 per year for each home and also a Resort tax number which is $5.00 with the application and $5.00 for every change you make thereafter. I do suggest that you BE WISE and get in your name only, an individual tax number and license for your home. The pitfalls of an collective license and tax number will be explained later. City Level In this case, we will use Kissimmee within the City itself. You must obtain a license too. If you are outside the Kissimmee City limits but still in Kissimmee, there is no city license requirement for you. Subdivision Level The Disney area subdivisions have to be zoned for short term rentals or documented that short term rentals are permitted. You should register your home with your subdivision Homeowners Association and subscribe to receive the newsletter that they publish. These homes or units will now be operating as a business and you will be responsible for remitting Sales and Resort taxes on your rentals. We suggest that each home apply for and maintain their own individual numbers for the Sales Tax, Hotel License, Occupational License, and Resort Tax. This should be required for each individual home. Though some property management companys have chosen differently, try to operate your business as your business and keep control of your assets and money. There is no reason that a property management company should have control over your bank account and bills.

. Keep control over your assets and money! In today’s age of computers and high tech, your utility bills can come directly from your own bank account that you set up here in Central Florida. The set up fee or escrow deposit should go into your own bank account and every rental that the management company gives you can be deposited into that account to keep the funds flowing. Copies of these bills can be given to the management company to verify they are being paid but the management company does not have control over them. This becomes very important if you switch management companies. You will not be temporarily out of business until licenses and utilities transfer. Do it wisely from the start and you should have no down time. No lost revenues. No shut off utilities and new deposits being required. No new licenses needing to be paid for again. The reason we take this position is because although you might have selected a property management to look after this home, it is the home that is regulated and assessed. If there is a violation from any of the above agencies, the home and homeowner are effected. You as an owner are responsible for the actions of your property management company.

The Ultimate Celebration, FL Phone Numbers Bible

The Pink Flamingo has compiled a list of some of the most important phone numbers you will need when living or staying in Celebration, FL.  We hope this list of Celebration, FL phone numbers is helpful to you.  It may be a bright idea to bookmark this page or print this list out and put it somewhere safe. We also have links to help you find your perfect piece of Celebration real estate.

Celebration, Florida Homes For Sale

Celebration, Florida Condo Foreclosures

Celebration, Florida Townhouses For Sale

911 Emergency 911
CCDD (Cel Community Dev District) 407-566-1635
CDD (Complaints Field Service) 407-566-2108
CDD Severn Trent (Water) 407-566-4132
Celebration (K 8 School) 407-566-2300
Celebration Academy 407-566-2223
Celebration Aquatics 407-566-1698
Celebration Cheerleading/Baton 407-361-7656
Celebration Foundation 407-566-1234
Celebration Golf 407-566-4653
Celebration Gymnastics 407-566-0733
Celebration Health 407-764-4000
Celebration High School 321-939-6600
Celebration Little League 321-939-2582
Celebration Sanitation Services 321-939-1805
Celebration Tennis 407-808-3121
Celebration Town Hall 407-566-1200
Celebration Town Hall (After Hrs Emergency) 866-621-4337
Chamber of Commerce (Elaine Baggett) 407-847-3174×233
Children’s World 407-566-2445
Clerk of the Courts 407-343-3500
Comcast (Cable & Internet) 407-566-2100
Community Computer (Help Desk) 407-566-2428
Dish Network (Satellite TV) 800-333-3474
ECDD (Enterprise Comm Dev District) 407-566-1635
Fire Dept (Admin Office) 407-343-7000
Fire Dept (Non Emergency) 407-566-2027
Florida Highway Patrol (Non Injury Accidents) 407-737-2200
Florida Hospital (Celebration Health) 407-764-4000
Kindermusik 321-624-3715
Lynx (Bus Transportation) 407-841-5969
Mitech Systems (Security) 407-566-1411
Montessori School 407-566-1561
Orlando Sentinel (Newspaper Delivery) 407-420-5353
Parks & Recreation 407-566-1698
Poison Control 800-222-1222
Post Office (Kissimmee) 800-275-8777
Progress Energy (Electric) 407-629-1010
Property Appraiser 407-343-3700
Smart City (Phone & Internet) 407-828-6700
Stetson University 321-939-7600
Supervisor of Elections 407-343-3900
Tax Collector 407-343-4000
The Celebration Company 407-566-4020

7 Most Popular Disney Area Neighborhoods For Villa Bookings

When considering the investment of a piece of Disney area real estate to use for a vacation home or short term rental your number one consideration when buying shouldn’t be which neighborhood you think is the coziest or which house has the nicest window treatments but rather which home is going to bring me in the best return on bookings.  I’m going to profile seven of the most booked Disney area neighborhoods based on my experience working in the short term rental business.

Lake Berkley -Kissimmee, FL

If this isn’t the most booked out community in Kissimmee I don’t know what is.  The homes in this community were averaging 30-40 solid booked weeks per year.  Alot has changed in the economy over the past year however I don’t think this neighborhood will suffer as much as most of the booking in Lake Berkley are repeats visitors who love the community.  You also can get a great home for the price right now.

Lake Berkley Homes For Sale

Florida Pines- Davenport, FL

Located off the famous 27 strip in Davenport this community has that good old inland Florida feel.  As the name states it’s filled with Pine trees (though I always prefer palms) and the homes are in good shape.  It remains to be one of the more popular neighborhoods in Davenport for bookings despite the recent downfall of many of the major tour operators.  Homes are affordable which still makes Florida Pines a good short term rental investment.

Florida Pines Homes For Sale

Four Corners- Davenport, FL

A newer neighborhood with probably some of the best prices in Davenport right now.   This neighborhood has a booking track record and guests continue to come back year after year for more.  Four Corners has been having it’s share of crime due to the recent flood of foreclosures and vacant homes but that’s been common in almost every neighborhood these days.

Four Corners Homes For Sale

Calabay Parc- Davenport, FL

Calabay Parc is very popular with foreign visitors.  It’s one of the more upscale neighborhoods in Davenport and most of the homes in it would be considered an executive level with management companies.  Like Four Corners and Lake Berkley, Calabay Parc has it’s loyal guests that come back year after year.

Calabay Parc Homes For Sale

Lindfields- Kissimmee, FL

Though not the most esthetically pleasing neighborhood in my opinion, it continues to book like crazy due to it’s awesome location to Disney and it’s affordable nightly rates.  The homes are older and the neighborhood is not as impressive as some of the others but when you consider the low price you will pay for the home and the return on the bookings that neighborhood has been seeing it easily becomes a no brainer why Linfields is one of the better holiday villa investment choices.

Linfields Homes For Sale

High Grove- Clermont, FL

This is such a cool neighborhood.  It’s one of the only vacation home neighborhoods in Clermont that I am a fan of.  It has a very California feel to it when you drive through and apparently is a booking magnet.  Most of the vacation homes in there are usually booked up compared to other neighborhoods.  It’s location right off 27 and 192 is prime for everything.

High Grove Homes For Sale

Regal Palms- Davenport, FL

And the grand finale wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t mention Regal Palms.  I have this love/hate relationship with Regal Palms simply for the reason that if such a nice community with some of the best amenities in davenport but the club membership fee is so high I sometimes wonder if it’s actually worth the investment.  In any event the tourist love Regal Palms and it has almost a cult following of guests who come back every year.  This neighborhood books and if you’ve ever seen it you understand why.  Prices are low in regal Palms right now due to foreclosures so if there ever was a time to justify the amenity fee it would be now.

Regal Palms Homes For Sale

3 Communities with Some of The Highest Homeowner’s Association Fees in Davenport, FL

1. Vista Park
$602 per month.

Coming in at numero uno thanks to the mandatory rule that you have to use their property management company for short term rentals.  The HOA fee itself is not so bad at $122 per month however this particular community has a requirement that you have to use their own property management company for your bookings and management.  Their monthly property management fees are $480 per month.  It includes pool and lawn care as well as pest control however when you add that mandatory fee with the HOA you get a whopping $602 per month.  Some buyers would argue they could outsource those services for much less and others love the one stop shop effect.

Homes for sale in Vista Park

2. Bahama Bay Condos
$425 per month

Condo associations usually always have higher HOA fees for the reason that they include so much more than the typical single home community (building insurance, exterior maintenance, etc).  The fees on this community may be a bit high but I was told by the HOA that first floor condo units pay less HOA than second and third floor.  I guess it really pays to live on the first floor in this community.

Condos for sale in Bahama Bay

3. Regal Palms
$385 per month

Regal Palms, one of the most sought after resort communities in Davenport, FL that also charges one of the highest amenity fees. The Homeowner’s association dues are only $135 per month which is very reasonable however there is a mandatory club membership fees of $250 that is required if you or your guest want to use any of the club facilities including their pool and lazy river. Oh and did I forget to mention the $10 per day fee plus tax on your bookings?

Townhouses for sale in Regal Palms

All information contained is pulled directly from mid florida multiple listing service and deemed reliable but not guarunteed. Information should be verified with homeowners association before making assumptions.

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