Join Our Mailing List Email:

Our services are free of charge to all buyers!

We buy and sell houses too!

We offer the best in real estate services through diligent research and prompt action. Let us find you the home of your dreams or sell the one you are in.

Unlike some realtors based in the Orlando area, we show you all properties new or resale. We do not limit the number of homes we show you or only show you the ones we want you to see where builders offer high commission levels.

We have a valuable and highly experienced Broker and a strict company policy of personal service. We believe there are only a handful of companies out there who work as hard as we do for our clients. Our after-sales service is second to none.

We work for YOU. We will show you all types and prices of properties new or resale, with absolutely no bias toward any Seller, builder or area. You will benefit from having more choice. We are only interested in helping you find the most suitable property for your personal circumstances and YOU are the one to determine that. Our professional services are at no cost to the Buyer since the Seller's Listing Broker of any property shares his/her commission with us. Our extensive local knowledge and experience will save you more in the long run. We will also show you how to market your own property, which will help you maximize your rental income.

As Realtors, we have access to the same available properties as every other Realtor in the area. Its just a matter of choosing a Realtor who you feel comfortable with, you know will be honest and open with you on every level and not simply tell you what you want to hear. Many real estate agents consider their job is finished once a sale is agreed and the client has signed on the dotted line. If you are buying new from a developer it could be 4 to 7 months before the house is ready. Too often poor service and lack of information is a problem after you have agreed to buy a house. We consider our job to be finished some months after you have completed contracts, taken possession of your villa and you are entirely satisfied with your purchase. Even after this and at any time in the future we are pleased to continue to offer advice and assistance on any after sales matter. You need to be able to rely on and to have trust in the people you are dealing with and this is the most compelling reason to use us.

We buy AND sell - it's all a part of our business. Contact us today for an informal chat and some valuable information. info@florida-villas.com

Buying A New Home

Brand New: The main advantage of a new villa is the simple fact that it is brand-new. With a new house it should be handed over to you in prefect condition, as with any new property. You will have the benefit of a builder's warranty. All the appliances will also have a warranty, as will other more expensive items such as the air conditioning system and the pool heater. Many of the new communities are now including grass cutting as part of the Home Owner's Association, which means that you will always drive into a perfectly groomed community all of the time and will not have to worry about your neighbor not cutting their grass. Lastly, 4-bedroom homes have the 2 master suite option, which houses prior to 1999 do not have.

You also have the following personal choices:

• Lot location on the development

• Floor plan design

• Exterior elevation of the home (design of the face of the home)

• Carpet, cabinets, tile, vinyl, wall color, outside color, etc.

• Pool shape and deck and pool lining color

• Upgrades on any and all items

Often new houses will differ in style and layout from older houses. Like everything there is a noticeable fashion in building style in Florida and the newer properties are generally considered more desirable. You will in most cases pay slightly more for a new house than for a re-sale.

The negative side is obviously that there will be a building site around you for a while and the builders might over run on the scheduled completion date. This should always be considered in advance and we advise clients to allow an extra month to the quoted time table and be cautious in accepting bookings too close to the completion date.

New house prices Walt Disney Area

We only deal with properties within a 10-minute to 15-minute drive of Walt Disney World; therefore, all prices are related to this area. All prices quoted are approximate for guidance only and relate to developments that are licensed for short-term rental. Prices are subject to change.

The house prices listed below are prices of new developments that allow short-term renting and are zoned for short-term renting.

Basic house prices usually include a screened swimming pool, double garage, carpets, window blinds, all built-in and free standing kitchen appliances, washing machine, tumble dryer, furniture - on resales - [lamps, bed linen, towels, all kitchen ware (crockery, cutlery, pots, pans, bin, toaster, vacuum cleaner, etc), potted silk plants, pictures, T. V., landscaped garden with automatic irrigation, etc].

Most new properties are available with a furniture package already included in the price. This package should include everything necessary to move in immediately after completion (having first visited the supermarket to buy your groceries)!

The most commonly available is a larger pool and pool patio surround (referred to as the 'pool deck'). A typical standard pool is 28'x 13' and this could be upgraded to a 30'x 15' pool with or without a larger pool deck area (obviously subject to the lot dimensions). Not all developers include an electric or gas pool heater, which may be an extra cost. Alternatively you can opt for solar heating (not recommended by us). A spa (Jacuzzi) is another popular addition.

Many developers offer several different decorative treatments for the front exterior of the Villa. Together with different exterior colors and different house styles, this helps to create more variety on the development; especially if 1 or 2 house styles are more popular than the rest of the range.

The majority of developers will offer a comprehensive list of minor extras ranging from extra TV points to extra ceiling fans to an electric remote control garage door opener, etc.

Purchasing Requirements

The criteria for financing here in Florida can differ, depending on whether you are a US citizen or a foreign visitor. For US citizens considering finance the minimum deposit required is 1-% and for foreign investors it varies between 20-3-% deposit. The larger the deposit the lower the interest rate you will be able to achieve.

If you do not wish to finance in Florida and you can raise the value of the home to be purchased against the equity in your own homestead, you will be treated as a cash buyer here and in the case of new construction the builders sometimes offer a discount off the purchase price if financing is not required.

Most mortgage lenders will require the deposit to be in a Floridian bank account prior to closing together with approximately three mortgage payments in reserve in the account. Most mortgage lenders would prefer to process the monthly payment via a bank account, but coupon booklets are also available if mailing a check is your preferred method of payment.

Mortgage lenders also like to include the collection of 1/12th of the property taxes and household insurance together with the mortgage principle and interest payments. This gives them the safe guard that when the renewals fall due for the property taxes and insurance these bills are paid by them and thus ensuring that no tax liens can be placed ahead of their claim to the property, and that the house is fully insured at all times. It is also a very efficient way of budgeting for two of the largest bills that you will encounter on the home each year.

Is it time to buy your own Florida Home?

With the United States getting 58% of the vote from members of the Association of Foreign Investors in Real Estate, there has never been a better time to take the plunge and buy the investment property in the sunshine state that you have always dreamed of owning.

Orlando has more than 70,000 visitors EACH WEEK, creating plenty of opportunities to market your home to would-be renters.

Location: This, as with buying property anywhere, has got to be one of the major factors to consider when purchasing a vacation rental home in Central Florida. Homes closest to Disney (within a 15 minute drive) will rent fastest.

Homes: Of course, your budget will dictate what size of home you eventually purchase. Here, you must evaluate whether a 3 bedroom is enough for you, or a 4 or 5 even 6 bedroom would fulfill not only your requirements but those of your future guests.

Buying a home within a gated community, or on a lake, or which has on-site amenities such as tennis courts, or basketball or large pool may all play a part in your ultimate decision.

With a re-sale home, you will only have to wait a matter of weeks before closing, when you will be the new owner.

If you choose to build a new home, you will wait 8-10 months, however, you can use this time to your advantage to find a quality Property Management Company, build up marketing and even secure some bookings!

We will liaise between the builders and yourselves, sending ongoing photographs as the home is being built. We will always represent you in the best possible way, and ensure all final inspections are carried out in the proper way.

Financing: Some people buy the property in cash. Others raise funds by using equity in their UK property, becoming a cash purchaser in Florida. You should be aware of taxation advantages that may be missed by doing so in this way. For property rented out more than 14 days annually, the (IRS) deem you to have a business, deducting against income before tax is calculated. US mortgage interest is one such item and the amount of tax relief can be substantial.

If you wish to apply for a mortgage to finance the investment, then subject to qualification, it is a fairly simple process. The maximum repayment term of 30 years is available in the US to applicants of all ages, subject to proof of income where necessary.

Deposit: 20% of the purchase price is the normal minimum amount, with your having to prove your income, assets, and liabilities and overall financial circumstances must fall within predetermined guidelines. If, however, you can provide a deposit of 30% or more, acceptance is normally granted so long as your financial criteria conform to the specific guidelines i.e there is no requirement to verify income or assets - this is knows as No Income No Asset Verification. In the UK, this is called Self Certification.

We will ensure that you have a consultation with a licensed mortgage broker, who specializes in vacation rental homes.

Capital Appreciation: Predicting potential appreciation is difficult, however house prices in the Orlando area are set to grow more in value than almost anywhere else in the United States. Ten years from now a home purchased for USD $106,000 would be anticipated to cost USD $183,000 - a 72% return on an investment that should have been paying for itself and providing a fantastic place for your family vacations.

Property Management: With over 700 management companies to choose from in the greater Orlando area, choosing the right company to look after your home can be a daunting task.

Most companies no longer offer the guaranteed rentals programme, with owners now pro-active in achieving reservations for their homes, although finding a company who can assist with gaining rentals would be advisable.

Choose a company who comes recommended by other home owners, one who has experience and shows good professionalism and customer care awareness.

As part of the buying process, Florida Preferred Property Group will introduce you to at least two or three reputable companies for you to interview before choosing which one to go with.

Reservation Deposit: Usually, a reservation deposit of between USD $1000 nd USD $10,000 is sufficient to hold a home or lot for a limited time period of around 14 days, after which time additional funds are required. The amount will vary between builders but you should expect approximately half the full deposit within the first two months. The deposit is normally only refundable if you are unable to qualify for the required mortgage loan. Once the reservation is paid, in the case of a new build, there is an opportunity to discuss options such as kitchen cabinets, carpets, color schemes and any upgrades you wish to make to the home.