Erica Muller

Originally Posted at: www.thepinkflamingo.info

I like gated communities, I like them because they do a good job of keeping solicitors away and even though people can still get in, they just have the effect of making me feel safe at night. This post is The Flamingo Ode to the best Kissimmee gated communities near Disney. I hope you find it helpful in your search for an Orlando vacation home property.

BellaVida

The BellaVida resort in Kissimmee, FL is every bit as lovely as its Italian name. What it lacks in amenities it makes up for in architecture, charm and location. BellaVida vacation homes are walking distance to shops and have a unique Tuscan charm. Bella Vida is comprised of townhouses and single family villas. Many of the homes are brand new and also over priced however, there are some bank owned townhomes and villas in BellaVida that make it a worthy option for your Kissimmee vacation home purchase.

BellaVida Homes For Sale

Emerald Island Resort

If you're the kind of person who wants it all and wants it all for a good price than Emerald Island is the place for you. The Emerald Island resort features a Community Heated Pool, Fitness Center, Parks, Tiki Bar and Rec Building. The gate is manned and the entrance makes you feel like your at a world class resort, not a Kissimmee Residential Neighborhood. The community is comprised of Signle Family Homes and Townhomes ranging from $120,000 to over $500,000.

Emerald Island Homes For Sale

Encantada

Bring your tennis racquets to Encanda in Kissimmee. The Encantada community is sure to be a vacation home you'll enjoy for years to come with a guarded gate entrance, exotic community pool and clubhouse. The architecture and colors will make you feel like your in the Caribbean somewhere and the prices of these town homes will make you feel like you just walked into a Wal-Mart rollback special. Did I mention that some of the Encantada townhomes even have their own private pools with screened enclosures? Encantada has bank owned townhomes starting barely over $100,000.

Encantada Homes for Sale

Formosa Gardens

Formosa gardens in Kissimmee, FL is a community unlike the rest. These estate homes have yards and they are not packed in like sardine cans. The community is an upscale neighborhood and is reflected in the prices of the homes. Is Formosa Gardens right for you? Can you justify the price for the return on bookings? My answer to these common Formosa Gardens real estate questions is simple. . . probably not. The return you get on the bookings will be a bit higher than many of the other short term rental communities however, it's not going to be anywhere close to where it needs to be to justify the price. In my honest opinion, Formosa Gardens is perfect for the homeowner who wants to live there full time or the high end corporation who rents only estate style homes to celebrities and luxury travelers. Formosa Gardens is not a smart investment for the average vacation home buyer who wants a good deal for a good price.

Formosa Gardens Homes For Sale

Legacy Dunes Condos

If your looking for Kissimmee condos under $50,000 you've come to the right place. Legacy Dunes Condos in Kissimmee are not only the best value but the quality and amenities you get for the price of these condos will blow you away. The Legacy Dunes Community features: Two Pools, Clubhouse, Fitness Center, Business Center, Game Room, Tiki Bar, Tots Playground, Barbeque Area, Gazebo, Tennis Courts, Basketball Courts, Golf Driving Practice Net, Lakes & Conservation Areas, Covered Parking Garages, Two Car Washing Facilities and Two Laundry Facilities. Did I mention the condos are starting at $24,000? Why buy a new car when you can invest in one of these Kissimmee vacation home bad boys!

Legacy Dunes Condos For Sale

Paradise Palms Resort

If you like Encantada than you will LOVE the Paradise Palms Resort in Kissimmee. Though not for the budget conscious it's definitely a real estate investment that you won't regret making in the years ahead. The community is comprised of all townhouses but they are more like attached single family homes as the size of them is larger than many of the detached pool villas in Kissimmee and Davenport. The townhomes have their own private pools and the community amenity list rivals that of Regal Palms and Reunion. My favorite thing about Paradise Palms is their tot lot splash park. I love the fact that the children are not forgotten in this community and did I mention the gorgeous interiors and furniture packages? Somebody stop me before I go buy one. . .

Paradise Palms Townhouses For Sale

Sunset Lakes

I can't believe I am actually going to say this but here it goes, "Location, Location, Location!" It's true about Sunset Lakes in Kissimmee, FL. This single family home gated community is so centrally located to Disney it should be a part of the resort! Aside from it's perfect location it makes my list for the reason that it's tried and true. Sunset Lakes Homes have been going strong with bookings for over 10 years now. They are a solid investment for the short term vacation home buyer and the price range is reasonable. There are bank owned properties for sale in Sunset Lakes right now so you can pick up a deal. You can also pick up homes in Sunset Lakes that have transferrable bookings for 2009.

Sunset Lakes Homes For Sale

Windsor Hills

Whether you are looking for a condo, townhouse or single family home Windsor Hills in Kissimmee has it. This lovely gated community is only 2 miles to Disney, so technically you could ride your bike there to avoid parking fees (that was a joke but I am sure there are people who will do it). Windsor Hills is considered the Buckingham Palace of Kissimmee. The homes are absolutely gorgeous, spacious and grand and you will get what you pay for. Speaking of what you pay for, prices for Windsor Hills Pool Villas start in the low 300's. That's a small price to pay for a Windsor Hills address.

Windsor Hills Homes For Sale

Windsor Palms (formerly Wyndham Palms)

Think of Windsor Palms in Kissimmee as the competitive big sister to Windsor Hills. Located just on the opposite end of 429 Windsor Palms is much smaller than Windsor Hills but is very comparable in every way. Windsor Palms offers Condos, Townhouses and Single Family Homes and the villa layouts are perfect for short term rental use. Many have double master suites and some of the larger houses go up to 6 bedrooms for maximum booking potential.

Winsdsor Palms Homes For Sale

Purchasing a new built home from a builder can seem like an easy task for a buyer who lives 10 minutes up the street and can monitor the process however if you live out of state or in another country the new construction avenue can be a complicated process if you don't have someone looking out for you and your home here in the area.

Read Also: Top 5 Best New Home Disney Area Resort Communities

Disney Area Builder's Sale People Are Not Working For You!

This is the number one rule that buyers always seem to get confused about. You walk into a new home sales office and are greeted by some friendly faces. You browse the models and then talk with the builders sale rep for a while about the community. You establish a rapport with this sale person and you now feel like you know, like and trust him/her. This may very well be the case but this sales rep works for the builder just like a seller's agent works for the seller of a house. If you want your best interest represented and you want someone looking our for YOU not the person who gives them their weekly paycheck than you must seek the professional assistance of a local Realtor who knows the area. This service is usually always free to you (the builder pays your Realtor) and the Realtor has a fiduciary duty to you not the builder.

Read Also: Why Builder's Sales People Are Not Looking Out For Your Best Interest

Disney Area Realtors Will Be Your Eyes and Ears While You're Away

Most any Realtor that you choose to represent you in your new home purchase will be more than glad to become your eyes and ears while you're not around. A good Realtor will drive by your property while under construction at least one to two times per week, take pictures, check on the property and report back to you with this information. Often times the builders sales reps are just too busy selling more homes and peddling paperwork to take this type of time out of their day for you. Without pictures of the progress on your home you really have no way of knowing

how far along the home is in completion,
if everything is being installed correctly,
if the upgrades you ordered actually end up in the house

and the list can goes on.

Read Also: Coolest Things That Your Disney Area Real Estate Buyer's Agent Can Do For You

Important Walk Thrus and Check Ups You May Not Be Able To Make
One of the most important jobs your Realtor can perform for you is the final walk thru. This is when the home is completed and you are required to walk thru and inspect the property, sign off that everything is or isn't okay and order any last minutes fixes or repairs. If you don't have anyone you trust to do this for you and you can't do it your self you may end up in the position of having your home sit past the closing date and incurring additional fees for holding up the closing until you can get down here to inspect it. Realtors are virtually the only professionals that are willing to do this for you without charging you a fee (the builder pays their commission). Home inspectors will charge you upwards of $300 to preform this action. I can't tell you how many time I have done walk thrus for my clients that lived out of state or country because they couldn't get a flight out or they just couldn't make it at that time. Had they not appointed me as their Realtor it would have cost them thousands in the end.

IMPORTANT!!!
In closing I want to add that if you are considering a Disney area new home purchase and you want to be represented for free by a Realtor that you should always consult the Realtor of your choice before you visit the property. many builders will not compensate your Realtor and allow them to represent you if they are not the first person to escort you or register you for that community.

Content From: www.ThePinkFlamingo.info

According to NAR Vacation Home Buyer Statistics, many of you wonderful Disney area real estate buyers are from the UK. Because Real Estate in Orlando in very different than in the UK I've decided to post this UK to US Real Estate glossary for all of you out there reading from afar. I hope this helps with your Disney area real estate purchase!

Agreement in Principal (known in the United States as Appraisal)
An assessment made by British Mortgages Abroad of an applicant's ability to pay for a home and confirmation of the amount the applicant may borrow.

All Inclusive coverage (known in the United States as Homeowner's Insurance)
Insurance coverage protects your property and any structure attached to it, like the garage or screened porch. Any materials on your property that are being used to extend or repair the fabric of the building, such as timber or bricks being used for an improvement, would also be covered.

Application (same)
A form commonly referred to as a 1003 form, used to apply for a mortgage and to provide information regarding a prospective mortgagor and the proposed security.

Application Fee (known in the United States as Origination Fee)
A fee charged by the lender to cover the administrative costs of setting up a mortgage. This will include the preparation of documents and certain processing expenses in connection with completing a mortgage account.

Building Insurance (known in the United States as Hazard Insurance)
Insurance protecting against loss to property caused by fire, some natural causes, vandalism, etc., depending upon the terms of the policy.

Completion (known in the United States as Closing)
In property transactions, the delivery of a deed, the payment of the purchase price, the signing of notes, and the paying of closing costs, which completes the transaction.

Completion Date (known in the United States as Origination Date)
The date on which the loan is funded.

Counterpart Contracts (known in the United States as Agreement of Sale)
A written document in which a purchaser agrees to buy properties, which the vendor agrees to sell, under certain agreed conditions. Also known as a "Sales Contract".

Credit Report (same)
A report on an individuals historic willingness and capacity to make payments in accordance with their loan agreements in the past. This report is provided to British Mortgages Abroad by an outside credit-referencing agency.

Decision in Principal (known in the United States as Pre-Approval)
A process in which British Mortgages Abroad will offer a decision in principal. This opinion is based entirely on the credit search history available to British Mortgages Abroad. The pre-approval is not binding and not necessarily accurate because British Mortgages Abroad will not have yet verified the application details.

Deposit (known in the United States as Down Payment)
The agreed percentage of the purchase price the buyer pays, in cash, at the time the property transaction closes ("completes").

Direct Debit (same)
A method to set up a regular payment to be automatically paid from a bank account.

Disbursements (known in the United States as Closing Costs)
The various expenses involved in closing a property transaction that are in addition to the purchase price. Closing costs will include title insurance fees and other relevant charges such as a Credit Report fee.

Equity Release (known in the United States as Cash-Out Refinance)
A refinance transaction in which the amount of money received from the new loan exceeds the total of the money needed to repay the existing first mortgage, closing costs and the amount required to redeem other mortgages against the property. In short, a refinance transaction in which the borrower receives additional cash that can be used for any acceptable purpose.

Estate Agent/Property Developer (known in the United States as Realtor)
A real estate broker or an associate holding active membership in a real estate board affiliated with the National Association of Realtors. Unlike estate agents Realtors in the United States must be licensed by the state in which they are selling property and must follow up with continuing education every 2-4 years.
Flat (known in the United States as Condominium)
A structure of two or more housing units. Only interior area of a particular unit is individually owned. All the owners of the individual units jointly own the remainder of the property (land, building and other amenities).

Flood Insurance (same)
A form of insurance designed to protect property owners from loss due to the defined peril of flood. It is required for properties located in federally designated flood areas.

Insurance Schedule (known in the United States as Homeowner's Insurance Declaration/Insurance Schedule)
A document accompanying a homeowner's insurance policy whose purpose is to verify that the property quoted in insured.

Interest (same)
Money paid to the lender for the use of borrowed funds, usually expressed as an annual percentage.

Loan Term (known in the United States as Maturity)
The term of the loan, or the number of years for which the loan funds are advanced.

Loan To Value (LTV)
The percentage size of the loan in relation to the value of the property.

Mortgage Conditions (known in the United States as Loan Terms)
Necessary conditions of a loan which specify the amount borrowed, interest rate, maturity, method of repayment, etc.

Mortgage Payment (same)
The regular monthly payment that a borrower agrees to British Mortgages Abroad.

Offer of Advance (known in the United States as Commitment Letter)
A formal offer by the lender which states the terms under which it has been agreed to lend money. Also known as a "loan commitment." This letter will indicate the conditions that must be satisfied before release of funds.

Open Market Value (known in the United States as Fair Market Value/Market Value)
A figure that is the highest amount a purchaser would agree to pay for a property and the lowest amount the vendor would be prepared to sell at.

Pre-Contractual Stipulation (known in the United States as Contingency)
A clause or condition within a contract stating what the buyer or seller must satisfy before the purchase can be completed.

Prepayments (known in the United States as Prepaids)
Those expenses of property which are paid in advance of their due date and will usually be pro-rated upon sale, such as taxes, insurance, rent, etc.

Procuration Fee (known in the United States as Commission)
An agent's fee for negotiating a real estate or loan transaction, often expressed as a percentage of the purchase price or the loan amount.

Promissory Note (same)
Your loan agreement with the lender detailing all the rights, obligations and conditions of the loan.

Purchase Contract (known in the United States as Sales Contract)
A written agreement between the vendor and purchaser stating the conditions that need satisfying for the sale to complete. Also known as an "Agreement of Sale."

Redemption (known in the United States as Payoff)
Complete repayment/settlement of the principal balance along with interest and any other amounts due. The payoff of an account occurs either over the full term of the mortgage, through monthly repayments, or through early redemption.

Redemption Penalty (known in the United States as Prepayment Penalty)
A charge a borrower pays to redeem or part redeem a loan before it is due.

Redemption Penalty Clause (known in the United States as Prepayment Clause)
A clause that confirms the amount of the principal balance of an account the borrower may pay earlier than expected with or without penalty. The terms acceptable to British Mortgages Abroad vary acconding to the product selected.

Remortgaging (known in the United States as Refinancing)
Taking out a new loan to pay off an existing mortgage. This is usually done to obtain a lower interest rate or to borrow further funds against the equity in a property that may have built up since the original purchase.

Rental Property (known in the United States as Income Property)
Properties owned with intention of producing an income. Also referred to as "non-owner occupied property" or "rental property."

Repossession (known in the United States as Foreclosure)
Legal Process by which a borrower in default under the terms of a mortgages ceases to have an interest in the mortgaged property. This usually involves a forced sale of the property at public auction with the proceeds of the sale being used to reduce or clear the mortgage debt.

Security (known in the United States as Collateral)
Any property given as security for repayment of a debt.

Self Declaration (known in the United States as Low-Documentation)
Below a stated LTV, British Mortgages Abroad only require the applicant to state the source and the affordability of the mortgage applied for, without providing supported documentation payslips or trading accounts.

Settlement Statement (known in the United States as Closing Statement)
Can be known as the "HUD-1". The final statement of costs to be paid to close a loan or to purchase property.

Survey (same)
A map executed by a licensed surveyor, which sets down precisely the boundaries of a given property as well as improvements, references to known landmarks, and the property's principal features.

Title Company (same)
A company that checks the title of the property you want to buy. If they are satisfied with their enquiries they will provide you and the lender with the reassurance of insurance cover to protect your future interests (see below for definition of Title Insurance).

Title Deeds (known in the United States as Certificate of Title)
A written document stating that the title to a piece of property is legally vested in the present owner.

Title Insurance (same)
The insurance that protects British Mortgages Abroad, along with the homeowner, if an owner's policy is purchased against losses resulting from problems with the title of the property, or unknown liens (charges) or other inconsistencies relating to the title of the property.

Title Search (same)
An examination of public records, laws and court decisions to identify any material facts regarding liens (charges) along with ownership of any given property.

Total Charge for Credit (known in the United States as Finance Charge)
Charges levied by British Mortgages Abroad that include all of the interest due over the life of the loan, in addition to certain other charges related to a loan.

Truth-in-Lending Act (TILA)
A law applicable in the United States requiring disclosure of the credit terms of finance transactions using a recognised format. This is intended to help borrowers compare the lending costs, terms and conditions of different lenders. Also known as "Regulation Z."

Underwriting (known in the United States as Loan Processing)
Steps taken by British Mortgages Abroad from the time a loan application is approved or declined. This process includes receiving the application, credit searches (investigation) and the overall underwriting assessment of the application.

Unencumbered (same and also known in the United States as Clear Title)
Title not burdened by mortgages, charges (liens) or legal questions.

Valuation (known in the United States as Appraisal)
An estimate of the market value of a piece of real estate made by a competent professional (the appraiser) who knows local property and prices.

Villa Management (known in the United States as Property Management)

Originally Posted at: www.thepinkflamingo.info

I often get asked the same questions by vacation home buyers and one of the most common of them is "What is Short Term Rental Investment Property near Disney?" I'm going to explain this concept to you as simply as possible.

Short Term Rental Investment Property is the term for a unique concept that only works in specific locations when all the right conditions exist. One of the critical factors that is necessary for this program to work is zoning regulations. Residential real estate property rentals in most areas require a Long Term Lease ( 7 months or longer), but because of special zoning regulations in the Disney area, three of the surrounding counties have approved certain communities to be zoned Short Term, which is 1 day or more. Another key element that is needed to make this program so successful is renters seeking a short term villa. Orlando just so happens to have tourists in droves just waiting to rent out vacation homes near Disney World. So you see Kissimmee, Clermont and Davenport all have the perfect formula to provide you with short term rental investments near Disney.

With all the negative press surrounding Orlando lately it's such a breath of fresh air to see Orlando recognized for many of its positive attributes. According to Forbes Orlando was recently ranked #4 in the Most Popular Cities category and if you've ever lived or vacationed here you can probably understand why. Here are some of my own personal reasons:

1. I was hanging at the beach all day with my daughter this past Sunday while the rest of America froze their pickled petunias off.

2. When I'm bored I pack a lunch and go hang out at Sea World, Universal or Disney with my daughter.

3. I get to watch the space shuttle launch live and if I don't feel like driving the 40 minutes I get out my telescope and watch it in HD from my patio.

4. Watching the Disney fireworks has become a regular part of my child's bedtime routine.

5. I own one jacket and it's mostly for decoration.

6. My shoe rack consists of almost all flip flops and one pair of sneakers

7. My daughter's shoe rack consists of 10 different pairs of Crocs and one pair of sneakers.

8. Palm trees are not just a tree they are a way of life.

9. Instead of taking marine biology class in high school students are now able to take the class at Sea World.

10. My neighbor had to beat an alligator with a broom to get it out of his garage. It was very funny, not the gator part but the broom part. I laughed.

11. Growing up in South Florida my weekends were usually always spent at one of the local beaches. When it's cloudy you get mad at the weather and don't leave home.

12. You learn to handle road rage and accept all types of drivers at a young age. It's a very enlightening experience.

What are some of your top reasons for loving life in Orlando, FL??

Photo from http://www.bu.edu/sjmag/storypages/rage1.htm