Erica Muller

Originally Posted at: www.ThePinkFlamingo.info

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

Originally Posted at: www.thepinkflamingo.info

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

Originally Posted at: www.thepinkflamingo.info

I was recently consulting with a homebuyer who asked me a very good question that I think many people often don't consider when buying a home in the Davenport and Kissimmee areas. She asked, "What's it like living in a primarily short term rental neighborhood?". That is such a great question for so many reasons. I'm going to list some of the pros and cons that I think every home buyer needs to consider before buying their primary home in a popular vacation home rental community.

Kissimmee and Davenport Vacation Home Neighborhood Pros:

• The chances are very high that your neighbors won't be around to bug you much
• The community amenities such as the pool and tennis courts are usually kept up very nicely and often offer more amenities than non-STR communities
• The surrounding homes are usually kept up in good condition because of the management companies managing them
• Usually there are many nearby activities within short driving distance and you're close to all the attractions.

Kissimmee and Davenport Vacation Home Neighborhood Cons:

• Because your neighbors are so transient it's hard to make friends and develop any type of friendly relationship, that's especially tough for children who depend on neighborhood friends
• The neighborhood community pool is usually more crowded than at a non STR community as are the other amenities
• You will usually have alot of extra traffic coming in and out of your vacation home neighborhood like management company vans, concierge type companies, taxi's etc.
• Local grocery stores tend to get very crowded and during certain times of the year you will notice alot more traffic than the others.
• There tends to be a higher rate of crime due to many of the homes sitting vacant for so long

Though these factors listed above are important to consider it should not hold too much weight on your decision. There are many people living among communities that are shared with short term rentals and they are very happy. If you love the home and you can live with the possible downfalls of sharing it with property management companies and tourists than don't let all the nay sayers get you down. Enjoy the fact that you got a good deal and focus on the positives.

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.