making your florida dream home a reality without hassle ... guide and brochure.pdfmaking your...

Making Your Florida Dream Home A Reality... Without Hassle,

Headaches or Nasty Surprises Dear Future Florida Home Owner, If you’re like the Orlando property investors we serve then you already know you love the thought of holidaying in Florida and now it’s time to figure out how to make your dream home a reality. You understand that buying in Florida offers you a chance to live the Sunshine State lifestyle and make a great investment at the same time. This is an investment like no other you’ve made before. Whether you plan to rent out your property a little or a lot, this investment will be a home you’ll love. Many of our clients say, “We love our Florida house so much. It’s better than our home in the UK!” Not surprising given the weather, the pools and the luxury developments in and around Orlando. Buying in Florida really can make your dream a reality but it would be remiss of me not to let you know that things can and do go wrong so it’s vital that you’re informed. There are lots of moving parts to keep track of. You’ll need to arrange visits to Orlando to view the properties, register with the U.S. Government to apply for tax numbers, open a U.S. bank account, and negotiate the minefield of getting the best deal for transferring your money into dollars. And once you’ve bought your home you’ll need to furnish it to appeal to a wide rental market. You’ll have to figure out what needs to be included, what regulations have to be adhered to, what level of insurance will be required – the list can seem endless. The difference between the Florida dream home that pays for itself through consistent and healthy rental income and a Florida disaster comes down to experience. As Florida homeowners ourselves, we’ve found that local knowledge on both sides of the Atlantic is a must for a successful investment. Who you have on your side helping you through the process of not just buying but also renting and maintaining your home is the most important decision you’ll make.

Finding You The Right Home, At The Right Price, In The Right

Development For 12 years we have been showing smart property buyers the best rental homes to purchase. We help you determine if this is the right investment for you and provide you with the information you need for the buying process. With offices in Orlando and the UK we are on hand to provide you with answers to all your questions before, during and after you buy. Our expertise in the Holiday Home Market puts us in a unique position to offer advice about which homes and developments will achieve the highest rental returns. In fact our Rental/Management arms have been awarded Trip Advisor’s highly prestigious Top Vacation Rental Manager Orlando Award 2012 and the Gold Top Vacation Rental 2013 Award, which positions us among a select few to be recognized in this way. Enclosed in this pack is a buying information guide and a brochure featuring some of Orlando’s latest developments that will give you an idea of where the market is at. The great news for you as a current buyer is that homes are available today for prices they were selling at 10 - 12 years ago and the market is moving forward at a steady rate. If you’re ready to take the next step towards your Florida dream then call me or Paul today and we’ll show you homes that fit your criteria and are selling well below the peak prices of 2008. Don’t delay, pick up the phone and call me or Paul on 0845 260 2144 or email [email protected] We pride ourselves on offering the help we so desperately needed when we were buying our first home in Orlando almost 15 years ago. To your Florida dream, Pauline Thomas & Paul Melvin Directors We’re Here To Answer Your Questions - Contact Us Today For A No Obligation Chat Tel: 0845 260 2144 Email: [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Your Step by Step Guide to Buying a Home in Orlando

Everything you need to know when buying a holiday home in Orlando, Florida – the rental investment capital of the world

Choice Overseas Homes

Tel: +44 (0) 845 260 2144 [email protected]

All Homes Powered By

“Learn How Easyit Really is to OwnYour Own OrlandoHoliday Home.”John Barnes MBETV Personality andformer England Footballer

Orlando Holiday Rental Homes LLCOrlando Holiday Management LLC

Andy and Lisa’s Story

Andy Collier and Lisa Kershaw from Bolton wanted a relaxing holiday home to share with their family. They were very clear that they wanted the home to work as a solid investment. After Deciding on Florida they contacted us in late 2010. Here’s what they have to say about their experience with us:

“Over the last 10 years we have built a small rental property portfolio in the UK. This business has been steady but involves a lot of our time dealing with maintenance, rent collection and tenant problems with not massive returns. In late 2010 we were looking for our next property and came across the Choice Overseas Website offering subsidised inspection visits to Orlando. We had holidayed in Orlando for the previous few years staying in Hotels and enjoyed it so much we were interested in going there more often.

I therefore, contacted Paul Melvin and had long telephone conversation with him about how things worked in Florida and what sort of rentals we could expect. - Paul gave me a lot of confidence being an owner himself and he provided excellent advice about the whole process of buying which gave Lisa and I the confidence to book an inspection trip with Paul and Pauline in Feb 2011. Prior to our departure Paul put us in contact with a US mortgage broker and bank manager.

During the trip we spent a few days looking at a mixture of new build and resale villas and eventually settled on a 6 bed home at

Calabria. The realtor then took us to Catalina furniture who designed the impressive interior furnishings at

the Villa we were staying at. Here we spent time with the interior designer who

took on board the sorts of themes Lisa had in mind.

When we got home we proceeded with the mortgage application via email with the help of the US mortgage advisor. We filled in all of the forms, sent the scanned documents over and by March 2011 we were ready to close. The villa was finished by late May and we took our first holiday there in June 2011 - the family loved it and it was beyond all expectations.

After our stay we put the villa in the hands of Orlando Holiday Management which is also Paul and Jill Melvin’s company. Although they live in the UK they employ US based staff on the ground in Orlando to look after all of the homes they manage. The fact they are based in the UK works really well for us as we only have to deal with them with any queries as opposed to contacting the team in Orlando.

They have an online property management system called Cirrus where all the bookings and rates are visible to ourselves 24/7.

Since 2011 we have achieved an average of 38 weeks’ worth of bookings each year including our own stays. We also market the villa and get some direct bookings but 90% of our rentals come from Paul and Jill who have a great knack of filling small holes in the calendar at the last minute.

We now have a lovely family home which is managed well, kept clean and looked after by Paul and Jill and their team - we enjoy our own holidays whenever we want and with the rental income the mortgage and bills are almost self-financing.

This is a much better investment than UK rental properties and we can enjoy it ourselves.”

Andy Collier and Lisa Kershaw


Specialists in the Sales, Management and Rental of Holiday Homes in the Walt Disney World Catchment Area, Orlando, Florida

7 Things you Need to Know Before Buying in Florida

Florida Property Corner, 1 Childwall Priory Road, Childwall Fiveways, Liverpool L16 7PA

Tel: +44 (0) 845 260 2144 • www.choiceoverseas.co.uk

Buying a home in Florida is a big deal - there is no getting away from that. It’s possibly the largest single purchase you will ever make so it’s important you get it right for you and your family.

There are so many things you need to consider before you buy to avoid the mistakes and potential issues that can arise when owning a home in Florida. Without stating the obvious...YOU WANT TO ENJOY THIS EXPERIENCE!

There are lots of things you need to know and we will go into these later but the 7 points below are the main things you should be considering before you even start this journey.

1 SELECTING THE BEST LOCATIONIf you want to rent the home out to cover the costs associated with owning a home then location is obviously a huge factor here. To begin with the development must be zoned for short term rentals and not all of them are. We have had so many people approach us over the years at trade shows or via email with a shortlist of homes they like the look of.

“What do you think of this home Paul?”“Will this rent out for 45 weeks each year Pauline?”

Unfortunately they have done no real research and simply like the look of the home they have found on one of the hundreds of websites out there featuring Florida properties. This leads us onto...

2 RESEARCH BEFORE YOU BUYAnother common mistake is they don’t do any research at all. Would you buy an investment home in the UK or Ireland in a town or city that you are not familiar with without speaking to somebody who does know the area? It would seem crazy not to speak to a local letting agent about rates generated and which areas rent better than others?

Don’t listen to a realtor who has no real understanding of the short term rental market and is only interested in making a sale.

Whoever you choose to work with must understand the local property market and more importantly they must understand the short term rental market.

3 PRICE PER SQ. FT.A lot of people in the Florida real estate industry will talk in priceper sq. ft. and while the size of the home is important don’t getsucked into this mentality. The biggest home is not necessarilythe best and the fact you are paying less per sq. ft. for Home A than Home B should only be one of the factors to consider.

4 IT MUST APPEAL TO THE RENTAL MARKETAgain this may seem an obvious statement but ask yourself is this the type of property I would be looking to rent myself. Would the family enjoy staying here?

The home must not only appeal to you but also to the wider rental market. If you take a short cut with a cheap resale

which needs money spending on it but then choose not to invest in the home it will significantly reduce your rental income. If you want a good return the home needs to have attractive modern furniture, flat screen TVs, modern kitchens and bathrooms. Converting the garage to a games room and a nice aspect from the pool deck are also things that make the home more attractive to potential renters.

5 FLORIDA HOMES ARE NOT CHEAP TO RUNRemember you are buying a home in a tropical climate, possibly with a swimming pool and AC equipment. You will also need regular lawn care and pest control. These are not the type of properties that suit being left empty and all of these costs add up. If you are wealthy enough that these expenses don’t matter then great, but to the majority of buyers these are significant bills which is why it’s important you choose the right home to cover these costs.

6 YOU CAN’T JUST LIVE IN FLORIDA We kill so many people’s dreams with this one! You need a green card or a visa to live in Florida whether you intend to work there or not. A lot of people have the idea that if they are not looking to work they can stay as long as they want – well you can’t, you are limited to 6 months each year. 7 POOL HOME, TOWNHOME OR CONDO?Generally a detached home with its own pool will generate a higher rental rate and also a higher number of weeks occupancy over the year than a townhome or condo. There are some exceptions to this rule and some of the larger brand new condos and townhomes in the resort communities with on-site facilities are renting extremely well but in the 17 years we have worked in this market the newer detached villa with its own pool will generally produce higher returns.

You would have to say the detached pool home appears to be a better investment as generally they are higher priced properties so not only do they generate higher returns but their value will also increase at a higher percentage rate as the property’s value rises over time.

In summary you can spend $100k buying an older condo outright or use the $100k as a deposit to buy a larger townhome or detached villa on a resort community and use the extra rental income to cover the mortgage payments.

This is not rocket science and is true in any property market, if a $300k home increases by 20% over a certain period you will generate $60k in equity as opposed to $20k equity in a $100k home.

Over the next few pages you will find further information on The Buying Process, How To Find the Right Home, How The Rental Management Program Works and many things you need to consider which you may not have though off yet.

Enjoy the read.


How to Find the Right Home

When you’re buying a home in another part of the world, the first step to finding the right property is finding the right people to help you. No one does this alone and having a good company to work with is a MUST if you are serious about making your Florida home a success. The people you work with have to understand any concerns you may have about investing in a property thousands of miles away.

Companies stating “We Provide Good Service” or “We are Number 1 in the Industry” without backing these claims up with either evidence of the awards they have achieved or testimonials from previous buyers should be avoided at all costs. Providing good service should be the minimum requirement for any company, especially for a business where the on-going income which finances your home is provided from the Travel Industry.

When you are looking to buy any property abroad it’s extremely important the people you are taking advice from have either bought themselves or have many years’ experience within the industry.

This is a rule you should apply in any property market and not just Florida.

The company you choose must also understand that the majority of buyers require rental income to pay the bills associated with owning a Florida home. Any company who doesn’t address these points has no credibility whatsoever.

HOW YOU BENEFIT FROM OUR EXPERIENCETo explain how we can help you it’s important you understand our background. It’s essential you realise how we are qualified to offer the advice you need to make this WORK FOR YOU. Choice Overseas Homes is a family business developed over the last 17 years following the purchase of our own Orlando Rental Home back in 2001. This investment brought us to where we are today as owners of 3 companies which specialise in finding buyers the right home, renting their home and managing the home to the required standard so that guests choose to return year after year.

HOW WE FIND YOU THE RIGHT HOMEWe offer 17 years of experience in this complex industry to help people like you purchase a home, confident in the knowledge that you will have access to the best homes in the most desirable locations within Orlando today. In Short we know what will work for you and what won’t.

Whilst finding you the right home is the primary objective this is only the beginning of our relationship. It’s the subsequent rental and management of your home that is just as, if not more important than finding the right home. You are not just looking for a company to sell you a home, they must also be able to rent and manage your home for you.

This is why it’s so important that the company you deal with have a long term vested interest in finding you the right home.

WE HAVE

BEEN

OWNERS

SINCE

2001


41 weeks occupancy in 2017

Specialists in the Sales, Management and Rental of Holiday Homes in the Walt Disney World Catchment Area, Orlando, Florida

How to Find the Right Home How Everything is Made Easy for You

Orlando Holiday Rental Homes is the rental arm within our group of companies and boasts rental contracts with many of the world’s leading tour operators.

We only select homes which fit the requirementsof these companies’ guests and we will not recommend anything that doesn’t.

The awards logos featured throughout this guide have been achieved by the rental management company over the last few years. These prestigious industry prizes include “Top Rental Manager 2012” from Trip Advisor which was followed up with a Gold Top Vacation Rental for Orlando in 2013. In 2016 we received Trip Advisors Highly Rated award and in 2017 we received their Certificate of Excellence.

These awards are only given to companies with the most 4 and 5 star reviews and with Orlando being the number 1 holiday destination in the world THE COMPETITION IS FIERCE.

Don’t just take our word, visit our rental website and view the live availability calendars which will confirm the occupancy rates of our owners’ homes. You can also view the rental reviews from previous guests who have stayed in the homes to confirm what we are stating here.When you purchase your home through us you join our rental management programme for FREE - this is normally $3,000 to clients who have not bought through us.

HOW EVERYTHING IS MADE EASY FOR YOUThere are so many things to organise when buying a home overseas and you may have considered a number of these, but maybe not everything.

THE OBVIOUS QUESTIONS ARE:Can you help with mortgages?

Do we need a bank account?

Who will clean the home?

How do we get rentals?

Who services the pool?

Do we need a lawyer? “But there are so many more things to consider when buying a home in Florida.” Our friendly team are here to guide you every step of the way and either arrange, assist or advise on everything you will require before

your visit, during the purchase, throughout the build, at closing and after completion.

There will be certain things you need to have an input in such as opening a bank account and filling in a mortgage application (if required) but we are here to help.


How do we make all this easy?

4 Inspection Visits

4 Access to Mortgages

4 US Bank Account

4 Currency Exchange

4 Furniture Packages

4 Interior Designers

4 Connecting Utility’s

4 Applying for All Licences

4 Adhere to Rules and Regulations

4 Tax Numbers

4 Photography and Video

4 Marketing



What do You Want from Your Florida Home?

You are now at the point where you understand what you will require to find the right property and to complete a successful purchase; it’s probably a good time to think what you actually want from your Florida home.

Is it 100% a financial investment or is this a purchase to add to your lifestyle?

Homes are attractively priced, what you get for your money and the year round rental return in Florida will outweigh nearly every comparable market in the world. This is easy for everybody to see.

Owning in the Sunshine State will likely increase your standard of living, it certainly increased ours. Apart from the obvious attractions to owning a home in Orlando we regularly fly via any number of US cities and have enjoyed stays in Washington, New York and Las Vegas over the years. The cruises we have experienced from Port Canaveral to the Bahamas and the Caribbean have created lifelong memories. Other owners have added Skiing Holidays via Colorado, Marlin Fishing Trips out of Clearwater and even visits to the

US Masters in Augusta which is only a 6 hour drive from Orlando.

What I am trying to do here is make you stop and think what you actually want from the home. Previous experience tells us the majority of buyers want a financial investment but the lifestyle benefits that come with owning in Florida also appeal.

Wherever you fall in this spectrum, nearly everybody requires a certain amount of rental income to make the home pay its way or at least provide enough income to cover basic running costs. Some require more rental than others as they view it more of an investment but buyers can generally be split into 4 groups.

“It is important you consider which group you fall into as it can affect what you choose to buy.”

Please note these groups are not definitive and you may fall between 2 of them. You may even change what you want from the home over time but it is wise to understand what you want from the home before buying.

IT’S

IMPORTANT

TO DECIDE

WHAT YOU

WANT BEFORE

YOU BUY

The 4 Most Common Groups FIRST GROUPThese are the buyers who are happy to purchase a resale Pool Home for around $250k which probably needs attention to bring it up to the standard we would expect to achieve a good rental return.

They are likely buying outright or with very little finance, if any at all. They will spend extended periods in the home, possibly staying for a few weeks here and there and leaving the rest of the calendar free to generate income throughout the year.

This type of buyer is not necessarily concerned about being in the prime locations and will generally choose the house as opposed to the development. They are likely to achieve between 25 and 30 weeks rental income and are happy that they use the home a lot themselves should they wish.

SECOND GROUPThe 2nd group has a very similar budget to the first group but require as much income from the home as possible. They are normally borrowing a significant amount of the purchase price and are likely to need 30 plus week’s rental to make the home pay its way. This is very achievable and still leaves plenty of time for the owner to use the home themselves. I would recommend that if you fall into this group then you need to think about doing some of the rentals yourself.

A good company will still do the majority of your rentals but with a small amount of private advertising you can supplement the homes annual income with only a handful of bookings each year.

44 weeks occupancy in 2017

Choice Overseas HomesSpecialists in the Sales, Management and Rental of Holiday Homes

in the Walt Disney World Catchment Area, Orlando, Florida

How Your Home is Rented

So together we have found the right home and everything is in place to begin renting, I am sure you are keen to understand how this works for you.

The first decision made when therental company was formed was that the marketing of each home would be treated exactly as if it was our own. Every home that comes onto the rental management program is professionally

photographed and filmed which gives potential renters a great impression of the home.

This material is then used to market your home to its maximum potential. We have also invested in an automated rental response system so all enquiries are quoted within seconds which puts us well ahead of our competitors when it comes to filling your home with bookings year on year.

Although the majority of the calendars are filled by direct bookings we also have numerous rental contracts with some of the largest tour operators in the world. These bookings are perfect for filling gaps in your home throughout the year.

Famous Names Such as Thomas Cook, Tourico, Trip Advisor and Booking.com regularly choose our homes for their customer’s vacations. Owners also have the ability to input their own bookings directly into the live calendars as the property management software allows 24 /7 access. Whether you are blocking the home for yourself, booking in family and friends or even a private rental the process is simple, just log in to your account and block off the required dates.

You will now be aware that we were awarded Top Rental Manager in Orlando in 2012 by Trip Advisor followed by the Gold Top Vacation Rental Award in 2013, a Highly Rated Award in 2016 and their Certificate of Excellence in 2017.The value of awards such as this cannot be underestimated when it comes to filling your homes with bookings.

If you require any further information or have any questions you need answering feel free to contact Paul or Pauline on 0845 260 2144 or email at [email protected]

P.S. When you purchase your home through us you join our rental management programme for FREE. This normally costs up to $3,000 for clients who wish to join but have not bought their home through us.

THIRD GROUPThis is the buyer who wants maximum income from their home. It would be foolish of this buyer to try and cut corners. The property must be in the most desirable rental developments, the location must be right and the home must be well presented. It doesn’t have to be a brand new home but it must have a WOW FACTOR. It should also have some, although not necessarily all of these additional features.

4 Upgraded Furniture

4 Flat Screen TVs

4 Extended Pool & Deck

4 Spa

4 Games Room

4 Conservation View

This buyer is not likely to find a home below $250k but they will find excellent properties above this figure that do rent out extremely well. The typical budget within this group would be $300k plus and the home will produce between 30 and 40 weeks rental occupancy year on year.

FOURTH GROUP This is the buyer who wants the higher end home and although they welcome rental income to offset running costs it is not a necessity. They are happy to block the home for extended periods for themselves or their families and friends. They will still want all of the additional features which are listed above.

More often than not they are cash buyers and 25 weeks rental income will normally cover all costs associated with running the home and still leave plenty of weeks for their own use.


We fill your homes with rentals from some of the largest Tour Operators in the World.



How Your Home is Managed

The way your home is managed is quite unique within the industry. Our structure has the owner very much at the forefront of our minds. The day-to-day management of your home is handled by our team in Orlando but it’s the staff in the UK office who deal directly with the owners.

The administration, marketing and rental departments are all run from the UK office which is responsible for issues such as applying for licenses for your home; paying all sales and tourist development taxes and managing your owner accounts.

The team on the ground in Orlando will liaise many times throughout the day with the UK office updating them on any developments within the homes. It is their responsibility to ensure all of the maintenance tasks and guests queries are dealt with in an efficient manner. Any questions regarding the management of your home email us at [email protected]

OWNER ACCOUNTSTo take care of everything required to run a Florida home, owners will obviously need to keep track of their monthly income and expenditure. This is done via the ‘Owners Account’ in our Cirrus Property Management Software which is available to view online 24/7 (see example above). Owner accounts are posted each month and you should think of them in the way you do your bank statement.

The statements will show all charges being deducted such as pool care, lawn care, cleaning fees etc..., and will also show rental income being applied.


All homes in our rental management program arepowered by Point Central. A keyless, cellular, smart home system which allows us to have online access to everything that is happening at the home.

Each booking party will have their own unique code as do contractors, cleaners and members of the management team so we are aware who has entered a home on any occasion.

The AC system is programmed to move to a higher temperature if there are no guests staying meaning significant savings to an owner’s power bill and the pool heater can also be switched on and off remotely.

The pool and room temperatures can also be viewed online meaning we can identify a problem with these systems before the guest is even aware.

IN SUMMARY THIS SYSTEM WILL:4 Reduce energy and operating costs for owners4 Increase security4 Enhance guest’s experience4 Eliminate the problem of keys being lost.

6 Bed Homeat The Dales41 weeksoccupancyin 2017

EVERYTHING IS TAKEN CARE OF INCLUDING:4 Weekly Pool Cleaning4 Pest Control 4 Housekeeping

4 Regular Lawn Care and Landscaping 4 AC Units

4 Maintenance4 Apply for All Licences

4 Utility Connections

Choice Overseas HomesSpecialists in the Sales, Management and Rental of Holiday Homes

in the Walt Disney World Catchment Area, Orlando, Florida

New or Resale?

It’s a question I must have been asked 1000 times over the last 17 years. “Is it Better to Buy New or Resale Paul?”

There is no right answer but there are pros and cons with both. The obvious attraction of a new home is everything is brand new and YOU have chosen the floorplan, the elevation, the interior and exterior colours, the kitchen cabinets, the appliances, the carpets, the shape and elevation of the pool and deck area, possibly added a spa and have also had a large input into the style of the furniture. In summary you have been able to put your own mark onthe home and will end up with exactly what you expected. The downside to buying new is generally it’s more expensive than a comparable resale although you do need to take into account you are unlikely to have any large bills / purchases for some time.I bought my first Orlando home at Ridgewood Lakes back in 2001 and we had the same decisions to make as you do now. We opted for a brand new home and were delighted. “On the positive side we didn’t have any large unexpected bills for the first 10 years.” Once the home reached 10 -11 years we had to look at it differently though. To keep the home in prime condition it needed painting inside and out, the pool deck needed painting, the carpet needed replacing, we installed flat screen TVs in all bedrooms, the garage was converted into a games room and we replaced curtains and soft furnishing throughout the home. I tell anybody who asks:

“If you are buying a resale of a similar age to my home then you need to be putting $20k to one side to bring the home back to the required standard.” Not everything may need doing immediately but if the home is around 10 years old then you can guarantee things will need replacing over the next few years. A mistake people make is they buy the lower priced resale agreeing it needs investment, but then start making compromises after the purchase which affects their rental income going forward. Just do the maths, if a nice home which has been cosmetically refurbished is generating 38 weeks rental each year and the other home which has only been half refurbished, because the owner is making compromises and cutting corners only achieves 28 weeks, assuming an average rent of $1000 per week, they are $10,000 per year worse off. What I am trying to get across is if you opt for an older resale and spend the $20k wisely you will get it back over time and also have a home that is worth more. This still doesn’t answer the “New versus Resale”

question completely but at least you are going into the purchase with a clearer understanding of what’s required

when assessing the difference between the benefits of New and Resale.Paul Melvin

Brand New 6 Bed at The Shire Typical 4 Bed Resale at Highlands Reserve

Choice Overseas HomesFlorida Property Corner, 1 Childwall Priory Road, Childwall Fiveways, Liverpool L16 7PA


Owner: Russell Davenport 4 Bed Home at Veranda Palms“The advice and guidance we received from Choice Overseas Homes prior to purchase was very useful, giving us a good idea of what we could expect and helping to reassure us about what we were taking on, meaning there were no nasty surprises when we became proud owners of a villa on Veranda Palms.”

Owner: Paul and Pauline Mitchell 4 Bed Home at Veranda Palms“We don’t know what we would have done without your friendly expert advice. You have handled all local services very well and kept us informed in a timely way. You are easily

approachable by telephone or email, and are very quick to respond to our queries. Our villa

has always been cleaned to very high standards and the comments made

by our guests reflect this, all giving a 5* rating.”

What do Our Existing Owners Say?

The complete testimonials can be viewed at www.choiceoverseas.co.ukChoice Overseas Homes

Owner: Glen and Claire Williams5 Bed Home - The Shire at West Haven“We bought a property in 2011 as an investment / holiday home for our family, we went through the sales side with Choice Overseas Homes and the home has since been managed and rented by their US arms Orlando Holiday Management and Orlando Holiday Rental Homes which are Paul Melvin’s US companies. Anyone who uses Choice Overseas Homes and there US arms Orlando Holiday Management and Orlando Holiday Rental Homes can rest assured you are in good hands, they are a very professional set up.”

Owner: Ian and Beryl Madeley 6 Bed Home at Cypress Pointe“In summary, we found Pauline, Paul and Jill to be a one-stop shop for everything from providing honest initial information and arranging a visit, through to recommending insurance brokers, tax specialists, furniture/interior design, banks, etc, etc. Without their knowledgeable guidance I doubt that Beryl and I (being fairly risk adverse), would have had the confidence to own a home in the US, so we would recommend them to anyone!“

Owner: Stephen and Carmella Perkins4 Bed Home at Ridgewood Lakes“Thanks for your full support during our villa build. Youhave helped turn a dream into reality. We appreciate yoursupport through the purchase to build completion andyour commitment to ensuring we have rentals in place before completion. ACS Project Man and builders have also been amazing, unbelievable commitment, speed and excellence of quality build. We are really pleased and can be confident that our renters will be highly pleased thatthey chose our villa.”

Viewing the Homes

There are a number of options available when it comes to viewing the homes; the most productive way to do this is to book an inspection trip. We can arrange your inspection trip for you - we’ll provide complimentary accommodation in one of our rental homes and secure you a discount airfare. We generally use Virgin Atlantic for these trips, so they normally run from London and Manchester airports. We can look at other regional airports for you if necessary although this will normally result in at least one connection.

If you are located in Ireland Aer Lingus run a direct service to Orlando and you can even clear US Immigration and US Customs in Dublin before you depart.

Prices are variable depending upon the time of year and we don’t generally offer them in high season/school holidays, due to the price of flights and lack of availability in our homes during these extremely busy periods.

Should you be in Orlando during these periods and want to meet up with one of our team then we can arrange a suitable appointment for you.

WHAT TO EXPECTThe inspection visits are conducted on a one-to-one basis to ensure you are given our full attention. This allows enough time to view the homes and additionally to cover the other aspects of the purchase process that may or may not be required.

We do recommend that you book a car on arrival at Orlando International Airport although alternative arrangements can be made if you do not drive.

The trips are conducted over 4-5 days and during the visit you will generally spend 2-3 of the days with the realtor to view any new communities or resale homes on existing short term rental developments.

Your complimentary accommodation will be a similar standard to the home that you are looking to purchase and there will normally be enough time during the visit for you to visit a theme park or do any shopping.

If you require a mortgage then we will allocate time to meet with the mortgage broker/bank loan officer. This will enable you to begin the mortgage process and you can also open a US bank account which will be required for transactions.You will be introduced to the companies who we recommend for furniture, including their interior design specialists who will help you choose from the different packages available should this be required.

Should you opt for a new build home the developer will go through your colour, carpet and tiling options and discuss any alterations/upgrades you may wish to add.

Paul or Pauline can be contacted on 0845 260 2144 or via email [email protected] to answer any specific questions you have regarding the process of what happens during an Inspection visit.

PRICES FROM £399 PP

UK AND US OFFICES TO DEAL WITH ANY QUERIES



You could now be at the point where you have made a decision about whether buying in Florida is for you. What’s next?

If you have read through our Step by Step Buying Guide you will have an understanding of what you need to know before buying in Florida.

We have covered how important it is to find the right home and how we can assist with everything from mortgages to license applications, bank accounts to utility connections, furniture packages to currency exchange and how the home needs to be marketed properly for rentals.

It’s also important that you have a clear picture of what you want from your Florida home and how important it is that the property is managed properly.

This is usually enough information to make a decision aboutmoving forward. However, if you would prefer a face-to-facemeeting with us before taking things further you can always book an appointment for a 1-to-1 consultation at our UK headquarters in Liverpool. This provides the ideal opportunity for us to answer any outstanding questions and go over any aspect in more detail.

Come in

and talk

to us...

What You’ll Get From Your Florida Buyer’s Consultation

4 You’ll understand how the entire buying process works and what your options are.

4 You’ll have a comprehensive knowledge of the differentdevelopments available to you. You’ll know why some work and some don’t, as well as the financial returns different homes will provide you.

4 You will have a good understanding on what rental income you can expect from the kind of homes that will meet both your desires and your budget.

4 You’ll be crystal clear on how rental bookings are generated for the Florida homes we manage. Paul will show you exactly how we do this and how gaps between bookings are filled throughout the year as well. He’ll also teach you how to generate your own private bookings and increase rental income when you want to.

4 You’ll have seen a live demo of the home rental management system we use so you can understand how owners track all the information they need at all times, including financial stats and upcoming revenue from bookings.

4 You will also have a clear appreciation of how your home can be turned into a smart home on completion of the sale. All our rental homes are installed with smart locks and thermostats that allow us to track every guest or contractor who visits the home - keeping your investment safe and secure. It also allows us online access to pool and AC temperatures - controls we can automate to save you money on utility bills.

Face-to-Face Consultations at our Brand New UK Offices


Specialists in the Sales, Management and Rental of Holiday Homesin the Walt Disney World Catchment Area, Orlando, Florida

Call Paul or Pauline on +44 (0) 845 260 2144 • www.choiceoverseas.co.ukFlorida Property Corner, 1 Childwall Priory Road, Childwall Fiveways, Liverpool L16 7PA

Orlando’s Hottest New Developments

The finest selection of Orlando’s most desirable short term rental developments guaranteeing the highest rental returns



Orlando Holiday Rental Homes LLCOrlando Holiday Management LLC

“Choice Overseas have beenhelping people like you buy inFlorida for over 17 years now.”John Barnes MBETV Personality andformer England Footballer

Solara Resort

Solara is the latest BRAND NEW off-plan community located in Westside literally 5 minutes to the Walt Disney World exit on Highway 192. Once completed there will be over 900 vacation properties including 11 different models of 4 - 9 bedroom private pool homes and 3 models of 3 - 5 bedroom townhomes across a wide range of contemporary architectural designs.

There is a fantastic 1300 sq. ft. clubhouse with on-site bars and restaurant, plus an amenity complex at the heart of the resort which includes the following:

4 FlowRider® Surf Simulator4 Expansive Water Complex4 Heated Zero-Entry Grand Pool4 Children’s Splash Park and Water Slides

4 Tween/Teen Hangout Bar and Grill 4 Ice Cream Parlour4 Sundries Store4 Fitness Centre4 Outdoor Fitness Lawn 4 Indoor and Outdoor Lounges4 Basketball Court4 Beach Volleyball Court4 Full-size Soccer Field

“In summary this is fantastic off-plan investment opportunity that allows you to purchase for the lowest prices possible due to the current pre- construction offers currently available.”

Pauline Thomas

PRICES

FROM

$276,000

Choice Overseas HomesIf you are interested in either of these developments,

please contact Paul or Pauline on +44 (0) 845 260 2144

Solara Resort Watersong Resort

This upmarket resort will appeal to those who wish to be slightly away from the fast paced International Drive and Highway 192 type areas that have become so associated with the Orlando vacation lifestyle.

Watersong is located in Davenport on Highway 17 - 92 near the Champions Gate junction of Interstate 4 which brings Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Orlando’s many shopping malls and all of the other area attractions that much closer.

The nearby golf courses at Reunion, Providence and Champions Gate are all literally minutes away, giving Watersong the benefit of a tranquil resort-style setting with easy access to everything Orlando has to offer.

Pauline and I agree that as you enter the grand gatehouse at Watersong you really do feel you are somewhere special. I remember Pauline’s comments back in 2007 when the resort first came onto the market. As soon as we drove through the gates her first words were “I can tell you now… I would buy here,” and this was at the time when homes were selling for double what they are now.

There are lakes, conservation areas and luscious greenery everywhere. The exceptional 6700 sq. ft. clubhouse is very much the hub of the resort with its large outdoor pool andspa area. Within the clubhouse there is a fitness centre, internet café, games arcade and a grand gathering room for socialising and lounging in luxurious comfort. The benefits of children’s playgrounds, picnic areas and basketball and volleyball courts simply add to the appeal of this wonderful family resort.

With 14 models of pool homes to choose from, all on generous oversized lots surrounded by protected wetlands and natural Florida conservation, this is certainly a resort that will appeal to the more discerning buyer.

“Watersong is most definitely a community for anybody who is currently looking to own in Orlando needs to seriously consider. There are currently 15 Watersong homes in our rental/

management program and unsurprisingly without exception they are allperforming extremely well.” Paul Melvin

PRICES FROM $300,000

A GENUINE 5 STAR RESORT COMMUNITY – ALL IN A TRANQUIL

ENVIRONMENT


www.choiceoverseas.co.uk

The Retreat - Townhomes with Pools

If your budget is hovering around the $200k mark then I would strongly suggest you take a close look at these homes at The Retreat, which is the next phase of the extremely popular Serenity Resort.

I have to be honest; townhomes don’t generally get me excited, as very few rent as well as a detached villa with pool but these well sized properties at The Retreat really are the exception to the rule. Just take a look at the availability calendars on our rental website for any of the homes at thenow completed Serenity Resort and you will see what I mean.

There is no doubt these homes tick a lot of the required boxes for overseas buyers:

4 VALUE FOR MONEY – The Retreat is by far the most attractively priced new community in the area. All of the units are over 2000 sq. ft. That’s large, even by Florida standards. When you include the resort style communal pool, the clubhouse, the on-site fitness centre and the gamesarea then it’s easy to see why The Retreat is selling so quickly.

4 THE PRIVATE POOLS – Very few townhomes have their ownpool so this is a massive attraction to renters. Not everybodywants the expense of renting a larger pool home, especially if there are only 2 - 4 guests or a single family in the party.

4 LOCATION – The fact you can be at Disney in 10 minutes is a huge bonus. Another major plus is the

proximity to a great selection of restaurantsat the West End of Highway 192.

Some of our own family

favourites such as Bahama Breeze, Joe’s Crab Shack, Applebee’s, Carrabba’s, The Olive Garden, Outback and our brand new favourite, Bonefish, are all only minutes away.

You also have a good selection of local shops and restaurants at Cagan’s Crossing Town Centre literally on your doorstep along with a number of local golf resorts within a 10 minute drive.

“The Retreat is a unique development that genuinely bridges a gap in the market for thosewho want something more than a resort townhome/condo but don’t require the larger detached

pool home. These homes won’t remain under $229k in the current market as prices continue to move upwards.”Pauline Thomas

PRICES FROM $229,000


GUARANTEEDRENTAL!

If you are interested in either of these developments, please contact Paul or Pauline on +44 (0) 845 260 2144

Reunion Resort

A WORLD EXCLUSIVE GOLF COURSE COMMUNITY DESIGNED BY LEGENDS!You have probably realised by now that the descriptions in this brochure are personally written by either Pauline or myself. At the time of writing I am waiting to close on my own lot at Reunion and have opted to have a 5 bed Crestview model built.

As somebody who has owned at Ridgewood Lakes for 17 years, Reunion is obviously a step up the Orlando property ladder. In my opinion Reunion ticks every box imaginable. Along with its sister resort The Encore Club, which is featured on the back page of this brochure it is by far the most desirable and prestigious short term rental community in the whole of Orlando.

It is a high-end development and it’s not cheap to buy here. The running costs are higher than every other short term rental community in the area. That said, you are buying at the top end of the market for a fraction of the price these homes previously sold for. The rental returns are considerably higher

than any other community in the area so these overheads are comfortably offset by the high rental income you do achieve at Reunion. The capital growth and the significantly higher rental returns were major factors in our decision to buy at Reunion. If I am honest there was also a desire to own and have access to the facilities in Orlando’s premier resort.

Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson designed the 3 golf courses at Reunion which says it all really and gives you an idea of how exclusive Reunion really is.

Comparable properties to the homes featured here were selling for in excess $1 Million at the peak of the market and the big attraction with today’s prices is that you can really make the numbers stack up from a rental perspective.

“I can guarantee one thing, it will be very difficult to achieve such a good Return on Investment (ROI) once prices reach the Million Dollar mark again – trust me, they are rising and will reach

that figure again!” Paul Melvin

PRICES

FROM

$550,000

Orlando’s Most PrestigiousRental Resort



Solterra Resort

Solterra Resort offers location, style and extremely spacious homes.

The biggest compliment I can give Solterra is that when we decided to buy our latest Orlando home we were split between the 6 bed Coconut Key model at Solterra and the 5 bed home we have opted for at Reunion Resort. In all honesty, the 3 golf courses at Reunion were the deciding factor for me as a golfer but it was extremely tough to split these 2 excellent developments.

At the time of writing we have just come back from Orlando and this resort is really starting to mature since construction started in 2013.

The clubhouse is very much at the heart of the development and the family atmosphere around the communal pool is a

big draw here. There is a spa, water slides, private beach cabanas, sports courts, picnic areas and a children’s playground. If you want some time out of the sun, there is a lounge area, fitness centre and a cyber café inside the clubhouse.

This is an extremely attractive community with numerous models of home to choose from, all constructed in a true Mediterranean style.

“Solterra’s location is ideal, just 1 minute from Champions Gate and right in the heart of the established short term rental area. Just minutes from Walt Disney World, Universal Studios,

SeaWorld and all of the other first class attractions Orlando has to offer. You would never be disappointed owning a home at Solterra Resort.”Paul Melvin

DETACHED

POOL HOMES

FROM

$330,000

TOWNHOMES WITH POOLS FROM $299,000

Choice Overseas HomesIf you are interested in either of these developments,

please contact Paul or Pauline on +44 (0) 845 260 2144

The Retreat at Champions Gate

The original expansion at Champions Gate started a few years ago and it’s only now that the clubhouse and a large part of the construction is complete, that we are really starting to see how this 5 Star Community will turn out.

We all visited the Oasis Clubhouse during our last visit to Orlando and I have to say it’s nothing short of spectacular. In fact it’s one of the few short term rental resort clubhouses that is on a par with the standards you would expect at the premier Disney, Universal and high-end Orlando hotels.

Everything you require is on-site including the resort pool with private cabanas and Tiki bar, its very own lazy river and watersides, plus a splash park for the younger kids.

Within the clubhouse you also have a state-of-the-art fitness centre and spa, movie theatre, arcade room and tot lot, plus

a bar and grill restaurant serving food throughout the day.

There are 3 18-hole golf courses within Champions Gate itself, tennis and volleyball courts and playgrounds for the kids.

Apart from visiting the theme parks and shopping malls there is very little reason to leave Champions Gate with all of the on-site amenities and facilities at the Oasis Clubhouse.

“You would be hard pressed to find a High End development thatoffers such greatvalue for money

than The Retreat atChampions Gate inOrlando today.”Pauline Thomas

TOWNHOMES WITH POOLS FROM

$296,000



SPEC

POOL HOMES

FROM

$382,000


The Encore Club at Reunion

PRICES

FROM

$350,000

ORLANDO’S

MOST

PRESTIGIOUS

AND EXCITING

NEW

DEVELOPMENT

The Encore Club at Reunion is the most exciting resort community in Orlando since the original Reunion Resort was launched over 10 years ago.

We spent some time at the $16 Million Encore Clubhouse last summer and it really did impress us. There are fantastic vertical drop waterslides for the older kids and the Surfin Safari Aqua Splash area for the toddlers really made our days there. There is a large communal pool with cabanas and after eating lunch and dinner there a number of times could recommend all of the on-site restaurants and grill bars.

There is also a good selection of outdoor facilities

including soccer fields, tennis, basketball and sand volleyball courts. The

Hang Ten Hideaway children’s

indoor recreation area has all the right gaming systems, a large screen TV and a variety of crafts, games and more and there is also an arcade room by the pool.

A massive bonus is that owners here can also take advantage of the wealth of amenities at the main Reunion Resort, including the 11 swimming pools, 7 jacuzzis, The 7 Eagles Fitness Centre, 3 championship golf courses and a tennis centre as well as the selection of fine dining restaurants at the Wyndham Grand Resort Hotel.

“These are extremely competitive prices for the standard of community and will certainly appeal to anybody looking for an investment with strong capital growth.”

Paul Melvin


If you are interested in either of these developments, please contactPaul or Pauline on +44 (0) 845 260 2144 • www.choiceoverseas.co.ukFlorida Property Corner, 1 Childwall Priory Road, Childwall Fiveways, Liverpool L16 7PA

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