Category: Vacation Homes

Rent is a waste of money, or is it? That’s what we’ve been conditioned to believe for the last few generations. Even when the real estate market is more stable and prices are steadily increasing, buying a vacation home may not be the best decision for your wallet.

Should you buy a vacation home that you’ll only use a few months a year? Let’s take a look at a simplified example to highlight what it costs to own a vacation home. You purchase a vacation home, and the monthly costs including mortgage payment, real estate taxes, insurance, HOA, or other maintenance and utilities are $3,000 a month. You use the home for three months a year, although you’re paying for 12. So, you’re paying $3,000 a month for 12 months or $36,000 a year and using the home for three months at an effective cost of $12,000 per month ($36,000/3). You could seasonally rent a similar home in the same area for $4,000 per month or $12,000 for the season. You’d be paying $24,000 extra a year owning the home versus renting it ($36,000-$12,000). Over five years, you would have spent $120,000 more to own the home ($24,000 x 5 years). Yes, the home might appreciate, but you would have to subtract buying and selling closing costs and a potential real estate commission from any appreciation.

Let’s say you purchased a home for $400,000 plus $8,000 in closing costs for a total initial investment of $408,000. Let’s assume it increased in value 5% a year (higher than normal market conditions). It would be worth about $510,500 at the end of the fifth year. If you sold the home and subtracted a 6% commission and $8,000 in selling closing costs you would net about $471,900. Your approximate profit would be $63,900, but remember you would have spent an extra $120,000 to own instead of to rent the home for those five years which would actually mean you spent $56,100 more overall (-$120,000+$63,900).

Keep in mind that the home might have needed repairs and renovation work, which would have added to your cost as a vacation homeowner. You would, however, pay off some of your mortgage balance which would be a benefit of owning versus renting. But, know that during the first several years of a 30-year mortgage, typically 75% – 80% of each mortgage payment is interest and not principal repayment. You may also be able to deduct the mortgage interest on this second home, but the bottom line is for this vacation home, the overall financial costs would be greater than the benefits.

Every situation is different, but now you have the tools to conduct your own financial analysis. Sometimes it makes financial sense for you to buy versus rent a vacation home, and sometimes there are non-financial reasons to influence your decision. It is, however, better to make a big financial decision with your “eyes wide open” rather than with blinders on. You may avoid financial disappointment or hardship later.

Attention general aviation pilots! Just a short 14 miles away from Orlando Vacation homes is a gem of an airport, called Kissimmee Gateway (KISM) airport. This is the closest and most convenient airport for anyone going to Disney World, Sea World, Universal Theme Parks, Orlando Convention Center and Orlando Vacation Homes. Orlando Vacation Homes offers 3, 4, 5 & 6 bedroom homes starting at $99 per night. Here is a little about Kissimmee airport. The airport has crossing runways 6-24 & 33-15. The friendly people in the tower are used to help pilots especially with 3 large flight schools on the field. Also there are 4 full service FBOs and the Kissimmee Air Museum. Rides are offered in beautiful T6s or P51s. Kissimmee airport conveniently located in central Florida where you can explore the state to your hearts contend. Fly to Key West, Naples, Vero Beach, St. Augustine or Panama City. The weather in central Florida has very few stormy days. If you are thinking about becoming a pilot or you want to get a new type rating like IFR, commercial or multi type rating this is the airport to do just that. Sunstate Aviation is one of the excellent flight schools where we received our training.
Thinking of going to Sun n Fun in Lakeland this spring, Kissimmee Airport is an excellent place to park your plane. Orlando Vacation Homes is an excellent place to stay. Our homes are only 3 miles from I-4 and only about a 20 minute drive by car. After a long day at Sun n Fun come home to your own heated pool and/or spa in our gated resort communities.
Looking for something unusual to do for a day. Spend the day at Kennedy Space Center. It is only an hour drive and well worth the trip. Over the last few years they have made major improvements at Kennedy Space Center which will entertain the young and old.
Other fun places to fly, like Vero Beach (KVBO) where you can have a great meal at C.J. Cannons. Cedar Key on the Gulf, where you can radio ahead to have a taxi meet you to take a few minutes into town. Fly to Venice Beach (KVNC) and take the short walk to Sharkeys where the Grouper sandwich is one of the best in Florida. Take your bathing suit for a dip in the Gulf or walk on the beach to find sharks teeth.
Fly to St. Augustine and if you like call ahead and have an hour lesson for aerobatic training. The airport is home base for some of the top aerobatic pilots in the country like Patti Wagstaff. Also, at St. Augustine you can go into historic old town or visit the factory outlets. Also the Golf Hall of Fame is located a couple of miles north of the airport.

Fly to Key West or Marathon Key and enjoy island atmosphere of the Carrabean.

When thinking of Sun and Fun or Florida flying, think of us at Orlando Vacation Homes.

With white sandy beaches, world-class golf courses, gourmet restaurants, whale watching, gorgeous rocky islands, and gorgeous vineyards, Baja travel provides a feast for the senses. Driving Baja on Mexican Highway 1 is an experience that everyone should have at least once in their lifetime. However, once you start on a journey of Baja travel, you will probably find yourself driving Baja coastlines year after year. Many vacationers choose to purchase a vacation home on the peninsula where their family can make priceless memories for years to come. Mexican insurance from a Baja insurance company can provide Baja homeowners insurance and auto insurance to protect your precious vacations from disaster.

Mexican insurance laws in the event of an auto accident differ from those in the United States. Non-Mexican policies do not fulfill the requirements if you are involved in an accident. Baja insurance is available for those who are planning Baja travel trips on the internet. These Baja insurance policies provide ‘proof of financial responsibility’ according to Mexican law when you are driving Baja on a vacation road trip from world-famous border town Tijuana through Ensenada and Guerrero Negro all the way to the vacation hotspot of Cabo San Lucas.

Mexican insurance policies, like Baja homeowners insurance, can also be helpful if you own a vacation home in a Baja travel hotspot like San Felipe. Baja homeowners insurance can protect your home from disaster when you are there and when you are absent for part of the year. With water on both sides of the peninsula and most vacation homes being located on the beach, there are several natural disasters that could wreak havoc on your investment. However, Baja homeowners insurance offers peace of mind for vacation home owners on the peninsula. As the global community grows smaller with technological communication improvements, more and more people are buying international vacation homes. Insurance can help ease your mind about taking that step so you can thoroughly enjoy the beauty of Baja.

Baja insurance from Mexican insurance companies can help cover you when you are driving Baja or when you come to stay a while and put down roots. No matter what your vacation pleasure, from sampling the seafood in the Lobster Capital of the World (Rosarito) or the delicious wines from the vineyards surrounding Ensenada, you can relax and enjoy your vacation from start to finish. You can lie back on a hammock on the white, sandy beaches on the Southern end of the Baja peninsula and let go of all the world’s cares.

You expect nothing less than unmatched fun and excitement when going to a vacation in Disney World, Florida. The Disney magic still has the charm to captivate people of all ages. And while having fun in Disney World, you can’t afford to limit the fun there. You can very much enjoy everything that goes with it – including the place you will stay. That’s why it is critical to find the best place to stay when planning for a trip to Disney World.

Are Kissimmee vacation homes right for you? Yes, they are-if you fancy convenience and pleasure. Here are some reasons why staying in such a vacation home is the right choice:

Kissimmee vacation homes are gorgeous houses. Most were built around the years 2004-2007. With this, you are assured that these houses are in very good condition still. These have not yet aged, and the beauty and strength of the structure is beyond question. So with these vacation homes, you get both beauty and function.

These Disney vacation homes can accommodate 3 to 13 people. If you are a larger group, a house can be recommended specific for your needs. These are spacious homes: ranging from 1,500 sq. ft up to 2,000 sq. ft. You are sure to find one that fits your needs.

Kissimmee vacation homes have a great community center. If you want to play some sports – whether it be basketball or tennis – they have courts for your playing pleasure. You can play to your heart’s desire and have fun all day long. Your family members and friends can play with you so that you are continually spending quality time with them.

They also have a swimming pool for you and your family to enjoy. A happy time together, swimming and having fun, will make your stay an unforgettable one. You can play with your kids here. Or, you can spend quality time with your wife. If you have friends with you, this can be a great opportunity to reconnect and update each other with your lives.

If you want to end your day fully relaxed, the Kissimmee vacation homes have spas to take care of your needs. You can be treated like a king or queen at the end of the day. You will feel more relaxed and peaceful – removing all worries, anxieties and fears in your mind.

They also have bars to serve cocktails, beer, coke products, wine, hot dogs, hamburgers and cold-cut sandwiches. Everything you probably need, these Kissimmee vacation homes can provide. They are intent in giving you the complete magical experience while vacationing in Disney.

To make your stay even more worry-free, you are assured of guards on duty 24 hours to keep you safe. Aside from being a gated community, these guards roving the vicinity will give you that sense of being safe and secure all throughout your stay.

Kissimmee vacation homes can make your vacation a lot more meaningful and a lot more fun. There is less to worry about if you pass up on hotels and go with vacation homes. If convenience and pleasure is what you are looking for, Kissimmee vacation homes will not disappoint.

Not everyone is comfortable with the idea of renting a private residence for their vacation, although with a little help they could and should be. Here are a few tips on how to over come some concerns about how and why renting private homes in tropical vacation areas is the best way to insure a “perfect” vacation.

There are literally thousands of homes available for vacation rentals. Trying to find the one that fits your needs can be threatening, but really doesn’t have to be. Obviously you have to start by knowing where you hope to vacation. With this destination in mind searching the internet to find sites that advertise these accommodations is easy. Once you have surfed a while and made yourself familiar with a few rental sites you can start to notice a few things.

First, pictures are king! Home owners who have a place they are proud of will have as many photos as they are allowed to have, and will have photos of as much as they can. If you have a home to be proud of you show pictures. So always be suspicious of sites that do not have a LOT of pictures.

Secondly, pay close attention to the description of the property. Again, proud home owners are not being boastful when they describe their home in colorful, expressive ways. They talk about their vacation home the way anybody talks about anything they are very proud of and want to share with others. So ads that are short, curt and devoid of description should be avoided.

Thirdly notice who you will be dealing with. If it’s a management company or another 3rd party source, that just takes you one step further away from the REAL decision maker. The real decision maker is the homeowner, the one that has cared for, maintained and created a slice of paradise that they are making available to you. When you deal with the actual home owner, there can be a bond created that becomes your MAIN source of confidence that you are getting the best vacation home rental you can. I liken it to the difference between buying a car from a used car lot verses the previous owner. Why do people get rid of their cars via dealers? They KNOW selling it themselves will be a tough sell. But if you have a quality car you are looking to replace, selling it yourself presents no problem. Quality sells itself.

If the sterile, impersonal environment found in most hotels and resorts is what you want, then vacation home rentals may not be right for you. On the other hand, now that you know what to look for, you may find that once you experience vacation home rentals for your family, you will never take any other type of vacation again.