3 reports which were released yesterday show bad news on the national housing market front, however, in Florida, interestingly the median home price in the Orlando area had risen in the first quarter of 2007 by 2.5% to $267,000 This is even higher than the Orlando Regional Realtors Association previously estimated!

This is fantastic news, the signs of a market turning around. For a Brit looking for  Florida Villa vacation Home it is great news, with the strength of the exchange rate coupled with the soft market which is now on the turn it means that now may be the best chance for years to take the plunge and own your own dream villa in the sun!

The Space Shuttle Atlantis is now scheduled for a launch as early as June 8th (however NASA officials are meeting later to discuss other possible dates). The Shuttle’s huge external fuel tank was damaged by a hail storm back earlier this year is now repaired and is ready for launch.
The shuttle began its short but lengthly roll on the huge tranporter to the launch pad at 5.00am this morning and is expected there at noon today.

Having seen two shuttle launches up close myself I can tell you it is an awe inspiring sight. I saw Atlantis STS-71 in 1995 and STS 116 Discovery in December 2006,

This sight is one which should be seen when in Florida. So take a break from the Villa Search and go over to the east coast and watch this amazing light show!

Authors Bert Sperling and Peter Sander names this college town as number one out of 375 metropolitan areas in the latest edition of their publication:
"Cities Ranked and Rated" the authors stated that the areas high concentration of young people and active retirees coupled with the cost of living and the fabulous climate that Central Florida offers alongside crime, growth and quality of life all contributed to the ranking that the city achieved.

An article in the Orlando Sentinel today from a newspaper in Pennsylvania is aimed at Americans showing the virtues of renting a vacation home rather than a hotel/motel room.

If you are going on holiday with the whole family a 250 square foot hotel room is going to feel cramped to anyone – after all aren’t vacations supposed to be fun!! Contrast this to a nice 1800-2000 square foot villa with pool in the case of the Orlando area then the villa wins hands down! As the article goes on to stress that the price of a couple of hotel rooms for a week often is far more expensive than a villa for a week.

Vacation homes offer the privacy and amenities that guests want without the restriction of a hotel room. It is your temporary home from home.

Americans are slowly coming around to the idea of renting a vacation home, Europeans have been doing it for years but the American market is untapped however this is set to change as they realize what they are missing!!

Why not own your own vacation home in the Orlando area?
CONTACT US TODAY! Fill in our online form and someone will get back to you.

For the first time ever, Orlando is having to promote the area in the UK – the ‘once robust market’ has waned in recent years in a post-9/11 world.

There are two hits in the campaign to help the area – a domestic campaign focusing on the south western US (dubbed "Endless Summer") and the international one focusing on the UK. Both are part of a 2 year $68million marketing blitz promoting the area. The project is tagged "Orlando. Built for Families. Made for memories."

The UK ads are still in the testing stage but are likely to be similar to US ones. Though the numbers for 2006 aren’t available yet, the visitors bureau research projects a 2.8% decline decline in travelers from the UK last year to 1.03million people. However they predict a 3.4% increase this year to 1.07million.

One issue is that in a post-9/11 world Brits are subconsciously feeling it is difficult to travel to the US when in fact Briton’s have it easier than a lot of the world to visit the US as most UK residents can take part in the Visa Waiver program. One downside to visiting Florida is the 9 hour flight!However there is nothing that can be done about that! The area has so much for everyone to enjoy! Now is the time to visit! Get in before the crowds!!

STOP THE PRESS!! Ok, the rate rise wasn’t unexpected after the previously blogged about inflation figures however, with this in mind now is the time to take advantage of a nice fixed rate mortgage for your Florida property.

If you are refinancing from a US Loan or looking at purchasing then now is the time, with the Pound trading against the dollar so high ($2 = £1) and the current buyers market in Florida now may really be the last chance to take advantage of cheap money and property…

CONTACT US TODAY WITHOUT DELAY – We can put a Realtor into your search area, we can look at some fixed rate Sterling Mortgage options. After all, with the currency exchange as it is now a Sterling mortgage is one of the best options for Brits taking advantage of the strong Pound in their Pocket!

Cant wait for us to get back to you?
Call us today on our freephone UK number:

The season in South West Florida is over – i.e. where the Snow-Birds from the Snow-belt, Rust belt and any other belt up north come to South West Florida to winter.

Everything has resumed it much less crowded appearance once again. However according to Realtors in the Naples area, things are hotting up in the housing market. The area was once known for its cheap property prices in comparison with better known areas like Miami, however in the last 5 years prices have doubled and tripled or even quadrupled in some parts. Naples now retains a certain exclusiveness – especially in its golfing communities or on the beach front, where single family homes are demolished and the land is sold because it is worth more than the house..these plots make way for multi-million dollar mansions on the beach.

The area however did suffer in the recent market downturn, but buyers are realizing that there are deals to be had. People are in the market for a home or condo – inventory has even dropped in the local MLS, from over 12,000 at the beginning of April to 11,000 now.

The median home price is up from the last quarter of 2006, even though it is down from the previous highs. This shows that there is an upswing in the market.

The local newspaper the Naples News reports on this story.

The market provides an excellent investment for Brits who want to holiday or winter here – the pound is at a 26 year high against the dollar and now may be the best time to take advantage of property in Naples.

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So take time out of your hectic schedule, go to the B-Line Diner at the Peabody – a retro styled 50′s diner open to non-residents or have coffee in the atrium next to the duck fountain. Then watch the show begin!

This great feature of the Orlando Sentinel online is great news for Brits looking for Florida property in the Orlando area, apart from a couple of shots on the MLS Listing there is very little which shows you about the community in which a property is in, this is what people are looking for in Real Estate 2.0, the Orlando Sentinel’s Community Inspired photobook gives readers the chance to submit their photos taken in certain areas.

What does this mean? Well, imagine this, you are 4000 miles away from Sunny Florida sitting at your desk looking out on a grey British Sky, you log on to Britishhomesgroup.com and look at a property, perfect you find a perfect one in Clermont, but then it occurs to you…whats the area like. This is where this comes into play, the Orlando Sentinels Online Photo Album compliments the property search..you can see pictures of Clermont, the lakes, the sunsets and other interesting things that you wouldnt normally see!