Tag Archives: Disney

Orlando Second Homes Market

The Orlando tourism marketplace claims an annual 48 million visitors.  Although Disney attracts a large part of those tourists, it is not Orlando’s only attraction – Universal Studios, Sea World, myriad golf opportunities, dining, hotels and other entertainment, the opportunities are endless!  This of course has created the perfect environment for second home sales to flourish.  Orlando real estate buyers are also tempted with the idea of short term rental income.  With such a healthy stream of visitors, the rental market is strong. 

Right now the strongest pull to the Orlando real estate market is affordability.  Many of the communities surrounding Disney are now much more attainable.  Celebration and Windermere are two communities with close proximity to the theme parks that offer buyers many options.  In Windermere you can find everything from a three bedroom townhouse in a non-gated community to a palatial single family retreat in a private, gated neighborhood.

Neighborhood Spotlight:

Reunion by Ginn Resorts - November 8th Reunion Real Estate Auction
Just six miles from Disney World, Reunion is a 2,300 acre master planned community.  This gated community features more than 2,000 units (including single family homes, condos and townhomes), three golf courses, a water park, delectable restaurants, plus luxurious spa and fitness facilities.

 

Call British Homes Group Today for help with purchasing or financing your Orlando area dream home!

Orlando Area MLS Search 

Orlando Local Attractions: Updates and Highlights of 2008

Orlando has come a long way in a year – many of the city’s local attractions have been updated and even supplemented with new ideas and/or improvements.  Here’s a brief look at the year in review:

  • IKEA debuted in Orlando, opening it’s doors in December of 2007 
  • Prime Outlets got a major makeover – the Belz Outlet Mall got an extreme makeover now offering over 100 name brand outlet options.
  • Disney Upgrades:  Spaceship Earth at the Epcot Center and the Haunted Mansion ride at the Magic Kingdom were updated and modernized.  Disney MGM got a new name (Disney’s Hollywood Studios) and became home to the Toy Story Mania interactive arcade ride.
  • Universal Studios:  The Simpsons trumped Back to the Future this summer with a hot new simulator ride.  The Earthquake attraction was also updated to become a new ride – Disaster! which combines digital technologies and interactive components.
  • Sea World launched Aquatica – a brand new family water park. 
  • Gatorland broke ground on a $4 million complex which is slated to add 19,000 sqft of space to the attraction.
  • Disney extends "Year of a Million Dreams" through the end of 2008.  This wildly popular program makes dreams a reality for Disney guests – daily prize winners can experience a rare treat such as an overnight stay in Cinderella’s Castle.

So if it’s been awhile since you took a family fun vacation, consider coming back to Orlando to experience all these news adventures!

Relocating to the Orlando area? 

Contact British Homes Group today for information about multi-currency mortgages or for more information about Orlando Real Estate.

Orlando Area MLS Search

Florida Property, Florida Mortgages, Florida Real Estate, Florida Villas & Florida Vacation Rentals

Maybe it is a Florida home you are after? Or Florida mortgage? We can assist with both! We have a dedicated team of Real Estate professionals waiting to serve you and find you that perfect Florida home of your dreams. Maybe you have been fed up by the rained out British Summer this year? Or have seen the gorgeous property for sale on A Place in the Sun or Real Estate TV? – Which we have been featured on!

What ever your reason, Florida is a fantastic place to invest, with a high quality of life coupled with cheap property, gorgeous weather and the cheapest dollar in over a quarter of a century it really is the place to be!

However… you ask.. how can I afford it? Well, our team of Mortgage Brokers cajn look at the options right for you, whether what we are most famous for, the British Sterling mortgage (where your repayments are in pounds) or a US Dollar mortgage or even a Multi-Currency Mortgage they can look at what is right for you and quote you on the product you like best all at no obligation.

Wait! The system is unlike the Uk in that Realtor’s (Estate Agents as they are called in the UK) here have access to all the properties in the area, so it saves you doing the leg work and takes out the need to shop around and if you chose one of our agents to look for property for you they are acting in your interest! Similarly, with the finance side our brokers are experienced in a range of products and have a choice of lenders to look for products, again taking out the need to shop around and allowing you to concentrate on the more important things in life…like what day to go to Disney or the beach!

Call us today freephone UK: 0800 096 5989
Local USA: 1-407-396-5989

Use our online contact form

Disney World on a shoestring

I’m all for Frugal living…but "Frugal" and "Disney" in the same sentence let alone the same planet aren’t words which I would put together (after all you are on holiday why not splash the cash!)… however there are ways of having that dream come true holiday at Disney without breaking the bank and here’s how…

The USA Today have drawn up a list of things which you can do at Disney which cost nothing of very little, ways of trimming the spash of cash here and there to help make it affordable. After price increases in admissions tickets (its hard to state exact figures as if you are US residents you get them at different rates to international tourists…in fact buying them while in Britain sometimes yields fantastic savings!) Disney after all owns 27,000 acres of prime central Florida real estate, there is more there than just Magic Kingdom and MGM Studios…

There are too many tips to go into in detail but they range from car hire rental to the type of ticket even down to staying on the Disney camp site with Chip and Dale rather than the swanky hotels…check out the link below to read more

Disney success with Animal Kingdom and Expedition Everest Ride



Having only one week ago taken the plunge and embarked on Expedition Everest myself. – The mere thought of the experience sends shivers down my spine – This amazing ride is definitely not for the faint hearted – I prefer the more serene rides, the teacups, the dodgems at fairgrounds etc…not plunging at high speed from one of the highest points in Disney. With fake snow on the mountain top…what did this ride cost them? A decidedly cool $100 million.

However I must say, Disney have done a fantastic job of the ride, Mt. Everest Disney style does look like a real mountain in miniature. The ride is nestled in he heart of Animal Kingdom’s ‘Asia’ where you actually feel like you have stumbled across a village at the foot of the Himalayas. All in all the park itself is fantastic, you can wander around a realistic African village (realistically named Harembe) and go on a wild safari! (Which is immense fun for young and old..especially when things get rough as you chase poachers!)

Animal Kingdom, whilst it is Disney’s newest park, it good for a day out..there is even Rafiki’s lodge (the monkey guy from the Lion King) which you reach by an African style train, where there is a petting zoo for the kids with goats and cows.

The Orlando Sentinel says today that the park attendance figures grew 8.6% to 8.91million visitors last year.. whist Epcot and Magic Kingdom saw growth of around 3%. The other parks however have had small decreased in numbers.

What does this mean… well asides from the obvious, leave early for Animal Kingdom and get fast passes (allowing you quick access to the ride at certain times)- I embarked on Everest at 2.30pm (I rode as a single rider, the wait time was 10mins, Vs. waiting 50mins if you want to ride with friends next to you) If you want a fast past to Everest, get it quick as at 2.30pm when I rode they were giving fast passes for 6.30pm!

All in all this demonstrates one of the great attractions that we have here in Orlando Florida, so if you are thinking about a holiday home here..then hop to it.. and contact us on 0800 096 5989 from the UK and 1-888-407-2748 from the US to help us help you find your dream home in the sun!

Florida Fun in the Sun!

Florida is home to many species of wildlife, most notably the alligator. Which are renowned for living the the swampy everglades. But there is more to Florida than Miami Beach, Swamps, Palm Trees and Mickey Mouse.

http://drive.visitflorida.com has detailed some fantastic drives around the state!

Whether it is small town charm or the dazzling art deco splendor of Miami’s art deco district Florida has it all…even Orlando, the city Beautiful which everyone thinks just consists of Disney has its own charming cultured districts, most cities have Chinatown, Orlando has Little Vietnam, with quaint restaurants and oriental outlet malls. Florida is much much more than you think!

Remember, your dream home in this amazing part of the world is only a few clicks away!

Four Corners Area Development

This area which encompasses four counties (Lake, Orange, Polk and Osceola respectivly), seven school districts and a myriad of developments is one of the fastest growing areas in the USA! With access to the lakes in Lake and Polk County to the Vacation Homes in Osceola county. All within minutes of the areas most famous attraction: Disney!