Tag Archives: Florida Homes

Cheap US homes lure foreign buyers

From yesterday’s US CNN Money about international buyers

Cheap US homes lure foreign buyers

A Russian billionaire paid $88 million for a Manhattan condo earlier this year.

Lured by bargain home prices, foreign buyers stepped up their purchases of U.S. homes by 24% over the past year, according to an industry trade group.

The National Association of Realtors reported Monday that $82.4 billion worth of homes were sold to international buyers in the 12 months that ended in March, up from $66.4 billion the year before.

“Today’s advantageous market conditions have drawn more and more foreign buyers to the U.S.,” said NAR President Moe Veissi, who owns a real estate firm in Miami.

U.S. prices have fallen by about a third from their 2006 peak and are at their lowest level since 2002, and foreign sales were especially strong in states where prices dropped even more sharply. Of the four states cited in the report as tops for foreign buyers — Florida, California, Texas and Arizona — only Texas has not recorded a severe home price correction.

Meanwhile, currency exchange rates grew more favorable for many foreign nationals. The currencies of both Mexico and Brazil have gained 20% or more against the dollar over the past year, giving buyers additional discounts on U.S. purchases.

Foreigners participated in some of the year’s biggest home buys.

A British buyer bought the Spelling mansion in the Holmby Hills section of Los Angeles last summer for $85 million. And in December, Russian billionaire businessman Dmitry Rybolovlev purchased an $88 million Manhattan condo for his 22-year-old college student daughter.

Holmby Hills and New York City are, of course, pricey markets — but a bargain for the super rich compared to some foreign markets. For example, real estate in Hong Kong and London is about 50% more expensive, noted Edward Mermelstein, a New York-based real estate attorney.

Canada, China, Mexico, India and the United Kingdom accounted for 55% of international sales, according to the NAR survey.

The trend might have been even stronger except for the difficulties some international buyers had in obtaining financing. Many real estate agent reported that deals fell through because buyers lacked U.S. credit history.

Most completed deals involving foreign buyers were all-cash, accounting for 62% of foreign sales.

And now, we are delighted to announce, British Home Loans Florida, Inc., our Orlando-based mortgage brokerage arm, can arrange “Foreign National” low-interest rate mortgage financing for UK home-buyers in Florida once again!

Exciting and most timely news!

Sincerely,

Bill Cowie

President

Thinking about buying or selling vacation or 2nd home property around Orlando and the Disney World Area? Contact us, in confidence, and see what we can do to help you fulfill your Florida dream!

Request more information on Florida homes or submit a Custom Property Search Request

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The BRITISH HOMES GROUP Florida
2960 Vineland Road | Info@britishhomesgroup.com or (+1) 407 396 9914

Orlando – Disney Selling Florida Homes

From today’s:

ORLANDO BUSINESS JOURNAL

Disney selling new dreams – homes

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts announced June 23 it will sell 30 single-family luxury home lots this year in a new residential community on Disney property near the Four Seasons Resort Orlando.

Homes at Golden Oak, a 450-home gated residential resort development, will be priced from $1.5 million to $8 million, said a news release. Three types of homes will be available: village homes on one-fourth-acre lots, estate homes on half-acre lots and grand estate homes on three-fourths-acre lots, the release said. The first homes are expected to be completed in 2011.

The resort community will include a private clubhouse, concierge services and Walt Disney World Resort benefits, the release said. It also features conservation areas taking up almost half of the development’s 980-acre footprint. “Golden Oak is something totally new: a residential resort community, right in the heart of the magic,” said Matt Kelly, vice president of Disney Resort Real Estate Development, in a prepared statement.

Disney Resort Real Estate Development began site work nearly two years ago on the site and the main road and gatehouse have been completed, said Marilyn Waters, spokeswoman for Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Business Development. Disney is finalizing its list of custom homebuilders for the community, which will be made up of seven experienced builders from Florida, Waters said. Home construction could begin later this year, depending on how quickly buyers are able to work with builders and architects on designing their homes, Waters said.

Golden Oak also will include the previously-announced 445-room Four Seasons Hotel Resort at Walt Disney World Resort. Community residents will likely be offered access to select Four Seasons’ future amenities, such as the spa, restaurants, golf course and event space, the release said.

The development isn’t the first residential real estate development for Disney (NYSE: DIS) in Central Florida. The company developed Celebration in the mid-1990s, a town that is now home to more than 9,000 residents. Those wanting to purchase homes must pay a $25,000 refundable deposit and sign a lot release priority agreement to secure a spot on the community’s priority reservation list, the release said.

The Dream Continues!

Why not let us help yours come true?

Sincerely,

Bill Cowie President

The BRITISH HOMES GROUP Florida

2960 Vineland Road

Info@britishhomesgroup.com or (+1) 407 396 9914

Member: British-American Chamber of Commerce

Stirling Sotheby’s International – Nations Most Prestigious Real Estate Brand

2008 Luxury Brand Status Index Survey Rates Sotheby’s International Realty Nation’s Most Prestigious Real Estate Brand

Orlando, Florida. – The Luxury Institute’s 2008 Luxury Brand Status Index Survey recently rated Sotheby’s International Realty (www.SothebysRealty.com) the most prestigious real estate brand among high net worth consumers.

Roger Soderstrom, owner and founder of Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty (www.StirlingSIR.com) in Orlando – one of the largest and most active Sotheby’s International affiliates in the Southeast – said the national ranking makes a huge difference in marketing Central Florida luxury homes, unique properties and communities. Soderstrom said the New York-based Luxury Institute’s Status Index Survey queried a nationwide sample of 1,666 wealthy American consumers online.

Respondents boasted an average income of $348,000 and average net worth of more than $3.7 million.

“Survey respondents were asked to rate brands according to consistently superior quality; unique and exclusive; social status as a product consumed by people who are admired and respected; and self enhancement, in that the brand makes the consumer feel special across all aspects of the customer experience,” Soderstrom said.

While the brand ranking itself has little effect on marketing efforts, Soderstrom said, it’s all about perceptions.

“The survey tells us something we already know, that among affluent buyers and investors, our brand ranks the highest,” Soderstrom said.

Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty markets Central Florida luxury homes, unique properties and communities locally, nationally and internationally through its world marketing center, the Global Gallery (www.GlobalGalleryUSA.com) and real estate galleries at Lake Mary/Heathrow, Winter Park, Downtown Orlando, Windermere/Dr. Phillips and Clermont.

“Given the favorable currency trading rates, affluent families whose wealth is in Euros, Rubles, Rupees and Renminbis see Central Florida real estate as a stable, highly desirable opportunity, he said.

“For those families, the prestige of the Sotheby’s International Realty brand is a powerful incentive,” Soderstrom said.

The British Homes Group formed a marketing alliance with Stirling Sotheby’s in November of 2007 to help raise awareness of buying Florida homes through the auction process (original press release). All auctions to date have been a complete success with sell outs at almost every event.

Keep up to date with the latest auction activities on Stirling’s website or by visiting Featured Florida Property.

Vacation homes may be factor in occupancy rates

According to a recent article in the Orlando Sentinel, vacation homes are the wild card in Central Florida’s lodging industry — practically everyone in the travel business acknowledges their proliferation, but nobody concretely knows how many of them are out there.

The hotel industry has long suspected that the growing popularity of vacation homes has affected the occupancy levels in conventional lodging.

The homes, which look identical to year-round residents’ houses and condos, are instead used as short-term rentals, offering vacationers privacy and residential conveniences at prices that often undercut hotel rooms.

There is estimated to be around 25,000 to 30,000 vacation homes available in Central Florida – mostly in the Kissimmee and Davenport towns of Osceola and Polk County respectively.

Vacation homes are likely to suffer less than hotels because they are often more economical for families vacationing in groups and are very popular with the British, whose currency is faring unusually well against the U.S. dollar.

The Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau said it wants to know more about the growing business. It is working with the Kissimmee Visitors & Convention Bureau to create a system for tracking the sector.

"I think vacation rentals are becoming increased competition for hotels, because their share continues to grow," said Orlando/Orange County CVB Research Director Daryl Cronk. "I hope this will create a more complete picture of the industry."

Staging a home helps buyers see what could be in the layout of a home

Staging a home is something which UK buyers and sellers are not accustomed to. It is the process whereby a home is staged by a staging company to make the home more saleable – it gives a run of the mill home a more designer home feel and is appealing to buyers. In the current market all manner of tricks are being used to ensure that homes are selling! It helps buyers see a homes potential and allows them to visualise the usage of space in the home. Staging also allows sellers to use the staging company to strategically position furniture to create focal points which pick up on the homes strengths and lessen the appearance of its weaknesses.
Most Realtors would be able to recommend a staging company in your area if you are thinking of selling.

What is interesting is that the larger the home the more help buyers need in visualising the usage of space. This could be seen as important in the British Market where the average home is between 800-1200 sq ft and where the average home here in Florida is over 2000 square feet.

So how about owning your own villa? Florida offers so much, so contact us today to let us help you find a Florida property right for you!

Realty World 2007 Convention in Orlando, Florida

The 2007 conference for Realty World, the international Real Estate franchise company was held April 22-24th at the Peabody Hotel in Orlando, Florida.

The convention talked about many real estate topics including the current market and new technologies which are making Real Estate more accessible to the potential buyer.

British Home Sale Inc.,

The Real Estate Sales division of the British Homes Group picked up a gold award for highest average number of closed units per agent in 2006. This shows that we are the trusted company for Florida villa sales.

If you are looking for home in Florida then please give us a call:
Freephone from the UK: 0800 096 5989 or Toll-Free from the USA: 1-888-407-2748

Reduced Reunion Property

REDUCED REUNION

Reunion at its very best. This gorgeous pool home which is priced well below similar properties.

Please feel free to look at the video above and the images below.

It benefits from a lake view, an impressive family room with french doors opening out onto the pool area. This home is smothered in southern charm; yet offers all the modern facilities of a new family home. Built in 2005 this property will impress all who view it. It is a 4 bed 3.5 bath home with over 2,200 square feet. It is located in a prime position within Reunion.

It is ideal for the British or American Markets, it has the benefit of being located in one of the most prestigious golfing resorts in the USA, this lovely house could be a fantastic family home or rental property as it is only minutes from the Disney theme parks. This home is priced at a bargain of :

* $519,950 *

Click here to go to our listing page for this property

Call now for more info and to request a showing:

UK: 0800-096-5989

USA: 1-888-407-2748