British Homes Group of Orlando will be guiding real estate customers to auction on November 8th.  Although there will be many Orlando real estate deals to be had at auction, they are not of sub-par quality by any means.  Often times these auctions are a way for top developers to turn newly completed luxury communities into much-needed fast cash.

British Homes Group is prepared to help buyers through UK and US real estate law, immigration, tax, insurance and all aspects of buying a home in Florida.

The November 8th auction will feature a selection of properties from Ginn Resorts, a premier developer with many resort communities throughout the US and Florida.  Featured properties include:

• Reunion Resort Orlando (www.reunionresort.com)
• Bella Collina Golf Club Orlando (www.BellaCollina.com)
• Hammock Beach Resort on the Atlantic Coast east of Orlando (www.HammockBeach.com)

This is an opportunity to find your dream home at some of the lowest prices around – auction properties can be half price or less off current values!  If your real estate bid is successful, your transaction could turn out to be the quickest, most hassle-free and best investment you’ll ever make!

Visit British Homes Group for more information about the upcoming Orlando real estate auction.

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

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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!

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For the past several months everyone has been wondering whether real estate in Florida has hit bottom.  In the Orlando market, many indicators have worked toward most experts sending the message, "buy now, this is the best opportunity".  Foreclosures, REOs and Short Sales have driven real estate prices to all time lows in the Orlando market, however increasing demand will soon begin to change the picture. 

In August, the median home resale price fell to $200,000 paralleling 2005 numbers and the last bull run of home sales.  Although actual sales dogged last year’s pace by 23%, pending sales have increased for the fifth straight month in a row.  This means the sales gap will likely shrink by the end of 08.  Inventory declined weighing in at 5.6% less than August 07 and Days on Market shrank slightly to 113 days marketing the shortest DOM catalogued so far in 2008.

The Orlando real estate market, in comparison to the southern Florida markets, has generally faired a little better.  Orlando home prices and the overall cost of living are closer to the national average and the job market is holding up better.  This market will likely recover faster than those in South Florida counties.  The Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac bailout should also weigh heavily into the equation for investors.  If banks aren’t lending no one can buy, the Fannie/Freddie takeover should help to re-energize the flow of home sales and interest rates will likely also go down. 

All indicators are clear, the low-point of the great housing bust in Orlando is here.  There has never been a better time to buy Orlando real estate – don’t wait! 

Find out how you can take advantage to obtain your Orlando dream home -

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

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Everyone is asking … when is the "right" time to buy real estate in Orlando?  Are there more drops in market prices yet to come?  According to the chief economist at the National Association of Realtors, Lawrence Yun, home prices have declined at an unprecedented speed and as a result have in many cases sparked multiple bidding wars.  This is an indicator that the good times may soon be gone – many of the declines may have already occurred.  There is a spark in the new home market as well, according to the Economic Outlook Group housing start applications are also starting to increase for the first time in 12 months.

Find out how you can take advantage to obtain your Orlando dream home –

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

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July marked the second best sales month this year for Orlando home re-sales.  Second only to June, 1,436 transactions were recorded versus June’s 1,489 Orlando home sales.  For the Orlando market June is typically a peak month so the slight decrease comes as no surprise.  Another indicator suggesting market stabilization is the July 08 to July 07 comparison.  July marked the second month in a row where the year over year decline was less than 10% (it was just less than 6%).  Orlando’s core real estate market – Orange and Seminole counties show a 26.7 percent increase in homes under contract as compared to a year ago.  This bodes well for sales throughout the rest of 08. 

The median price of Orlando homes, townhomes and condos was down from 2007 by 21% (at $207,500), but again this is no surprise based on the fact that the median price peaked at $264,436 in June of last year even though local market sales peaked in August of 2005. 

There were 24,742 properties listed for sale in the Orlando Multiple Listing Service in July.  This was up in a month to month comparison but was 5% lower than the inventory in July 07.  The third month in a row to show year over year inventory decline.

Average days on the market for July 08 was 117 days.  This is declining but still well above 07 numbers.

Average interest rate for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage in July was 6.4%.  The highest rate so far in 2008, but lower than those of a year ago.

For more information about Orlando real estate or Orlando home financing, please contact the British Homes Group.

Is American misfortune British Luck?  It would seem so at the moment – the perfect storm has combined to allow British investors interested in Florida real estate an incredible opportunity.  A weak dollar, a crash in Orlando home prices and rapidly increasing oil prices make Orlando real estate purchases a bargain for foreign investors.  For some Orlando real estate sellers, foreign investment is a welcome phenomena.  This injection of overseas buyers is helping to keep many of the Florida markets alive and will ultimately aid in tipping the US real estate scales back to health.

Lee Weaver of British Homes Group was recently interviewed by Hot Property Overseas.  Weaver notes that 2008 business at British Homes Group is up threefold as compared to the last half of 07 thanks to British investors.  His advice for UK real estate buyers?

"One thing UK buyers of US property should do is familiarize themselves with the buying process, which is quite different from the UK’s solicitor-based one."

Weaver notes some basic differences:

• Typically you don’t need a solicitor, instead you have a closing or title company
• The American MLS System is different from the British system in that agents share the data and split commissions acting as an incentive to show prospective buyers a wider range of properties
• The lending culture in the US is different, home loans bought through mortgage brokers often get sold to other financial institutions – often times you don’t know who owns the loan

Lee believes the window of opportunity is still open but narrowing – those who have been thinking about getting into the Florida market should not wait to investigate!

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

Orlando Area MLS Search 

Recently four representatives from the Florida Association of Realtors visited London with a message for British second home buyers – the Florida market has some incredible real estate steals.  According to Tallahasse-based Florida Association of Realtors Vice President, John Sebree,

"The British are extremely important to the Florida real estate market.  We’re here to tell people that prices in Florida have never been lower and that there’s a huge inventory to choose from."

Right now Britons have very strong buying power with the offset of the pound to weak dollar.  This is the second British trade mission initiated by Florida Realtors in the last four months.  They are meeting with media outlets to pitch Florida real estate stories as well as trying to forge trade and referral relationships with British real estate companies.  The group is also focused on working with the US government to help loosen visa restrictions prohibiting foreigners from living in Florida second homes for longer than six months of the year.

Some Brits are concerned about the high property taxes in Florida, but as compared to several other US states the taxes are relatively low.  Insurance is also higher than anyone would like, but has stabilized in past years.   

According to the group, "buying in Florida is pretty much a no-brainer"! 

We agree!  The Orlando real estate team at British Homes Group is unique in that they employ British and American professionals who are experts in both UK and US property purchase and financing procedures.  Through co-brokerage arrangements and the availability of the Florida Property Multilist, they have access to one of the largest property databases available in Florida.

The British home loan division can also help the British home buyer with access to fixed and flexible mortgages in a variety of currencies.

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

Orlando Area MLS Search 

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

Despite the many misconceptions attached to living in Florida, prospective buyers from Britain still find Florida property a hot commodity!  Fun in the Sunshine State, especially the Orlando marketplace is key for many British second home buyers.  Many believe the free fall in the Orlando real estate market has stopped and stabilization is starting to occur.  In just the last two months the Florida market as a whole has shown vast signs of improvement.  Now is one of the best times for British second home buyers to think about getting into the Orlando real estate market.

According to a 2007 National Association of Realtors survey, 1/3 of all licensed Realtors have worked with an overseas buyer.  Of these overseas buyers, 1/3 were from Europe with 12% being British.  Lots of Brits buying second homes look to Florida as an investment in their future.  The sunny lifestyle meets their needs and the stable tourism economy typically ensures the demand for Orlando FL rental properties.  So those homes have the potential to generate income from short term rentals while British families are not using them.

Due to many subtle differences in British real estate process versus US real estate transactions, it is imperative British buyers work with Realtors and lenders well seasoned in both markets.  The Orlando real estate team at British Homes Group is unique in that they employ British and American professionals who are experts in both UK and US property purchase and financing procedures.  Through co-brokerage arrangements and the availability of the Florida Property Multilist, they have access to one of the largest property databases available in Florida.

The British home loan division can also help the British home buyer with access to fixed and flexible mortgages in a variety of currencies.

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

Orlando Area MLS Search 

While the Florida market teems with an oversupply of homes and the pound remains strong, there has never been a better opportunity for UK real estate buyers to snatch up bargain Orlando dream homes.  Our team at British Homes Group has helped hundreds of British families find vacation homes in Florida over the years.  With the pound at a 26 year high, the Brits have a significant advantage over US buyers who are not only faced with trying to afford a home but also with a difficult mortgage market.  Developers in Florida notoriously over-built, which means that there is a ton of inventory up for grabs.  The economy remains strong with healthy job growth, so this is a great area to invest in as the market will likely level when the inventory wanes.  For now, sellers are highly motivated are bargains are available for the savvy investor. 

If buying real estate overseas seems a daunting process, don’t worry – our team at British Homes Group can help.  We guarantee impartial, professional advice on the current Florida market, on sales and mortgages and much more.  Our goal is to provide the UK real estate buyer with a completely hassle free transaction. 

Our Orlando real estate team is unique in that we have both British and American professionals who are experts in both UK and US property purchase and financing procedures.  Through co-brokerage arrangements and the availability of the Florida Property Multilist, We have access to one of the largest property databases available in Florida.

Our British home loan division can also help the British home buyer with access to fixed and flexible mortgages in a variety of currencies.

Still unconvinced?  To give you an idea of the available Orlando real estate bargains – you could be the new owner of a 5 bedroom, 3 bath fully furnished Clear Creek home with a pool just minutes from Disney for only $225,000.  Now that’s the real deal.

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

Orlando Area MLS Search