Buying Process to Buy a Orlando Investment Home

Your First Decision

Before considering the purchase of a home, you must determine the purpose of the home. Will it be only a holiday home? If so, will you rent out the property when it is not being used by your family, friends or yourself? How important is that rental income? Or will it be purely used to generate income?

Rental Restriction

Questions have been raised about rental restrictions imposed within the Disney area. Three counties have different sets of rules. Orange County did, some time ago, bring in regulations forbidding rentals of less than 30 days. This does not mean that a property owner cannot rent their house; only that each rental must be for a minimum of 30 days. However, the number of rental agreements in any year could not be more than 12 at the most and so a property in Orange County may not be the best place to maximize rental income. Osceola County now has rental restrictions in place. However, the position is very different from Orange County. Authorities have created exceptions and exclusions to protect the large number of investors who have already purchased houses in the county and the large number who continue to do so. Consequently and without going too deeply into what are fairly complex provisions, many developments have effectively been excluded from the restrictions rendering them communities from which short-term rental activities are allowed. Polk County and Lake County are developing relatively fast. Therefore further investment is being encouraged. It is essential that a prospective buyer obtain advice as to the suitability of the property / development and the use of which it is intended. Rental restrictions should be carefully evaluated and understood. We will gladly provide you with advice guiding you safely and expertly throughout your selection process.

Deposits

The payment amount of the initial deposit will vary from builder to builder. Most will require a $1,000 - $5,000 at contract stage. A deposit will enable you to write the contract, thus fixing the price and protecting your chosen "lot" or home from a price increase. A total of 10% based on the contract price will be required prior to construction and balances most times are due when home is completed.

Bank Account

A U.S. Bank Account is desirable to facilitate the transfer of funds. We will be happy to introduce you to one of the major banks and assist you in opening a suitable account. An initial deposit of $100 should be adequate to open your account and this can be done online through a major bank.

Closing and Rental Set-up Charges

Many are concerned about hidden extras and have heard stories about buyers being saddled with unexpected charges for closing costs long after it has become too late to withdraw from the purchase. Closing costs comprise of several elements, many of which are stamp duties payable on various documents but the biggest expense is usually applicable to the mortgage. Some builders will make a substantial contribution to closing costs. If a US mortgage is not required some builders will offer a cash discount. Finally, if the property is being managed and rented out, you will need additional money for escrow, lodging license, fire extinguisher and security bolts.

Resale

The availability of resale Property changes daily. We will be happy to include a tour of appropriate resale properties within your viewing program should this be of interest to you. Good resale Property will not generally be on the market long, and while there is always a possibility that a "bargain" may become available, a true bargain in a prime location can be difficult to find. The importance of buying in a "prime" sought after location is crucial if the property's resale value is to be optimized. There could well be a good reason why a particular resale is "cheap".

Financial Mortgage Information

While Florida property purchases can often be financed from one's home country, US mortgages will frequently be more attractive and are readily available subject to approval. Advances of 75% of the cost (house, lot and pool) are relatively simple to obtain, 80% are not normally a problem although much more detailed financial information will be required. We will be happy to introduce you to various mortgage brokers with whom we are associated.

Commercial and Business Opportunities

We have companies listed, small and large, in all types of industry. We provide a free confidential business analysis for land, businesses and commercial properties up to $350 million dollars.

U.S. Visas

If you are an investor seeking to run a business in the United States, you will need to obtain the appropriate visa to do so. We will briefly explain these to you and we can arrange a meeting with our Immigration Consultant at your convenience to discuss all options in more detail.