It's all go in Orlando

For Howard Thorne whose Homes of America manages rentals as well as sales, Orange Tree and High Grove are the two best performing developments for STR in the Lake country area, each pulling 26-34 weeks rental a year.

“But operational costs are relevant to buyers and the difference is that Homeowners Association [upkeep] fees are $2,000 a year at High Grove, compared with $400 pa for Orange Tree,” he says (www.homesofamerica.co.uk).

At High Grove (6 mins from Disney, also golf, Cagans Crossing restaurants and shops) a 4-bed home costs $214,000; at Orange Tree (10 mins from Disney, near supermarket and restaurants) homes cost $145,000 to $269,000.

“Note that by the time you factor in spending $20,000 on furniture and repair costs necessary for bank-owned properties, there's often little difference in price between that and a regular one,” he adds.

Other good performers he suggests with 30-42 weeks rentals are Tuscan Hills in Polk County, 12 mins from Disney and Watersong (Davenport, 18 mins from Disney).

At both prices kick off around $140,000 for a 3/4 bed short-sale.

For Gary Kenny of Coldwell Banker Feltrim (sales and rentals), however, Tuscana 4 miles from Disney is a good performer with 70 per cent occupancy (around 33 weeks) expected this year.

“It's got a tried and tested rentals programme, is 12 mins from Disney, 20 miles from the new Legoland, and next door to Champions Gate golf course,” says Kenny (www.cbfeltrim.com ).

He is selling two-bedroom furnished units there for $89,500 which were selling for $365,000 in 2008 (www.tuscana.net).

Another choice is Haines City, much closer to Disney (20 mins) since the widening of highways 4 and 27.

“It's grown into a good location, with great shops – including the new Posner shopping centre,” says Kenny, who is selling one-bed condos on the Southern Dunes golf resort from $39,000 (unfurnished, bank-owned) through to villas for $175,000 plus.

“Occupancy is closer to 60 per cent because there are some people who want to be 10 minutes not 20 mins from Disney,” he adds.

Short term rentals

Where: Kissimmee
Price: $150,000
This detached four bed, 4 bath home with a pool is 20 mins from Disney.
Contact: British Homes Group: 001 407 396 9914,
www.britishhomesgroup.com

Where: Haines City
Price: $219,900
A four bed, 2 bath home on Southern Dunes Golf Course, 20 mins from Disney.
Contact: CB Feltrim, 001-407-9222806, www.cbfeltrim.com

Best for Residential
For those not needing or wanting short-term rentals the net widens – and the Doctor Phillips outlying suburb of Orlando ticks a few boxes for those wanting to stay a few months in Florida.

Residential


Where: Doctor Phillips
Price: $550,000,
A four-bed, 3 bathroom corner villa over 3,000 square feet on a great gated community, Phillips Landing.
Contact: CB Feltrim, 001-407-9222806, www.cbfeltrim.com

Where: Winter Garden
Price: $325,000
Four-bed, 3 bath villa located in a lovely community in a superb area.
Contact: Jerry Barker Vacation Homes, 001 407 286 8170, www.jerrybarker.com

“It's close to Restaurant Row on Sandlake Road [a street full of high-end restaurants] as well as the prestigious Bay Hill golf course, the Millennium Mall, as well as having very good schools and 20 minutes from downtown Orlando,” says Gary Kenny.

He is selling properties from $300,000 on the leafy gated community of Turtle Creek, but really recommends Phillips Landing - gated community of around 350 homes built around a lake - if you have a budget of $500,000 plus (see box).

Howard Thorne has come condos in Doctor Phillips from $175,000 but also recommends nextdoor Windermere (Orlando's own Lake District and home of Tiger Woods) as having the “most desirable zip code – 34786”.

“But there are both cheap and expensive properties there: a 4 bed home in the Summerport area costs $200,000, or in Isleworth/Lake Butler Sound you can get a short sale 5 bedroom home for $685,000,” he says.

Winter Park, an upmarket northern suburb of Orlando city on a chain of lakes is also a good choice according to Bill Cowie of the British Homes Group (www.britishhomesgroup.com).

“It's a cosmopolitan, Chelsea-like area of restaurants, theatres and pubs - 5 mins from downtown Orlando - where prices have remained firm,” he says.

“You are looking at $300,000-$400,000 for a single family home.”

He also suggests the Disney master-planned community of Celebration might appeal to those seeking something safe, clean and well-managed – though some might finding restrictions on curtain-colour a little stifling.

“Location-wise it is great, the bulls eye of the road network, and it's got a world-class hospital and is close to the shopping outlets of the I-99 corridor.

“Baby condos start from $100,000 but $350,000 will get you a 4-bed single-family home.”

Jerry Barker of the eponymous vacation homes agency also says Celebration is a favourite choice, as is another recommendation of Cowie's – Lake Nona out by Orlando airport.

“What's special about this area – apart from the great golf courses [Nick Faldo has a home there] is it's getting a $2 billion world-class medical facility which is drawing buyers,” says Barker.

According to Cowie, 4-bed single-family homes start at around $800,000.