All Forum Posts by: Alice Horn

During the pandemic, we have seen many investors purchase completely remotely. I completely agree on the importance of assembling a great team. You will want a realtor who is knowledgeable about the market, and willing to do video tours to walk you through the property. Next, your realtor or PM should be able and willing to provide projections on the property, using a reliable software or other source. Lastly, make sure you have a top-notch inspector. Happy to chat further about the Orlando STR market!

Totally agree with @Shawn McCormick. Aside from all the great reasons he mentions above, as Melissa also states in her post...Central Florida is the only true year round market in Florida. It's also a competitive market, but there are many strategies to make your home stand out and beat the competition. Happy to chat and good luck with your search!

@John Menton we work with a mortgage broker who specializes in the Orlando STR market.

Completely agree with @Ryan Moyer. Sure, there are thousands of vacation rentals in the Disney market. But the majority of homes are fairly average. So here are the things to look out for:

- Location. Obviously, anything closer to Disney is a plus. Windsor Hills and Storey Lake are some of the closer communities. Homes are pricier, but this will be offset by higher rates. We are also seeing increased interest in Emerald Island, an older resort with homes that can be renovated. Championsgate, Windsor at Westside and Solara are a bit further but they have great amenities which are also very popular.

- Updated decor. Those mustard yellow walls, giant four poster beds and 90's decor in general gotta go! Updated decor is a must, and it can often be done creatively so you don't have to refurnish the WHOLE house.

- Pools are a must. Smaller homes and townhomes without pools just don't perform as well. There are a few exceptions with condos that do well, happy to chat about those.

- Theming. Families travel to Orlando for the whole Disney/theme park experience, and they want that experience reflected in the homes. Kids often make family travel decisions. Look for creative theming that can set your home apart and make it a wow for kids.

- Game rooms. Here again, cool lighting, graphics and equipment will set your home apart.

- View from the lanai. If you can find a home with a forest or lake view, that's a plus. If it faces west, even better. 

Happy to chat and brainstorm further!

@John Menton, happy to help with your search. We have homes in most of the communities you have mentioned above and we can chat about our experience with the various communities, including revenue/occupancy data for different home types in each community. Feel free to reach out :)

Thanks @Tyler Gibson! And @Alexander Coventry, happy to chat!

@Jorge Vazquez In the Orlando, market, guests are visiting to visit Disney and the other theme parks. For most guests, this is an expensive vacation and few could afford to stay for 30 days even if their schedules permitted that. We would never survive on 30 day minimums as it would exclude the majority of our market. Also, 30 day rates are significantly lower (we did experiment with longer stays during the pandemic and found even then, we were better off with shorter stays for the most part). Every market is very different, kudos for your success with this approach in your market!

Thanks @Tyler Gibson! @Daria Berenato, yes - it’s super important to have special touches in a Disney area home including themed bedrooms, game room, anything else that will make the home stand out. Feel free to reach out and we can talk about some ideas, including best communities and home types to consider right now!

We’re very happy with our Storey Lake properties! Because of the location, (close to Disney), amenities and great reputation with guests, we see rates and occupancies go a bit higher there than with similar homes in many other communities. 

Hi @Bernadeau C.! I would love to learn from everyone's experience in this space as well. Let's share any information.