SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

How easy is it to purchase a home in Florida?

Purchasing a home in the Disney resort area is generally much less complicated than virtually any other country. The

single most important factor is to ensure that you are using the services of a fully licensed Real Estate Broker. Our

Orlando division is fully licensed by the State of Florida, and we will oversee the complete transaction that requires the

time you first arrive in Florida to the time your home is ready for occupancy. These services include: initially helping

you to find the most suitable property, handling the legal aspects of the purchase, monitoring construction, emailing to

you photographs of your home, coordinating with the mortgage broker, ensuring that the final paperwork is in order,

performing the pre-occupancy inspection, coordinating the delivery of furnishings, organizing the connection of all

services, and arranging the required licenses. These, and other services, are completely tree of charge to each of our

customers.

I am concerned that, when I visit Orlando, I may not view the best properties that are suitable for my

personal needs. How can I be sure that any decision I make is in my best interests?

This is a concern shared by many prospective purchasers. The best possible assurance we can give you is to ensure that

you select a company that is totally independent and can offer you impartial and unbiased advice on every aspect of

property purchase and management. For continuity, it is essential that a company is highly knowledgeable and

experienced in all aspects of Orlando/Disney resort areas, has excellent relationships with all major developers, and can

provide a professional, reliable solution for rental management of your property.

What is a Buyer's Agent and why do I need one?

In 1983, a Federal Trade Commission study revealed that over 70% of all home buyers nationwide mistakenly believed

 they were being represented by the agent who was showing them homes. As a result, laws requiring agents to disclose

 exactly who they represent have been passed all over the country. When consumers became aware that most agents

 worked for the seller, they began demanding their own representation thus the birth of The Buyers Agent!

A Buyer's Agent acts solely on behalf of the Buyer - not the Seller. Their specialized knowledge and expertise is in

 assisting home buyers. Listing agents have homes to sell. A Buyer's Agent does not try to "sell" you a particular home,

 because we don't sell homes, we serve home buyers! A buyer who relies on the seller's agent does not receive the same

 degree of legal protection as that afforded by an agent acting solely on the behalf of the buyer.

Is it easy to obtain a mortgage in Florida?

Subject to status, obtaining a mortgage in Florida is relatively straightforward. Loans of up to 90% for US residents and

80% for non-US residents are secured against the Florida property. You can choose a fixed or variable rate mortgage and

repayment terms range from 5 to 30 years with no age restrictions. Because we work closely with some of the best

mortgage brokers, we ensure that. you obtain the most suitable and competitively priced mortgage for your personal

requirements. We will provide you with more information on this subject as necessary.

How much deposit do I require to place a contract on a property?

In most cases, a "good faith deposit" of only $5,000 is required with your contract for purchase. Depending on the

builder, you will possibly be required to provide the balance of your 10% deposit within a specified time period (usually

30 to 45 days). If for some reason you are not approved for financing, all monies will be refunded.

Closing costs are standard, administrative, and government fees associated with buying a home in Florida. They

comprise of a mortgage setup fee, legal costs (associated with the purchase), and registration of the property, title

insurance, and various pre-paid annual fees such as insurance and association fees. As a guide, you should allow

approximately 4% of the purchase price to cover all fees. Depending on the property, we can sometimes obtain builder

contribution to these costs. Once a specific home is selected, we can arrange for you to receive a "good faith estimate" of

all of the costs associated with a particular mortgage product for the amount financed. As a part of our services, we will

be glad to assist you in this important part of your holiday home purchase.

Are there any additional costs I should be aware of?

If you intend to rent your property, you will need to comply with local legislation. This includes obtaining a hotel/motel

lodging license and ensuring that required safety features are present, such as fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, and

emergency exit lighting. These are normally included with the price of the home, but may be a required add-on.

Additionally, you may be required to place small deposits with the local utilities when these accounts are "turned on" by

your rental management company.

What is "Short Term Rental" and are there any restrictions in the Orlando area?

Short Term Rental is defined as renting a home for a period less than 1 month. The county property appraisers' office

controls this special zoning. The four counties that make up the majority of the Orlando area each have different rules

pertaining to the renting of holiday/vacation homes. It is therefore essential to obtain correct professional advice and

guidance as to the suitability of a particular community for short-term rentals. We will ensure that the property you select

is completely free from any restrictions and is legally zoned for short-term rental.

How many weeks do I need to rent out my home in order to cover all the running costs?

This is dependent on the type of property you purchase, the location and the amount and term of the mortgage. As a

general rule, if you place the minimum down payment and finance the balance, you will need to rent out your home for

about 30 to 35 weeks to pay all costs. For the convenience of our clients, we have researched the rental/management

market to be able to recommend some of the better, more competent companies to take care of your home. We will be

glad to assist you in this area at an appropriate time by introducing you to a representative trom these companies.

How do I know which management company to chose?

As a "Buyer's Agent", we will represent you and guide you in every aspect of the purchase of a holiday home. We

recognize that appointing a professional management company to manage and maintain your home in your absence is

vital. If you intend to rent your home, it is also important to use the services of a company that will provide you with

high levels of occupancy throughout the year, ensuring that you obtain the best possible returns on your investment. We

will be glad to assist you in this critical step by recommending companies whose integrity and business ethics are

unquestioned; whose record of service is impeccable. At an appropriate time, we will be glad to suggest a

rental/management company and provide the necessary introductions to the key management in these companies.

Am I covered in the event of damage to my property?

All homes in Florida must be covered by a comprehensive insurance policy, which includes storm damage. If you are

renting your home, the rental/management company will normally further insure your property, by requiring a security

deposit from your guests prior to their arrival. When your guests leave, the rental/management company will normally

conduct an inventory inspection to determine if any items are damaged or missing.

Are there any restrictions on when I can use my home or how long I can stay?

As the homeowner, you are tree to use the home as much or as little as you choose, whenever you choose. Of course, you

would normally coordinate with your rental/management company to facilitate the stay in your home. Non-US residents

would be required to comply with normal immigration and visa restrictions.

What are the tax advantages of owning a property in Florida?

This is dependent on individual circumstances. There are some very positive tax advantages to these short-term rental

homes, especially if you rent your home when not in use. We will be glad to discuss these advantages with you, but

would suggest that you consult with a tax/accounting professional to determine the full benefits to you.

Is purchasing a property in Orlando a sound investment?

Providing that you purchase the correct type of property in a prime location (especially the Disney resort area) that is

suitable for short-term rentals, property in Orlando is one of the best property oriented investments currently available

anywhere in the world. According to the Orlando Sentinel newspaper, in a 2001 study, property in this area appreciated

on average 19.4% over a 12-month period.