Snow Birds in Orlando?

[grammynelliebelle]

DH just retired and I am planning to join him at the end of the year if all goes well We are thinking about leaving NJ for at least a month next winter. Maybe mid-Jan to mid Feb or end of Feb. Has anybody had experience with a Kissimee condo or town house ? I know they are more room than we would need, but maybe we could get the grandkids down at some point during the time. Also have some friends who might be able to take a long weekend or two. Did a pool house last Nov, through vrbo and really liked the area. Think there are any discounts for a month? Any suggestions as to which communities would be good to check out? Thanks!

 

[kerrynic78]

My dad does this every winter, rents a house from end of January to beginning of March. He has rented in Indian Creek and Windsor Palms and gotten really good discounts because of the length of time he is there. He has already booked a place for January but this time he is trying Formosa Gardens. He got a really good rate and ther house is amazing (we drove by to check it out one day, my DH and I can't wait to visit him there!)

Have a great time!!!

 

[tednvon]

Hi...as long as you come after Jan 1 and before Easter many folks will rent to you...

I would suggest going right through owners and not a management company...
You can use ...www.vrbo.com and look for 2-3 bedroom condos there...
I know many people at Windsor Hills on vrbo are willing to look at long term rentals. If you stay a month or more, I would offer about 1200 to 1400/month and see what they say.


Other really nice condos are in Emerald Island.
Villas at Island Club and Villas at Somerset are a little older but very nice and I would guess you could find a 3 bedroom for about $1100/month. All fully furnished of course. These are condos that rent for about 69 to 89 a night so $110/month is a nice price for guaranteed rental during "low season."


Good Luck...Ted

 

[grammynelliebelle]

Thanks Ted and Kerry for your suggestions. I will start looking and making a list! Plotting and planning is much of the fun. Would either of you know if the community pools are heated? I know it can get chilly in the area during that time, but that there are also beautiful warm days. Carol (aka grammy)

 

[minnie29uk]

For the last two years,Ive had a couple rent out Feb.They were there on their own most of time,but had friends and then grandchildren a few times.
Hoping theyll return Feb and March next year.
Most owners will offer some discount,but its not always going to be a huge amount as there are lots and lots of enquiries for Feb and March.

Happy hunting,
Lynn

 

[tednvon]

Hello, I know the pool at Somerset was very warm when we there...but it always means a cool walk back to the condo.

I have been a owner of a vacation home and an empty home or just one week in Jan, Feb or march does not make money...A condo is only worth what someone will pay...I think you can find very good discounts if the owner's ego does not get in the way...Since we sold our rental home, we have stayed two winters in 3 and 4 bedroom homes for $1500 and $1400/month total cost including pool heat. The owners understood that during low season this is guaranteed amount, no children (minimal wear and tear) and no cleaning fees...If full, they would rent for about $2500/month, but they were nowhere near full during this time...
Granted, there are lots of homes and condos that fill 2-3 weeks and would not benfit from a monthly rental, but are many who do not...it just the market, the location, and any number of factors.
We have had this discussion before on this board...rentals homes are a business. some owners feel rentors "owe" them a certain amount because of the costs per month, and so on. Again, an empty home generates no income and the savvy owner will lock in 2 to 3 months between holidays and not in the summer to cover costs...JMHO....Ted

 

[minnie29uk]

Hello, I know the pool at Somerset was very warm when we there...but it always means a cool walk back to the condo.

I The owners understood that during low season this is guaranteed amount, no children (minimal wear and tear) and no cleaning fees...If full, they would rent for about $2500/month, but they were nowhere near full during this time...
Granted, there are lots of homes and condos that fill 2-3 weeks and would not benfit from a monthly rental, but are many who do not...it just the market, the location, and any number of factors.
We have had this discussion before on this board...rentals homes are a business. some owners feel rentors "owe" them a certain amount because of the costs per month, and so on. Again, an empty home generates no income and the savvy owner will lock in 2 to 3 months between holidays and not in the summer to cover costs...JMHO....Ted

Totally disagree re. wear and tear ... a snowbird will cause more wear and tear and higher utilty bills as they will be there all the time,using cooking equipment etc,have the heating on etc..

If an owners is taking that sort of rent,they will not be making enough money to keep the property at a good standard year on and year on...so do beware,if you rent a property at these prices,you may find the home is not one that is really looked after

I always believe you get what you pay for,

Regards,
Lynn

 

[tednvon]

Hi...I knew that would probably ruffle a feather or two...

There is a huge difference in costs if you bought your home 5-10 years ago and a 3-4BR was 99 to 129, 000 dollars than if you bought in last 2 years and have to make a huge mortgage payment...

I guess I disagree with the wear and tear...Gosh, we did lots of minor maintainance that would cost 30-40 dollars an hour..we emailed the owner weekly for an update and left it clean enough that no final clean was necessary at about $125...

The homes/condos built 10 years ago just do not rent as well as those that are "new."

they are very nice, but not near the fancy new furniture, game rooms, 50 inch TVs that have made the market so competitive...

Again, the owners were more than happy to have us and I do not think there was any real wear and tear at all...

Enough said...Ted

 

[JANNYANS]

Regardless of the age of a home Ted if the owner gets a good rate for any bookings -long or short they can afford to up grade when needed -it is the low rate that a lot of agencies give owners and the fact that many owners bought wearing rose coloured glasses as regards the rental earings that doesn't help.The basic costs of running a home are the same whether 2 years or 10 as utilities have shot up in price and to be honest $1200/$1400 a month wouldn't really go very far in covering costs at the moment.
Maybe when you stayed there were just the 2 of you but some snowbirds have all their family to visit during the stay which does make a difference.
JMO

 

[tednvon]

JMO,
As much as I understand your comment, you and I both know that the average rentor out there cares nothing about your or my problem meeting costs, any more than they care about Holiday Inn's energy costs.

We bought the house, rose colored glasses or not and no one out there is going to do a sympathy rental.

I may be a little off but here is my take on the cost of a 3-4 bedroom home purchased 6 to 10 years ago for 110,000 with 30 % down...
Tax, Ins, Principle, interest.....Appx........$650
Management fee.................................$100
Utilities incl pool heat.......................... $550
Pool care...........................................$80
Pest service.......................................$30
HOA (Older developement)....................$40
clean times two (none with us).............$200
odds and ends.....................................$100

Total.................................................$1750

I see many many of these homes being offered for $500 to 600 a week with only one, maybe two, weeks taken during low season....
The owners I contact have ZERO, ZIP, NADA, weeks booked on their calendar for all 3 months of Jan, Feb, March...I contact them in the late summer when they have NO bookings...I feel my $1500 to $1600 is very welcomed by these owners as a way to get to the Easter and summer season which should be better. You and I both owned in Emerald Island...I am sure you know that EI is a hot area and I would never even think of renting there as they sure don't need me or someone else looking for a month or two.

My point remains that $1500 or $1200 or even a $1000/ month beats $600 or less with cleaning fees...
FYI, I was told up front by our mangement company to expect 15 weeks tops...they actually did a bit better than that...you are right, if a person is innocent enough to believe in the 30 to 35 weeks some companies promise, then they must sleep in the bed they have made and I feel for them.
You have been wise enough to get your name and property on these boards, which I hope has helped...You also picked Emerald Island which gets a lot of free press on any number of message board.

The old addage..."It's business" is hard to understand when it is one's dream home with lots of love and sweat involved.


Ted

 

[JANNYANS]

Don't get me wrong Ted I don't blame the rentors for asking for low rates I blame the owners for giving them .
Actually I don't own in EI but have owned for 8 years and was told it was easy but it isn't and never was really as even with the man co bookings I got in the beginning my costs weren't being covered and I had to top up my account in the states on a frequent basis .I now do my own bookings get a fair rate and have the $$ to keep adding and up grading which is something you have to do in order to stay in the business.
Owners soon lose the tinted shades in this business and thats part of the reason there are so many str homes for sale .

 

[tednvon]

Good Luck...
Sorry, thought you were in Emerald Island...maybe it is Isla Bonita that is in EI....I wish you the best...if you have a web site, I would be happy to recommend it to friends here in Iowa who kind of consider us the "Disney experts" in Iowa...


Ted

 

[CarolA]

My Dad did this for several years. A few suggestions. Go to the classified section of the papers online and do some research.

Consider moving OUT of Orlando. He was actually in a 55 plus community in Haines City. They rented what they called "park models" (Basically it's a trailer with a screen porch added on) However, they rented for well under $1,000, pool was heated and there were lots of activities. My step mom did crafts, my dad played pool etc...

 

[grammynelliebelle]

Thanks to all for your information and perspectives. I certainly appreciate the points of the owners and understand that these homes are an investment for you as well as an occassional personal get away. Also appreciate that they are a good deal of work and expense! That said, I think we will do as Ted suggests. Watch and wait. If certain properties don't book then some owners may be interested in discounting. If they aren't that is OK too. Also, we won't need to be five minutes from the park. We may do well to look a little further out. I hope we get there this winter and also hope it is a "win-win" situation!