Exploring central Florida

Today, Florida has firmly established itself as one of the leading, long-haul destination for second-home seeking Brits. Go back 30 years or so, the State was little more than a southern US backwater.

Had Walt and Roy Disney not decide in 1963 to purchase some barren wasteland located to the southwest of Orlando for their new theme park Disney World, Florida would likely have been a very different place today. However, the fact is that Disney World rejuvenated Florida, particularly the central region of the state. The area surrounding Florida’s sixth most populous city, Orlando, was little more than swampland until the Disney brothers arrived on the scene.

Disney World Florida paved the way for many similar attractions to be developed around the central region of the state. In fact, Florida’s centre has the highest concentration of amusement parks anywhere in the world, including 11 major theme parks such as Sea World, Universal Studios and, of course, Disney World. Not that it’s just the theme parks for which central Florida is renowned.

There are over 20 golf courses in the city alone, plus numerous others in the surrounding metropolitan area, while the region is home to more than 100 natural lakes, enabling visitors and residents alike to take some much needed serene time away from the hustle and bustle of Disney World, et al. With all these in mind, it is no surprise that Florida’s central region has become such a hit with overseas purchasers, particularly Brits who have traditionally favoured it over other areas of Florida.

What certainly doesn’t hinder this popularity is the fact that prices in this region tend to be lower than those in other popular areas of the state – namely the Gulf Coast and Miami. “Condominiums around the Orlando area can be purchased from around the upper $200,000s to early $300,000s, while three-bedroom villas start from about $350,000″, says Suzanne Morrill of World of Florida. “However, one should be aware that most of the condos/town houses are on resort developments so there are often higher monthly home owner association charges to cover looking after the central clubhouse, cinema rooms etcetera.”

Access
Access in Florida is excellent. Orlando International Airport, located just three miles from downtown Orlando, is the main port of entry for UK arrivals heading to Florida.

Resorts
Orlando is the social and economic hub of the central Florida region and by far the most popular area with British property buyers. Its various theme parks and other attractions make it the perfect destination for investment buyers as rental potential in the area is extremely good. Morrill suggests that most owners are currently managing to let their property in Orlando for around 26 weeks of the year. As one would expect, there are always new developments under construction in and around the Orlando metropolitan area. For example, Bridgeford Crossing is a new resort currently being developed just minutes from Disney and close to many of the state’s other major attractions. The resort will offer villas of varying sizes between three and six bedrooms and prices start from $354,900.

Elsewhere, World of Florida is currently selling homes in the new Orangetree resort located just 15 minutes from Disney World and 45 minutes from the airport. A four-bedroom, three-bathroom home in this resort can be purchased from $384,600.

Away from Orlando, Kissimmee, once little more than a small farming community, also benefited greatly from the opening of Disney World and is now a small but vibrant and economically secure city. While still close enough to all of the state’s major attractions to be of interest to purchasers, the city is far quieter than Orlando. It is ideal for vacationers seeking a more peaceful alternative to the always lively city. Here, property is slightly cheaper than in Orlando itself – a four-bedroom villa with a fully-fitted kitchen and heated swimming pool can be purchased for $235,000 – although it should be remembered that rental demand for a property there is not likely to be as high as it is in Orlando.

Similarly, while both slightly further away from the region’s main attractions, Lakeland and Ocala are still close enough to warrant a look when searching for a home in this part of the state. Lakeland is particularly appealing for its serene position, as its name suggests, surrounded by some of Florida’s biggest and most scenic lakes. In Lakeland a spacious three-bedroom home with a swimming pool can be yours for $247,500 while a newly constructed three-bedroom home in Ocala is on the market for $269,900).

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