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BUYING GUIDE FLORIDA


the year. Orlando’s ranked as one of the 30 busiest airports in the world, handling over 30 million passengers annually and with a good choice of airlines, such as British Airways, Virgin and Continental. Miami handles over 33 million passengers, and is a hub for fl ights to the Caribbean. During holiday seasons, you can add many charter fl ights from around Britain - many going to smaller Orlando Sanford airport, 18 miles northeast of Orlando.


Infrastructure Florida has slick super-highways, shopping malls galore, top-notch communications and telecoms services, and sophisticated health facilities. It’s important to note, however, that proper medical insurance, which can be expensive, is highly advisable. Some companies, including Mainstream Insurance, have special medical insurance plans designed specifi cally for newly arrived Brits. Education is good in the state of Florida, with locals typically sending their children to the local state schools.


Value for money You get a lot of bang for your buck in Florida, especially with the current strong pound to the weaker American dollar. And now with governor Rick Scott putting forward a platform of employment creation and economic growth, the number of new jobs has increased by 9,500 from September 2011. It looks like things are on the up for the Floridian population of 19.058 million and outsiders wanting to put their money there.


Toleration of foreigners Because of its diverse historical ethnic mix and large number of foreign visitors to the theme parks, Florida’s used to a wide variety of people within its borders. And of course, Florida remains massively popular with Britons. It’s estimated about 400,000 Brits live in the Sunshine State.


Popular areas of Florida Contrary to popular opinion Florida’s not just about tangerine-tanned tourists and that infamous mouse with the big ears. Even though a large chunk of central Florida’s dedicated to the tourist trade, there are also alligator-fi lled mangrove swamps in the Everglades contrasting with Miami’s uber-groovy South Beach, where bikini-clad babes rollerblade in front of Art Deco buildings. In Florida, you’re never very far from


a body of water of some sort, from the Atlantic, Gulf and Gold coasts, to the Keys, various lakes and canal-like inter-coastal waterways. Many buyers like the idea of a home by the water, although normally you would pay more to be near the ocean or


to get a glimpse of the briny. Fundamental locations in this large


state covering 53,625 square miles include: Orlando, Miami, Sarasota, Naples, Jacksonville and Amelia Island.


Orlando Most British buyers fl ock to central Florida near Orlando, close to the theme parks of Walt Disney World, SeaWorld Orlando, Disney-MGM and Universal Studios, and the Epcot Centre. Few people actually buy in the city of Orlando itself, preferring to live in one of the housing estates outside Orlando that make up one of the world’s largest holiday communities. Year-round sun, plentiful fl ights and a


massive amount to do catapults Orlando into the number one spot for British property buyers. Many like the mix of holiday home and investment, using their overseas purchase for vacations, and renting it out the rest of the time to cover running costs. Just beware of optimistic rental yield promises when it comes to short-term rentals in the Disney area – breaking even might be a realistic goal rather than a regular income. Many experts believe this is the right


time to scoop up ‘short sales’ (negative equity homes), foreclosures and other property that’s had considerable price reductions due to a surplus of new homes that were thrown up during the boom. You can pick up a ‘short sale’ bungalow, or even a ‘non-short sale’ condominium or house from only $75,000 (£47,400). Some of these properties might need to be completed, or more money will have to be spent to sort out repairs or associated debt problems. Despite these added costs, you’re still very much in the land of the bargain. If you would rather veer away from the


world of short sales and foreclosed property, there are still great deals to be had in Florida. For instance, a fi ve-bedroom house in a western Orlando suburb that originally sold for $540,000 (£341,000) in 2005 would now be valued at about $186,700 (£118,000). T e trick is to check out the location and state of the property, and to be in a position to move quickly on the best homes that you’re likely to be battling for with other interested buyers. In desirable areas where any surplus inventory has dried up, such as Winter Garden, bidding wars have already returned. Also, it’s worth noting that Orlando’s


not just about outlying communities near theme parks. Over recent years, the historic downtown area’s been spruced up, with small boutique shops, cafes and restaurants within walking distance of rejuvenated historic and new homes. Prices are generally higher than in a less characterful housing estate outside the city, but they’re still


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Property that would be considered luxurious by British standards is hugely abundant and highly aff ordable.


Climate


Florida’s not called the Sunshine State for nothing. The sun shines gloriously all year round, and in the southern sector of the state the temperature rarely drops beneath 15 degrees Celsius in winter and hits 30 degrees during the summer. The climate’s described as ‘humid subtropical’ and becomes a great deal more tropical in the Keys. Snow’s virtually unheard of, although thunderstorms can be frequent, particularly in the spring and autumn. Also, keep in mind that hurricanes can be a menace, and the weather can shift from one thing to another quickly.


reasonable. A decent one-bedroom condominium starts at around $90,000 (£57,000), while an older three-bedroom home is $210,000 (£133,000).


Naples Naples, with its sun-drenched white sandy beaches on the Gulf of Mexico, great shopping, restaurants and golf courses, is popular with retirees and families. Once a small fi shing village, Naples boasts the calmest seas and best ‘sandboxes’ (beaches) in these parts, and comes with good shops,


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