Florida Property, Florida Villas, Florida Real Estate, Florida Mortgages & Florida Vacation Rentals - British Homes Group Active Rain Blog

Whats on your desk?

British Homes Group — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 13:56:26 -0700

Now, many moons ago I heard of an interesting little fun thing to do when you have a few minutes spare,

Once watching a TV show, two presenters (a husband and wife) were asked to empty the contents of their pockets and, in the case of the wife, their purse.

LIVE ON TELEVISION!!

This 'experiment' really shows what kind of things we carry with us and what our surroundings are made up of - usually of things we take for granted or do not notice!

It is a bit like that credit card company, Whats in your wallet? I ask..what is on your office desk?

For instance...

On my desk I have the following:

One mug of lukewarm tea.
One desktop computer screen with post it notes attached.
One set of desktop speakers
One telephone
two mousemats - one on top of the other, both freebies from recent conferences.
A pad of pink post it notes,
A Sharpie (Red, Fine Point)
Thank you card - from a really nice client!
British and American desktop flags
A plastic mini-piggy bank with 5 x 1cent coins (one third holding capacity, - pig is unopenable!)
A stack of paperwork that is current
2 folders
One in-tray/Out tray set
This keyboard which I am typing on
One bottle of water (half-drunk)
One retractable ball point pen
One desk calendar

Think that covers it...when you analyze it, there doesnt look like alot but it sure it!

Try it yourself! I guarantee you may find some surprises!!

Active Rainer - More Experience that you would think!

British Homes Group — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 11:29:06 -0700

Not long ago were the days of 30,000 members, then 40,000 then 45,000...now we are on the cusp of 50,000 Active Rainers.

What a great, great, great opportunity to make friends, refer business and exposure your services to the industry and public!

The community as a whole boasts many years of experience, with 50,000 members, imagine each possessing 20 years experience in the sector. That would equate to 1 million years of experience! (50,000 x 20 years) however, of course, not all agents have that short or long term of service to the industry, so lets take it down a notch, imagine the average term of a member in the industry was 10 years, collectively the community as a whole would possess half a million years experience! (500,000 years of Real Estate!)

How about the extreme? Imagine there were 6.5 million members, that would be nearly everybody in the industry, Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, Title Agents, the lot! Imagine that they each on average had 10 years of experience in the industry, the community could boast the prehistoric number of 65 million years of experience!

That is as much experience back to the age of the dinosaurs!

I am sure of course, Dinosaurs were not in need of Real Estate assistance to invest in that "large lofty cave in the hills overlooking the swamp and within a days trek to the ancient forest" and whether to get an "Adjustable rate or Fixed rate", or even concerned about if the cave would appraise correctly!

In reality of course, the experience within the community would of course be more used to "cute Cape Cod home in the hills with lake views and within driving distance of the National Park" and would be able to get a Mortgage Broker to discuss mortgages with a client!

So there we have it, Active Rain, Collectively more experience that you can shake a pre-historic-fossilized Stick at! :-)

Hope this post makes your day a bit more cheerful!

Active Rain Growth...Incorporation within the MLS System?

British Homes Group — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 15:23:33 -0700

44,971 members and counting.....

I wonder if Active Rain would grow large enough to incorporate itself through an IDX Style customizable system into Regional MLS Systems?

It would be a nice feature..with each region having a different MLS though it could be a challenge, what a useful tool, an integrated system where you could list a property, blog about it and use a messaging system between agents.

Hey ....you could even use active rains messaging system to ask for showing instructions!

I wonder if anyone else has thoughts on this idea?

The downside is that the MLS is fee based but with nearly all agents using it, it could be a nice feature....perhaps it could be an add on that is free? Who knows! The possibilities are endless!

It would allow agents to have their marketing, networking, MLS, contacts and CMA information all in one place!!

Wonder what active rain thinks!?

Cheers! On route to 45,000 members!

Active Rain - It doesnt rain it pours...with business!

British Homes Group — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 11:13:53 -0700

Whilst being fairly new to Active Rain...like many we feel a certain affection for the network.. it alfter all promotes knowledge and best practice in our industry.

With a changing market it is more and more important to ensure a professional approach to Real Estate and Real Estate Investing. Mortgages are complex financial products which effect most peoples lives for many years. - All the more reason to seek the best advice.

With many people seeking to be homeowners in the US this market slowdown will be temporary. It needed to happy, it has forced a change in our industry, if the professionals want to get on the bandwagon they will be ready for the new market, if the do not then they will be unprepared for the times ahead.

Through Real Estate technology such as blogging and using the internet to market you and your homes the industry is becoming more dynamic. Even using Active Rain is part of a Real Estate company's internet marketing.

People are doing their research before contacting a Realtor whereas years ago to find out information on the homebuying process or the neighborhood they would contact their local Realtor first.

Once the storm is over...Lets look forward to the Boom Times Ahead!

Posting to groups where the post content isn't 100% correct

British Homes Group — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 15:25:46 -0700

When blogging, content is important, on active rain content should be made to fit the group you are posting to... or should it?

Why not set up a group first and then write about what you want to write about!!

The group system is great, but I got myself into a little trouble recently by posting to a group about content that was probably only 90% relevant to the group....i got comments and readers (all positive) until one set of comments was from (unknown to me at the time) was from the creator of the group who was scathing of the post!!

We all make the odd mistake in blogging, however that is what makes it interesting...

I suppose what I could be saying is that, be careful what groups you join and what you post on there!

Active Rain - Very Hot Virtual Real Estate

British Homes Group — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 10:04:43 -0700

Active Rain's Role as a community based profile and networking site has not and will not go unnoticed on the web, as its presences and popularity grows from great SEO results and new members spreading the word it is interesting to think about active rain's future.

Ok, I have blogged before about the MySpace curve and how big will active rain could go, but maybe it is deeper than that, MySpace after all was purchased for a whopping $580 million (ok, it was a package deal with some other Internet businesses thrown in) and the founder of Facebook has been offered a rumoured $1-$1.6 billion from Yahoo - but refused! Also, do not forget Google Purchasing the great video community that is 'the tube' (YouTube for the unknowing) for nearly $1 billion.

With all these 'Millions and Billions' Floating around for 'Virtual Real Estate' - Lets not even go into the 'Second Life' Avatar online communities where ''Online-Realtors'' have set up shop. I must pose the question.. How much is Active Rain worth? To its community members it is priceless...but what if a media mogul or tech-tycoon came up and said.. I want to buy that...How much would it be worth? Lets face it there is very little actual physical real estate in the transaction..its the online presence and SEO rather than the real world presence...maybe another target for Google?!! - "Google Rain" anyone? Perhaps it might be bought with another site such as Zillow to create an awesome Real Estate Professional and Consumer Community and Resource? After all active rain thrives because of its independence!

I suppose the question is not how much.. but when, inevitably whoever owns Active Rain now... will most likely eventually sell it...maybe when there is a million members? Who Knows.. it is an interesting thought for the future...

Let me know what you think?

Reedy Creek Improvement District not to act on Property Tax Cuts

British Homes Group — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 15:46:56 -0700

This 'Local Government' is run by one entity, Disney who has decided that it will not enact the Tax Cut

Reedy Creek improvement District is a local Government that covers around 25,000 acres and is a city in itself, it covers most of Walt Disney world and some of the associated businesses and properties surrounding it. The entity is chaired by Disney and has an oprating budget of $52 million, they have told the Orange County Property Appriaser that it will not be enacting the property tax cuts as it would wipe $1.2 million from that budget.

The Reedy Creek Improvement District runs an ambulance service amongst other things such as building inspections amongst other services for Disney. With 67,000 cast members working for Walt Disney World the district needs to run itself like a city!

Other cities have voted to skip the tax cut proposals but Reedy Creek doesn't stand to cause much of a problem by doing so as the Board of Supervisors which controls the Government of Reedy Creek is made up of 5 seats and Disney pays 90% of the property tax collected and as the largest landowner gets to say who sits on the board! This quirk of local politics is most interesting.

N.B For the uninitiated, Reedy Creek was re-named to what is now known as Lake Buena Vista.

Active Rain Now at 42k!

British Homes Group — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 15:45:32 -0700

I have just logged on and noticed that Active Rain now has dead on 42,000 members! This is fantastic news, it appears that the community averages just under 1000 new members a week!

Will it follow the MySpace Curve, a great success that has a growth rate that eventually levels off? Who knows! In our previous post I theorized on what would become of Active Rain in the future!

With around 1.7 million licensed Real Estate Agents in the USA (500k in California!) there could easily be a million realtors on active rain add on mortgage brokers as well as title companies and more there could be 2 or 3 million active rain profiles in just a few short years!

Any thoughts?

Florida Space Shuttle Launch Given the GO for Wednesday!

British Homes Group — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 10:55:53 -0700

After initial rumours of delays launch officials have confirmed this morning again that the launch will go ahead as planned tomorrow, Wednesday August 8th at an planned launch time of 6.36pm Eastern Time (5 hours behind the UK's British Summer Time)

The mission, STS-118 will deliver another section to the ISS in its continued construction. The mission will also be the first to use a wireless tile inspection device, saving the crew from manually checking the tiles before re-entry.

As on our previous post you can visit NASA.gov and listen to Mission Audio over the internet (Windows Media Player Required) or watch the NASA public TV channel over the net to keep up to date on the mission.

We all wish the crew the best of luck and god speed!

Google Maps now features Orlando and Central Florida on its Street Level View

British Homes Group — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 10:39:30 -0700

Orlando, Florida as you have never seen it before! Google Maps has had the street level feature before for certain large cities such as New York but now the great minds that are Google have 'done' Orlando.

Their photography has stretched from I-4 Near Champions Gate all the way to Daytona Beach, the US 192, where it ends at Clermont South and in Melborne on the Coast, Through the winding streets of Celebration to the High Rise SkyScrapers in Downtown Orlando.. they have covered so much!

This something not to be missed out on. Check it out today!

http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&ll=28.598992,-81.101074&spn=1.138203,1.851196&z=9&om=1&layer=c

Anywhere there is a blue line is where you can zoom in and go to street level. Navigating through the streets can be slow but it is so interesting! What a great feature if you are considering a home here! They even stretch up to the towns in North Central Florida, Tavares, the Seat of Lake County as well as Historic Mount Dora.

Check it out today!

Active Rain: The MySpace of the Real Estate World

British Homes Group — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 10:08:39 -0700

What is active rain?...before you answer...think. What is it really?

It is not quite a fully fledged consumer driven site..but is more a social networking and information site.

Active Rain is the Myspace of the Real Estate Sphere. It has similar features yet is not for teenagers linking up with friends, it is professionals who are looking at networking, linking up with friends and sharing information and advice - although it is not quite as customizable as MySpace, with flashy backgrounds and the like.

The question really is.. how big will it become?! At nearly 42,000 members and growing where will it end! A Million? With something like 1.7million licensed Real Estate Agents in the US alone (over quarter of a million in Florida and over Half a million in California) it could well do, throw in the thousands in Canada and associated industries such as home staging and mortgage brokers and loan officers and you could easily see one or two million active rainers.

My question which I pose is this... How Will Google Cope!? If everyone is benefiting from SEO sought form Active Rain and blogging..?!

Another Space Shuttle Launch Approaches!

British Homes Group — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 11:07:25 -0700

Its that time again.. August 7th is scheduled for another one of those awe inspiring Central Florida sights... the Space Shuttle will blast into space!!

The last one was a great success and updates are available from NASA.gov..which is a great website with interactive media and my favorite feature... the ability to listen to the mission audio (which is not narrated over like on the Public TV Channel which is also available over the net. The mission audio is pure Neil Armstrong-'esque' "one small step for man" with accompanying crackles and pops and other sounds of static!

Don't forget at the Kennedy Space center they have the great new Shuttle Experience ride where you can experience the simulation of 3G's!

Check out the website www.nasa.gov and look at the media section...you will not be disappointed.

The latest Real Estate Technology in the USA unheard of in the UK

British Homes Group — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 10:55:14 -0700

An unheard of technology in the UK due to radio wave broadcasting/licensing restrictions is a hit in the USA. Despite FCC regulations in the US on the usage of radio waves a company 'ActRadio' has developed - and been using for many years - a value added real estate marketing tool which works within these restrictions.

Their 'Talking House' application uses a transmitter which is no larger than a common household VCR that broadcasts audio over AM radio over just a few dozen yards in a continuous loop for buyers who are driving by a property to tune in to hear more about the homes features.

You will know that the property has this technology by an additional sign to the usual 'For Sale' garb, a sign with 'Talking House' or words to that effect will state a AM band frequency to tune into..once you turn on your radio and tune in you can hear valuable - and most importantly, memorable - information on the property.

The technology broadcasts on the 'AM' band due to FCC regulations and can broadcast on most frequencies in that band providing it does not interfere with local radio stations. This allows homes side by side to use these units on separate frequencies without conflict.

From a Brit's perspective the first time you see and hear this technology in action it is pretty neat. It is such a unique selling tool - it stops those 'drive by viewing' question, where you ask.. "I wonder how many bedroom sit has?".."I wonder if it has a pool?" and so on!

Of course the technology has other uses but this is one of its largest applications. Check out www.ActRadio.com for more information on the technology and www.talkinghouse.com for more information on its usage as a real estate technology.

Florida Real Estate: Orlando Area Prices on the Rise

British Homes Group — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 10:54:05 -0700

Central Florida Home Sales slow but prices rising

Orlando Area Home Sales may have slowed but the median price is on the up again! The median price for existing home sales in the area is up 1.61% on June 2006. This is great news, however inventory is at a historic high topping 25,000 homes - inventory has risen by 41% this year alone! Now it would take 18 months to clear inventory when 2 years ago there was only 2 months of inventory.

This is great news, home values are stable and on a slight increase fueled by international buyers and wealthy buyers purchasing second homes. All taking advantage of the huge selection of home. A true buyer market.

From an international buyers perspective - especially a Brits - the exchange rate is at its best, with the dollar the weakest in over quarter of a century.

The time to buy is now!

(None of the information contained in this blog/blog post constitutes, nor should be construed as Financial Advice)

Florida State Park Visitor Numbers on the up!

British Homes Group — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 10:52:39 -0700

19.5 million people visited Florida's diverse state park system. in the year 2006-2007 according to figures released today. The number are at a record high up 7.6% on the previous year! This record number of visitors boosted the economy by $900 million. This vast sum of money generated by the system shows that the average visitor can create a positive effect on the local and statewide economy. The states system is one of the largest in the nation with over 160 parks encompassing over 700,000 acres!

The top park visited was Honeymoon Island north of Tampa off the coast of Dunedin, with over 975,000 visitors with St Andrews State Park in Panama City coming in a close second at 890,000, however John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo, comes in third at 860,000.

Having been to Honeymoon Island many times I can say that it really is the most beautiful! Long white sandy beaches and great facilities all swamped by the warm Gulf of Mexico...great fishing, swimming and nature center!

FAR Annual Convention & Trade Expo on its way...

British Homes Group — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 10:48:41 -0700

This Yearly Event is coming to Lake Buena Vista, Orlando this August!

The Florida Association of Realtors Annual Convention and Trade Show is coming to Orlando in a bit more than three weeks time. The show is THE event for Florida Realtors and is not to be missed. On FAR's website www.floridarealtors.org under news and events there is more information including other local going on too.

The Convention has its own PDF where there are many activities going on, including a panel discussion with a representative from Google and the C.O.O. Kristen Veraldi of Real Estate Blogsites (of www.realestateblogsites.com) who will discuss the latest Real Estate Technologies as well as how technology such as Real Estate Blogging can help your business.

The convention runs from August 22-26th and the Trade Show is on the 23rds and 24th. The Blogging Panel discussion is on the 23rd in the afternoon.

See the FAR website for more details. Keep checking in for more information!

British Homes Group Blog & Other Profiles

British Homes Group — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 13:02:08 -0700

Asides from Active Rain..the British Homes Group has a plethora of other online profiles and its own dedicated blog....

We haveblog.britishhomesgroup.com as well as the main website www.britishhomesgroup.com and the following:

With such a great number of profiling websites out there it is great to network..spread your ideas and more on the wider community. Check out ours and please if you have a British Client looking for financing in Florida give us a call. 1-407-396-9914, asides from US Dollar Mortgages we also offer the British Sterling Mortgage as well as a Multi-Currency mortgage (n.b. due to the nature of the Multi-Currency Mortgage Enquiries we have been receiving I stress that the lender does not lend to US Residents!!) Have Fun..and look forward to hearing from you!

CONDO-TEL BUYERS BEWARE!! CONCERNS GROWING OVER CONDO-HOTEL SUCCESS

British Homes Group — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 13:36:09 -0700

This short lived market now disappears as investors stick to more traditional Real Estate Products for their cash

Condo-Tels or Condo-Hotels as they are more properly known are a type of hotel room that you can purchase and use as your own holiday home and when you are not using it, it is let out as a normal hotel room/suite. Usually buy a national/international hotelier chain.

Sounds like a great idea!!Well it is, you actually own a slice of real estate in a resort/hotel/location you love, it is rented out for you without you having to get too involved..however is it a great idea? With the slow down in the Real Estate market in recent months these units which are often more than the price of a single family home have been left unsold, unbuilt and in less than a year the market that was once there has dried up. This type of purchase has been doubted by the mortgage lenders who have always been cautious about lending for such a unit, now it has become even harder to finance one in the traditional sense.

According to Dante Alexander, Head of the National Association of Condo-Hotel Owners
"Eighty-five percent of the buyers were relying on second mortgages to buy their units, and that is gone." as reported in the Orlando Sentinel.

With the market virtually gone and lenders avoiding the product some projects that have yet to be built could be canceled and some which were due in the next year or so have been pushed back to 2009-2010.

Condo-Tels are no longer a Real Estate Investment, they are more of a lifestyle choice, somewhere you can vacation, relax in your favourite destination and cover some of the costs by renting out your unit as part of the hoteliers rental program.

However here at the British Homes Group, we have some lenders on board who will in certain developments offer financing to Brits who have bought or are looking to buy a Condo-Tel.

Please call us today UK Freephone 0800 096 5989 or our US local number 1-407-396-9914.

HARRY POTTER COMES TO FLORIDA!

British Homes Group — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 16:07:07 -0700

New Universal Studio's Orlando Harry Potter Theme Park

The international craze that has become Harry Potter has been begging for a theme park for its fans...now the wait is.. well, nearly over! Unversal Studio's Orlando - who had been rumoured previously - although declined to comment - to have been in negotiations over creating a Harry Potter theme world, now have announced that it will be building such a park.

"The Wizarding World of Harry Potter" will open in 2009 at Universal Studio's Orlando and fans will not be disappointed, there are authentic locations such as Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and the 'local' wizarding town of Hogsmeade as well as the more scary... Forbidden Forest! This is sure to create Pottermania in the area and fans of the books and films will surely enjoy the park...you will be able to visit Dumbledores office as well as the quaint village shops in Hogsmeade, as well as possible locations in the upcoming installment!

This really is exciting news for all who are looking to buy in Florida...

Orlando Area Great for all!

British Homes Group — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 16:01:07 -0700

Orlando, the 'City Beautiful' is the third largest metropolitan area in Florida, after Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa-St. Pete. It is a city where the world comes to play. It houses the second largest university in Florida and has many high tech jobs.
How will the area grow? We already know it is a great place to vacation, retire and work. Some planners think that we are going to see a mega region.

Perhaps along the same lines as the San-San metropolis in Southern California (San Francisco - San Diego) but Central Florida would be from Orlando to Tampa "Orlampa" maybe even linking up with Daytona... The Orlando metro area according to the 2004 Census estimates says that the area contains 1.8million people whilst the city of Orlando itself only has around 160,000. These figures are up from 2000 where the metro area contained only 1.6million people.

How will this effect Real Estate? well, supply and demand are fickle things however if the area is set to boom in akin to Southern California then we are probably in for some house price gains. The market already has signs that this could be on the cards, prices are stable in a national market with negative price corrections. What does this mean for someone considering the area for investment?

Well, right now it seems that the market is maturing even more so than before and it might be the best time to jump on the band wagon before any kind of price hike. Florida property does represent good value for money, especially for the British Buyer, with exchange rates for the £ Vs. $ at record highs then now could be the best time to buy that dream villa in the sun... after all, wouldn't it be nice to be neighbors with Mickey Mouse?

Lake Buena Vista Resort Village and Spa in Orlando Florida

British Homes Group — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 15:59:55 -0700

New Orlando Condo Hotel at Lake Buena Vista offers luxury amenities just minutes from Disney and Universal Studios

Phase two of Lake Buena Vista Resort Village and Spa is now available! This gorgeous 38 acre site offers a prime location and will host a myriad of amenities centered around 15 buildings housing a total of 1,850 fully-furnished 2, 3 and 4 bedroom condo units.

Fully furnished units at Lake Buena Vista will offer features such as:

Tommy Bahama furniture and accessories

Tile and granite kitchen and baths

European cabinetry

Stainless steel appliances

Designer bath fixtures

Jacuzzi Roman tub

Washer and dryer in all units

Pre-wired cable TV & wireless high-speed internet

Owners will have the option to place their units in the managed rental program or keep the property solely for personal usage. There are no restrictions on this policy.

The amenities in this new community provide for endless family fun. Spend a relaxing day the the luxurious spa, or get some exercise at one of six pools or state-of-the-art fitness centers. Daily shuttle service to the Disney theme parks is ideal for keeping the kids happy. If business is important a full business center and over 1,000 sqft of meeting space will keep you fully up to speed. The possibilities are endless!

2, 3 and 4 bedroom condos from 1,080 sq ft to 2,170 sq ft priced from $349,000 to $699,000. Please call our offices today for more information on the buying process: 0800 096 5989 or contact us via e-mail here at: Info@BritishHomesGroup.com

Florida Property, Florida Mortgages, Florida Real Estate, Florida Villas & Florida Vacation Rentals

British Homes Group — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 11:44:12 -0700

Maybe it is a Florida home you are after? Or Florida mortgage? We can assist with both! We have a dedicated team of Real Estate professionals waiting to serve you and find you that perfect Florida home of your dreams. Maybe you have been fed up by the rained out British Summer this year? Or have seen the gorgeous property for sale on A Place in the Sun or Real Estate TV? - Which we have been featured on!

What ever your reason, Florida is a fantastic place to invest, with a high quality of life coupled with cheap property, gorgeous weather and the cheapest dollar in over a quarter of a century it really is the place to be!

However... you ask.. how can I afford it? Well, our team of Mortgage Brokers cajn look at the options right for you, whether what we are most famous for, the British Sterling mortgage (where your repayments are in pounds) or a US Dollar mortgage or even a Multi-Currency Mortgage they can look at what is right for you and quote you on the product you like best all at no obligation.

Wait! The system is unlike the Uk in that Realtor's (Estate Agents as they are called in the UK) here have access to all the properties in the area, so it saves you doing the leg work and takes out the need to shop around and if you chose one of our agents to look for property for you they are acting in your interest! Similarly, with the finance side our brokers are experienced in a range of products and have a choice of lenders to look for products, again taking out the need to shop around and allowing you to concentrate on the more important things in life...like what day to go to Disney or the beach!

Call us today freephone UK: 0800 096 5989
Local USA: 1-407-396-5989

Use our online contact form

US housing market may have slowed but in Central Florida it is growing...

British Homes Group — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 15:38:09 -0700

Negative publicity in the UK unnecessarily unnerves buyers

Maybe you saw the Daily Mail article on a US Housing Crash? Or the Tonight With Trevor McDonald show on people who have relocated to Florida? No matter where you have heard negative publicity about the US Property Market or the US economy doesn't necessarily mean that your investment in Florida will be effected, it isn't comparing apples to apples. Would the same reasoning be used to compare a buy-to-let property in Birmingham to a residential house in Billingsgate? Of course it wouldn't. Here is why things aren't always as they seem...

This publicity, often doesn't cover all the facts and unnecessarily turns buyers off of their dream home in Florida. The Daily Mail may talk of price crashes and cracks in the US economy, all that has really occurred is a price correction and slowed price growth. After all this is what has happened in the UK so why not the US? The UK has had its run away Housing Market which has slowed to a comfortable growth rate in single figures in most areas, so the US can have the same. There are of course some exceptions but in the case of Central Florida things are looking up.

Things are still bright and sunny in the Sunshine State, the Floridian economy is booming at is is set to become the third most populous state in the Union. (overtaking New York State which is currently behind Texas with California up front) Florida has good job creation through R&D and High-Tech industries setting up shop right here in Central Florida. It has some of the best Universities and community colleges in the country and has over 300 days of sunshine a year! What other locations can boast all that? After all the Orlando area has 50 million visitors a year and growing.

The Orlando Visitors Bureau lists 207 things to do in the area in 2007 Click here to view it. This list shows how much the area has to offer.

Florida property represents good value for money with good potential for capital growth in the coming years (it has been said that Florida is the California of 10 years ago) coupled with a good Rental Market. After all, Walt Disney World, which supports the local economy by $20 billion and is the areas biggest attraction, is unlikely to go bust.

All in all, now in the present buyers market, where prices in the Orlando area are stable and overall increasing, supply is plentiful, it might just be the best time in years to buy Florida property.

CALL US TODAY TO FIND YOUR DREAM HOME!
UK: 0800 096 5989
USA: 1 888 407 2748

Florida Ranks No. 3 in High Tech Exports & Lake Mary is 4th Best Place to live according to Money Magazine!

British Homes Group — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 15:36:17 -0700

Florida one of the best places in the nation!

With year round sunshine and a favorable economic climate why wouldn't Florida be a great place to live and work!?

Florida's ranking of 3rd in High Tech exports is due to its industry leading development in computers and semi-conductors. Florida exports $12 billion in high tech goods as of last year, up $1.4 billion (13%) on the previous year - the second fastest growth rate for tech exports in the nation only behind Texas!

Although many think of Florida as just citrus groves and cattle as well as the famous beaches and tourism it has so much more, the high tech export industry makes up 32% of Florida's export market. The high tech industry supports 52,000 jobs statewide, that is nearly the level of people employed by Disney!

More Florida stats, 3rd biggest in the nation for exports or computer and communications equipment as well as sixth largest for industrial electronics! Wow! Florida's location as the gateway to South America is a bg factor in these numbers, what is certain is that as more South American economies grow and more trading partners come on board this industry sector is set to continue growing!

With a booming economy as well as a great quality of life it truly is a great place the Sunshine State,

British Mortgages Abroad: Florida Press Release May 2007

British Homes Group — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 15:35:13 -0700

Florida property still popular with Brits looking for that dream home or investment! GE Money Home Lending, based in the UK, has seen a 100% increase in business to date in 2007, based upon the same period in 2006.

GE Money Home Lending sees Florida sales double year-on-year as UK buyers remain focused on the Florida market
Investors surge into the market place as the pound recently reached a 26-year high against the dollar
Current UK investors urged to looks at the long-term investment of their properties and advised against selling in the current market place

Many property investors looking towards buying a home in Florida have been warned off the market place in recent months. However, when looking at the Florida market place, it still gave a solid performance last year with house price inflation sitting at 9.5%.

Coupled with a fantastic Sterling Vs. Dollar rate which is the highest in over a quarter of a century, it makes Florida very attractive indeed!

GE Money Home Lending offers UK citizens the opportunity to secure a sterling mortgage on a property in Florida, enabling many to secure their holiday home or investment property - based upon the Bank of England base rate and a system which they are familiar with.