Product Description

The ultimate guide to buying, selling and letting in Florida

ABOUT THE BOOK
An authoritative, information-packed guide to buying a property in Florida, focusing on over 40 top hotspots, and offering a unique illustrated price guide to properties in every region, from the Everglades and Orlando to the Florida Keys. Full of expert advice and up-to-the minute information, this is an invaluable handbook for everyone who would like to buy or let a home in Florida.

FREE full-colour fold-out map of top Florida hotspots!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #405424 in Books
• Published on: 2004-09-02
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 244 pages

From the Publisher
A detailed step-by-step guide to the mechanics of buying a property in Florida, the Buyer’s Guide explains every stage of the legal and financial process, helping you to navigate your way successfully through the conveyancing system and avoid any pitfalls and problems. It also provides an overview of Florida’s economy and property market.Inspirational case studies featuring people who’ve bought a property in Florida either to live in or to let. Read about their experience and share in their top tips for making a successful purchase. Information-packed profiles of the eight regions of Florida and the top 40 property hotspots: what it’s like to live there, key attractions, and an overview of the economy and housing market, looking at property price trends, average house sale prices and what you can get for your money, as well as rental potential. The profiles also include essential facts about population, local transport, schools and health care. An invaluable quick-reference section featuring specially compiled price matrices enabling you to compare at a glance average house and apartment prices across the different regions of Florida, as well as monthly rental income. There’s also a glossary of useful terms and an extensive directory of contacts.

From the Author
How much are you going to have to spend on deposits and on taxes? How do you open a US bank account or arrange a property survey? What are closing costs and how much are they likely to be? The Buyer’s Guide tells you exactly what you need to do when, and which professionals to turn to, from appointing a lawyer and finding a good estate agent to securing a mortgage and closing the contract. It demystifies the whole process and offers advice on every aspect of finding and purchasing a home, including advice on relocating, on living and working in Florida, on obtaining visas and work permits, as well as on buying to let. Regional Price Guides
Unique property price guides, sourced from leading real estate agents, illustrate the type of property available in each area, from modest 2-bedroom homes to luxurious waterfront mansions. Divided into price bands, the guides show you what type of property you can expect to get for your money.
The Panhandle
Relatively unspoilt and uncommercialised with some of the most breath-taking scenery and beaches in Florida, including Panama City Beach, the top spring break destination in the State. Key industries are agriculture, timber and fishing. Property values are appreciating, making it an excellent time to buy.
The North East
A very strong economy and a rare blend of state-of-the-art technology, old world charm and natural beauty, with mile upon mile of beautiful beaches. Top attractions include the Kennedy Space Center and Daytona Beach – a mecca for car racing enthusiasts – as well as countless top-class golf courses. House prices are well below those in the rest of Florida, and the area is still a new one for overseas investors, although realtors predict a boom.
The Gulf Coast
After Orlando, the second most popular area for buying property, encompassing Sarasota, the ‘city of culture’, and a stunning coastline, with the officially designated ‘best beach’ in the US. A thriving economy with an active business centre and hundreds of hi-tech companies. In terms of capital appreciation, the Gulf Coast offers some of the best real estate in the US.
Central Florida
The epicentre of tourism and house-buying activity, dominated by Disney World in Orlando. Very popular with American retirees and young families. A strong rental market, especially for short-term lets, with some great value properties, particularly in Orlando.
The South East
An extremely affluent region, including Palm Beach, one of the richest cities in the US. Dubbed the Internet Coast, with many companies involved in cutting edge technology, this area also has miles of navigable canals and Intracoastal Waterways. Property prices are correspondingly high, with an emphasis on luxurious gated communities.
The Everglades
The largest subtropical wilderness in the USA teeming with exotic wildlife, the Everglades attract over 1 million visitors a year. One of the most popular house-buying areas in Florida, offering a mix of resale and new-build, with a preponderance of mobile homes.
Miami
With its world-famous beaches and the vibrant US/Latin American city of Miami, Greater Miami is one of the wealthiest areas of Florida. Home to financial and commercial corporations, especially businesses with links in Latin America.
Excellent rental prospects with a strong rental market and high rents.
Florida Keys
A necklace of tropical islands, surrounded by coral reef. Key Largo, the self-styled ‘dive capital of the world’, sports fishing and the erstwhile home of Ernest Hemingway in Key West are just some of the attractions that lure tourists and weekenders to the region. House prices are very expensive, and the Keys have the highest cost of living in Florida, but for the wealthy investor, they offer excellent capital appreciation. Strong rental market.

From the Inside Flap
The Panhandle
Relatively unspoilt and uncommercialised with some of the most breath-taking scenery and beaches in Florida, including Panama City Beach, the top spring break destination in the State. Key industries are agriculture, timber and fishing. Property values are appreciating, making it an excellent time to buy.

The North East
A very strong economy and a rare blend of state-of-the-art technology, old world charm and natural beauty, with mile upon mile of beautiful beaches. Top attractions include the Kennedy Space Center and Daytona Beach – a mecca for car racing enthusiasts – as well as countless top-class golf courses. House prices are well below those in the rest of Florida, and the area is still a new one for overseas investors, although realtors predict a boom.

The Gulf Coast
After Orlando, the second most popular area for buying property, encompassing Sarasota, the ‘city of culture’, and a stunning coastline, with the officially designated ‘best beach’ in the US. A thriving economy with an active business centre and hundreds of hi-tech companies. In terms of capital appreciation, the Gulf Coast offers some of the best real estate in the US.

Central Florida
The epicentre of tourism and house-buying activity, dominated by Disney World in Orlando. Very popular with American retirees and young families. A strong rental market, especially for short-term lets, with some great value properties, particularly in Orlando.

The South East
An extremely affluent region, including Palm Beach, one of the richest cities in the US. Dubbed the Internet Coast, with many companies involved in cutting edge technology, this area also has miles of navigable canals and Intracoastal Waterways. Property prices are correspondingly high, with an emphasis on luxurious gated communities.

The Everglades
The largest subtropical wilderness in the USA teeming with exotic wildlife, the Everglades attract over 1 million visitors a year. One of the most popular house-buying areas in Florida, offering a mix of resale and new-build, with a preponderance of mobile homes.

Miami
With its world-famous beaches and the vibrant US/Latin American city of Miami, Greater Miami is one of the wealthiest areas of Florida. Home to financial and commercial corporations, especially businesses with links in Latin America.
Excellent rental prospects with a strong rental market and high rents.

Florida Keys
A necklace of tropical islands, surrounded by coral reef. Key Largo, the self-styled ‘dive capital of the world’, sports fishing and the erstwhile home of Ernest Hemingway in Key West are just some of the attractions that lure tourists and weekenders to the region. House prices are very expensive, and the Keys have the highest cost of living in Florida, but for the wealthy investor, they offer excellent capital appreciation. Strong rental market.

Customer Reviews

Could be better
The guide discusses various regions of Florida from the perspective of property investment. The process of buying a proeperty in Florida (which is why I bought the book in the first place) is described in some detail but even after reading it a few times the reader is left with less than clear understanding of certain aspects of the process for e.g. taxation (some information is repeated and you are never quite sure how many taxes are applicable). Florida taxation is very important for a prospective buyer to understand as taxes on a florida property can run into thousands of dollars per year. Although overall the guide does provide useful information it could have been clearer.

Florida Here I Come!
This book is great it tells you everything you need to know from hotspots - as well as places to avoid, price ranges and budgets, economy and legalities. It takes you step by step with easy to understand information, without losing the detail needed for indivdual requirements. The contact directories were great and up to date for a change. This is the best book on the subject - and I have read a few!