With around 75 million visitors each year, thrilling attractions and weather that is hard to beat, buying a home in Central Florida not only offers wonderful holidays but a great investment opportunity too. Here are five of the best places to buy a holiday home near Disney World Florida.
5-bedroom house in Kissimmee
Just 25 minutes from Orlando International Airport and 30 minutes from Disney World, Kissimmee is a lovely city in Florida’s Osceola County.
If you fancy a day away from the parks, the city is close to some of the best golf courses in Florida as well as the gorgeous Lake Tohopekaliga. The lake is great for fishing, picnicking and waterside barbeques. There are also plenty of bars and restaurants in Downtown Kissimmee.
If you plan on renting out your property, Kissimmee is an excellent choice as much of the county’s short-term holiday rental properties can be found there. In 2019, it was ranked as ‘the best place for holiday rental investment in the world’ by home insurance firm Schofields, with owners making a potential 26% return-on-investment. Depending on currency exchange rates, this could be as much as £30,000 a year.
According to AirDNA, properties with five or more bedrooms in West Kissimmee offer the best chance of high rental returns. Average nightly rates are around $250, and your average monthly revenue could reach over $5,000 in the summer.
For a five-bedroom property you’d be looking at over $400,000.
5-bedroom house in Davenport
Davenport is located in Polk County and is around 50 minutes from the main attractions in Orlando. Despite being further out than some other central locations, Davenport is on Interstate 4 meaning it is extremely easy to get between the city, Orlando and other major cities such as Tampa.
Almost all of Polk County’s holiday rental market is in Davenport and you can find properties in both the community and resorts. According to AirDNA, the rental market in Davenport is year-round with the average nightly rate at around $215. Like Kissimmee, four- or five-bedroom properties are the most popular with holidaymakers. Your average monthly revenue could be as high as $4,600 in July.
Property is affordable, with five-bedroom houses starting at around $300,000.
2-bedroom apartment in Winter Park
With an upmarket feel and surrounded by beautiful green spaces and vast lakes, Winter Park is another great place to buy a holiday home in Florida. Being just 15 minutes from Downtown Orlando and 30 minutes from Disney World, the location is second to none.
Many holidaymakers choose Winter Park for its waterfront location, interesting museums, weekly farmers’ markets and relaxing boat tours.
According to AirDNA, the average AirBnB occupancy rate in Winter Park is 75%, so you should have no trouble renting out your home. In the summer, you could earn an average of $2,700 per month.
You can find a two-bedroom apartment in Winter Lake for $145,000.
Champions Gate is a gated community just 15 minutes from Disney World. It is an extremely well-maintained resort with neatly mown lawns, wide pavements lined with palm trees and large, beautiful lakes.
3-bedroom house in Champions Gate
As well as being close to all the area’s top attractions, the resort itself has plenty to keep you entertained. Within the gates you’ll find numerous shops, a lazy river, a cinema and an 18-hole golf course.
Due to its excellent location and exceptional onsite facilities, you can expect to make a decent rental income from a property in Championsgate. You can find three-bedroom townhouses for under $300,000.
Last but certainly not least is Haines City. The city is in a prime location, sandwiched between Davenport and Kissimmee, bordering the stunning beaches on the Gulf Coast and just one hour from Tampa. What’s more, the property prices are cheaper than in other Central Florida cities; you can find 3-bedroom town houses for just over $200,000.
Dotted around the city are beautiful nature trails that are ideal for hiking, and there are also several top-notch golf courses.
3-bedroom townhouse in Haines City
Data from AirDNA shows that, in a normal year, average annual occupancy rate for holiday rentals in Haines City is 74% and as much as 93% during July. The average nightly rate is around $180 and average monthly revenue can be as high as $4,000 in the summer.
Written by Overseas Guides Company.
For more information on buying abroad get your FREE Country Buying Guide!
See all available country guides
If you are considering an overseas property purchase, whether for lifestyle or investment, opening a no-obligation account with FCA-authorised Smart Currency Exchange will enable you to benefit from their competitive exchange rates and specialist currency knowledge, ultimately saving you money and time. For more information, download Smart Currency Exchange’s free report or visit the Currency Zone.