Building a Home | build a home | how to build a house

Are you interested in relocating to the Florida area or even just buying a new home in the state of Florida? If you are, do you know if you would like to buy a home that is already listed on the Florida real estate market or would you like to have your own home built? If you are interested in having your own home built, you will need to use the services of a new home builder in Florida.
The first step in using the services of a new home builder in Florida is to find a builder to do business with. When it comes to finding a new home builder in Florida to do business with, you will soon see that you have a number of different options. Before you familiarize yourself with those options, you may want to think about what type of new home builder in Florida you want to do business with. For instance, there are some individuals or companies who are referred to as home manufacturers and there are others who are referred to as custom home builders. Custom home builders allow you to take part in the design of your home and home manufacturers tend to only build pre-designed homes.
Once you have decided which type of new home builder in Florida you would like to do business with, you can begin to start searching for a professional. One of the easiest ways to go about finding a new home builder in Florida is by using the internet. Online, there are a number of different approaches that you can take. You can try to find a new home builder in Florida by performing a standard internet search. When performing a standard internet search, it may be a good idea to search with a phrase like “Florida home builders,” or something else along the same lines. Your search results will likely lead you to the online websites of local Florida home builders.
In addition to performing a standard internet search, you can also use online phone books or online business directories to help you find a new home builder in Florida. The only downside to using these online resources is that the information given to you is minimal. Often times, you will only get the name of a new home builder in Florida, their business address, as well as their business telephone number. This information is similar to what you would find in your local phone book. In fact, you may also want to think about using your local phone book to find a new home builder in Florida.
Although the above mentioned approaches are ways that you can go about finding a new home builder in Florida to do business with, there is an even better way to do so. That way involves using the assistance of a professional real estate expert. A professional real estate expert is often referred to as a buyer’s broker or a real estate agent. These types of professionals can not only assist you with finding land to build your new home on, but they can also help you obtain the needed financing, as well as a quality new home builder in Florida to do business with

For those who thought the term 'location' meant convenience to your daily routines, it is much more than that. It implies the constantly-changing effects upon a specific home or property, caused by other people and the natural environment. Your concern should be pinpointed against other people – what type of people are your prospective neighbors? The viewing appointments will probably take place during office hours when neighbors are at work or school, but how does the neighborhood change in the evening? Are there people in the area who make life unpleasant at night? Do many people work shifts, coming into the area during unsociable hours and waking up everyone else? Any location requires a careful survey to allow assessment of the pros and cons; after all, you're investing a large amount of your money in this.
A certain amount of caution is required when undertaking the following exercise; I can't advise on specific locations and each one is unique. What I wish to do is suggest various ways by which you can thoroughly assess a location, so here's my next tip:
# 2: Bring a 'prop' when you visit your intended neighborhood and avoid inspecting it alone. Nothing draws more attention than a solitary adult loitering around an area and , in some countries, this is illegal. Look at it from the neighbor's point of view; they are protecting their family and property against possible threat and can't tell from glancing at you that your motives are innocent. You don't want to draw adverse attention to yourself or have the neighbors phone the police because you look suspicious. What do I mean by a prop? It could be a partner or friend, preferably from the opposite sex if you are male (two men together make people suspicious since their first thoughts are you are 'casing' their home before breaking and entering). If you have a child, bring him/her along (but avoid bringing several at the same time since they might attract too much attention - ration them out for subsequent trips if they are keen to accompany you).
An accompanied child often attracts positive attention from strangers, and may be a good way to introduce yourself to a prospective neighbor or for you to ask useful questions once you have explained that you're checking the neighborhood. Another useful prop is a dog (providing you bring a bag in case it fouls the path/sidewalk!). Like a child, a dog allows you to pass slowly through an area, paying attention to detail and innocently surveying the scene. Where possible and safe, examine on foot, rather than arrive in a car, eve if it means parking in a car park some distance away. For those who cycle, this is a non-invasive way to arrive and spend a little time without drawing undue attention. You can feign a mechanical problem and spend some time on the path/sidewalk 'fixing' your bicycle. If you can adapt or combine these props, you can make several visits to your location. Always bring a brochure/prospectus of the intended property which you can produce to demonstrate that you are a genuine prospective buyer.
Such surveys will yield a lot of useful information about an area that you might have missed by visiting during office hours. It allows you to take an informed decision about an area, to privately decide which factors might affect your quality of life and to use any adverse effects as bargaining power when negotiating with the property's owners.
In the next installment I will suggest less direct ways of exploring a potential neighborhood and gathering important information about your future home, once you decide that an area still attracts you.

If your looking to buy in Maui there are numerous Maui, Hawaii real estate companies that would be more than willing to help you achieve this. You can find realtors on line that will help you purchase your dream home, but in addition to this there is also advice you can get before buying so that you don't fall into a trap you can't get out of. To buy a home there are a few procedures you have to follow to ensure you'll end up with what you want.
If your looking for a cheaper price one way to ensure this is get pre approved by your lender before you start looking. It gives you a better chance at snapping up a bargain when you see it. This gives you added strength in the power of buying. Make sure you are fully approved and all that's left is the appraisal of the property and the price you will be paying. Go in to see your lender. Don't do this over a phone, they may say yes but it means nothing if it's not in writing.
If you are the owner of property already, make sure this is sold before you start looking. It is no good to try to buy on the hopes that what you have will sell later. Do all the work that is necessary to clean up the loose ends on your old home so that when the right opportunity comes along you are ready to jump into the deal free and clear. Nobody is going to wait until your old home sells. Go looking before you really get into purchasing. You don't have to fall in love with every house that's available and it will give you a better idea of what's on the market to suit your needs.
Make a list before you start as to what you want in a home and what you don't want. This will give you some idea when you're looking of what is available on the market. Take this list with you and decide which of the houses have what you're looking for. If you find one that has it all, then that's the home for you.

Costa Blanca villas have become more popular in recent years. Purchasing a villa in the Costa Blanca region is a good investment and can be a good source of rental income since it is one of the most popular vacation destinations in Spain. The best place to start in gathering information on how to find a Costa Blanca villa is with a reputable real estate agent.
A few things should be taken into considering when beginning your search for a villa. First, consider the location. The most popular areas with tourists are those areas close to beaches and other main attractions. If you intend to rent the villa, you definitely want to consider the villas proximity to these attractions. Villas near the beach, for instance, may cost you more upfront at the time of purchase but keep in mind that you will also be able to charge a higher rental fee. Also consider the amenities offered with the villa. Tourists often desire a private pool, a scenic view, maid service, convenience to the beach, shopping, night life and restaurants. The décor is also something to consider. When advertising online, pictures of the villa are important in advertising and a nice decorated villa will attract much more attention. Again, spending money to furnish and decorate the villa may cost you more money upfront, but it will be a good investment if you are renting the villa. Finally, you should also consider the resale value of the villa since you may decide to sell it at some point in the future. Popular locations will provide more flexibility and options when you do decide to sell.
Once you have purchased a villa, you can get a good weekly rental rate if it is in a location popular with tourists. This can become a great source of income, especially during the summer season. The rental rate you can charge is influenced by such factors as the villa’s size, location, amenities and features, and proximity to public transportation, the beach and other attractions. June through September are the prime months for vacation rentals, and you may find that your villa is booked almost every week. Be sure to advertise your villa in advance as people begin planning and booking accommodations up to six months prior to their trip. You will find that July and August have the highest demand for rentals, as well as Christmas and Easter holidays which are also especially popular. Many travelers visit the area for these holiday festivals, processions and celebrations. During the winter months, you may be able to rent your villa to those coming from Northern Europe to escape the colder weather. You may also find retired individuals seeking somewhere to rent during the winter months, which can be a good source of steady rental income during these seasons not as busy as the summer months. The basic rental rate will be less than in the summer, but at least it is still a source of incoming rental cash flow.

Most plan services provide construction drawings that are minimally compliant with building codes. You're going to need more information before you sign a contract with a builder, and before you submit your plans for a building permit.
Before You Sign A Contract With A Builder
In addition to the construction drawings you've purchased, you'll need a set of specifications. "Specs" are the details of all the stuff in the house. The plans show where the toilets are placed, for example, but don't specify what kind of toilets they are. The plans show where the cabinets and countertops go, but don't tell you anything about the style, finish, or cost of these items.
How important are the specs? They are often the difference between a happy new homeowner and an unhappy one. Good, accurate and complete specs will prevent the frustration and disappointment you'll feel if the completed house isn't exactly what you expected, or if it costs a lot more than you thought. Lack of good specs is the root cause of many contractor "horror stories".
Specs will also tell you - up front - how much the finished house is really going to cost. The finishes and fixtures in your house (flooring, lighting, paint, trim, etc.) make up 30% to 40% of the cost of the house - it doesn't take much of a change in the specification of those items to show up in a big way on the bottom line.
Before You Submit For A Building Permit
The building department issues the building permit - but only after your plans pass muster at the zoning department.
The good folks at the zoning department will require you to submit a site plan for review. The level of detail they'll require on the site plan varies - from not much more than a quick sketch to a highly detailed drawing prepared by a surveyor or a civil engineer.
Expect to pay extra for this service, from several hundred to several thousand dollars, depending on the size of the property, the size of the house, and the requirements of the zoning department. And some rural township zoning departments may not require a site plan at all.
Does My House Fit On My Lot?
But whoa, let's back up just a bit - no zoning department's going to pass your site plan if the house doesn't fit. Every building site has restrictions on how a house can placed including:
Side yard setbacks
Front yard (building line) setbacks
Rear yard setbacks
Some jurisdictions have additional requirements:
Minimum and maximum building "footprint" size
Maximum building height
Maximum lot coverage
And many properties have easements across them. Easements are areas of a lot that are set aside for use by others, usually utility companies. Easements can also allow access across one property to get to another.
Before you purchase a house plan, check the zoning restrictions on your property. Make sure the plan you want fits the lot you have!

When you compare house plans one of the more important characteristics you'll consider is the area of the floor plan - the size of the plan - measured in square feet.
But I'll tell you a little secret about "square footage" - it's not measured the same on every house plan. That means that any two house plans that appear to be of equal area may not really be!
Does that make much difference when you're choosing a plan? You bet it does! A difference of a mere 10% on a 3,000 square foot plan might unexpectedly cost you tens of thousands of dollars!
Apples To Apples
Builders, Architects, Real Estate Professionals, Bankers, Auditors, and Appraisers often all count square footage differently, to better suite their particular needs. House plan services also vary in their area-calculation protocols; in order to compare floor plan areas accurately you've got to be sure that the areas are counted the same.
Generally, builders and Real Estate Professionals want to show that a house is as big as possible; allowing them to quote a lower "cost per square foot", and making the house appear more valuable.
Appraisers and County Auditors usually just measure the perimeter of the house - a typically very rough way to calculate area - and call it a day, while Architects break the size down into components; first floor, second floor, porches, finished lower level, etc.
To arrive at an "apples-to-apples" comparison of house areas you've got to know what's included in the totals. Does the area include only heated and cooled spaces? Does it include everything "under roof" (I've seen garages figured into some plan areas!) or only "living space"?
Upstairs and Downstairs, Inside And Out
But even when you've discovered exactly what spaces are included in the area calculation you'll need to know how volume is counted, and whether the total is net square footage or gross.
Gross area is the total of everything within the outer edge of the perimeter of the house; net area is that same total - less the thicknesses of walls. In other words, net square footage is the part of the floor that you can walk on - gross includes the parts you can't.
The difference between the two can be as much as ten percent - depending on the type of floor plan design. A "traditional" plan (with more distinct rooms and therefore more walls) might have ten percent net-to-gross ratio, while a contemporary plan may have only six or seven percent.
Likewise, larger homes tend to have more walls - because larger homes generally have more rooms, rather than simply larger rooms.
You'll probably never see the volume of a house plan listed on a plan site, but the number representing the area of a floor plan often depends on how the volume is counted. Typically, the "upper area" of two-story rooms (foyers, family rooms) isn't counted as part of the floor plan. Likewise, stairs are only counted once. But not always - check how volume is counted to be sure you know how big the plan really is.
Plan services that design their own plans will have a consistent policy on area (and volume), but services that sell plans on consignment probably don't.

Lots of house plan websites and plan books offer to prepare a "materials list" for you - and for about thirty bucks some will even calculate a "cost to build" the house plan you've chosen.
But where does that cost information come from, and how useful is it? Can you rely on Internet material lists or cost estimating for your house project?
Local Cost Estimating
A homebuilder spends days, sometimes weeks, putting together a cost estimate for a new home project. The estimate has to be accurate because the builder may be competing against other bidders for the project, and because he's going to offer the homeowner a contract to build the house based on it.
His business depends on it.
Miss the cost by a few percentage points and he doesn't get the job - or worse, he gets it, but has lost money before he starts.
A homebuilder knows that every project is different; that the cost to build on one building site can vary greatly from another; and that prices for material and labor fluctuate almost daily.
And so the homebuilder does take-offs from the plans - a take-off is a calculation of the materials needed to build the house - and gives the take-offs to many vendors and subcontractors for prices. It's not unusual for a builder to send out fifteen or twenty sets of plans for pricing (as I'm writing this, I'm remembering sending out twenty-two sets to a builder just this morning).
He also estimates miscellaneous labor and material costs; permits; interest carrying costs; insurances; lot clearing; temporary electric service; portable toilet rental; overhead and profit; and a thousand other items necessary to successfully complete a construction project. A good line item take-off can use up five or more sheets of single-spaced legal paper.
But you don't need a detailed "take-off" at this point, do you? Don't you just want a ballpark idea of what the house will cost to build?
National Cost Averages
The problem is that building construction costs are just too sensitive to the idiosyncrasies of each building site, each builder, and each homeowner to get "ballpark" estimates from any place but building professionals who are familiar with your area.
What good is a "ballpark" estimate if your ballpark is Candlestick Park and theirs is Yankee Stadium? (You do remember Candlestick Park, don't you?)
There are a couple of national organizations that collect and distribute building cost data in books and on the Internet. They collect the information from building permits, from home sales reports, and from the United States Census (and a few other sources).
But even when comparing houses in a fairly narrow range of size and cost, the specifics of each house make average costs useless. Two identical homes can vary in cost by tens of thousands of dollars due just to the choices of finishes, fixtures, and appliances.
National cost averages are a reasonable way of comparing production-built home designs (a standard plan from a national builder) between regions, but area a poor and potentially misleading tool for guessing at the cost of an Internet house plan.
Back On Track
Fortunately there's a way to get a reliable cost estimate on the plan you like. Buy the "study plan" of one or two designs you like. Prepare as complete a specification list as you can for the house (more about this in the next chapter, "Construction Costs") and submit both to several reputable local builders for preliminary cost estimates.
The prices you get back (be sure to discuss them thoroughly with the builders) will be far more useful than anything you buy online. And in the long run you'll save money and time.
Out Of The Ballpark
A reasonably accurate ballpark estimate is a very useful tool in helping you decide whether you can afford to build a particular house plan.
But a poor initial estimate can cause you to pass up a plan you really can afford, or worse, get you far down the road with a project that's ultimately way outside your budget.

If you haven't already, go back and read the previous article, "Don't Buy That Material List" and learn it's primary lesson: Only Local Costs Count. If you're trying to figure out how much it might cost to build a house from the plans you're considering purchasing then you should tattoo that statement onto your forehead. Don't rely on Internet pricing...only local costs count.
Square Foot Pricing...Handle With Care!
When evaluating the costs of building a new home, many homeowners use square foot pricing as a basis for comparison. Let's talk about square foot pricing for a minute - what it is and what it isn't.
Square foot pricing is a method to roughly compare construction costs for two similar houses, houses in different parts of the country, and houses with different characteristics. It is not a method for determining how much a particular design is going to cost to build.
I can tell you, for example, that a typical production starter home (a standard plan built by a large-volume regional or national builder) will cost around $80 to $100 per square foot to build in my part of the country. A "semi-custom" home will cost around $110 to $130 per square foot, and a true custom home will cost at least $140, and as much at $200 per square foot to build.
Show me a house plan, and with a few specific questions, a builder can place it within one of those ranges. That's a start, but for a 2,500 square foot "semi-custom" home, a range of $20 per square foot is a lot of money. You most definitely don't want your cost estimate on a $250,000 house to be off by $50,000!
But with a little research, square foot pricing can be a useful tool. Find out what similar houses cost to build in your area (don't forget to take out the cost of the land first) to place your plan in an appropriate price range. Find builders who build homes in that range and have them prepare a more detailed take-off for you.
An experienced builder will be able to further evaluate your plan in terms of the expected level of finish, the impact of your building site, and other factors in order to fine-tune the cost estimate.
House Plan Size
Many things affect the cost of building a typical house but there are three big ones: size, complexity, and the level of finish. The effect of house size on construction cost is obvious - I don't need to explain this in detail, do I? Bigger houses cost more. But it's not quite that simple.
Significantly more important than house size alone is the matter of where that size goes since the "cost per square foot" of a house varies tremendously from room to room. It's obvious that a kitchen, with appliances, cabinets, countertops, plumbing fixtures, tile flooring, and other expensive finishes will cost more "per square foot" to build than a bedroom - which doesn't have much more finish than carpeting and paint.
If you squeeze the size of a house down by taking space from low cost-per-square-foot rooms like bedrooms you'll find that you haven't affected the overall cost of the house much at all. In fact, you'll likely not do much more than simply raise the cost per square foot of the entire (now smaller) house - and maybe not change the overall cost at all.
So a smaller house - if the size difference is in inexpensive rooms - may not be a less expensive house.
House Plan Complexity
The effect of the complexity of a house on the construction cost is frequently misunderstood and it's one of the sources of many an unpleasant surprise for house plan buyers.
Simply put, a complex house is more expensive to build than a simple house. But what makes a house complex? Mostly it's a function of the shape of the house and the relationship of the amount of roof and the amount of foundation to the area of the house.
Consider two typical house designs: A rectangular two-story Colonial house and a French Country home with a first-floor master bedroom suite. Both houses are 3,000 square feet and both have the same level of finish.
The Colonial home is the picture of simplicity; both floors are exactly the same size and are stacked directly over another. So while the entire house is 3,000 square feet, the foundation and the roof are each only 1,500 square feet (I'm ignoring the garage for this example). It's efficient and easy to build.
The French County plan is the same size but less efficient; with the master bedroom suite moved from the upper floor to the lower, the roof area and foundation area increase by about 500 square feet - but the overall size of the house stays the same at 3,000 square feet. More roof and foundation containing the same area; same size but with more lumber and concrete = more cost.
Colonial homes have simple gabled roofs. In the simplest examples the roof is made entirely with just one truss configuration. That's a huge sigh of relief for the truss fabricator and the framing crew - every truss is the same! And without any intersecting roofs or dormers, there's no overlay framing and no flashing or valley metal to install.
But French Country design is distinguished by its more "rambling" nature; an attractive home of this style spreads itself out a bit. French County roofs are typically hipped rather than gabled (hips are more expensive) and are often steeply pitched - more lumber is required and the roofing labor is more expensive.
Every angle, intersecting roof, bay window, porch, or level change adds complexity to a house. If you're comparing two house plans, watch for complexities in the layout that may make one significantly more expensive to build than the other.
Finishes and Fixtures
Let's compare two houses again, only this time they're both 3,000 square foot Colonials. One has a fiberglass tub in the master bath (about $500) and one has a $5000 whirlpool tub. That one change adds $4500 to the cost of the house but more importantly, it changes the "square foot" cost of the house by almost $1.50 per square foot.
Careful - here's where homeowners get "nickeled and dimed" to death. Perhaps you were quoted a base cost of $120 per square foot for your house. Add the tub, and it's gone to $121.50. Add hardwood, granite, under-mounted sinks, brass hardware, and other upgrades and suddenly you're at $140 per square foot and way out of your budget.
Finishes and fixtures (flooring, cabinets, countertops, trim, etc.) represent about 30% to 40% of the cost of a house. You may only increase the cost of each item a little but because so many items fall into this category it's very easy to lose control of the total cost.
If you want nicer finishes but your budget is tight, do what my clients do - put the nice stuff in the kitchen and master bath and the cheaper stuff everywhere else. More importantly, assemble a list of the finishes and fixtures you want at the beginning of the project and stick to it.
Budget Creep
Budget creep is the gradual, sometimes unnoticeable increase in the cost of your project as new items are added, mistakes are uncovered, or unusual site conditions are revealed. Budget creep happens slowly, one decision at a time, creeping up and devouring your building budget before you know it. It can afflict you during the planning of a house project but more often it's a disease of the construction phase.
A little planning, patience, and foresight can help avoid it.
On any project, start with a clear idea of the level of finish and quality you expect. Don't assume that your builder is in tune with your ideas about finishes - discuss your expectations in detail and whenever possible, see the actual finishes and fixtures. If you're not the detail-oriented type, hire a professional interior designer.
Poor quality drawings cause additional unplanned work during construction, and always end up costing homeowners money and time. My firm's been hired many times to correct drawings done elsewhere that contained glaring errors, omitted necessary structural steel, or just plain didn't work. Sloppy drawings are an open invitation to Project Creep.

If you're not yet giving much thought to how much energy your new house is going to use, and how much it's going to waste, then it's time you started. It should be one of your top priorities - if for no other reason than your own pocketbook.
Energy used for heating and cooling homes is going to continue to get more expensive and as we've seen recently, world politics can quickly and dramatically affect your access to cheap energy.
I'll get to the part about house plans in a minute, but first...
A Little History
This isn't the first energy crunch we've had. In the 1970's - when I was a college student studying Environmental Design - world events conspired to create an American energy crisis. It was an interesting time to study Architecture, because the buildings we designed were required to respond to the environment - to use natural energy sources as much as possible.
The homes we created used technology and inventive design to give them form - we designed solar homes, earth-sheltered homes, thermal-mass homes, and other types in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. They collected heat from the sun and the ground and held it inside as long as possible. They blocked excessive solar radiation with deep overhangs and shading devices, and they were very carefully oriented to the angle of the sun and prevailing winds.
Sure they looked a little weird (some were downright ugly) but we designed homes that stayed warm in the winter and cool in the summer and used almost no energy at all.
A Little More History
But then in the 1980s energy got cheap again, and everybody forgot about low-energy homes (see I told you - just a little more history).
Where We Are Now
Fast-forward to the twenty-first century and suddenly energy is on the front page again. And again homes are responding to pressure to reduce energy usage, but in a curiously different way - through envelope and mechanical technologies.
Envelope Technology
The "envelope" of your home is its wrapper - the roof, walls, windows, and foundation. It's what keeps the outside out. There was a time when heat flowed rather freely through the envelope; windows were single-pane thickness and walls and roofs had little or no insulation.
Today, wall and roof assemblies can be very high-tech. New types of insulation, sheathing, and siding slow heat flow to a crawl. Infiltration barriers (Tyvek, Typar for example) stop excessive water vapor migration and seal the outside more tightly than ever. Houses can be sealed so tightly in fact, the trapped moisture can accelerate mold growth (that's a subject for another time).
Windows and doors have also gone light-years beyond the old wood-framed putty-glazed sashes of the early twentieth century. Windows today are offered with multiple panes of glass sealed together to create an insulating layer within; often that "airspace" is filled with inert Argon gas - which has a higher resistance to heat transmission than air.
The framing of the windows is far better sealed, and the installation methods are much improved. Even plain old glass isn't what it used to be - now it's coated with a microscopic layer that allows sunlight in, but block Ultraviolet rays and keeps heat from escaping.
Other high-tech wall technologies include ICFs (Insulated Concrete Forms), and SIPs (Structural Insulated Panels).
Mechanical Technology
The other area of big change is mechanical technology, including groundwater-source heating and cooling systems, active solar collection panels, and on-demand water heaters.
Furnaces, heat pumps, heat exchanges, boilers, and air conditioners are more efficient that ever and work hard to squeeze every BTU of energy out of the fuels they use. And sophisticated computer control systems manage the distribution of heat throughout the house.
Back To House Plans!
Envelope technology and mechanical technology are two good ways to make any house plan more energy efficient. High-technology energy management systems can be added to any house plan, and most plans can be easily modified to include the latest in envelope technology. Some house plan sites even sell versions of their plans with ICF wall detailing already included.
Take advantage of high-tech energy-saving technologies wherever you can. With increasing energy costs, more sophisticated systems will be paid for with savings in fuel usage.
But envelope and mechanical technologies aren't the only way to create a more energy-efficient home. "Back in the day" we did it with old-fashioned good design - by paying attention to solar orientation, window quantity and location, and house shape and size. An Architect or a qualified Residential Designer can help you choose and/or modify a house plan to better fit your concerns with energy usage.

Are you interested in relocating to the Florida area or even just buying a new home in the state of Florida? If you are, do you know if you would like to buy a home that is already listed on the Florida real estate market or would you like to have your own home built? If you are interested in having your own home built, you will need to use the services of a new home builder in Florida.
The first step in using the services of a new home builder in Florida is to find a builder to do business with. When it comes to finding a new home builder in Florida to do business with, you will soon see that you have a number of different options. Before you familiarize yourself with those options, you may want to think about what type of new home builder in Florida you want to do business with. For instance, there are some individuals or companies who are referred to as home manufacturers and there are others who are referred to as custom home builders. Custom home builders allow you to take part in the design of your home and home manufacturers tend to only build pre-designed homes.
Once you have decided which type of new home builder in Florida you would like to do business with, you can begin to start searching for a professional. One of the easiest ways to go about finding a new home builder in Florida is by using the internet. Online, there are a number of different approaches that you can take. You can try to find a new home builder in Florida by performing a standard internet search. When performing a standard internet search, it may be a good idea to search with a phrase like “Florida home builders,” or something else along the same lines. Your search results will likely lead you to the online websites of local Florida home builders.
In addition to performing a standard internet search, you can also use online phone books or online business directories to help you find a new home builder in Florida. The only downside to using these online resources is that the information given to you is minimal. Often times, you will only get the name of a new home builder in Florida, their business address, as well as their business telephone number. This information is similar to what you would find in your local phone book. In fact, you may also want to think about using your local phone book to find a new home builder in Florida.
Although the above mentioned approaches are ways that you can go about finding a new home builder in Florida to do business with, there is an even better way to do so. That way involves using the assistance of a professional real estate expert. A professional real estate expert is often referred to as a buyer’s broker or a real estate agent. These types of professionals can not only assist you with finding land to build your new home on, but they can also help you obtain the needed financing, as well as a quality new home builder in Florida to do business with.

For those who thought the term 'location' meant convenience to your daily routines, it is much more than that. It implies the constantly-changing effects upon a specific home or property, caused by other people and the natural environment. Your concern should be pinpointed against other people – what type of people are your prospective neighbors? The viewing appointments will probably take place during office hours when neighbors are at work or school, but how does the neighborhood change in the evening? Are there people in the area who make life unpleasant at night? Do many people work shifts, coming into the area during unsociable hours and waking up everyone else? Any location requires a careful survey to allow assessment of the pros and cons; after all, you're investing a large amount of your money in this.
A certain amount of caution is required when undertaking the following exercise; I can't advise on specific locations and each one is unique. What I wish to do is suggest various ways by which you can thoroughly assess a location, so here's my next tip:
# 2: Bring a 'prop' when you visit your intended neighborhood and avoid inspecting it alone. Nothing draws more attention than a solitary adult loitering around an area and , in some countries, this is illegal. Look at it from the neighbor's point of view; they are protecting their family and property against possible threat and can't tell from glancing at you that your motives are innocent. You don't want to draw adverse attention to yourself or have the neighbors phone the police because you look suspicious. What do I mean by a prop? It could be a partner or friend, preferably from the opposite sex if you are male (two men together make people suspicious since their first thoughts are you are 'casing' their home before breaking and entering). If you have a child, bring him/her along (but avoid bringing several at the same time since they might attract too much attention - ration them out for subsequent trips if they are keen to accompany you).
An accompanied child often attracts positive attention from strangers, and may be a good way to introduce yourself to a prospective neighbor or for you to ask useful questions once you have explained that you're checking the neighborhood. Another useful prop is a dog (providing you bring a bag in case it fouls the path/sidewalk!). Like a child, a dog allows you to pass slowly through an area, paying attention to detail and innocently surveying the scene. Where possible and safe, examine on foot, rather than arrive in a car, eve if it means parking in a car park some distance away. For those who cycle, this is a non-invasive way to arrive and spend a little time without drawing undue attention. You can feign a mechanical problem and spend some time on the path/sidewalk 'fixing' your bicycle. If you can adapt or combine these props, you can make several visits to your location. Always bring a brochure/prospectus of the intended property which you can produce to demonstrate that you are a genuine prospective buyer.
Such surveys will yield a lot of useful information about an area that you might have missed by visiting during office hours. It allows you to take an informed decision about an area, to privately decide which factors might affect your quality of life and to use any adverse effects as bargaining power when negotiating with the property's owners.
In the next installment I will suggest less direct ways of exploring a potential neighborhood and gathering important information about your future home, once you decide that an area still attracts you.

If your looking to buy in Maui there are numerous Maui, Hawaii real estate companies that would be more than willing to help you achieve this. You can find realtors on line that will help you purchase your dream home, but in addition to this there is also advice you can get before buying so that you don't fall into a trap you can't get out of. To buy a home there are a few procedures you have to follow to ensure you'll end up with what you want.
If your looking for a cheaper price one way to ensure this is get pre approved by your lender before you start looking. It gives you a better chance at snapping up a bargain when you see it. This gives you added strength in the power of buying. Make sure you are fully approved and all that's left is the appraisal of the property and the price you will be paying. Go in to see your lender. Don't do this over a phone, they may say yes but it means nothing if it's not in writing.
If you are the owner of property already, make sure this is sold before you start looking. It is no good to try to buy on the hopes that what you have will sell later. Do all the work that is necessary to clean up the loose ends on your old home so that when the right opportunity comes along you are ready to jump into the deal free and clear. Nobody is going to wait until your old home sells. Go looking before you really get into purchasing. You don't have to fall in love with every house that's available and it will give you a better idea of what's on the market to suit your needs.
Make a list before you start as to what you want in a home and what you don't want. This will give you some idea when you're looking of what is available on the market. Take this list with you and decide which of the houses have what you're looking for. If you find one that has it all, then that's the home for you.

Costa Blanca villas have become more popular in recent years. Purchasing a villa in the Costa Blanca region is a good investment and can be a good source of rental income since it is one of the most popular vacation destinations in Spain. The best place to start in gathering information on how to find a Costa Blanca villa is with a reputable real estate agent.
A few things should be taken into considering when beginning your search for a villa. First, consider the location. The most popular areas with tourists are those areas close to beaches and other main attractions. If you intend to rent the villa, you definitely want to consider the villas proximity to these attractions. Villas near the beach, for instance, may cost you more upfront at the time of purchase but keep in mind that you will also be able to charge a higher rental fee. Also consider the amenities offered with the villa. Tourists often desire a private pool, a scenic view, maid service, convenience to the beach, shopping, night life and restaurants. The décor is also something to consider. When advertising online, pictures of the villa are important in advertising and a nice decorated villa will attract much more attention. Again, spending money to furnish and decorate the villa may cost you more money upfront, but it will be a good investment if you are renting the villa. Finally, you should also consider the resale value of the villa since you may decide to sell it at some point in the future. Popular locations will provide more flexibility and options when you do decide to sell.
Once you have purchased a villa, you can get a good weekly rental rate if it is in a location popular with tourists. This can become a great source of income, especially during the summer season. The rental rate you can charge is influenced by such factors as the villa’s size, location, amenities and features, and proximity to public transportation, the beach and other attractions. June through September are the prime months for vacation rentals, and you may find that your villa is booked almost every week. Be sure to advertise your villa in advance as people begin planning and booking accommodations up to six months prior to their trip. You will find that July and August have the highest demand for rentals, as well as Christmas and Easter holidays which are also especially popular. Many travelers visit the area for these holiday festivals, processions and celebrations. During the winter months, you may be able to rent your villa to those coming from Northern Europe to escape the colder weather. You may also find retired individuals seeking somewhere to rent during the winter months, which can be a good source of steady rental income during these seasons not as busy as the summer months. The basic rental rate will be less than in the summer, but at least it is still a source of incoming rental cash flow.

Most plan services provide construction drawings that are minimally compliant with building codes. You're going to need more information before you sign a contract with a builder, and before you submit your plans for a building permit.
Before You Sign A Contract With A Builder
In addition to the construction drawings you've purchased, you'll need a set of specifications. "Specs" are the details of all the stuff in the house. The plans show where the toilets are placed, for example, but don't specify what kind of toilets they are. The plans show where the cabinets and countertops go, but don't tell you anything about the style, finish, or cost of these items.
How important are the specs? They are often the difference between a happy new homeowner and an unhappy one. Good, accurate and complete specs will prevent the frustration and disappointment you'll feel if the completed house isn't exactly what you expected, or if it costs a lot more than you thought. Lack of good specs is the root cause of many contractor "horror stories".
Specs will also tell you - up front - how much the finished house is really going to cost. The finishes and fixtures in your house (flooring, lighting, paint, trim, etc.) make up 30% to 40% of the cost of the house - it doesn't take much of a change in the specification of those items to show up in a big way on the bottom line.
Before You Submit For A Building Permit
The building department issues the building permit - but only after your plans pass muster at the zoning department.
The good folks at the zoning department will require you to submit a site plan for review. The level of detail they'll require on the site plan varies - from not much more than a quick sketch to a highly detailed drawing prepared by a surveyor or a civil engineer.
Expect to pay extra for this service, from several hundred to several thousand dollars, depending on the size of the property, the size of the house, and the requirements of the zoning department. And some rural township zoning departments may not require a site plan at all.
Does My House Fit On My Lot?
But whoa, let's back up just a bit - no zoning department's going to pass your site plan if the house doesn't fit. Every building site has restrictions on how a house can placed including:
Side yard setbacks
Front yard (building line) setbacks
Rear yard setbacks
Some jurisdictions have additional requirements:
Minimum and maximum building "footprint" size
Maximum building height
Maximum lot coverage
And many properties have easements across them. Easements are areas of a lot that are set aside for use by others, usually utility companies. Easements can also allow access across one property to get to another.
Before you purchase a house plan, check the zoning restrictions on your property. Make sure the plan you want fits the lot you have!

When you compare house plans one of the more important characteristics you'll consider is the area of the floor plan - the size of the plan - measured in square feet.
But I'll tell you a little secret about "square footage" - it's not measured the same on every house plan. That means that any two house plans that appear to be of equal area may not really be!
Does that make much difference when you're choosing a plan? You bet it does! A difference of a mere 10% on a 3,000 square foot plan might unexpectedly cost you tens of thousands of dollars!
Apples To Apples
Builders, Architects, Real Estate Professionals, Bankers, Auditors, and Appraisers often all count square footage differently, to better suite their particular needs. House plan services also vary in their area-calculation protocols; in order to compare floor plan areas accurately you've got to be sure that the areas are counted the same.
Generally, builders and Real Estate Professionals want to show that a house is as big as possible; allowing them to quote a lower "cost per square foot", and making the house appear more valuable.
Appraisers and County Auditors usually just measure the perimeter of the house - a typically very rough way to calculate area - and call it a day, while Architects break the size down into components; first floor, second floor, porches, finished lower level, etc.
To arrive at an "apples-to-apples" comparison of house areas you've got to know what's included in the totals. Does the area include only heated and cooled spaces? Does it include everything "under roof" (I've seen garages figured into some plan areas!) or only "living space"?
Upstairs and Downstairs, Inside And Out
But even when you've discovered exactly what spaces are included in the area calculation you'll need to know how volume is counted, and whether the total is net square footage or gross.
Gross area is the total of everything within the outer edge of the perimeter of the house; net area is that same total - less the thicknesses of walls. In other words, net square footage is the part of the floor that you can walk on - gross includes the parts you can't.
The difference between the two can be as much as ten percent - depending on the type of floor plan design. A "traditional" plan (with more distinct rooms and therefore more walls) might have ten percent net-to-gross ratio, while a contemporary plan may have only six or seven percent.
Likewise, larger homes tend to have more walls - because larger homes generally have more rooms, rather than simply larger rooms.
You'll probably never see the volume of a house plan listed on a plan site, but the number representing the area of a floor plan often depends on how the volume is counted. Typically, the "upper area" of two-story rooms (foyers, family rooms) isn't counted as part of the floor plan. Likewise, stairs are only counted once. But not always - check how volume is counted to be sure you know how big the plan really is.
Plan services that design their own plans will have a consistent policy on area (and volume), but services that sell plans on consignment probably don't.

Lots of house plan websites and plan books offer to prepare a "materials list" for you - and for about thirty bucks some will even calculate a "cost to build" the house plan you've chosen.
But where does that cost information come from, and how useful is it? Can you rely on Internet material lists or cost estimating for your house project?
Local Cost Estimating
A homebuilder spends days, sometimes weeks, putting together a cost estimate for a new home project. The estimate has to be accurate because the builder may be competing against other bidders for the project, and because he's going to offer the homeowner a contract to build the house based on it.
His business depends on it.
Miss the cost by a few percentage points and he doesn't get the job - or worse, he gets it, but has lost money before he starts.
A homebuilder knows that every project is different; that the cost to build on one building site can vary greatly from another; and that prices for material and labor fluctuate almost daily.
And so the homebuilder does take-offs from the plans - a take-off is a calculation of the materials needed to build the house - and gives the take-offs to many vendors and subcontractors for prices. It's not unusual for a builder to send out fifteen or twenty sets of plans for pricing (as I'm writing this, I'm remembering sending out twenty-two sets to a builder just this morning).
He also estimates miscellaneous labor and material costs; permits; interest carrying costs; insurances; lot clearing; temporary electric service; portable toilet rental; overhead and profit; and a thousand other items necessary to successfully complete a construction project. A good line item take-off can use up five or more sheets of single-spaced legal paper.
But you don't need a detailed "take-off" at this point, do you? Don't you just want a ballpark idea of what the house will cost to build?
National Cost Averages
The problem is that building construction costs are just too sensitive to the idiosyncrasies of each building site, each builder, and each homeowner to get "ballpark" estimates from any place but building professionals who are familiar with your area.
What good is a "ballpark" estimate if your ballpark is Candlestick Park and theirs is Yankee Stadium? (You do remember Candlestick Park, don't you?)
There are a couple of national organizations that collect and distribute building cost data in books and on the Internet. They collect the information from building permits, from home sales reports, and from the United States Census (and a few other sources).
But even when comparing houses in a fairly narrow range of size and cost, the specifics of each house make average costs useless. Two identical homes can vary in cost by tens of thousands of dollars due just to the choices of finishes, fixtures, and appliances.
National cost averages are a reasonable way of comparing production-built home designs (a standard plan from a national builder) between regions, but area a poor and potentially misleading tool for guessing at the cost of an Internet house plan.
Back On Track
Fortunately there's a way to get a reliable cost estimate on the plan you like. Buy the "study plan" of one or two designs you like. Prepare as complete a specification list as you can for the house (more about this in the next chapter, "Construction Costs") and submit both to several reputable local builders for preliminary cost estimates.
The prices you get back (be sure to discuss them thoroughly with the builders) will be far more useful than anything you buy online. And in the long run you'll save money and time.
Out Of The Ballpark
A reasonably accurate ballpark estimate is a very useful tool in helping you decide whether you can afford to build a particular house plan.
But a poor initial estimate can cause you to pass up a plan you really can afford, or worse, get you far down the road with a project that's ultimately way outside your budget.
If you take the time to learn about what local costs are for houses like yours, with a level of finish like yours, using the same type of builder you'll use and in the area you want to build, you've got a very good chance of getting an ballpark estimate that's accurate enough to make meaningful decisions on.

Are you interested in relocating to the state of Florida? Or, if you already live in the state of Florida, are you interested in moving into a new home? If you are, have you already started to examine the real estate market? If you have yet to do so, you may want to get started soon. Examining the real estate market, with or without professional assistance, is a great way to determine if you are able to find the Florida home of your dreams.
Although a relatively large number of Florida home buyers are able to find existing homes to buy, there are many others who do not. Unfortunately, when many potential home buyers do not find the home of their dreams, there are many who make the decision to give up, even just temporarily, or settle for second best. Yes, the decision as to whether or not you want to hold off your move to a new Florida home is yours to make, but you may want to look at your alternatives. One of those alternatives is using the services of a Florida new home builder. A Florida new home builder can help to give you the home of your dreams, literally.
When it comes to doing business with a Florida new home builder, there are many potential home buyers who wonder if they really should do business with a Florida new home builder. If you are one of those individuals, there are a number of important questions that you will want to ask yourself. These questions, which are touched on below, may help make it easier for you to decide if you should hire a Florida new home builder to build a home for you.
One of the many questions that you will want to ask yourself, concerning a Florida new home builder, is whether or you were able to find the Florida home of your dreams. A large number of Florida residents or even just hopeful residents would prefer to find an existing home, one that they do not have to build. However, if you are unable to find the home of your dreams, or at least one that you could see yourself living in for years to come, you may want to think about at least meeting with a Florida new home builder for more information.
It is also advised that you ask yourself whether or not you can even afford to use the services of a Florida new home builder. When it comes to doing business with a Florida new home builder, you will find that have a number of different options. For instance, there are some Florida new home builders that specialize in making manufactured homes or those who build custom homes from scratch. You will want to examine your financial situation, as well as your ability to obtain financing, if you need it, before determining what type of Florida new home you would like or which Florida new home builder you would like to do business with.
If you are finding it overwhelming, deciding on your own whether you should use the services of a Florida new home builder, you may want to think about seeking professional assistance from a real estate expert. A real estate expert can not only help you find a lot of land to buy, but they should also be able to connect with a highly rated and recommended Florida new home builder.

Are you interested in owning a new home in Florida? If you are, you likely already know that you have a number of different options. For instance, you can buy a home that would be “new to you,” you could build your own home, or you could hire a professional to do it for you. If you are like many others who want to own a new, personalized home, you may be interested in seeking the assistance of a custom home builder.
When it comes to seeking the assistance of a professional custom home builder, it is important that you know that there is a difference between a home manufacturer and a custom home builder. Florida residents, possibly like you, who want to have some say in how their home is constructed, are urged to do business with a custom home builder. Florida home manufacturers may be willing to a little bit of customization, but not always. In most cases, home manufacturers are those who produce pre-designed homes; homes that cannot be altered.
Although it is important to know that you should do business with a Florida custom home builder, you may be wondering why you should do so. First, you should know that there are a number of benefits to doing business with a custom home builder. Florida residents, just like you, who want more information on those benefits are encouraged to continue reading on.
Perhaps, the greatest benefit of doing business with a custom home builder is that you are able to get the home of your dreams. There are many home buyers who spend months, even years, trying to find the perfect home. Unfortunately, many end up settling for second best or even less than that. That is the beauty of being able to have your own custom home built; you can have the home of your dreams and there is no having to settle for second best. Doing business with a Florida custom home builder can get you the home of your dreams.
Another one of the many benefits of doing business with a Florida custom home builder is their experience. An individual who has undergone the proper amount of training and has some work experience is often considered a professional custom home builder; Florida has a large number of them. What does this mean for you? It not only means that you have a number of different Florida custom home builders to choose from, but it also means that you will get professional results. When it comes to your home, professional results are not only important, but they are necessary. That is why it is advised that you choose to do business with a professional, highly rated and recommended custom home builder. Florida residents who have are almost always satisfied with the results.
The decision as to whether or not you want to do business with a custom home builder is yours to make, but it is something that you should definitely examine, especially if you want a customized, personalized home. You can use the internet, your local phone book, or recommendations from real estate professionals to get information on a local custom home builder. Florida residents have been using custom home builders for years now and you may now want to start doing the same.

Are you interested in relocating to the Florida area or even just buying a new home in the state of Florida? If you are, do you know if you would like to buy a home that is already listed on the Florida real estate market or would you like to have your own home built? If you are interested in having your own home built, you will need to use the services of a new home builder in Florida.
The first step in using the services of a new home builder in Florida is to find a builder to do business with. When it comes to finding a new home builder in Florida to do business with, you will soon see that you have a number of different options. Before you familiarize yourself with those options, you may want to think about what type of new home builder in Florida you want to do business with. For instance, there are some individuals or companies who are referred to as home manufacturers and there are others who are referred to as custom home builders. Custom home builders allow you to take part in the design of your home and home manufacturers tend to only build pre-designed homes.
Once you have decided which type of new home builder in Florida you would like to do business with, you can begin to start searching for a professional. One of the easiest ways to go about finding a new home builder in Florida is by using the internet. Online, there are a number of different approaches that you can take. You can try to find a new home builder in Florida by performing a standard internet search. When performing a standard internet search, it may be a good idea to search with a phrase like “Florida home builders,” or something else along the same lines. Your search results will likely lead you to the online websites of local Florida home builders.
In addition to performing a standard internet search, you can also use online phone books or online business directories to help you find a new home builder in Florida. The only downside to using these online resources is that the information given to you is minimal. Often times, you will only get the name of a new home builder in Florida, their business address, as well as their business telephone number. This information is similar to what you would find in your local phone book. In fact, you may also want to think about using your local phone book to find a new home builder in Florida.
Although the above mentioned approaches are ways that you can go about finding a new home builder in Florida to do business with, there is an even better way to do so. That way involves using the assistance of a professional real estate expert. A professional real estate expert is often referred to as a buyer’s broker or a real estate agent. These types of professionals can not only assist you with finding land to build your new home on, but they can also help you obtain the needed financing, as well as a quality new home builder in Florida to do business with

For those who thought the term 'location' meant convenience to your daily routines, it is much more than that. It implies the constantly-changing effects upon a specific home or property, caused by other people and the natural environment. Your concern should be pinpointed against other people – what type of people are your prospective neighbors? The viewing appointments will probably take place during office hours when neighbors are at work or school, but how does the neighborhood change in the evening? Are there people in the area who make life unpleasant at night? Do many people work shifts, coming into the area during unsociable hours and waking up everyone else? Any location requires a careful survey to allow assessment of the pros and cons; after all, you're investing a large amount of your money in this.
A certain amount of caution is required when undertaking the following exercise; I can't advise on specific locations and each one is unique. What I wish to do is suggest various ways by which you can thoroughly assess a location, so here's my next tip:
# 2: Bring a 'prop' when you visit your intended neighborhood and avoid inspecting it alone. Nothing draws more attention than a solitary adult loitering around an area and , in some countries, this is illegal. Look at it from the neighbor's point of view; they are protecting their family and property against possible threat and can't tell from glancing at you that your motives are innocent. You don't want to draw adverse attention to yourself or have the neighbors phone the police because you look suspicious. What do I mean by a prop? It could be a partner or friend, preferably from the opposite sex if you are male (two men together make people suspicious since their first thoughts are you are 'casing' their home before breaking and entering). If you have a child, bring him/her along (but avoid bringing several at the same time since they might attract too much attention - ration them out for subsequent trips if they are keen to accompany you).
An accompanied child often attracts positive attention from strangers, and may be a good way to introduce yourself to a prospective neighbor or for you to ask useful questions once you have explained that you're checking the neighborhood. Another useful prop is a dog (providing you bring a bag in case it fouls the path/sidewalk!). Like a child, a dog allows you to pass slowly through an area, paying attention to detail and innocently surveying the scene. Where possible and safe, examine on foot, rather than arrive in a car, eve if it means parking in a car park some distance away. For those who cycle, this is a non-invasive way to arrive and spend a little time without drawing undue attention. You can feign a mechanical problem and spend some time on the path/sidewalk 'fixing' your bicycle. If you can adapt or combine these props, you can make several visits to your location. Always bring a brochure/prospectus of the intended property which you can produce to demonstrate that you are a genuine prospective buyer.
Such surveys will yield a lot of useful information about an area that you might have missed by visiting during office hours. It allows you to take an informed decision about an area, to privately decide which factors might affect your quality of life and to use any adverse effects as bargaining power when negotiating with the property's owners.
In the next installment I will suggest less direct ways of exploring a potential neighborhood and gathering important information about your future home, once you decide that an area still attracts you.

If your looking to buy in Maui there are numerous Maui, Hawaii real estate companies that would be more than willing to help you achieve this. You can find realtors on line that will help you purchase your dream home, but in addition to this there is also advice you can get before buying so that you don't fall into a trap you can't get out of. To buy a home there are a few procedures you have to follow to ensure you'll end up with what you want.
If your looking for a cheaper price one way to ensure this is get pre approved by your lender before you start looking. It gives you a better chance at snapping up a bargain when you see it. This gives you added strength in the power of buying. Make sure you are fully approved and all that's left is the appraisal of the property and the price you will be paying. Go in to see your lender. Don't do this over a phone, they may say yes but it means nothing if it's not in writing.
If you are the owner of property already, make sure this is sold before you start looking. It is no good to try to buy on the hopes that what you have will sell later. Do all the work that is necessary to clean up the loose ends on your old home so that when the right opportunity comes along you are ready to jump into the deal free and clear. Nobody is going to wait until your old home sells. Go looking before you really get into purchasing. You don't have to fall in love with every house that's available and it will give you a better idea of what's on the market to suit your needs.
Make a list before you start as to what you want in a home and what you don't want. This will give you some idea when you're looking of what is available on the market. Take this list with you and decide which of the houses have what you're looking for. If you find one that has it all, then that's the home for you

Costa Blanca villas have become more popular in recent years. Purchasing a villa in the Costa Blanca region is a good investment and can be a good source of rental income since it is one of the most popular vacation destinations in Spain. The best place to start in gathering information on how to find a Costa Blanca villa is with a reputable real estate agent.
A few things should be taken into considering when beginning your search for a villa. First, consider the location. The most popular areas with tourists are those areas close to beaches and other main attractions. If you intend to rent the villa, you definitely want to consider the villas proximity to these attractions. Villas near the beach, for instance, may cost you more upfront at the time of purchase but keep in mind that you will also be able to charge a higher rental fee. Also consider the amenities offered with the villa. Tourists often desire a private pool, a scenic view, maid service, convenience to the beach, shopping, night life and restaurants. The décor is also something to consider. When advertising online, pictures of the villa are important in advertising and a nice decorated villa will attract much more attention. Again, spending money to furnish and decorate the villa may cost you more money upfront, but it will be a good investment if you are renting the villa. Finally, you should also consider the resale value of the villa since you may decide to sell it at some point in the future. Popular locations will provide more flexibility and options when you do decide to sell.
Once you have purchased a villa, you can get a good weekly rental rate if it is in a location popular with tourists. This can become a great source of income, especially during the summer season. The rental rate you can charge is influenced by such factors as the villa’s size, location, amenities and features, and proximity to public transportation, the beach and other attractions. June through September are the prime months for vacation rentals, and you may find that your villa is booked almost every week. Be sure to advertise your villa in advance as people begin planning and booking accommodations up to six months prior to their trip. You will find that July and August have the highest demand for rentals, as well as Christmas and Easter holidays which are also especially popular. Many travelers visit the area for these holiday festivals, processions and celebrations. During the winter months, you may be able to rent your villa to those coming from Northern Europe to escape the colder weather. You may also find retired individuals seeking somewhere to rent during the winter months, which can be a good source of steady rental income during these seasons not as busy as the summer months. The basic rental rate will be less than in the summer, but at least it is still a source of incoming rental cash flow.