With its enviable climate which boasts over 300 days of sunshine each year, Florida is not known as the "Sunshine State" for nothing! Add to this the countless numbers of theme parks, water parks, film studios, golf course and shopping malls and no wonder this part of the USA has become one of the most popular holiday and vacation destinations to be found anywhere in the world.
Without doubt, the best way to see this fabled state is by basing yourself in one of the many holiday homes, villas or holiday vacation rental properties, which can be found all over the state.
One of the main reasons behind Florida's popularity is of course due to the fact that during the late 1950's, Walt Disney chose to build the now iconic Disney World entertainment theme park complex in Orlando and the surrounding areas.
This has given Orlando the well earned tag of "entertainment capital" of the world and as anyone who has been there will tell you, there is simply no other place like it for the sheer scale and variety of entertainment and things to do for people of all ages, size and background, for children, teenagers, young couples and, of course, families.
However many attractions there are to be found in Orlando, there are many other places and resorts just waiting to be discovered throughout the whole of this State. Wherever you may choose to visit and stay, my advice is to consider renting one of the many holiday homes and holiday villas which are available to rent directly from the owners. From coastal communities in St Petersburg or Sarasota, to resorts such as Hampton Lakes, Bradenton or Tuscan Ridge in the pleasant suburbs of Orlando- you will be amazed at the quality and choice on offer.
Renting a holiday home or a holiday villa, allows you far more freedom to plan and organise your vacation to suit the needs and desires of your family. Renting a holiday property or other form of self catering accommodation allows you to come and go as you please, to eat and drink what you want when you want - in essence it is a true " home from home" experience. There are holiday villas to rent with their own private pools set in beautifully manicured and gated communities as well as holiday homes and vacation rental properties which back onto superb championship quality golf courses. If you are a golfing enthusiastic you will be simply overwhelmed by the sheer numbers, variety and quality of the golf courses which Florida has to offer?
But Florida is not only about Disney World and its numerous theme parks, water parks, movie studios, designer and themed hotels,far from it. Florida covers a land mass of over 58,000 square miles and offers an amazing range of attractions to explore and enjoy.
Drive west down one of the many Interstates and you will arrive at the Gulf coast resorts of St Petersburg, Tampa and Clearwater. These communities are full of the most beautifully appointed and spacious holiday homes, holiday villas and all manner of vacation rentals which you can rent for as many weeks of the year as you wish.
Continue a little further South and you will happen upon Naples with its pristine beaches and warm seas and the Everglades National Park which is where you will find the natural habitat of the oldest of Florida residents -the manatee, alligator and crocodile.
At the very bottom of the state, just 50 miles off the coast of Cuba, are the fabled Florida Keys. At the southern most tip of Florida lie the Florida keys - a string of little islands linked by amazing bridges which seem to hover over an impossibly turquoise blue sea. You will be forgiven for thinking that you have now arrived in the Caribbean, as so different is the laid back atmosphere which pervades these magical islands.
Compare this with the largest city in the State, Miami, where Spanish is spoken almost as widely as English. Unlike most cities in the USA, Miama is closer to Havana than it is even to Orlando, as a result the Spanish and Latin American cultural impact on this city is to be found and experienced whereever you go.As a party town and place to let your hair down and experience "la vida loca",then Miami is a city with no equal.
If you should ever tire of the central belt of Florida which is Orlando, take a day out to visit the Atlantic coast on the East side of the State. The waves here are great for body surfing and you can also visit the NASA Kenedy Space Centre. For a taste of real,down to earth coastal America, head for Coco Beach where you can drink Budweiser eat delicious key lime pie on the pier which juts out into the tempestuous Atlantic surf!
Truly, Florida is an amazing "must 'go-to" place. But avoid staying in hotels and motels if you can. Renting a new and well appointed spacious holiday home or villa or vacation rental property or for that matter any other form of self -catering accommodation will give you and the family the freedom to come and go as you please which will allow you to make the most of what the "Sunshine State" has to offer.
When buying a new Florida home, you have one basic choice to make: will you build a new home or will you purchase an existing home? One thing that all Florida home buyers should consider is that building a new home can save you a lot of money and hassle when it comes to expensive and messy remodeling projects.
Why building a new home is better
By building a new Florida home, you are instantly alleviating several of the remodeling and repair worries that may come with an older existing home. And when it comes to homes, age really does matter. Unless you are purchasing a home for its historical significance, you are always better off buying a pre-construction or newly constructed home.
With these homes, not only do you get a wealth of modern upgrades, you also earn an instant return on your investment in resale value alone. Nine times out of ten, newer homes are worth more money. But all of the other benefits aside, these homes save you money in remodeling costs.
Some common remodeling costs for existing homes
One startling statistic that many home buyers may not be aware of is this: most Florida homes that are over 20 years old are beginning to deteriorate and will likely need major renovation and repair. Of course, the older the existing home and the longer it has been since any remodeling has been done, the more it will cost you to bring the home up to date.
Some older homes have not been updated with central heat and air conditioning, and even if they have these features, the units may need replacement. Some buyers will want to upgrade older central heat and air systems to more modern systems with higher energy efficiency. With utility bills soaring, who wants to pay more to heat and cool their home because their central unit is out of date?
If you build a new home, you don't have to worry about any of these things, because everything is brand-new, energy efficient, and not on the verge of deterioration.
Electrical and plumbing woes
Speaking of adding central air and heating, home buyers must remember that an older home which doesn't have central air and heat may have outdated electrical wiring and fuse boxes that will need to be updated before the central heating and cooling systems can be installed.
Older homes often need to be wired for cable and internet, plus there are fewer electrical outlets in each room. If you build a new home, you don't have to worry about outdated electrical systems, lack of power outlets, and the added expense of having your home wired for cable and internet. Your newly constructed home will be fully up to date in all areas of the electrical and wiring systems.
Plumbing systems and bathroom features are another area that can rack up large remodeling bills. Installing new pipes, bathtubs, vanities, fixtures, and removing old linoleum flooring can get very messy as well. If you build a new home, you will have modern plumbing systems, luxurious bathroom features and fixtures, and brand new tile floors.
Layout and design
Older homes are often darker, with smaller rooms and a lack of closet space. Today's Florida home builders offer an array of light, airy and spacious floor plans, all of which offer plenty of closet space. Older homes may have lead paint or just plain horrible paint colors that need to be redone (a messy project indeed). Not so with a brand new home. You get to choose your palette of high quality paint colors, and the risk of lead paint exposure is eliminated.
Older homes may have smaller kitchens that contain old, outdated appliances. Cracked linoleum or tile flooring may need replacement, fixtures may be old and stained, and cabinetry that is either deteriorating due to age or inferior quality will need to be replaced. If you build a new Florida home, your kitchen will be luxuriously appointed with all of the latest appliances, cabinetry and fixtures. Appliances are brand new and top of the line.
Building a new home is the best way to buy in Florida
When you are deciding between building a new home and purchasing an existing home, don't fall into the trap of thinking your existing home is a great bargain when it needs major remodeling and/or repair. The time, money and hassle you save by building a new Florida home makes building new the best choice for today's Florida home buyer.
Both Duncan Paul Mitchell & Tom Beaty are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Duncan Paul Mitchell has sinced written about articles on various topics from Travel and Leisure, self improvement and motivation and Vacation Rentals. Paul Mitchell has travelled extensively around the world and written many articles on the subjects of travel and holiday accommodation.He is also the co owner of the holiday property rental website:. Duncan Paul Mitchell's top article generates over 40500 views. to your Favourites.
Tom Beaty has sinced written about articles on various topics from Buying and Selling Home, Sell Home and Buying and Selling Home. Tom Beaty a Florida home builder and Florida real estate broker. Specialize in new homes in Palm Coast, Flagler and Volusia County. Visit me at: