All Forum Posts by: Keith Courtney

Hi Shannon -

Welcome to BP. I am in Orlando. My real estate background includes high end residential development and brokerage of luxury homes and vacation/investment homes down around Disney.

I personally believe success in real estate comes with finding your niche. Have you discovered yours yet?

Please feel free to contact me if I can help you in any way.

Keith Courtney

Great information from Kim H. above. To add a little bit more . . .

I would not be embarrassed at all about asking for financial data upfront. I am involved with buying vacation homes here in Central Florida. Each time I am looking at a new purchase, one of the first things I ask for are the expense numbers and rental income numbers. Ask for numbers from the past couple of years and also ask for what is on the books for future rentals.

Don't forget to also analyze the property from an asset investment standpoint. In other words is it not only a potentially good rental income producer, but also will it appreciate in value. Are you going to be able to buy it a good price?

I hope this helps. Good luck.

I live in Orlando. My real estate focus is on short term rental vacation homes – especially the approximate 26K short term rental vacation homes that are within a 30 minute drive to Disney World. In my dealings I have been surprised by the number of owners that do not make a profit with their homes. So many of them invested in their homes “blindly” without having a good idea what it takes to make a profit with a short term rental vacation home.

My formula to make a profit with a short term rental vacation home has 3 parts:
1) The vacation home must offer the amenities renters want.
2) A good property manager
3) A good marketing program to maximize rental bookings

I would appreciate your thoughts regarding the above. And, if you have owned or currently own a short term rental vacation home, what has your experience been?

Thanks - Keith Courtney