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Year-round rental potential in Regal Palms Resort, Florida

Debbie Blythe's business is overseas rentals. For the past 15 years, she has invested in properties in the UK and Europe and rented them out as holiday lets, and her latest acquisition is a 4-bedroom, 3.5-bedroom villa in the Superior Group's luxury Regal Palms Resort near Orlando, Florida.

"I knew I wanted to buy in Florida because it offers 12-month rental potential, unlike Europe," she says. "You can't guarantee 80-degree sunshine in Spain in February!"

Florida also offers other attractions: Regal Palms is close to major theme parks and, for those who want a fly-drive holiday, just 4 hours from the Everglades. Distance is not an issue as there Debbie saw a newspaper ad for the Superior Group's Florida resorts, and then visited their stand at an overseas property exhibition before flying out to see the then unfinished Regal Palms Resort.

"I could see the potential straight away," she recalls. "The standard of design and building was very good. The spacious accommodation and facilities really are 5-star. Compared with nearby resorts, it really stands out. I bought off-plan, and my villa was ready to move into, fully furnished, right on schedule."

"I knew from the start what I wanted from this property, and I think anyone buying in Florida needs to be very clear what their expectations are," advises Debbie. "If you're looking to rent it out, you need to be realistic. It's a very different market from Europe. For example, Americans are very demanding about standards and price, because there is so much choice and the competition is quite cut-throat. They also tend to book at the last minute, unlike us Britons, who book a year in advance! I have my own web-site and market my own properties, but the Superior Group can do it for you too. The key is to be realistic: you can't expect 52 weeks rental a year without putting in some effort, but the potential of a high quality resort like Regal Palms is undeniable."

"Regal Palms is ideal for families because of the communal facilities," she says. "If you've got children, you know that there will always be someone else for them to play with and, because the resort is a gated community, security is never an issue."

She finds the fact that the Superior Group has an office in Florida invaluable. "It makes such a difference to be able to work with people who are actually there; it speeds things up considerably."

"I think people buy in Florida for one of three reasons," Debbie says. "You can buy off-plan as an investment, you can purchase a retirement home, or – like me – you can go for the rental income that Florida's year-round good weather offers. It's certainly been a learning curve for me, but it's definitely been worthwhile!"