View Full Version : Villa vs House
Hello:
I am unsure what is the difference between a villa and a house. Where can I read about the definitions, or can someone here explain? I do appreciate any assistance you may give.
Thank You
A Villa is just another name for a vacation home, they are houses [msnsmile2]
CERICROWLEY
18-05-2008, 20:54
It just a different saying between the UK/US and European.
Some say vacation home, some say single family home, some say villa. It is more common to say villa in europe than in the US
Katys Grandad
18-05-2008, 21:06
Doesn't 'Villa' have a specific meaning in the US when referring to residential property? It's not an description you hear much over there and seems to be used almost exclusively by UK visitors.
Newhomebuyer
18-05-2008, 21:21
Villa is sometimes used to describe an apartment or suite in Florida. It can be confusing however you will not be confused if you are using any of the links on this site where the villas are all detached houses. There are also some townhomes which we would describein the UK as terraced or semi detached homes.
If in any doubt at all the owner will clarify the exact property type for you. That is one of the benefits of booking directly with the owner.
Cruella DeVilla
18-05-2008, 21:25
Yes a Villa is normally a townhouse/apartment/condo over in the US. What we would class as a villa a la Europe would normally be called a single family home/dwelling or such likes.
LiesaAnna
18-05-2008, 22:02
i was under the impression villa was all on one floor and the townhouse was on 2 levels?
Hi: Thanks for the replies. This forum is a big help. I am from the U.S. and have never rented one before. This is new to me and am doing a lot of research. Am I correct in assuming most of the owners are european? Is this because of the weak U.S. Dollar? When I look up these areas on Google maps, I am amazed at the density of houses in each area. Do the pools have privacy shades so you can't see into the neighbor's pool, or vice versa? Is Clermont considered the newest area? I think I need to choose from Clermont/Davenport or Kissimmee. My family and I plan for a week at Disney.
Jim
Newhomebuyer
18-05-2008, 22:56
The surrounds for pools are different with each 'villa' (vacation home). Some pools have complete privacy , others have no-one overlooking the rear of the home but may have pools to the side.
I don't think you will be able to get a short term rental in Clermont but you will find homes available in both Davenport and Kissimmee.
Someone will be along to correct me if I am wrong about Clermont.
florida4sun
18-05-2008, 23:06
I used to sell vacation homes in Florida and yes the majority owners are Europeans (in particular from the UK). Florida and the dollar has always been a good relationship for Europeans.
All homes will have pool screen around the pool to keep out insects. Some will have privacy at the back some will not. Seeing someone elses pool from yours would not be an issue for me.
Any of the areas you have mentioned would be perfect, there is no real difference between any of them (I managed homes in all of those areas). Most homes are within 20 minutes easy drive of Disney.
If this is your first time put an inquiry out on the above sites and have a look through. This is without doubt the best run and most friendly site for choosing a vacation home.
You will never go back to a hotel after staying in a villa/house. If this is your first time no doubt you are nervous, feel free to ask any questions you can think.
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by JMor99
Hi: Thanks for the replies. This forum is a big help. I am from the U.S. and have never rented one before. This is new to me and am doing a lot of research. Am I correct in assuming most of the owners are european? Is this because of the weak U.S. Dollar? When I look up these areas on Google maps, I am amazed at the density of houses in each area. Do the pools have privacy shades so you can't see into the neighbor's pool, or vice versa? Is Clermont considered the newest area? I think I need to choose from Clermont/Davenport or Kissimmee. My family and I plan for a week at Disney.
Jim
[/quote]
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Newhomebuyer
The surrounds for pools are different with each 'villa' (vacation home). Some pools have complete privacy , others have no-one overlooking the rear of the home but may have pools to the side.
I don't think you will be able to get a short term rental in Clermont but you will find homes available in both Davenport and Kissimmee.
Someone will be along to correct me if I am wrong about Clermont.
[/quote]
There are many short term rentals available in Clermont, off H27 slightly north of 192, some within 10 mins of Disney[msncool]
Shirley G
19-05-2008, 04:09
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by LiesaAnna
i was under the impression villa was all on one floor and the townhouse was on 2 levels?
[/quote]
My home is a 2 storey but it's not a townhouse
berrysmiles
19-05-2008, 11:58
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by JMor99
Hi: Thanks for the replies. When I look up these areas on Google maps, I am amazed at the density of houses in each area. Do the pools have privacy shades so you can't see into the neighbor's pool, or vice versa? Is Clermont considered the newest area? I think I need to choose from Clermont/Davenport or Kissimmee. My family and I plan for a week at Disney.
Jim[/quote]Hi Jim
Welcome to the forum. You will probably find that some of the "older"
developments have larger lots, so you are further from your neighbours pools.
Judy
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Shirley G
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by LiesaAnna
i was under the impression villa was all on one floor and the townhouse was on 2 levels?
[/quote]
My home is a 2 storey but it's not a townhouse
[/quote]Ours too! It is a two storey single family home that we refer to as our 'villa' [msnsmile2]
Not sure what you mean by 'privacy shades' Jim but some pool cages have 'Florida Glass' in some of the panels for extra privacy.
Feel free to ask whatever you like, someone here will always be happy to help. Once you have rented a vacation home you will never want to rent a hotel room again [msnwink]
Have a great vacation [msncool]
Pegasus928
19-05-2008, 17:51
In my experience to get everything you want from a villa - and that includes privacy - you need to book early. There are plenty of villas out there that are on the edge of the developments that are looking onto a conservation area, lake or orange grove and have a south facing view. Some have 5 foot high walls around the pool that protect your privacy but we always found these to be to enclosed (personal taste plays a large part here). We have also always stayed on the H27 and have found it excellent for local shopping (Walmart and Publix only 5 mins) and close to all the major theme parks.
To be totally honest though Jim if you really are only going for a week I wouldn't get too hung up on the pool. A week goes very quick in Florida and if you plan on doing Disney/Universal as well then you probably won't be spending that much time at the villa.
Kenny
LiesaAnna
19-05-2008, 20:32
see you learn something new everyday:D:D
Robert5988
19-05-2008, 21:16
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:i was under the impression villa was all on one floor and the townhouse was on 2 levels?[/quote]
Definitions vary across the USA, but the term 'Townhouse' is normally what we in UK would call a semi-detached or terraced house. The number of floors is not important.
I don't think the term 'villa' is widely used in the USA to describe the type of house that most people on this site own. i.e. a single family detached home on a development. I suspect the term 'villa' was used to make it sound more 'up-market' for rentals and has caught on!
steph_goodrum
19-05-2008, 21:44
I think the term villa came from using the description that has been widely used in Europe for many years to describe a detached holiday home.
When we first started going to Florida the holiday comanies used to use the word villa in their heading for the holiday homes such as Fantasy World Villas and then in the descriptions they would put townhouses as they were actually what we would call terraced houses.
thornton
19-05-2008, 23:49
There are many sub-divisions in Clermont to choose from, Highgrove, Silver Creek, Glenbrook, Sunrise Lakes and Orange Tree are just a few of them. Clermont is in Lake county and it is probably the newest county to be developed for short-term rental
As an American owner, I can confirm that "villa" is not a familiar term in the U.S. I have been under the impression that it's widely used in Florida because of the large majority of UK owners. Florida "villas" or vacation homes can be one floor or two. I always thought that townhouses were not single family homes, but part of complex with shared facilities (i.e. community pool vs. a private pool).
I have never called a townhouse a villa due to it being semi-detached. From my point of view a villa was always a detached house.
Having said that there are townhouses that are as big as villas and do have their own pools, they are just not detached.