How long have you been a Villa Owner

**Lyn** · 15-02-2005, 21:25

I will never be lucky enough to be able to buy a villa (unless I win on the lottery, don't hold your breath) but I spend hours looking at sites like Realtor and checking the for sale section on this site, where people seem to be selling after only a couple of years. Just wondered how long everyone had owned there villas

**floridadreamvilla.co.uk** · 15-02-2005, 21:36

Since 2001 for us.

I would not say owning a villa is that lucky as they cost a fortune to run and it's a second job dealing with them and your guests - we spend 2-3 hours EVERY day on our villas - sometimes a lot more. There is a lot to be said for just renting someone else's villa if you ask me [msnsmile]

**search66** · 15-02-2005, 21:47

I'm not sure how it works in the UK (which prompted me to post), but do you all get tax credit for rental properties? I know in the US, we can wright-off rental income for tax purposes (well, at least the interest on the mortgage).

**blott** · 15-02-2005, 21:48

1999 and I second what John's just said! I'd love to have just a holiday in Florida too!

**orlandobabe** · 15-02-2005, 22:03

We've had our 5 years next month.

I was lucky enough to go out for a month in Jan/Feb and stayed for the first three weeks in my friend's villa.

It was absolute bliss to have a holiday-before spending the last week in my own!

**heathercobbett** · 15-02-2005, 22:19

We bought on a whim in 1999 (my excuse was jetlag)We thought we would take a look at new builds and thought they were all great and then saw our model on Westridge and fell in love

The realtor said we would have nothing to do as owners,it would all be done by an mc but as has been stated ,that was baloney and had I realised it was essentially a part time job,we would have run away

Have we got any regrets?No! Each time we help people through the booking process it is so satisfying,particularly as we get a lot of first timers.And when our guests return and we get the ecsatic phone call or letter it makes it all worthwhile

However,nobody should be as feckless as we were.If you are thinking about buying,research,talk to owners and weigh it all up.Do not just take the word of your salesman

The OV owners are a particularly savvy lot and make a success of a difficult venture.However,a lot of owners have had their fingers burnt.

We mostly have to rent another owners house for part of our stay and that is when we really have a proper Florida holiday!

**E. Cosgrove** · 15-02-2005, 22:32

We put a deposit down on a plot last January, building started in Sept and we got the keys January 5th. We are looking forward to staying there for the first time at Easter.
I thought I had done my research, and believe me I'd done plenty, but I knew nothing compared to the things I have learned since I joined this site. The administrators, owners, and experienced villa owners on this site have been a mine of information and For that I am eternally grateful, I continue to learn something new everyday.
As for never owning your own home Lyn, that's what I used to think but here I am, proud villa owner, so don't give up if it's your dream, just make sure you do your research and that you can afford to subsidise it even if you don't get bookings.
Good Luck with your dream.

**Chloe** · 15-02-2005, 22:53

We have owned ours 7 years in July. You do have to be prepared to spend a good proportion of your 'holiday' in the likes of Home Depot. Sometimes its hard to get the balance between home ownership / holiday-maker right, especially if you have children with you. Although I think for us that part has got easier as they have got older. They have 'done' the parks a lot, and are happy to laze around why we do the HomeDepot type things. We have just started to go on our own (first time last Dec.) so that is also an asset as we can spend time on the villa without worrying about the children at all. Chloe

**mm69340** · 15-02-2005, 23:06

We were 2 years in December. I tell Dan all the time, that I don't need a part time job when the children are all in school, the villa takes up all the spare time I have!