Anna Maria Island Vacation Rentals

New great alternatives to saving money

Sunday, May 1st, 2011

I consider myself pretty in tune with web sites that provide more opportunities to save money and for about six

Groupon

Groupon - Social Saving

months now I have not really paid attention to the hub-bub of new web sites that are hitting the scenes.  It is only recently that I began to review some of these web sites.  The hot craze right now seems to be sites that lean towards the social side of advertising.  That is they use Facebook and Twitter feeds so that you can involve your friends in the purchase of some great deals.  It is through your own work that provides the opportunity.  By involving consumers and facebook we are pooling buyers to buy in bulk although all the buyers do not know each other.  Seems like an interesting concept. 

Let me disclose I am new at all of this myself but thought it would be interesting to provide some options that I have found.  Some I have enlisted and frankly just weighing out the advantages versus my time and others I have not had a chance to try.  It seems as though the most popular bulk buy social program is Groupon.com.  The sign up process is fairly easy with all these, only takes one minute and the toughest part of the entire process is remembering your password the next time an

Living Social

Living Social

 enticing deal comes your way to take advantage of it.  A similar website to Groupon is Living social however at least at the time of this post there are less deals on Living Social.

So what does this have to do with Anna Maria Island Real Estate….absolutely nothing.  However, as information gets out maybe even a few of our dining establishments will sign up and you can save money on your trip to paradise.  In addition, thought it was an interesting twist to social media.  Have fun with it and happy saving.

Goldstar.com – this site offers reduced event tickets like sports, concerts, theater, etc.

Zozi.com – this website offers deals for outdoor activities like bicycling, kayaking, etc

Zozi saving site

Zozi Saving

TripAlertz.com – website offers discounts on accommodations and vacation tour packages

Mamapedia.com – website specializes in family friendly saving deals

RetailMeNot.com – this website offers coupons.  This is more of a search for specific discounts in a city.

Market for investment properties – vacation rentals are on rise

Friday, January 14th, 2011

The Wall Street Journal has written a fabulous article regarding the demand on investment homes, more specifically vacation rentals.  The story correlates well to Anna Maria Island Real Estate.  Vacation Rentals account for a great

Investor Article Wall Street Journal

Wall Street Journal

 deal of Anna Maria Island Real Estate transactions.  While I am unaware of the exact percentage of vacation rentals on Anna Maria I estimate nine out of ten real estate buyers request rental income estimates prior to purchasing.

The article basically explains how investment property transactions are on the rise and in some areas they are seeing minimal appreciation.  Anna Maria City, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach are great examples of the trends the Wall Street Journal is writing about.   Anna Maria Island saw about 235 transactions in 2009 and in 2010 we say 317.  This data comes from MLS.  So, the island has seen a 38% increase in transactions as compared with 2009.   Even more impressive is when you take into account an average transaction for Anna Maria Island is around 230 transactions so 2010 frankly was a fantastic real estate year.

The law of economics talk about supply and demand.  Supply is much lower as compared to the height of inventory for sale on Anna Maria Island.  Anna Maria saw around 900 + properties for sale while we finished 2010 with just over 500 properties for sale.  Supply is low and our Anna Maria Island transactions are way up.  Most analysts would agree that as number of months of inventory for sale is a leading indicator of appreciation of property for sale.

For more information on the Wall Street Journal article visit here.  As always, if you have any questions regarding Anna Maria Island Real Estate send me a note or give me a call.

Coastal living article on Anna Maria Island

Sunday, January 2nd, 2011

Coastal Living wrote a great article on Anna Maria Island.  The article explains why smaller is better.  The article does a great job of describing the laid back feeling when visiting Anna Maria Island.  A mixture of surfing, kayaking and bicycling all without any fast food, skyscraper hotels or condos.  If you want to visit the island vacation rentals are one of the best options.  Be careful, those that visit often buy and the article does a great job of calling out the best real estate company on Anna Maria Island, Island Real Estate.  Take a read, good stuff!

Vacation Rental Owners – 2011 Must Know Information

Monday, December 20th, 2010
Accumulation of wealth

Wealth thru Real Estate

 If you are currently renting out your home, the Federal government just made it a bunch harder for you to rent out your home annually or seasonally on or off Anna Maria Island.  Effective 2011, all landlords will be required to send out 1099′s to any supporting vendor that was paid more than $600 USD for the year.

That’s right, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has just made investing in real estate a little harder.  If you utilize a property management company such as Island Real Estate, no worries, they take care of the 1099′s.  This of course assumes that your property management company is paying your bills such as lawn, pool, etc.  This even goes for purchasing a computer from a small time store in Bradenton to help manage your vacation rentals.  If the computer was more than $600 then you must send that vendor a 1099.  A 1099 tells the IRS as well as the vendor the amount of income they received in the correlating tax year.

A few more details regarding 1099′s.  They must be sent to the vendor no later than January 31st, 2012 and the correlating 1099′s must be sent to the IRS no later than February 28th, 2012.  This of course assumes you have the vendors Federal ID number and if you don’t, then pull a W-9 form from the IRS.Gov website and send all your vendors the W-9 to be filled out and have in your records.  If you don’t get a tax ID from all your vendors you must with-hold 28% of their annual income and that is a whole-nother can of worms to deal with.  That is something you want to avoid!

Lastly, if you don’t handle this appropriately for your rental in 2011 and beyond, you could be facing civil and criminal penalties up to $250,000.  Most agree that this cross check by the Fed is fairly easy due to the rental income line on your 1040.

Of course this information can change at any time and I suggest you do one of the following…1) consult your tax attorney or call Island Real Estate to handle your property management.  Good luck and hopefully this information helps ensure you as a landlord don’t get into hot water with the IRS.  By the way, a great CPA firm that can help you with more question is Axiom which is located in Bradenton, FL.

4118 5th Avenue is a gorgeous 6 bedroom Private Pool Home

Saturday, November 20th, 2010

New Mediterranean Beach  Beauty, Just 2 blocks to the Public Beach located at 4118 5th Avenue — (Six) Bed: (Three and a half) Bath:  Accommodates up to Twelve people: 2 Kings, 1 Queen, 4 Twins and One Queen Sleeper Sofa.  Sorry, no smoking and no pets.  

The Anna Maria Island private heated pool home is located on a quiet cul-de-sac street of luxury single family homes.  The Mediterranean home has phenomenal amenities; heated private pool, tranquil waterfall, barbecue grill, private tropical landscaped courtyard, covered patio, fenced off swing set for toddlers in the family.   Don’t forget the private deck that looks over the private pool with waterfall.  

The master bedroom features a private balcony, flatscreen television with DVD player, luxury bathroom with walk in shower and king bed.   The second master bedroom also features a private  patio, flatscreen Television, king bed and gorgeous master bathroom with walk-in shower.  If you are bringing a little work to vacation then look no further, there is a home office with modern desk, television and queen sofa sleeper.  

Telivisions in every bedroom and a 50 inch television equipped with Wii System and Blue-Ray Player in the lounge.  Wireless internet and game room with ping pong table and darts adds to the extensive beach entertainment.  

Call Island Real Estate for more information on this luxury Anna Maria Island Vacation Rental.  The Anna Maria Island holiday rental is located in Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island.  Please be careful, we find the Google map is not correctly locating the property so be sure to email or call us (941) 778-6066.   In addition, feel free to email the vacation specialists at Island Real Estate.  MyVacationATIslandReal.com – (Please replace AT with @)

Anna Maria City Private Pool Beach Cottage

Sunday, May 9th, 2010

Fantastic Anna Maria City three bedroom private pool Vacation Rental on Anna Maria Island.  744 North Shore has recently been renovated and is located on the North end of Anna Maria City.  744 North Shore otherwise known as Sundance had Gulf of Mexico views from the outdoor deck.  Sundance is located across the street from the beaches of Anna Maria City.  The Beach home accommodates up to 6 people and has 2King beds  & 2 Twins.  Sorry, No smoking and No Pets.
Everything you could possibly need during an Anna Maria Island vacation has been provided for you in this professionally decorated luxury home – digital cable with surround sound, DVD player, 5-disc compact disc player with iPod dock, laptop with wireless Internet in the master bedroom and a printer attached!  There are various board games for the family to enjoy as well! 

Stroll the seven miles of soft sand beaches or just enjoy the sound of the waves.  One of the things you have to do is take a ride on the FREE Trolley to see all of Anna Maria’s hidden treasures.  For more information on things to do on Anna Maria Island be sure to visit Island Real Estate’s attractions page.

See the video below for pictures and images of 744 North Shore.

Anna Maria City Vacation Rental – 207 Coconut

Monday, March 29th, 2010

This is a great Anna Maria City vacation rental with a private heated pool.  The location in Anna Maria City is 207 Coconut just one hundred steps to the Gulf of Mexico.  The Anna Maria Island private home is a two bedroom, two bath vacation rental that can accommodate up to seven people with a Queen bed, Two twins, sleeper sofa and convertible twin chair.  The Beach rental will consider less than seven nights as well as pets.  Sorry no smoking allowed.  Yes the property does have Internet access.

The beach cottage was just renovated and a new pool was added.  Please review the pictures below and be sure to email or call Island Real Estate for more information.  More information as well as accurate availability can be found on the Island Real Estate listing for this Anna Maria City vacation rental.  If you have property investment questions please dont hesitate to contact me.  Happy vacationing.

Anna Maria Island 8 Bedroom Vacation Rental

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

That’s right, I said 8 bedrooms, sleeps 20.  Impossible you say?  No way, Mojito Splash is a new 8 bedroom vacation rental located in Holmes Beach just a short 2 blocks from the gorgeous Gulf of Mexico.

8 Bedrooms with 6 and a half baths.  4 Kings, 2 queens, 4 twins and a sleeper sofa gets you to a comfortable 18!  The house is perfect for 4th of July, Memorial day, you name it since it has a huge pool, waterfall, tiki bar, everything you would ever need when staying on Anna Maria Island.  This private heated pool home is offered exclusively by Island Real Estate of Anna Maria Island and will be sure to make waves in the vacation rental market of Anna Marie Island.  Take a look at the pictures below and be sure to email Island Real Estate or call toll free 877 778 6066 or click on the Island Real Estate link for more information.   The summer weeks wont last so call and reserve NOW!

Oops, I forgot about the special entertainment in this house.  The house is wired for sound with a full size arcade game with 60 games along with Playstation and Wii.  Plus, a ping pong table.  Your family will have to schedule time to go to the beach cause you will never want to leave the house!

Anna Maria Island Vacation Rentals versus Hotels – Part I

Sunday, February 7th, 2010
Bradenton Beach Private Pool Rental

Fantastic Pool and hot tub

There has been some great strides made in educating the marketplace on Vacation rentals versus hotels.   Each one has its place for providing good accommodations.  If you are staying on business or as a couple for one – two days then a hotel is probably the best bet.  You don’t need a ton of space and just one bedroom works fairly well for short stays.

Staying for longer than a few nights with multiple people makes a hotel room no longer the best choice.  Taking out multiple hotel rooms which are small and just not built to support multiple folks is where a hotel room no longer makes sense.  What does make sense is renting a vacation rental condo, home or villa on Anna Maria Island.  A few large vacation rental home networks have begun to show the drawbacks to renting a hotel room for a vacation.  On Superbowl Sunday several advertisements will be shown and expect the “Griswold’s,” America’s vacation family to poke a little fun at hotels versus Vacation Rentals.  This is just one post of many and hopefully very soon after the official commercials I will be able to post the videos.

For now I will wet your whistle with vacation rental commercial done by another vacation rental company.  Don’t forget if you are looking for vacation rentals on Anna Maria Island, look no further to Island Real Estate Vacation Rentals.  Enjoy the video!

Fantastic six Bedroom Holmes Beach Vacation Rental

Sunday, December 6th, 2009
4118 5th avenue tropical pool

Awesome Private Pool

Island Real Estate and Vacation Rentals has just added a wonderful six bedroom Mediterranean Beauty. The Extra large home is just 1.5 blocks to the gorgeous Anna Maria island Beaches. The private pool home is located at 4118 5th Avenue in Holmes Beach, Anna Maria Island, Florida. Specific amenities are as follows… (6) Bed: (3.5) Bath: Accommodates up to (12) people: 2 Kings, 1 Queen, 4 Twins and 1 Queen Sleeper Sofa. Sorry this property is No smoking and is not Pet friendly.

The private Mediterranean is a newly built and is just 1 1/2 blocks to Anna Maria Island’s award winning beaches. Enjoy your holiday rental at this gorgeous high luxury home with no details left to chance. The villa is located on a quiet cul-de-sac of luxury homes in Holmes Beach. The finer amenities include a large private heated pool, numerous big screen televisions, high speed Internet, extended cable TV, game room with a ping pong table and darg board. Most importantly the luxury home offers a separate fenced in area for a swing set and children play area. The Anna Maria Island holiday villa has a phenomenal master bedroom which includes a private veranda balcony and extra private bathroom with large walk-in shower.

Please note that the “Google Maps” tab incorrectly positions this house. The vacation rental is located on the corner of 42nd Street and 5th Avenue (north of Manatee Avenue). For more information on this great holiday vacation rental visit Island Real Estate’s listing for this vacation rental.

4118 5th Avenue Private Pool

Fantastic Tropical Pool

Fabulous pool and outdoor living area

4118 5th Avenue Holmes Beach Living Room

Fabulous Great Room

4118 5th Avenue Dining Room

Huge Dining and kitchen Area