Investment potential within the States generally tends to be focussed on the state of Florida, so hotspots within this state are identified below. However it should be noted that there are numerous opportunites to invest in the US property market. Outside the obvious holiday destination of Florida our money is on safe residential areas which are home to the average white collar worker. Areas such as Buffalo, Rochester, Baltimore, Cleveland, the Georgia and South Carolina are worth considering - areas where the job market is growing, there is limited new housing stock and rental demand and therefore yields are high.
Orlando
Over 50 million people visit Orlando and central Florida every year, attracted to the many tourist attractions such as Disney World, Sea World and Universal Studios, as well as by the warmer, drier weather that tends to be found in the coastal regions. It is the area most popular with British tourists and is touted as being one of the most visited destinations in the world. It has a very healthy rental market driven by the tourism industry and is the area most likely to present the best returns. Property within a few miles radius of the tourist attractions tends to command the highest rental prices.
Atlantic Coast
The Atlantic coast of Florida boasts such famous locations as Daytona Beach, Miami and the Florida Keys, all of which are unlikely to ever go out of fashion, at least for the foreseeable future. Miami is a world class city, with prices to match, and as the economy reignites these will rocket up. Miami has a reputation as a party city and the key demographic is the 25 -35 year old age range. Daytona Beach and Palm Beach are ideal locations for retired couples who wish to use their property for a couple of months a year and rent it out for the remainder. To the north of the coast is St Augustine, the USA's oldest city (founded 1565). It is a quieter more refined version of Orlando, whilst still being a resort city, offering the added interest of a long history on top of the beaches, shopping and golfing attractions.
Florida Keys
The Florida Keys are a string of small, interlinked islands that emerge from the southern tip of Florida and stretch down into the Gulf of Mexico. The opulent surroundings contain some of the most expensive and desirable properties, with prices on average 25% higher than the rest of the state. Due to its constant popularity a stable rental market is guaranteed.
Gulf Coast
The Gulf Coast has a slightly wetter climate, especially in the months of July and August so tends to be less popular with families holidaying during the summer school vacations. However, it is still very popular with retirees, especially with those who originate from the colder northern states, earning themselves the nickname 'snowbirds'. Around two thirds of the US's wealthiest citizens spend their winter at Naples, the most popular town resort on the coast which boasts exquisite white beaches, luxury golf resorts and a bustling restaurant atmosphere. Subsequently, prices are much higher, with waterfront properties commanding prices that are around double the amount for a similar sized house in the Orlando area.
Ski Property
Aside from the state of Florida, investors may be interested in making more of a lifestyle-motivated investment and head for the hills on the western side of the country. The spine of the Rocky Mountains that runs from Alaska, through Canada and down the western side of the United States offers many excellent skiing investment opportunities, some rated the best in the world. The state of Colorado offers the majority of the well-known names, such as Aspen, Breckenridge and Vail, with other resorts, such as Winter Park, set to expand on a similar scale. The appeal of properties here is that they have a year round market (either for renting out or personal use) as the mountains have both winter and summer seasons. Aspen is by far the most expensive, with properties easily reaching into the millions of dollars, whilst resorts like Breckenridge and Winter Park offer smaller properties.
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