Buying an existing home that is furnished and equipped for rentals, and which may have advance bookings in place, is the most popular option at present. There are currently a large number of re-sale homes of all types and sizes on the market, and buyers have plenty of choice. There are a lot of bargains around.

A good alternative cost-wise is to buy an unfurnished home as a distressed sale, renovate it and furnish it. I can provide you with estimates of the costs involved for any home.

Trying to identify those re-sale homes that best meet a buyer's needs can be a daunting task when the number of homes on the market is so large, and it can be made a lot easier by giving some thought to some initial questions before starting to look at individual properties.

For example, do you want a single family home with its own pool, or a townhouse (with or without a splash pool), or a condo (apartment)? These all have their advantages and disadvantages (more information), and you need to consider which will work best for you.

Other factors include how many bedrooms you want, both for your own needs and for maximizing your rental income, how much you want to spend, and which specific features are most important to you - a pool/spa combo, perhaps, or closeness to the theme parks.