Friday, June 4, 2010

“Be wary of online vacation rental scams” plus 2 more

“Be wary of online vacation rental scams” plus 2 more

Five Filters featured article: Into the Abyss. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Be wary of online vacation rental scams

Posted: 04 Jun 2010 01:48 PM PDT

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Single-family home, townhouse and condo vacation rentals are a popular way to spend leisure time these days, and scam artists know it all too well. Real estate experts say fraudulent vacation rentals advertised over the Internet are popping up all across the country.

And with Florida as one of the popular destinations for vacation rental seekers and the summer vacation season upon us, experts say it's important to issue a warning: Beware of the online offers.

"People tend to do things more online than going in person," said Adam Levin, founder of Identity Theft 911. "They tend to assume they're dealing with honorable people."

But Levin, whose company serves some 450 businesses nationwide in the prevention of identity theft, says the online vacation rental scam to the con artist is "low-hanging fruit." He says he is seeing instances of it nationwide as we move further into the vacation season.

Here how it works:

First someone copies a photo of a property up for sale and portrays it as a vacation rental property on sites such as Craigslist. Then an unwitting victim contacts the advertiser and secures the rental with a deposit or even the full amount requested without verifying the legitimacy of the property. And the scammer is never heard from again.

"It's not uncommon," said Kevin Jackson, chief investigator for the Hillsborough Consumer Protection Agency. "They're just flat-out posing as a landlord on a property they don't own."

Ann Guiberson, president and chief executive officer of the Pinellas Realtor Organization, said she did not have any specific statistics about the problem, but she said Realtors have been talking about the issue.

The vacation rental misappropriation is the latest version of the scheme. Joanne DeMase, a property management manager with Alliance Realty in Spring Hill, discovered that her name and several of her company's properties in Hernando County had been listed on Craigslist under a rental scam.

"There are an awful lot of people out there who want to profit off us," Levin said. "It's a scary world we're living in."

So here's what you can do to protect yourself:

Contact a real estate agent before you rent a vacation property. You can minimize the likelihood you will become a victim of a rental fraud by verifying the legitimacy of the property with a professional.

Search property records for the actual owner. Many property records, in particular in Florida, are online and searchable. Find the owner and contact the person to ensure the home is a vacation rental.

Consider using a nationally recognized vacation rental agency. This might be a more expensive way to secure a vacation rental, but in the end, you won't lose all your money.

Visit the home. Either go to the house or have a friend check it out for you before sending any money.

Five Filters featured article: Into the Abyss. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Oil Spill Changing Landscape of Florida Vacation Rentals

Posted: 04 Jun 2010 11:23 AM PDT

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With the BP oil slick closing in on coastlines from Louisiana to Florida, owners of vacation rental properties are bracing for an unsteady summer season.

But there are some areas where the slick may in fact boost reservations. Orlando, for instance -- nice and sunny and far from shore.

"I would not say that it's off the charts, but we have started to receive inquires," Sara Moore, vice president of marketing for All Star Vacation Homes, a vacation property renter in Orlando, told ABCNews.com. "People are traveling to Orlando. This summer is up from last year."

Those inquiries, said Florida Vacation Rental Managers Association president Paul Hayes, are coming from people who have decided to trade the beach for the many tourist attractions that call Orlando home. The trend is just beginning, he said.

In Florida, tourism is a $60 billion industry, and tourism professionals plan to do what they can to keep that business going. If Florida's gulf coast is threatened by oil, the state hopes the east coast will get a second look from vacationers.

Steve Milo owns a vacation rental company in Saint Augustine Beach, right on the Atlantic. He says his property occupancy rate in May rose 50 percent over this time last year, and advanced bookings for June, July and August are up 300 percent over last summer. Those trips are "mostly weekly or short term trips," said Milo.

As the U.S. economy begins to bounce back, Florida has already seen more than 22 million visitors in 2010 and some of Milo's increased occupancy rates are part of that. Still, Milo is finding customers running from beaches that might end up in the oil slick's path. Two families "from Missouri and Atlanta who would normally go to the west coast," he said, "are coming east."

Property managers on the Gulf coast aren't letting their customers run east without a fight. At Pinnacle Port in Panama City Beach, general manager Ronda Holley is offering customers a "'white sands guarantee,' meaning if oil does show up, we'll give them a full refund and an allowance to come back another time." Holley says they haven't had to give it out yet because "our beaches are full and people are having a great time."

Five Filters featured article: Into the Abyss. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Miami Beach Luxury Rentals - Finding The Perfect Accommodation For Your Vacation In Miami Beach

Posted: 04 Jun 2010 01:25 PM PDT

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A perfect vacation in Miami Beach can only be achieved if you find the most suitable accommodation to cater to your wants and needs. Staying in an expensive hotel suite doesn't necessarily that you will enjoy your stay -- in most cases, you will tend to find more for your money to include a sizable floor area, great location for a vacation, and of course, in-house amenities that you can enjoy to the fullest. This is where Miami Beach luxury rentals come in.

Rent a Home

Renting a home is the modern way of spending an exciting and fun-filled vacation in Miami Beach. You don't have to stick to cramped hotel rooms with the rest of the family trying to fit in 2 small beds. Why not go for Miami Beach luxury rentals ranging from luxurious condos to townhouses to cater to your needs.

These homes aren't just appealing residential units with a backyard. In most cases, owners of these properties make sure that it is equipped with modern convenience to cater to a vacationer or tourist's needs. For example, most of these luxury home rentals have its own patio and swimming pool, fully-furnished interior, conveniently located near tourist attractions or entertainment facilities, and more.

Unlike in a hotel, you pay for everything in a single package. You don't have to dish out extra for a microwave in the kitchen or pay for your kids using the pool. The rental fee includes everything -- from the items in the kitchen to the lush grass out in the backyard for your kids to play on under the warm tropical sun.

Finding a Home to Rent

There are plenty of Miami Beach luxury rentals available to vacationers and tourists. You booked your trip with a travel agency then they will most likely house you in one of the luxury homes they prepared as part of their package. If not, then you can easily look for a realtor that specializes in short-term luxury rentals or check out listings online for vacation homes.

Keep in mind, however, that there are few details you need to consider if you're planning to opt for luxury home rentals in Miami Beach. You might want to pick a beachfront condo suite if you want to spend most of your vacation at the beach or maybe look for one near restaurants and other fun venues to keep you entertained during your stay. Also, you might want to look into the rates of the property you're planning to rent if the owner is going to charge you daily, weekly, and so on.

William W. Teho, Jr.
Miami Beach Luxury Rentals
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