Photos and video from Mitt Romney's rally here in Apopka, Florida over this past weekend. May be a little biased, but a rally like this could be the best type of "localism" around- when folks come out to show support for their chosen candidate (of whatever political stripe). As I've said elsewhere, apathy is a killer opponent- and folks being involved in this current presidential campaign is nothing but a good thing- whether you're cheering for the guy who'll be our next president or the … (8 comments)
It's been a long time since "rent versus buy" argument favored the "rent" side of life- but that's the news from here in Orlando these days. And I hope it's a sign of a rising tide that's going to lift a lot of ships.
Why the shift? It boils down to a simple payment gap between the costs of renting and those of buying, same as it always has. With our sales inventory here running at about 2/3 of … (2 comments)
A good article here. In dealing with sales versus property management/leasing, some things are different and some things the same. One place where you can always find common (albeit frustrating) ground lies in the arena of unrealistic expectations. Buyers want to pay as little as possible, sellers want to get as much as possible. Renters want to pay as little as possible, homeowners want to get as much as possible- and both scenarios share the fact that neither side really cares what the other side wants.
Soooooo….When I … (2 comments)
apopka: Back to school time, Central Florida
- 08/12/12 12:28 PM
Back to school time, Central Florida Yes, it's that time already. Here in the Orlando area, the surrounding areas fall in as many as 6 different counties- so it does get a bit tricky keeping up with things sometimes. With schools getting re-zoned a good bit, it even gets tricky within districts- and the "Where does my kid go this year?" question is one you'll hear a good bit these days. Things are great when it comes to Seminole and Orange counties- and they're the ones where a great deal of our properties sit. Seminole County Schools … (4 comments)
apopka: HARP me this, HAMP me that...
- 07/23/12 01:44 PM
HARP me this, HAMP me that... Underwater owners still singin' the blues... Some things just don't seem right- never have, probably never will. One of those things is how some folks enjoy laying up in their homes without paying a dime for as long as their luck holds- while those choosing the path of right in looking to honor their mortgage obligations while underwater struggle and struggle. A number of programs over the past few years have seemed like just the elixir to cure the ills of the latter- but high hopes have disappeared as quickly as the … (2 comments)
When no signs is a good sign We hear a lot of phrases with regard to "signs". "....looking for a sign", "I've seen the signs" and "I see no sign of..." being but a few. We're always looking for signs- but when is it good not to find any signs? We'll bounce from the literary world to the literal one now. I'll predict with a bit of confidence that anyone trying to exit a driveway near the stretch of signs above would welcome a day without "signs". Owners who … (4 comments)
apopka: God Bless Chief Bill Lee and the Sanford Police Department
- 06/29/12 07:25 AM
God Bless Chief Bill Lee and the Sanford Police Department God Bless Chief Bill Lee and the Sanford Police Department Sanford Police chief fired Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee, who drew criticism for his department's actions in the Trayvon Martin case, was fired last week. Lee characterized his firing late Wednesday as "without cause." In a statement, he said the department's work on the Trayvon case has been misrepresented, and he predicted that it would eventually be seen as "a proper effort to find the truth and follow the law." I trust this will indeed be the case- and that … (2 comments)
...or keeping things all literary-style, this could also be "The Toll Also Rises". As in other parts of the country, those of us here in the metro Orlando area are feeling the pinch from local governments and regulatory agencies. They struggle for funding as their tax bases dwindle, and those lost monies must be found elsewhere.
We have a number of toll roads here- and unless you have some burning desire to sit on I-4 all day, it'll cost you a good bit in tolls to avoid said parking lot.
Whether on the sales side of things or the property management side of things, a solid written agreement is the rock upon which our relationships stand. The “papers” lay out the duties and responsibilities of each side, and also spell out compensation one side will receive in return for services rendered.
Signatures of all parties are key to making agreements valid- and crucial to making them stand and enforceable should the parties land in front of a judge one day.
http://youtu.be/MS4F4CoJgQ8 Orlando Property Manager Dennis Burgess (Legends Realty) continues his series of Frequently Asked Questions. Today, he discusses an owner-type question. One of the inevitable down sides of owning rental properties is that sooner or later, stuff is going to break down or fall apart. Maintenance issues pop up from time to time- including necessary repairs to A/C units, kitchen appliances, roofs and more. Florida's landlord-tenant law provides specific guidance and directives as to what an owner must do towards fulfilling their … (2 comments)
apopka: Baseboard repair- yet another use for duct tape
- 06/08/12 01:06 PM
Baseboard repair- yet another use for duct tape Baseboard repair- yet another use for duct tape Leave it to those clever folks at this Sanford, Florida 7-11 to get all MacGyver-ish and solve their pesky baseboard issues. Now...if they could only find a way to solve their "How do we get folks to quit throwing paper towels on the floor?" issue... Baseboard repair- yet another use for duct tape … (9 comments)
Often, it's the simplest of questions that result in the most thoughtful of answers. Along that vein, what are your thoughts on that last sale of yours? That last lease, or last whateveryouwanncallit?
Did you...bust your tail and get your seller the highest and best price one could get for them? Or was it a difficult process that found you in a battle you'd never win?
Did you...get your owner client a great tenant that's going to pay the highest rent the market … (4 comments)
A new law recently went into effect in Ohio- removing the “vicious dog” label that had been automatically assigned to all Pit Bulls. The 25-year-old law has now been replaced with 3 separate categories where dogs of any breed may now be labeled as nuisance dogs, dangerous dogs or vicious dogs.
Pit Bull enthusiasts here in Florida will surely stumble across this news, and revel in the fact that Ohio no longer classifies all Pit Bulls as vicious- yet they should make no inferences that what has happened in Ohio … (0 comments)
Legends Realty: Helping folks that can't buy, others who can't sell
Quick question: Who's helped by the services of professional property maangement companies like Legends Realty? Folks looking to rent a place? Check. Folks looking to have their place managed or rented out? Correct again. These days, though, we have a couple of distinct groups of folks that we help every day: 1. Those who'd like to buy, but can't do so. This might be a current homeowner that's about to be a former homeowner through foreclosure- or … (2 comments)
Orlando Market: Tick goes the clock, make your move before it hits tock http://www.orlrealtor.com/resource/resmgr/Images_Market_Pulse/MarketPulse042012.pdf Well, the latest market report from our Orlando Regional Realtor Association (ORRA) is out, and things just keep motoring along here. Good news for everyone, right? Wrong. Good news for sellers? Check. Good news for investors looking to get a great property and have it leased and professionally managed? Check. Good news for buyers? Sort of. Rates are still low and bargains can be found when you've got a great Realtor helping you- but you can't … (5 comments)
Looking for new gadgets or strategies? Are you really using what you have? It's easy to get caught up in Gadget Hoopla. If you have a laptop, you have to get that iPad. If you have the iPad, you have to get that iPad 2- and swap stories with all of the other folks in line with you at 4 a.m. Got an iPod? Well, you're missing out if you don't have an iTouch. Technology is great and all, but are we losing something by engaging … (6 comments)
A Rainmaker- first work to keep clients, then get more of them I don't know if I'll get this book. It sounds pretty good and I just might, but the inclusion of it and its cover here are sheer coincidence. I was looking for an image to use here, and when something using Rainmaker pops up it's hard to refuse! Here's today's great thought process... This being an election year and all, I was thinking about politics and the numbers needed to get/keep control of the senate. Didn't … (6 comments)
apopka: The importance of renter's insurance
- 04/06/12 02:37 PM
The importance of renter's insurance There's no doubting the most important part of this news story- by the grace of God, a family of 5 escaped a burning house. The tragic loss of a single life is devastating; the loss of 5 in a family would seem unbearable. But what about the end of the story? "They rented the home and have no insurance for their belongings." Rental (or "renter's") insurance is cheap, cheap, cheap- yet it's something I'd guess only 1/2 of my tenants over the years have carried. That number's anecdotal, of course- but the number of folks having it could be … (8 comments)
I'd dare say that most of us have some sort of lead or prospect tracking system. It may be a program such as Top Producer that we use at Legends Realty, or perhaps your "system" is an Excel spreadsheet under a McDonald's sack in the floorboard of your car. Regardless the complexity of the system, it's important to track your prospects.
Everyone has a tale of "the one that got away", and of hoping that whatever pushed that potential client away won't be … (4 comments)
apopka: Love America? Hire a Veteran Today
- 03/20/12 01:56 PM
Love America? Hire a Veteran Today Why are the simplest of things often hard? Why is “common sense” so uncommon? And why the heck is the unemployment rate for our returning war heroes higher than our nation’s overall unemployment rate? As my granny used to say, “Somebody oughtta be ashamed”. In this case, America, that “somebody” is all of us. Love America? Hire a Veteran Today 12.1% to 8.7%- veterans lose. Our country’s heroes leave the Jersey Shores, South Beach and all points between there and California‘s coastline. They leave family, friends and all luxuries behind- from a trip to that great steakhouse down the street to making … (10 comments)
Orlando Property Manager Dennis Burgess writes about property management, general real estate and news/events affecting the metro Orlando, FL area.
With more than 13 years of property management experience and being a licensed Florida Realtor, Dennis surely has some sort of information you'll find interesting!
Feel free to comment, send questions he may be able to help you with, or any referrals he may provide with top-notch service.
Thank you kindly for stopping and reading, and thank you for the opportunity to be of service in the future.
Mitt Romney Rally- Apopka, Florida 10/6/12
;)
;)
;)
