There are concerns amongst many of our investors and current homeowners that current or proposed ordinances could increase the cost of owning their investment property. We have already seen many changes in and around many of the surrounding communities of Orlando such as, Kissimmee, Ocoee, and Sanford who have instituted rental ordinances or implemented policies and or fees.

This takes away a lot of their rights as property owners, and may have a few owners look in another market for their next investment. In another regard, we think it takes a lot of the absentee landlords who will just rent to anybody out of the marketplace, and that cant be a bad thing!

In a recent article, we read there will be 4x more foreclosure inventory still to be released, and the renters now average 37 million in the nation.

As member’s of both NARPM (National Association of Residential Property Managers) and ORRA (Orlando Regional Realtors Association), we not only contribute to the political action committee, but contribute our time by attending the annual Legislative visit to Tallahassee by personally visiting some of our legislators and trying to curb some of these very issues listed above.

We are very excited to announce that we have picked a winner for our Home Sweet Home Recipe Contest!  Drum roll please….the winner is Mary Marlowe Leverette’s Caramel Chocolate Crunch Pie!  Just take a look at the picture of this yummy pie and you will start salivating just like we did.  Below is the recipe along with a little story behind the evolution of her recipe. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

1 Chocolate Graham Cracker Crust, prepared 9-inch
4 cups vanilla ice cream, softened
2 Nestle Crunch bars, roughly chopped, divided
1/2 cup caramel ice cream topping, divided

Directions:

Spread 2 cups of ice cream into crust. Sprinkle with half of chopped Nestle Crunch Bars and drizzle with 1/4 cup caramel topping. Repeat layers. Cover and freeze for 4 hours or overnight. Remove from freezer 15 minutes before serving. Serves 6 to 8.

Story:

We love candy. We love ice cream. We love pie. So, I developed this recipe so that we can have all three together! I love this recipe because I can make it ahead and if I hide it in the back of the freezer, I can have it ready for guests. It looks and tastes like I worked all day but is really simple.

You can change the candy bar to your favorite (like Butterfinger or Reese’s Cups) if you’d like a change of pace.

At Hampton & Hampton we paid out $59,810 in referrals fees to Realtors in 2011!  We appreciate their commitment to us and we reciprocate.  Realtors are a great source of business for our company and we take care of them in several ways:

Referral fees – Realtors earn 20% of one month’s rent for a management referral.  Rental prospect referrals are 10% of one month’s rent.

Preferred  Realtor Referral Program – Earn extra monies QUARTERLY  from $500 for 5 referred management accounts, $1000 for 10, $1500 for 15 and for 20+  $2000.

When an owner decides to sell the property we refer it back to the Realtor that sent it to us.

We don’t list and sell property – we manage and lease property and that’s our only business.  We are the specialists when it comes to property management.  For more information go here:  http://www.leasingorlando.com/realtor-referral-program/.

Although it is hard to form new habits, the rewards for being able to do so are significant. The hardest step is the first one – once you’re on the treadmill, the benefits will make it more than worth the sacrifice!  Below are some great tips for helping you keep a little more in your own pocket.

1. Don’t blow your bonus. Although most of us have worked our hands to the bone over the last year, there will be no long-term benefit if we blow our bonuses on things we want today. Rather use half your bonus to treat yourself, and the other half to invest or pay off your most expensive debts.
2. Give your savings a salary increase. When you get your annual salary increase, be sure to increase the money you’re saving by the same percentage. This will lead to the amount you’re putting away roughly doubling every ten years. Read More »

Investors with rental properties can save money in the long run by making sure that their properties are maintained to preserve their systems.  With yearly maintenance, the air conditioning will last longer.  The pool needs to be maintained by a professional weekly.   Landscaping needs fertilizing as well as fungicide and insecticide when needed.  Keep appliances in working condition and they will last longer.  Above all, remember we have termites in this area.  Consider a termite bond with repairs included and make sure the property is inspected yearly.  As with all of these things hire professionals that know what they are doing, especially if you don’t live in the area.