Leu Garden- Festivities kick off the Holiday Season

Leu’s Holiday House
Dates: November 14, 2011 – January 4, 2012
10:00 am – 3:30 pm (Museum hours)

This holiday season visit the Leu House Museum decked out in all the trimmings. Each of 11 rooms in the home has its own theme fused with amazing dioramas. Thirty minute tours are given on the hour and half-hour. The designers from Seminole State College of Florida Interior Design Students and Ron’s Miniature Shop & Museum dedicate their time and trimmings turning the home into a magical holiday showcase.

 

  

Date Night at Leu Gardens – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

Friday, December 2
Gardens open at 6:00 pm Movie time 7:30 pm
Weather Permitting

Enjoy an outdoor movie in a beautiful garden setting. Patrons may bring a blanket or chairs and dinner picnic basket. Garden Admission is $5.00 plus tax adult and $2.00 plus tax child; Garden Members receive free admission on all Date Nights. Admission is collected at the door.

Storytime at Leu Gardens
Presented by Nemours BrightStart
Monday, December 5

Orange County Library System's storytelling program comes to Leu Gardens the first Monday of each month, excluding holidays. Share stories and songs with your little one. This is a free indoor event.

10:00 am - 10:15 am Infant Time (up to 18 months)
10:20 am - 10:35 am Toddler Time (18 months to 2 year olds)
10:40 am - 11:00 am Preschool Time (3 to 5 year olds)

U.S. foreclosure activity hit 7-month high in Oct.-Florida in the top three.

More U.S. homes entered the foreclosure process in October than in the previous month. Florida, along with Pennsylvania and Indiana registered among the largest monthly increases. Nationally, the increase was up 10 percent from September, according to RealtyTrac.

The number of homes scheduled to be auctioned or repossessed by lenders also posted monthly increases.Notices of default, scheduled auctions and bank repossessions – warnings that can eventually lead to a home being lost to foreclosure – also hit a seven-month high in October.

The numbers are further evidence foreclosure activity is picking up.The rate that homeowners were 60 or more days late on their mortgage payment rose in the June-to-September period for the first time since the last three months of 2009, according to TransUnion.

The credit reporting agency said 5.88 percent of homeowners missed two or more payments, an early sign of possible foreclosure. That was up from 5.82 percent in the second quarter of 2011.

The number of U.S. homeowners who owe more than their homes are worth, represents another potential source of trouble for lenders. According to CoreLogic, as of June 30, some 22.5 percent of all U.S. homes are in this position. That’s 10.9 million properties. Another 2.4 million borrowers had less than 5 percent equity in their home, the firm said.

Industry experts say a housing market turnaround isn’t likely to occur as long as there remains a glut of potential foreclosures hovering over the market, so October’s increase in foreclosure activity means a potentially faster revival for housing. Read the entire story here.

Source: Florida Realtors/The Associated Press, Alex Veiga

Bill Clinton to sign book Monday at Orlando Barnes & Noble

The  42^nd president of the United States will be in Orlando on Monday, Nov. 14, to sign copies of his latest book "Back to Work: Why We Need Smart Government for a Strong Economy."

Clinton's signing will be at 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14, at Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 2418 E. Colonial Drive, Orlando. To meet him, patrons must obtain a wristband, which can be obtained at the store beginning at 8 a.m. Monday.

Clinton has previously written his memoirs and the 2007 book "Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World."

Note that only books will be signed (don't bring other memorabilia), and no photography will be permitted.

Lost your job and cant pay your Mortgage? Help for Floridians.

Florida continues to operate a federally funded program to help at-risk homeowners facing foreclosure following unemployment. The Florida Housing Finance Corporation administers the state’s HHF fund under the following programs:

• Unemployment Mortgage Assistance Program (UMAP). UMAP provides up to six months of mortgage payments (with a cap of $12,000) paid directly to a mortgage lender to assist unemployed/underemployed borrowers with their first mortgage until they can resume full payments on their own.

• Mortgage Loan Reinstatement Payment (MLRP) Program. MLRP can be used to make a delinquent mortgage current (up to $6,000) for a homeowner who has returned to work or recovered from underemployment/underemployment.

A handful of Florida companies may claim they represent the Florida Housing Finance Corporation’s Hardest Hit Fund (HHF) when they do not.  The FHFC website specifically lists seven companies NOT associated with the program: Mader Law Group, Attorneys Legal Network, The Law Center, NOVA Debt, National Loan Restructuring and LMPrep LLC Hardship Center.

For additional information on the HHF program and to apply, visit www.FLHardestHitHelp.org.

 Source: 2011 Florida Realtors

Florida’s existing home, condo sales rise in the third quarter of 2011

Florida’s existing home and existing condo sales continued to show gains in third quarter 2011 compared to the same period a year earlier, according to the latest housing statistics from Florida Realtors®.

Existing home sales rose 12 percent in the third quarter of  2011 with a total of 46,759 homes sold statewide. Statewide sales of existing condos in the third quarter rose 13 percent compared to the year-ago sales figure.

Florida’s existing-home median sales price continued to stabilize and remained level at $136,000 for the three-month period; in the third quarter of  2010, it was $135,900. The median is a typical market price where half the homes sold for more, half for less.

The statewide existing-condo median sales price was $89,600 in the third quarter; a year earlier, it was $83,700 for a 7 percent increase.

According to Florida Realtors®, their Chief Economist, Dr. John Tuccillo said, “The reality is that the Florida market is improving and it has been for some time – it’s just improving more slowly than initial expectations.”

Mortgage rates continued to hover around historical lows in the third quarter. According to Freddie Mac, the national commitment rate for a 30-year conventional fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.31 percent in the third quarter of  2011; one year earlier, it averaged 4.45 percent.  Read full story here.

Source:  Florida Realtors®

1.8M Brazil visitors expected through 2013 in Florida--some will buy real estate

 Brazil has one of the world’s healthy economies, and many residents enjoy visiting – and buying a home – in Florida. That is really good news. According to the State Department, Brazil had 820,000 visa applications in fiscal year 2011 – a 44 percent increase over 2010. And it is expected 1.8 million Brazilians to request a visitor visa by the end of 2013.

To keep up with demand, the U.S. says it will double the number of agents issuing visas in Brazil. The recent announcement by the U.S. State Department to increase the number of visas issued confirms existing demand and even predicts a significant increase in visitors. Read what the Florida Realtors representatives did to on a recent trade mission to spur demand for Florida Real Estate from Brazilians.

 

Featured Properties in Avalon Park

Avalon Park, Florida 32828

Avalon Park is a well designed mixed-use development that embodies the much desired attributes of small-town America. Avalon Park offers a delightful mix of residences, schools, shops and restaurants, as well as a pedestrian-friendly community with tree-lined streets and amenities that are all within walking distance. This is just a sample of homes for sale listed in Avalon Park and the 32828 zipcode in Orlando.

 See more Homes: — Homes For Sale — Condos/Townhomes

14832 ROYAL POINCIANA DR, Orlando, FL 32828 $218,800   Request Showing Bedrooms | Bathrooms | Sq. Feet Lot Sq. Feet | MLS # 3 2 2919 5669 O5057829 Exquisite 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath PLUS Loft. Every upgrade you can imagine. CHERRY HARDWOOD floors throughout living areas, stairs and loft area. Upgraded kitchen - 42 cherry cabinets and Zodiac Stone counters. Large Island plus BUTLER PANTRY STAINLESS APPLIANCES,spacious MASTER BEDROOM, custom master closet with built-ins. Upgraded 18 tile in master bath, upgraded fixtures throughout. Perfect home for entertaining. Quiet street, close to downtown Avalon Park, Shopping, 408 and UCF. Courtesy Of: Re/Max 200 Realty

Orlando, FL 32828 $210,000   Request Showing Bedrooms | Bathrooms | Sq. Feet Lot Sq. Feet | MLS # 4 3 2834 7525 O5069713 Short sale. Original owners have put many extras into this home. Crown molding, chair rails and wall molding throughout. Large master suite on second floor with french doors that open up to large balcony. Guest room downstairs with full bath. Vaulted ceilings. Center island in large kitchen, upgraded cherry cabinets. Great community, top rated schools, great buy on this beautiful home. Courtesy Of: Thomas Lynne Properties LLC

 

14753 SAPODILLA DR, Orlando, FL 32828 $225,000   Request Showing Bedrooms | Bathrooms | Sq. Feet Lot Sq. Feet | MLS # 4 2 2623 6234 O5069550 TRADITIONAL SALE, MOVE IN READY! Beautiful Avalon Park two story home on CONSERVATION and in PRISTINE CONDITION!Floor plan features DOWNSTAIRS MASTER SUITE including upgraded master bath,large OPEN FAMILY ROOM with VAULTED CEILINGS, separate dining room, formal living room, OFFICE, beautiful kitchen with Breakfast Bar and eat in area, the screened back patio overlooks conservation area and there is a COVERED FRONT PORCH-perfect for relaxation. Upstairs, there are 3 additional bedrooms and a BONUS area! Just around the corner is community pool and cabana. Close to 417, 408 (East/West Express) 528 (Beachline) Research Park, Seimens, Lockheed Martin and Medical Center. MOVE IN CONDITION with 1 YEAR HOME WARRANTY INCLUDED! Courtesy Of: Coldwell Banker Residential RE

Florida Regional MLS, Information is believed to be accurate but not guaranteed. All the listings are pulled from the Mid-Florida Listings and are represented by the respective Listing Brokers, not Realty Cafe LLC nor Orlando Neighborhoods and Real Estate Blog.