Fannie Mae, banks halt foreclosures for the holidays

Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and a few large mortgage lenders have declared to postpone foreclosures on delinquent borrowers during the Christmas season. For homeowners with loans through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the moratorium will run from Dec. 19 to Jan. 2, 2012. During this time, legal and administrative proceedings for evictions may continue, but families will be allowed to stay in their homes, Fannie said in a statement.

Among some of the major banks that offer mortgage loans, Chase   Mortgage said it will not evict anyone between Dec. 22 and Jan. 2. Wells Fargo  will also suspend evictions during that period, but will not shut down its eviction process entirely.  Start of the New Year, it will be business as usual.

Source: CNNMoney

Celebration Florida-Snowfall at Town Center in Celebration Every Night through December 31st *

 

The Now Snowing Nightly takes place nightly through December 31st, including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 

It's a Christmas wonderland with decorations, a beautiful tree, ice skating rink, carriage rides, carolers and more. It's a lovely place to shop & eat; and with the town center decorated for the holidays it makes it a bit magical.

The Now Snowing Nightly takes place nightly through December 31st.

Nightly Snow Falls at 6, 7, 8 and 9 PM. Photos with Santa, Strolling Holiday Carolers, an Ice Rink, and family fun. The month long event features strolling Charles Dickens Carolers, photos with Santa, horse drawn carriage rides, the Celebration Express train, and nightly snowfall at 6:00, 7:00, 8:00 and 9:00 PM.

The ice rink opens daily from 4:00-10:00 PM through January 2nd – There are Resident Skate Passes or multiple-day skate passes for guests.

Orlando Monday deals

Today Only

Leu Gardens - Free Admission ~ 9am-5pm.

Truffles & Trifles - Holiday Party Appetizers $59 ~ 6:30pm.*Sold Out

Cypress Grove Park - Festival of Lights through December 9th $2 ~ 6:30pm-9:30pm.

"Winter in the Park" - Holiday Ice Skating Rink at Winter Park

When: Sunday, December 04, 2011Call for times
Where: Central Park West Meadow, 150 North New York Avenue
Cost: $10 all day includes skate rental; Group discounts
Contact: 407-599-3203

The City of Winter Park will bundle up once again for “Winter in the Park,” the city’s annual holiday ice skating rink in Central Park West Meadow. Snowflakes of all ages and skill levels are invited to chill out as they glide, spin and turn!: Monday thru Thursday, 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday, 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday, Noon to 8 p.m. See website for extended school holiday hours. Snow angels are invited to skate all day for only $10 per skater (skate rental included). For a blizzard of 20 or more people, cool group discounts are available. If you are interested in bringing your whole igloo to celebrate birthdays, special events, private parties or corporate holiday gatherings, the rink is available for rental opportunities. Advance reservations are required for private party/groups to avoid an icy avalanche of skaters at the rink. Holiday music, games, carolers and so much more will flurry around you as you enjoy “Winter in the Park.”

Fla. real estate experts still not excited, University of Florida (UF) survey.

Florida real estate experts and investors were pessimistic for a second consecutive quarter, despite encouraging signs in the rise of occupancy rates and prices in the rental apartment market,  according to a new University of Florida (UF) survey.

The survey points to the falling market for single-family houses, condominiums and most types of land as the main reason for the third-quarter malaise.

Uncertainty over unsettling global economic news added to the decline. Respondents anticipate a sluggish recovery for the real estate market in the coming years due to a large inventory of home foreclosures and  high employment. Since January, 70,000 new jobs have been created in Florida, but they were offset by 63,000 lost positions, keeping the unemployment rate at 10.6 percent since April.

Survey takers also believe that a weak economy continues to discourage the private sector from adding new hires. Concern over stock market turmoil, ongoing gridlock in Washington and the upcoming presidential election added to the overall pessimistic outlook.

With widespread home foreclosures forcing displaced homeowners to rent apartments, the rental apartment market, which, according to the survey, is real estate’s “best performing asset.”In addition, many young job seekers who want flexibility are seeking rental units. That trend helps to drive up occupancy, allowing owners to charge more rent.

The survey did identify bright spots in Florida’s economy. Condo projects are under way in Miami, which is also enjoying an influx of investment from South America. Respondents are also somewhat cheered by prospects for Florida ports as the Panama Canal expansion project continues. Read more here.


Source: 2011 Florida Realtors®

Citizens to stop covering some homes

Citizens Property Insurance Corp. plans to eliminate homeowners coverage on roughly 7,500 coastal homes valued over $1 million and reduce the amount of homeowner liability coverage in a measure designed to reduce the size of the state-backed insurer and corresponding risk to Florida taxpayers.

The current cap is $2 million. They also want to reduce its maximum homeowner liability coverage from $300,000 to $100,000 and eliminate its optional buyback.  These changes would take effect next year and do not require legislative approval.

Citizens was created by the Legislature in 2002 to provide insurance to homeowners in high-risk areas and those who cannot find coverage in the private market. Read entire article on Citizens Property Insurance changes here.

Popcorn Flicks in Central Park- Free Outdoor Movie in Winter Park

Thinking about what to do this upcoming weekend? Why not a free outdoor Christmas movie in Winter Park?

 Friday, December 02, 2011
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Where: Central Park in Downtown Winter Park
Cost: FREE
Contact: 407-629-0054
Website: enzian.org

The City of Winter Park and Enzian collaborate to produce a cinema series in Winter Park. The series is called "Popcorn Flicks" and features classic films for the whole family. Popcorn Flicks are usually held on the second Thursday of each month. The films are FREE and open to the public. We encourage you to bring a blanket, a picnic or snacks, and some family and friends and join us!

Popcorn Flicks are scheduled for 7PM, but may not start until sunset to provide an optimal viewing experience for our attending guests.

These outdoor screenings are dependent upon Florida's somewhat unpredictable weather conditions. In an effort to avoid cancelling an event, Enzien may wait until 30 minutes prior to the set screening time to officially post a cancellation notice; which will be posted on the Popcorn Movie page. You may also call Enzian's Box Office at 407-629-1088 x230 for more information

To complement the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and Holiday Stroll, Popcorn Flicks in the Park, presented by the City of Winter Park and Enzian will feature "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and "A Christmas Story." Bring your blanket or chair to enjoy the movie under the stars in Central Park. Free popcorn for everyone! (Rain Date: Monday, December 5, at 7 p.m.)