Mortgage markets improved last week after a series of hugely volatile trading sessions. Rates carved out a wide range on the week, culminating in a late-Friday plunge that dropped rates by about 1/8 percent. It was the first time in 5 weeks that mortgage rates fell. Volatility like that of last week is nothing new on Wall Street; it's been a running theme in 2009.  Volatility occurs when markets don't agree on what's next for the economy and, this year, there's been a lot of disagreement like that. Data has been inconsistent.  Take last week for example. At 9:00 AM Tuesday morning, the Case-Shiller Index showed home prices rising nationwide.  Because many analysts believe housing fueled the recession, strength in the sector is widely construed a positive for the economy. Mortgage rates ... 11/01/2009

The following are the market sales statistics for Oviedo, Seminole County, Florida for September 2009.  Oviedo is made up of the zip codes of 32765 & 32766, which is partly considered Chuluota.  For purposes of this analysis we are only splitting the data according to single-family homes vs, condominiums, townhomes and villas.   A couple of definitions are in order. The median sales price means that 50% of the homes sold for more and 50% of the homes sold for less during a certain period of time - in other words, it's the midpoint of sale prices. So basically what this means, is that the median sales price is showing market activity in that it's specifically indicating which price range is more active.   The average sales price, as opposed to the median sales price, is the total volume... 10/14/2009

Isles of Oviedo | Oviedo, FL  15-98 Mercado$198,4351732 Garden Sage DrOviedo, FL Style: TownhomeBedrooms:  3Bathrooms:  2.5Garage: 1Stories:  2A/C Sq Ft: 1491Total Sq: Ft: 1706Move in date: Immediate Features: Private conservation home site, master bedroom downstairs,18" tile throughout the first floor, designer interior paint and light fixtures Sales Office Open Daily from 10am - 6pm Sales Office Address:1809 Garden Sage DriveOviedo, FL 32765 Directions to Isles of Oviedo:Take 417 (Central Florida Greeneway) to Red Bug Lake Road exit. Proceed west ½ mile to Oviedo Marketplace Boulevard. Turn north (towards mall) and follow for approx. ¼ mile.  The Isles will be on your left. Contact Oviedo Sales Office:Phone 407-278-0350 10/13/2009

Saturday, October 24th at Riverside Park, 1600 Lockwood Blvd for our Haunted House and family friendly Halloween activities.  This event will include, carnival games, children's activities, food, music, and of course a frightening haunted house. The Carnival is free. Haunted House admission is $3 with a non-perishable food item before October 24th. The day of the event, cost is $5 with a non-perishable food item or $7 without. Food and beverages will be available for purchase while supplies last. Purchase Haunted House tickets at the Oviedo Gym & Aquatic Facility or Riverside Park.   Please contact (407) 971-5575 for more information or click here to download the event flyer.  10/13/2009

The annual Oviedo Police Not So Scary Halloween Fall Fest 2009 is being held on Saturday, October 31st from 4 to 6 PM at the C.O.P.S. & Volunteer Center at the Oviedo Marketplace Mall (by Dillard's).  This free event is sponsored by the Oviedo Police Explorers, the Oviedo Juniorettes (Oviedo Women's Club), the Oviedo Optimist Club, the Oviedo Police Community on Patrol Volunteers, Oviedo Home Depot and Plaster Cottage.  The event is for pre-school and elementary school-aged children.  For more information about the "Not So Scary Halloween Fall Fest 2009" family-friendly event contact Officer Grace Robertson at 407-971-5708 or by email at grobertson@cityofoviedo.net. 10/12/2009

These smart homeowners didn’t have to lose their house to foreclosure. Instead, they hired a real estate agent to help them sell their house as a Short Sale. By finding a ready, willing, and able buyer, they were able to stop foreclosure proceedings in their tracks and walk away with a clean ‘financial’ bill of health. In some cases, they may have had to sign a promissory note for a percentage of their total obligation. The important thing, however, is that they were able to salvage the ruinous credit rating they would have incurred with a foreclosure. Better yet, in as little as two years — or even less — they’ll be able to purchase a new home with a conventional mortgage. Street Date Sold Original List Price Sold Price Beds Baths Sq Ft Pool COX 09/04/09 $155,800 $97,000 3 2 1208 N BUC... 10/08/2009

City of Oviedo, FL Recognized by Relocate America and CNN Money as a Top 100 City to Live Being selected this past spring by Relocate America as a Top 100 City to Live was a first for the City of Oviedo and now we have received more recognition for our great City. The City was recently recognized by CNN's Money Magazine as a Top 100 Best Place to Live! The recognition by both of these sources demonstrates that Oviedo is "growing in the right direction." Click on the links below to review more information and the complete lists of Cities. Relocate America http://www.relocateamerica.com/florida/cities/oviedo CNN Money Magazine http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2009/snapshots 10/05/2009

Two-storey beauty with 4 bedrooms and 3 baths, formal everything, screened lanai, downstairs guest bedroom/office, updated kitchen, and hardwood floors.     The homeowners had originally listed their house with another agent and called me based on an expired mailing I had sent them months before.   We listed the house in February 2009. Since the subdivision is new, it was ripe for an epidemic of short sales and bank-owned offerings. Fortunately, the owners purchased in the early phase of development.   The homeowners took pride in everything, always had a model-ready home to show, and always were accommodating for showings.   Realtors® had to go through me to arrange for appointments. We did this so the owners would only have to talk to one agent — me — and also so that agents couldn’t ... 10/03/2009

Oviedo, FL - Centerline Homes' Isles of Oviedo neighborhood is continuing to attract a variety new home buyers who are looking for a great location and an exceptional value. "The Isles is a hit with first-time buyers who are tired of renting," stated Deb Marton, Centerline Homes' Vice President of Sales. "Our exceptional location and selection of 2 & 3 bedroom townhomes with garages are also proving very popular with young families." The Isles location is second to none. The 417 Greeneway is two minutes away which makes commuting to any part of town a snap. Additionally, the Oviedo Marketplace mall is within walking distance providing a choice of restaurants and entertainment. Priced from the mid-$100's, buyers are encouraged to visit the Isles furnished models today. Call 407-278-0350... 09/29/2009

Once farmland given over to celery and citrus crops, the city of Oviedo, located northeast of Orlando in Seminole County, is now a thriving bedroom community where residents enjoy a wealth of recreational pastimes including nature walks, bird watching, butterfly spotting, hiking, fishing, biking, airboat rides, and horseback riding.   Rounding out the available activities are an 18-hole golf course, 3 aquatic facilities, an outdoor skate park, and concerts and football games at the nearby UCF Arena. Add one of the best school systems in Central Florida, easy access to 2 international airports, quick drives to the beaches and theme parks, and Oviedo makes for the coolest hot spot to live, work, and play.   Street Date Sold List Price Sale Price Beds Baths Sq Ft Pool LONG LAKE 08/31/09 $8... 09/27/2009

The sprawling subdivision of Live Oak Reserve was developed by Engle Homes. Properties offer large square footage, nice lots (many ¼ - ½ acre with conservation and pond views), and complete community amenities, including tennis, parks, and an aquatic/recreation center. Driveway pavers, lush landscaping, preserved greenbelt areas, and innovative architecture make Live Oak Reserve popular with many homebuyers. Some residents have bought more than once, moving up from the earlier models built during the initial phase to larger homes built in the latter phases. Easy access to the Greeneway (417) Tollway, UCF, and Oviedo Marketplace.    Street Date Sold List Price Sale Price Beds Baths Sq Ft Pool SPLIT OAK 08/03/09 $499,500 $400,000 4 3 2815 N WILD EAGLE 08/06/09 $445,000 $417,000 6 3 3740 Y... 09/27/2009

The Sanctuary in Oviedo, FL, was developed by Crosswinds & Engineered Homes, who incorporated many upgraded features and distinctive architectural details into their houses, among them brick pavers, multi-faceted roofs, balconies, pillars, and dome and tray ceilings. Find in The Sanctuary a large community center complete with clubhouse, fitness center, meeting rooms, and pools.   The Sanctuary is divided into two parts, one containing smaller homes and standard lots and the other boasting larger homes with premium lots. The two phases are separated by a daycare and Lawton Chiles Middle School. The Sanctuary also offers playgrounds, basketball and volleyball courts, a soccer field, and tennis facilities, making it one of the most popular communities in Oviedo. Street Date Sold List Pric... 09/27/2009

The following are the market sales statistics for Oviedo, Seminole County, Florida for August 2009.  Oviedo is made up of the zip codes of 32765 & 32766, which is partly considered Chuluota.  For purposes of this analysis we are only splitting the data according to single-family homes vs, condominiums, townhomes and villas.   A couple of definitions are in order. The median sales price means that 50% of the homes sold for more and 50% of the homes sold for less during a certain period of time - in other words, it's the midpoint of sale prices. So basically what this means, is that the median sales price is showing market activity in that it's specifically indicating which price range is more active.   The average sales price, as opposed to the median sales price, is the total volume of... 09/21/2009

Location: Oviedo, FL Lender: Wachovia (originally through World Bank) Initial Purchase Price of Home: Over $450,000 Loan Amount Owed: Approx $375,000 Hardship: Loss of job necessitating relocation Initial List Price: $315,000 Final List Price: $295,000 Sold Price: $295,000 Last Mortgage Payment: Homeowners never stopped making payments Time to Obtain Lender Approval for Short Sale: 15 days Days from Listing to Sold: 153 Complications: 1) Buyer #1 dropped out when lender approval came in because the buyer of his house backed out and he was unable to obtain financing. 2) Buyer #2 backed out only three days after signing contract and before deposit was submitted. What Went Right: Buyer #3 came in at full list price and full cooperation. Monetary Contribution Required of Homeowners to Fina... 09/20/2009

After showing what can only be described as a meteoric rise in houses sold in the Greater Orlando area — more than doubling from the first of the year — sales took a slight dip in August 2009.   While this isn’t necessarily a worrisome result, especially when compared to anemic levels a year ago, it begs 2 questions. Could this be a sign that sales are merely seeing the summer doldrums? ~ OR ~ Could this be the beginning of a declining trend? 09/19/2009

I have received many, many leads directly attributable to ActiveRain and have been actively working with ‘Rainer’ buyers and sellers, but this is my first ActiveRain closing.     Not only did the buyer become aware of me through ActiveRain, but because of ActiveRain, I knew just how to make this Short Sale happen!   These are just a few of tips I received ~~ Set the initial list price at or slightly above market value Lower the price gradually over time Require that the buyers give lender at least 60 days to approve Require an initial earnest money deposit from buyers to substantiate their seriousness Require a mortgage pre-approval Put together a complete Short Sale Package, including authorization, listing agreement, contract, hardship letter, financial package, and marketing report C... 09/19/2009

1. Because the payback of the loan will be ‘shorted’ by a significant amount and the lender will have to take a loss, homeowner’s lender must approve the Short Sale contract before the house can be sold. 09/17/2009

$299,900 Bedrooms:3.0 +/- Sq Ft:2140 Type:Resale/Existing Baths F/H:2/1 Stories:2.0 MLS ID:o4891050 SOLD $274,000 Year Built:2007 Lot Size:0.94 acre(s)   Pic 1 Pic 2 Pic 3 Pic 4 Property Description   Attic, Eating Space In Kitchen, Open Plan, Volume Ceilings, Bath w Spa/Hydro Massage Tub, Tub with Separate Shower Stall, Foyer, Inside Utility, Breakfast Bar, Desk Built In, Island, Pantry, Brick/Stone, Ceramic Tile, Slate, Wood , Mature Landscaping, Patio/Porch Open, Trees/Landscaped Property Features   Single Family Property Status: Active County: Seminole County Subdivision: CHULA VISTA 1ST ADD Year Built: 2007 3 total bedroom(s) 2.5 total bath(s) 2 total full bath(s) 1 total half bath(s) Approximately 2140 sq. ft. Type: ... 09/10/2009

This is the market information regarding Oviedo, located in Seminole County Florida. To date there are currently 11 bank owned homes for sale in Oviedo Florida and there are also 100 short sale opportunities in Oviedo. Considering there are 100 out of the total 369 properties for sale in Oviedo Florida, which equates to approximately 27% of the properties for sale in Oviedo are foreclosures. This does not mean there are only 100 foreclosures in Oviedo, it just means there are only 100 foreclosures currently for sale in Oviedo and there are many that are in foreclosure, just not represented on the Orlando MLS.   Date   AVG 05-ago Properties for sale in the Oviedo, Florida 633 369 Foreclosure properties listed since last post 5 10 New Non-Foreclosure listings since last post 23 35 What's ... 09/10/2009

These smart homeowners didn’t have to lose their house to foreclosure. Instead, they hired a real estate agent to help them sell their house as a Short Sale. By finding a ready, willing, and able buyer, they were able to stop foreclosure proceedings in their tracks and walk away with a clean ‘financial’ bill of health. In some cases, they may have had to sign a promissory note for a percentage of their total obligation. The important thing, however, is that they were able to salvage the ruinous credit rating they would have incurred with a foreclosure. Better yet, in as little as two years — or even less — they’ll be able to purchase a new home with a conventional mortgage. Street Date Sold Original List Price Sold Price Beds Baths Sq Ft Pool HORTON 08/31/09 $199,999 $117,000 3 2 1338 N... 09/06/2009