If you haven’t discovered it yet, take a drive out to Lukas Nursery in Oviedo, FL. Located at Slavia and Aloma (SR 426) Roads—1909 Slavia Road in Oviedo, FL—the nursery is a one-of-a-kind establishment for gardeners everywhere. Lukas Nursery isn’t merely a place to buy shrubs, trees, plants, or garden supplies. It’s an event. Strolling through the grounds is like visiting your favorite park, nature preserve, or woodland trail ... an escape from fast-paced urban living and an outing away from the modern world ... a return to the smell of good earth, the trilling of birds, gentle breezes washed by palm fronds, and a place to dream and escape.   Lukas has everything you’re looking for, and if it doesn’t, helpful staff will try to get it for you. Find indoor and outdoor plants, pottery, sod... 04/02/2009

      If you're looking for a great place to call home in Central Florida, look no further than Oviedo's, Carillon Subdivision. From those that are single, married with families, and those that are looking to retire, Carillon has a neighborhood for you. Brighton Park, Hunter's Stand, West Hampton, Red Bridge, Dorchester and more, offer homes for every stage of life with pricing beginning from around $200,000 and up. Each have playgrounds, with several also providing tennis courts, baseball and soccer fields, fishing in their private ponds and even a golf course. Each neighborhood in Carillon can be entered off of Lockwood Blvd. which has nice broad sidewalks for taking a leisurely stroll after dinner, jogging for that early morning workout, and walking your children to the A-rated Caril... 04/02/2009

The term Distressed Property is often used to describe homes that are going through the various stages of Foreclosure and are being sold at steeply discounted prices. Obviously, Distressed Properties have a damaging effect on the market value of all the other homes in a given neighborhood or community.Click here to Understand the 4 Stages of Foreclosure.To a great extent, the suburb of Oviedo has been spared the ravages that Distressed Properties have had on nearby communities, particularly those in nearby East Orlando, which includes zip codes 32828, 32825, 32820, 32817 and 32826.Disappointingly, the trend is now creeping up on our town, as shown by the graph below. The red bars represent regular house sales. The blue bars represent distressed house sales.The Distressed Rate has risen ... 04/02/2009

We thought, when the term ‘Short Sale’ reared its ugly head two years ago, it would be a passing phenomenon. Then we thought that it would be ‘short-lived’. Transient. Like a mosquito bite or the 7-year locust.After that, we fervently hoped it would be a dull lull in our otherwise busy lives, a hum you only grew aware of when the noise suddenly, and quite unexpectedly, ceased. Like a breath rushing past your ear. But then, in amazement and a little bit of horror, we saw the numbers grow, escalate, break through the ranks like a car speeding at full bore, and indiscriminately plow down people left and right. For a few months now--in fact, for the first 3 months of 2009--the rate of sales for Short Sale/Foreclosed residential homes in Orange and Seminole Counties represents 57% of all fin... 04/01/2009

So it looks like your house is in foreclosure. Worse yet, because the current market value of your house is worth less than the amount you owe on your mortgage loan, getting out from under the financial burdens that have crashed down on you seems just about impossible. It ISN’T impossible, and there IS a solution. The situation you find yourself in is not your fault. When you purchased your house, you fully expected it to increase in value as real estate has historically done. How could you possibly have anticipated the dramatic depreciation Realtor® of home values? No one could. Under ordinary circumstances, had you experienced a temporary setback, you would have been able to sell your house and start over. Now, with the real estate market in turmoil, you simply don’t know what to do. ... 03/30/2009

03/28/2009

                                              For all of you looking for something to do with the family this evening, Oviedo is holding their annual Relay For Life to benefit The American Cancer Society tonight March 27th beginning at 6:00pm and going through the night until noon Saturday the 28th. The theme this year is Fairy Tales and there will be characters from all your favorite stories including Shrek, The Emporer's New Groove, Aladdin, The Gingerbread Man, Pinnochio, Sleeping Beauty, Chicken Little and so much more. There will be an American Idol stage set up from 8:00 to 9:00 pm along with other entertainment, food, games, and raffles for everyone to participate in. Some of the festivities include a production of Beauty and the Beast performed by Hagerty High School students, a... 03/27/2009

The Scenery Living on 5 acres in Florida. The most wonderful thing about living here in Florida is the wildlife. We have several families of wildlife that either live on our property or are frequent visitors. These are just two. This is the Sandhill Crane family that lives in our backyard   This is the armadillo that also lives in our yard and loves to taunt our dogs                   03/25/2009

Picture this. You’re taking an enjoyable shower on a Sunday morning, luxuriating in the warmth and stinging spray. You’re halfway through your ablutions when you suddenly realize you’re ankle-deep in a pool of water. Panic time! You turn off the water and watch with horror as the water ... just ... sits ... there. Dripping wet, you make a dash for the plunger. Fifteen minutes later and arm muscles sore, you’re relieved that you were able to drain your ‘wading pool’. Comes the dreaded fear ... a few days later, the same thing happens. Only worse. And it takes longer and extra muscle work to get rid of the backed-up water. This time you get into the car. Hey, anything to save yourself an hourly charge from your local plumber, right? At the local hardware or home improvement store, you wan... 03/15/2009

The following are the market sales statistics for Oviedo, Seminole County, Florida for February 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 s... 03/15/2009

Located off Aloma Road (State Road 426), Aloma Woods is perfectly positioned within the town of Oviedo (pronounced O-vee'-doh). Rush-hour commuters can avoid the traffic jams along the Mitchell Hammock corridor yet residents are able to enjoy easy accessibility to the many conveniences of this popular suburb. Aloma Woods is close to the Greeneway (417) Tollway, which can take drivers all points north, west, and south. Enjoy a community pool along with parks, jogging and biking paths, and plenty of scenery. Find modest homes as well as gated upscale homes, some with conservation or pond views. This well-kept community is quiet, feels off the beaten track, yet is close to all the town offerings including a top-rated school system. 03/12/2009

This morning I woke up 40 minutes late. Actually, according to yesterday’s clock, I was up 20 minutes early. But according to the weak sunlight penetrating my windows, my circadian rhythms were immediately thrown off and began to protest in odd shrieks and grumbles. I wanted nothing more than to roll over and go back to sleep, but seeing as how I was going to lose an hour of productivity today, I figured I’d save at least 20 of those minutes by starting the day ahead of the game. Thing is, I used up those 20 minutes fairly quickly by surfing the web before letting the dog out and fixing breakfast. When lunch came, I was busy with ‘real estating’, and since I knew it was actually 11:00 in the morning (according to yesterday’s clock), I thought I’d split the difference and eat at 12:30pm,... 03/08/2009

Swapping Homes is not that easy! As we all know trying to sell your home in this market is a horrible experience, and some people are considering swapping homes as an option, but is it really a good option.  Lets say your home is in great condition, and you decide you want to take advantage of the buying opportunity and finally get that house by the lake, but you cant sell your home, so you decide to try and swap your home with someone that owns a home by the lake.  And you come to the frightening realization that the home inside screams a 1970 decor, you are now having to gut the home and might have to apply for loans to make this your dream home. You might need more cash then you originally thought, and have to consider taking on a new loan and its rates, and this might not have been ... 03/03/2009

One of the reasons why the community of Live Oak Reserve in Oviedo is so popular is that its  residents don't have to leave the community to enjoy everything outdoors. Aquatic Center     Sports Complex with Basketball & Tennis Courts               The Live Oak Reserve Park Defined by a large roundabout, the focal point of this popular community preserves ancient oaks, palmettos, and other flora that is the essense of Central Florida's natural habitat.   Also enjoy a Ball Park with facilities for baseball and soccer, kiddie playgrounds, jogging and bicycle routes, and water views everywhere you look. COME HOME TO LIVE OAK RESERVE 02/28/2009

Are you a first-time homebuyer who has or will purchase a home in 2009?   If you haven’t filed your 2008 tax return yet and you’re a first-time homebuyer and you intend to purchase a house in 2009, you can receive the $8,000 credit with your 2008 income tax return.  That’s right! You won’t have to wait until next year to get your eligible $8,000 home purchase credit. Eligible homebuyers who purchase a house between January 1, 2009 and December 1, 2009 can treat the purchase as if it had occurred on December 31, 2008.  If you plan to be a first-time homebuyer in 2009, you have 3 options: If you purchase a house between January 1, 2009 and April 15, 2009, you’ll be able to claim the $8,000 credit on your 2008 return, due on April 15th. If you won’t close on your house by April 15th but y... 02/25/2009

When faced with the possibility of foreclosure, most homeowners do not understand they have very real choices that may soften the blow of their financial troubles. The following should give them some basic information about their alternatives. #1 - Forbearance Agreement When borrowers are unable to keep up with mortgage payments due to a temporary hardship, a Forbearance Agreement might be a means to put off foreclosure. A phone call to the lender’s loan solution counselor is always essential. Financial statements and full documentation of the borrowers current financial status will be required. If the mortgage lender agrees to provide relief, the Forbearance Agreement will allow the borrower to stop making monthly payments but only for a limited and specified amount of time. Even while... 02/24/2009

Recently, I discovered a surprising—and disturbing—trend. It all began with my neighbors. These are great people, nice people, smart people with whom I have conversed often. I care about them and only wish them the very best. On a routine search of the MLS database of my neighborhood, however, I found out something disheartening. I found out they were going through foreclosure. I was shocked since, obviously, they had been experiencing financial difficulties for some time. Yet they never mentioned their troubles to me. Because of their reticence, I immediately decided to respect their privacy.   I fully understand why they didn’t want to share their problem with me. Under similar circumstances, I’d probably act the same way. Most people avoid mixing business with friendship, and for goo... 02/23/2009

A puppy has 4 basic needs—to play, to be petted, to eat, and to pee. Deny your puppy any one of these things, and you’re in for it. How to play nice with your puppy    The relationship between you and your puppy is often strengthened with playtime—chasing balls, playing tug-of-war, chewing toys, playing hide-and-seek.   More often than not, it’s not the puppy who needs to learn the rules of the game ... but you. The puppy knows how to play, and play hard. She’s already had practice with her littermates. Therefore, if you follow your puppy’s lead and let her show you how the game is played, you’ll create an unbeatable team.    On the other hand, if you think you know better than your puppy, your puppy will soon relieve you of the notion. You see, your puppy innately knows there must be ... 02/21/2009

The following are the market sales statistics for Oviedo, Seminole County, Florida for January 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 so... 02/15/2009

Interest Rates went up again this week!  Wouldn't it be nice if they held for a month! It's hard enough to make a decision on what and when to buy a home or townhome in this market. Once you make up your mind and you find a home you like. If you like the interest rate that day LOCK IT IN! I just got off the phone with a clients father and he asked wht the rate wasn't 5% today! I spent an hour talking about how rates change every day and sometimes several times a day. We charge the same fees and yield spread but the lenders change their rates whenever they need to or feel like it! IF YOU NEED THE RATE TO KEEP THE PAYMENT AT A CERTAIN PLACE, LOCK IT!!!! THE BAD THING IS IF RATES GO DOWN, YOU CANNOT GET THE LOWER RATE! 02/09/2009