The Carisle Project May Not Happen

The Carisle Project is projected condo, retail, and new post office location west of Central park covering a few acres, was approved by the city, then disapproved, and brought much controversy amongst Winter Park residents. Recently, Mayor of Winter Park has had private discussions with the Carisle developer to reach an agreement. It is proposed the Mayor would buy out the development project for $18 million. Financing this would be very strategic. The Mayor would contribute $100,000 from his own pocket and raise 1/3 more. In addition, the Winter Park Library would be sold for around $13 million and be moved to alternative location. Because the post office was part of the Carisle project it would have to bought for $5.5 million and the post office has verbally agreed and would be moved to west of Winter Park Village. The current location of the Carisle project will remain an extension of Central Park. The commissioners are scheduled to review this proposal next month. Local down town Winter Park residents are pleased with the compromise, and plan to contribute to the cause. Courtesy of Orlando Sentinel 12/19/06

Orlando Real Estate for November 2006

• 25,371 homes and condos have sold in metro Orlando this year, which is the second best year on record after 2005 totaled 31,230.
• Resales for the month of November has slipped 34% in Orlando core area compared to Novemeber 2005, while condo sales have slipped 44%
• Median price of home still hovering around $250K
• Novembers inventory of homes at historical high sit 21,122 for November representing 13 months of inventory. A local realtor indicates 6 months is ideal.
• Average number of days a home sits on the market is 74 and slowly increasing
• Demand is still strong due to interest rates are still historical low and Orlando job market is strong and could be strong if property taxes and insurance rates did rise so sharply.
• In November Seminole county market has held the best with 3.6% decline compared to Orange county 8.7%, Osceola couty 12.7%, and Lake county 21.4%
• A local realtor indicates that market correction is coming to an end and price reductions will be slowing down.
• Orlando is doing better than other metro Florida cities.
  Courtesy of Orlando Sentinel 12/13/06.
  

Orlando Real Estate Values Remain Strong

Despite record-high inventory and slowing sales, home prices in Metro Orlando are not collapsing under the pressure so far, a University of Central Florida economics professor says.

In his latest analysis for the Mortgage Bankers Association of Central Florida, professor Stanley D. Smith concludes that "the current numbers suggest that in general Central Florida housing markets are currently experiencing the soft landing that many had hoped for."

But his December report, released this week, repeats the cautionary language of his previous studies, noting that, "as we watch the effects of higher inventories and discounts on new homes, it is possible that the situation may change."

Smith examined the most recent numbers from the Orlando Regional Realtor Association, reflecting its members' October existing-home sales, as well as statewide Realtor sales and a housing-price index favored by many economists. That index, by the Office of Federal Housing Oversight, is based on repeat sales of the same single-family homes over time, all financed or refinanced with conventional loans. That approach removes some of the variables that make Realtor sales reports more volatile.

The federal index showed that, in the third quarter, Metro Orlando's home prices still rose 1.6 percent -- down sharply from the 8.5 percent appreciation rate of last year's third quarter, just after the market peaked, but still in positive territory.Metro Orlando's third-quarter rate was slightly better than the statewide growth rate of 1.2 percent. Also, the index revised upward Orlando's price appreciation rate for the second quarter from 3.7 percent to 3.8 percent, and the state's from 2.5 percent to 2.6 percent.

But east Central Florida's coastal metro areas were far weaker in the third quarter. The index showed that the Brevard County metro area posted no home-price appreciation during the three months that ended Sept. 30, while Volusia's resale prices rose just 0.8 percent. Metro Orlando comprises Orange, Seminole, Lake and Osceola counties. Courtesy Orlando Sentinel 12/2/06.