Sales

*Orlando home sales (all home types combined) in February 2012 were down 15.19 percent over February 2011.

*Single-family home sales in the Orlando area decreased by 2.82 percent in February when compared to February of last year. Condo sales decreased by 34.27 percent; duplex, town home, and villa sales decreased by 27.31 percent.

*Of the 1,854 sales in February, 738 "normal” sales accounted for 39.81 percent of all sales, while 498 bank-owned and 618 short sales respectively made up 26.86 percent and 37.98 percent.

*The number of "normal” sales in February increased by 29.02 percent over February 2011, while short-sales increased 20.00 percent and foreclosures dropped 54.02 percent.

*The 9,348 homes pending closing in February of this year is an increase of 1.37 percent compared to the 9,223 pendings in February of last year.

*Short sales made up 69.84 percent of pendings in February. Normal properties accounted for 17.02 percent and bank-owned properties accounted for 13.14 percent.

*Sales of existing homes within the entire Orlando MSA (Lake, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties) in February were down by 14.20 percent when compared to February of 2011. Each individual county’s monthly sales comparisons are as follows:

• Lake: 17.14 percent above February 2011 (369 homes sold in February 2012 compared to 315 in February 2011);
• Orange: 15.54 percent below February 2011 (1,207 homes sold in February 2012 compared to 1,429 in February 2011);
• Osceola: 27.77 percent below February 2011 (398 homes sold in February 2012 compared to 551 in February 2011); and
• Seminole: 15.27 percent below February 2011 (394 sold in February 2012 compared to 465 in February 2011).

Median Price

*The median price of all existing homes combined sold in January 2012, $108,000, is a 13.80 percent increase from the $94,900 median price recorded in January 2011.

*The median price for "normal” existing homes sold in February is $150,000, is a decrease of 3.23 percent from the median price of "normal” existing homes in February 2011.

*The median price for short sales increased by 5.26 percent to $100,000, while the median price for bank-owned sales increased by 8.11 percent to $80,000.

Inventory

*There are currently 9,253 homes available for purchase through the MLS. The February 2012 overall inventory level is 31.36 percent lower than it was in February 2011, and almost equal to what it was in January 2012.

*Single-family home inventory is down 32.68 percent; condo inventory is down 18.46 percent.

*The current pace of sales translates into 4.99 months of supply.

Other

*The Orlando affordability index decreased to 271.61 percent in February. First-time homebuyer affordability in February decreased to 193.14 percent.

*Homes of all types spent an average of 96 days on the market before coming under contract in February 2012, and the average home sold for 93.14 percent of its listing price.

*New contracts are down 8.00 percent compared February of 2011. New listings are down 0.58 percent.

Candle Beggar arrives on Christmas Eve Day, 24 December. In former times, candles were the brightest lights available to people. They were so rare and precious that all children longed to have their very own candle for Christmas. And poor Candle Beggar – well, he also longed for a candle. The National Museum is open between 11 and 12 on Christmas Eve Day, to welcome Candle Beggar.

The thirteenth was Candle Beggar
- ‘twas cold, I believe,
if he was not the last
of the lot on Christmas Eve.

He trailed after the little ones
who, like happy sprites,
ran about the farm with
their fine tallow lights.

From the poem The Yuletide Lads by Jóhannes úr Kötlum.                                                                   

English translation by Hallberg Hallmundsson.

St. Thorlák's Day, 23 December, is the day of Meat Hook's arrival. Meat Hook was crazy about meat. In the old days he would lower a long stick through the chimney and snag a smoked leg of lamb hanging from the rafters, or a piece of smoked lamb from the pot. In those days the smoked lamb, which is traditional Icelandic Christmas fare, was cooked on St. Thorlák's Day.

Meat Hook, the twelfth one,
his talent would display
as soon as he arrived
on Saint Thorlak's Day.

He snagged himself a morsel
of meet of any sort,
although his hook at times was
a tiny bit short.

 

From the poem The Yuletide Lads by Jóhannes úr Kötlum.                             

English translation by Hallberg Hallmundsson.

Door Sniffer comes to town on 22 December. He is easily recognised by his huge nose. He loved the smell of cakes and lace bread – sometimes called leaf bread – when they were being prepared for Christmas, and always tried to steal one or two.

Eleventh was Door Sniffer,
a doltish lad and gross.
He never got a cold, yet had
a huge, sensitive nose.

He caught the scent of lace bread
while leagues away still
and ran toward it weightless
as wind over dale and hill.

 

From the poem The Yuletide Lads by Jóhannes úr Kötlum.                             

English translation by Hallberg Hallmundsson.

 

December 21 is when Window Peeper visits. This Lad was not as greedy as some of his brothers, he just liked to peep through the windows and sometimes nicked the toys that he saw.

The tenth was Window Peeper,
a weird little twit,
who stepped up to the window
and stole a peek through it.

And whatever was inside
to which his eye was drawn,
he most likely attempted
to take later on.

 

From the poem The Yuletide Lads by Jóhannes úr Kötlum.                             

English translation by Hallberg Hallmundsson.

 

On 20 December we are expecting Sausage Swiper. He loved to eat sausages and stole them whenever he had a chance.

The ninth was Sausage Swiper,
a shifty pilferer.
He climbed up to the rafters
and raided food from there.

Sitting on a crossbeam
in soot and in smoke,
he fed himself on sausage
fit for gentlefolk.

 

From the poem The Yuletide Lads by Jóhannes úr Kötlum.                             

English translation by Hallberg Hallmundsson.

 

On 19 December we welcome the Yule Lad called Skyr Gobbler. His favourite is an Icelandic dairy product called skyr, which is similar to yogurt. He likes it so much that he used to sneak into the pantry and gobble all the skyr out of the skyr tub.

Skyr Gobbler, the eighth,
was an awful stupid bloke.
He lambasted the skyr tub
till the lid on it broke.

Then he stood there gobbling
- his greed was well known -
until, about to burst,
he would bleat, howl and groan.

 

From the poem The Yuletide Lads by Jóhannes úr Kötlum.                             

English translation by Hallberg Hallmundsson.

 

Door Slammer comes to town on 18 December. He always made a lot of noise when he walked around, slamming doors and such, so people could hardly get any rest. He still has a habit of slamming doors and always does when he visits the National Museum.

The seventh was Door Slammer,
a sorry, vulgar chap:
When people in the twilight
would take a little nap,

he was happy as a lark
with the havoc he could wreak,
slamming doors and hearing
the hinges on them squeak.

 

From the poem The Yuletide Lads by Jóhannes úr Kötlum.                             

English translation by Hallberg Hallmundsson.

 

Bowl Licker comes to town on 17 December. In the past, Icelanders ate from lidded wooden bowls that they sometimes kept under the bed or on the floor. Bowl Licker would hide under the bed, and if someone put their bowl on the floor he grabbed it and licked the inside clean.

Bowl Licker, the sixth one,
was shockingly ill bred.
From underneath the bedsteads
he stuck his ugly head.

And when the bowls were left
to be licked by dog or cat,
he snatched them for himself
- he was sure good at that!

 

From the poem The Yuletide Lads by Jóhannes úr Kötlum.                             

English translation by Hallberg Hallmundsson.

 

Pot Scraper is expected on 16 December. He is also sometimes called Pot Licker since in the old days he waited to snatch away the pots that had not been washed and licked the food remains from the insides. 

Pot Scraper, the fifth one,
was a funny sort of chap.
When kids were given scrapings,
he'd come to the door and tap.

And they would rush to see
if there really was a guest.
Then he hurried to the pot
and had a scrapingfest.

 

From the poem The Yuletide Lads by Jóhannes úr Kötlum.                             

English translation by Hallberg Hallmundsson.

 

Spoon Licker comes down from the mountains on 15 December. In the past he would sneak into the houses and lick the wooden spoon used to scrape the pots. These days he looks for wooden spoons at the National Museum when he visits.

The fourth was Spoon Licker;
like spindle he was thin.
He felt himself in clover
when the cook wasn't in.

Then stepping up, he grappled
the stirring spoon with glee,
holding it with both hands
for it was slippery.

 

From the poem The Yuletide Lads by Jóhannes úr Kötlum.                             

English translation by Hallberg Hallmundsson.

 

The Yule Lad who arrives on 14 December is called Stubby. He is a little, shall we say, vertically challenged. He is also known as Pan Scraper because in the old days he used to try snatching bits of food from the frying pan.

Stubby was the third called,
a stunted little man,
who watched for every chance
to whisk off a pan.

And scurrying away with it,
he scraped off the bits
that stuck to the bottom
and brims - his favorites.

 

From the poem The Yuletide Lads by Jóhannes úr Kötlum.                             

English translation by Hallberg Hallmundsson.

 

On 13 December it is Gully Gawk's turn. Before milking machines were invented he had a habit of stealing into the cowshed and slurping the foam off the milk in the buckets.

The second was Gully Gawk,
gray his head and mien.
He snuck into the cow barn
from his craggy ravine.

Hiding in the stalls,
he would steal the milk, while
the milkmaid gave the cowherd
a meaningful smile.

 

From the poem The Yuletide Lads by Jóhannes úr Kötlum.                             

English translation by Hallberg Hallmundsson.

The first Yuletide Lad comes to town on 12 December. His name is Sheep-Cote Clod and he used to try to suckle the yews in the farmers' sheep sheds.

The first of them was Sheep-Cote Clod.
He came stiff as wood,
to prey upon the farmer's sheep
as far as he could.

He wished to suck the ewes,
but it was no accident
he couldn't; he had stiff knees
- not to convenient.

 

From the poem The Yuletide Lads by Jóhannes úr Kötlum.                              English translation by Hallberg Hallmundsson.

This is how the National Museum of Iceland's shows and explains the story of the 13 Yuletide Lads (Icelandic Santa Clauses) on their website.

The Icelandic jólasveinar (Yuletide Lads) have absolutely nothing to do with the international red-clothed Santa Claus, who is a version of St. Nicholas. The Yuletide Lads are descended from trolls, and orginally they were bogeymen who were used to scare children. During this century they have mellowed, and they sometimes wear their best, red, suits. But they still tend to pilfer and play tricks.

The number of Yuletide Lads varied in olden times from one region of Iceland to another. The number 13 is first seen in a poem on Grýla (the Lads' mother) in the 18th century, and their names were published by Jón Árnason in his folklore collection in 1862. About 60 different names of Yuletide Lads are known.

They visit the National Museum on each of the 13 days before Christmas. They usually wear their old Icelandic costumes, and try to pilfer the goodies each likes best.

These Calendars have recipes for every month of the year 2012 and is magnetic. You can stick it on your fridge or anywhere that has a magnetic surface.

With the situation in the mortgage market, many homeowners are stuck in their homes and unable to sell them. I am not talking about homeowners that are under water, I am talking about homeowners that own their homes free and clear.  I am talking about homes that are in perfect condition and show well, I am talking about homes that are priced fairly.

Where there is a will there is a way.

These sellers are not giving up and allowing the lenders to control their lives, they found a way to sell their homes and take the lenders out of the equation. They are now offering owner financing, many sellers of homes that I am working with now are willing to consider owner financing of their properties. They are offering buyers that bring 40% down payment a private mortgage of 60%, with interest rates running about 6%. These loans amortizes over 15 to 30 years and balloons after 5 years. By financing the sale themselves they are now able to move on, they will receive enough funds with the down payment to move on and the monthly payments help with their living expenses until the balloon payment kicks in. This is a win, win situation as now the interested buyers can buy their dream home in a subdivision that suits their needs and the sellers (often elderly) can move on with their lives.

I will not allow them to control my life.

After working for 11 years in the Real Estate industry, I have heard many stories from seasoned Realtors about the high interest rates in the ‘80s, the saving and loan collapse and so on. They talk about how the market found ways to work around these problems, which the mortgage industry created. Well we are now in similar shoes today and this seems to be one of the markets answers. In other words, the sellers are saying: “I will not allow the mortgage companies control my life!”

The Internet is becoming a big part of our every day lives and the Seminole County school system now offers an online portal for parents to check on their children's progress. This was not available in my time, I graduated from Lake Mary High School in 2002, but now that my twin girls have started at Winter Springs Elementary I found out that I can check on their grades and attendance by logging on to my parent portal that the school has offered.
 

At the orientation before the kids start school, the school gives you information about logging in and they create an account for you. Then you can log in and see their attendance records and every 9 weeks you can see how they did for the quarter.
 

It is a very easy system to use and gives kids the no excuse for not showing you their report card, if they somehow lose it, the dog ate it or whatnot you can always check on their grades through your portal.

The Application for the Skyward Portal system is available online, if you have not recieved access or information about how to apply, all you need to do is fill this application out and bring it in to your schools front office.

The website to access Family Access will be:
http://family.scps.us

The following information is what the Seminole County Public Schools released regarding the new system:

"Seminole County Public Schools are pleased to announce the start of a phased implementation in August 2011 of Family Access by Skyward, Inc. Family Access is a secure Internet based website that will allow you to easily keep track of your Academic History, Activities, Message Center, Student Demographics with Emergency Contact and Student Addresses. Student Schedules will be available for Middle and High School Students. Graduation Requirements will be available for High School Students. Student Grades, Assignments and Notes, and Attendance will become available at the first progress reporting period."

Parents will be able to access Skyward starting September 15th, 2011.

Contact Erna Sigurdsson, Realtor at The Viking Team, Realty at 321-263-5096for help buying or selling a home in Longwood, Lake Mary, Altamonte Springs, Sanford, Seminole and Orange County and the surrounding areas of Central Florida. To Search For Homes For Sale in Central Florida Click Here.

Every Wednesday in Seminole County the children in the public schools are let out an hour early. This has been this way since I was in high school, starting back in 1998 and I'm still not sure when this policy began.

Wednesday afternoons are the designated days for teachers to plan, organize themselves, have meetings and do grading. An extra hour every week so that they have just a little more time, rather than staying up late on the weekends grading papers or preparing their curriculum. As we expect our students to do well in the school system, the teachers need that extra hour to make sure that things are running well on their end as well.

The students love Wednesdays, because it means that there is just a little less lecture time, a little more time to go play with friends or relax.

The parents, may not be as thrilled about Early Release Wednesdays since it means that they have to make arrangements for pick up and/or supervision for the children.

Contact Erna Sigurdsson, Realtor at The Viking Team, Realty at 321-263-5096for help buying or selling a home in Longwood, Lake Mary, Altamonte Springs, Sanford, Seminole and Orange County and the surrounding areas of Central Florida. To Search For Homes For Sale in Central Florida Click Here.