Seminole County Public Schools will be open on tomorrow, Thursday, September 7 and Friday, September 8. We will be closed on Monday, September 11. Seminole County is expected to feel the brunt of Hurricane Irma this Sunday. We will assess campuses on Monday and make further school closure decisions at that time. In addition, all school-related extracurricular activities and facility rentals have been cancelled Saturday through Monday until further notice. We will continue to communicate via our website, social media, phone/email blasts, and local news.
We would like to remind our families to stay up-to-date with the local news and to take all necessary precautions in order to remain safe throughout the storm. Visit PrepareSeminole.org to make a plan, get a kit, and stay informed! In addition, visit AlertSeminole.org to sign-up to receive future emergency and weather-related updates!
Thank you!
-Seminole County Public Schools (SCPS)
Wednesday
THURSDAY-SATURDAY: $1 PET ADOPTIONS!
Seminole County Animal Services is offering $1.00 pet adoptions Thursday-Saturday, 10:00 a.m until 4:00 p.m.
The shelter is full; storms generally bring a significant increase in stray intakes. For anyone who adopts a pet Thursday, September 7 through Saturday, September 9 and decides the pet is not a great fit for their family, Animal Services will accept the returned animal with no questions asked.
For a list of adoptable pets, visit seminolecountypets.com.
For more information, email dgagliano@seminolecountyfl.gov or call 407-665-5208.
Community Relations Officer Ashley Moore, Seminole County AGENCY
The shelter is full; storms generally bring a significant increase in stray intakes. For anyone who adopts a pet Thursday, September 7 through Saturday, September 9 and decides the pet is not a great fit for their family, Animal Services will accept the returned animal with no questions asked.
For a list of adoptable pets, visit seminolecountypets.com.
For more information, email dgagliano@seminolecountyfl.gov or call 407-665-5208.
Community Relations Officer Ashley Moore, Seminole County AGENCY
Scott declares emergency!
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Sept. 5, 2017 – Gov. Rick Scott on Monday placed all of Florida under a state of emergency as the projected path of Hurricane Irma could take the powerful storm toward the southern part of the state by the end of the week.
The declaration is intended to give local governments in all 67 counties time to prepare, the governor's office said.
"Hurricane Irma is a major and life-threatening storm and Florida must be prepared," Scott said in a statement.
"Today, given these forecasts and the intensity of this storm, I have declared a state of emergency for every county in Florida to make certain that state, federal and local governments are able to work together and make sure resources are dispersed to local communities as we get prepared for this storm," he added.
Scott has been advising people the past couple of days – through Twitter – to prepare for the storm by visiting the Florida Department of Emergency Management's disaster page, which focuses on individuals, businesses and special needs Floridians.
"Families should take time today to make sure you have a disaster plan and fully-stocked disaster supply kit," Scott tweeted on Monday. "I am continuing to coordinate with emergency management officials as we monitor Hurricane Irma."
Hurricane Irma continues to fluctuate, but it's a Category 5 storm that may diminish only slightly if it passes over Caribbean Islands. The storm was moving towards the west at 13 mph, but most experts predict it will start to turn – but no one knows yet when that will happen. The National Hurricane Center said Monday that while it's too early to determine where the storm will go, "There is an increasing chance of seeing some impacts from Irma in the Florida peninsula and the Florida Keys later this week and this weekend."
Price gouging
Attorney General Pam Bondi also activated Florida's price gouging hotline for all consumers in Florida law prohibits extreme increases in the price of essential commodities, such as food, water, hotels, ice, gasoline, lumber and equipment needed as a direct result of an officially declared emergency. Anyone who suspects price gouging during this declared state of emergency should report it to the Attorney General's Office by calling 1-866-9-NO-SCAM.
Association and business preparations
Businesses should also be prepared for a storm to make sure operations can continue afterword. Following the series of storms in 2004, Florida Realtors created a preparation plan for local associations, though the recommendations generally apply to brokers too. For more info on other Florida Realtors efforts, including its tax-deductible Disaster Relief Fund, visit the website.
"In Florida, we always prepare for the worst and hope for the best, and while the exact path of Irma is not absolutely known at this time, we cannot afford to not be prepared," Scott said in Monday's statement. "This state of emergency allows our emergency management officials to act swiftly in the best interest of Floridians without the burden of bureaucracy or red tape."
Source: News Service of Florida, Jim Turner
The declaration is intended to give local governments in all 67 counties time to prepare, the governor's office said.
"Hurricane Irma is a major and life-threatening storm and Florida must be prepared," Scott said in a statement.
"Today, given these forecasts and the intensity of this storm, I have declared a state of emergency for every county in Florida to make certain that state, federal and local governments are able to work together and make sure resources are dispersed to local communities as we get prepared for this storm," he added.
Scott has been advising people the past couple of days – through Twitter – to prepare for the storm by visiting the Florida Department of Emergency Management's disaster page, which focuses on individuals, businesses and special needs Floridians.
"Families should take time today to make sure you have a disaster plan and fully-stocked disaster supply kit," Scott tweeted on Monday. "I am continuing to coordinate with emergency management officials as we monitor Hurricane Irma."
Hurricane Irma continues to fluctuate, but it's a Category 5 storm that may diminish only slightly if it passes over Caribbean Islands. The storm was moving towards the west at 13 mph, but most experts predict it will start to turn – but no one knows yet when that will happen. The National Hurricane Center said Monday that while it's too early to determine where the storm will go, "There is an increasing chance of seeing some impacts from Irma in the Florida peninsula and the Florida Keys later this week and this weekend."
Price gouging
Attorney General Pam Bondi also activated Florida's price gouging hotline for all consumers in Florida law prohibits extreme increases in the price of essential commodities, such as food, water, hotels, ice, gasoline, lumber and equipment needed as a direct result of an officially declared emergency. Anyone who suspects price gouging during this declared state of emergency should report it to the Attorney General's Office by calling 1-866-9-NO-SCAM.
Association and business preparations
Businesses should also be prepared for a storm to make sure operations can continue afterword. Following the series of storms in 2004, Florida Realtors created a preparation plan for local associations, though the recommendations generally apply to brokers too. For more info on other Florida Realtors efforts, including its tax-deductible Disaster Relief Fund, visit the website.
"In Florida, we always prepare for the worst and hope for the best, and while the exact path of Irma is not absolutely known at this time, we cannot afford to not be prepared," Scott said in Monday's statement. "This state of emergency allows our emergency management officials to act swiftly in the best interest of Floridians without the burden of bureaucracy or red tape."
Source: News Service of Florida, Jim Turner
Friday
Average mortgage rates fall again to new 2017 low!!
WASHINGTON (AP) – Aug. 31, 2017 – Long-term U.S. mortgage rates fell this week. It was the fifth straight weekly decline for the benchmark 30-year rate, which again reached a new low for the year.
Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac says the rate on 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages fell to 3.82 percent from 3.86 percent last week. A year ago, the rate stood at 3.46 percent. It averaged 3.65 percent for all of last year.
The rate on 15-year, fixed-rate home loans dipped to 3.12 percent from 3.16 percent last week. Those loans are popular with homeowners refinancing their mortgages.
AP Logo Copyright © 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac says the rate on 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages fell to 3.82 percent from 3.86 percent last week. A year ago, the rate stood at 3.46 percent. It averaged 3.65 percent for all of last year.
The rate on 15-year, fixed-rate home loans dipped to 3.12 percent from 3.16 percent last week. Those loans are popular with homeowners refinancing their mortgages.
AP Logo Copyright © 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Florida housing market: Sales & median prices up in July!
ORLANDO, Fla. – Aug. 24, 2017 – Just like the weather, Florida's housing market was hot in July with more closed sales, higher median prices, increased pending sales and more new listings, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®. Sales of single-family homes statewide totaled 24,546 last month, up 2 percent compared to July 2016.
"Florida's housing market gained momentum in July," says 2017 Florida Realtors President Maria Wells, broker-owner with Lifestyle Realty Group in Stuart. More owners decided to put their homes up for sale. However, even with the increase in new listings, inventory remains tight and buyer demand is great. New listings for single-family existing homes rose 6.1 percent year-over-year, while new listings for existing condo-townhouse properties rose 5.5 percent. Homes continue to sell quickly, resulting in increased pending sales – up 3.3 percent for single-family homes and up 3.6 percent for condo-townhouse units.
The statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes last month was $240,000, up 7.1 percent from the previous year, according to data from Florida Realtors Research department in partnership with local Realtor boards/associations. The statewide median price for townhouse-condo properties in July was $170,950, up 6.8 percent over the year-ago figure. July marked the 68th month-in-a-row that statewide median prices for both sectors rose year-over-year. The median is the midpoint; half the homes sold for more, half for less.
"Florida's rate of employment growth continues to outpace the nation's, and a substantial number of Florida's millennials have started looking for their first home. At the same time, however, rents are still quite high, so homes in these price ranges remain attractive to investors, as well."
Inventory remained tight in July with a 3.9-months' supply for single-family homes and a 5.6-months' supply for townhouse-condo properties, according to Florida Realtors. According to Freddie Mac, the interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.97 percent in July 2017; it averaged 3.44 percent during the same month a year earlier.
For the full statewide housing activity reports, go to the Florida Realtors Research & Statistics section on floridarealtors.org. Realtors also have access to local market stats (password protected) on Florida Realtors' website. "In such a fast-paced, tight-inventory market, consumers' best resource is a local Realtor, who is there to help successfully guide them through the complexities of buying or selling a home."
© 2017 Florida Realtors®
"Florida's housing market gained momentum in July," says 2017 Florida Realtors President Maria Wells, broker-owner with Lifestyle Realty Group in Stuart. More owners decided to put their homes up for sale. However, even with the increase in new listings, inventory remains tight and buyer demand is great. New listings for single-family existing homes rose 6.1 percent year-over-year, while new listings for existing condo-townhouse properties rose 5.5 percent. Homes continue to sell quickly, resulting in increased pending sales – up 3.3 percent for single-family homes and up 3.6 percent for condo-townhouse units.
The statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes last month was $240,000, up 7.1 percent from the previous year, according to data from Florida Realtors Research department in partnership with local Realtor boards/associations. The statewide median price for townhouse-condo properties in July was $170,950, up 6.8 percent over the year-ago figure. July marked the 68th month-in-a-row that statewide median prices for both sectors rose year-over-year. The median is the midpoint; half the homes sold for more, half for less.
"Florida's rate of employment growth continues to outpace the nation's, and a substantial number of Florida's millennials have started looking for their first home. At the same time, however, rents are still quite high, so homes in these price ranges remain attractive to investors, as well."
Inventory remained tight in July with a 3.9-months' supply for single-family homes and a 5.6-months' supply for townhouse-condo properties, according to Florida Realtors. According to Freddie Mac, the interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.97 percent in July 2017; it averaged 3.44 percent during the same month a year earlier.
For the full statewide housing activity reports, go to the Florida Realtors Research & Statistics section on floridarealtors.org. Realtors also have access to local market stats (password protected) on Florida Realtors' website. "In such a fast-paced, tight-inventory market, consumers' best resource is a local Realtor, who is there to help successfully guide them through the complexities of buying or selling a home."
© 2017 Florida Realtors®
Tuesday
More than 700 homes to be built on 200+ acres of land next to Lake Howell in Seminole County!
A residential community with 250 town homes and 458 single-family houses is slated for Howell Branch Road in south Seminole County. Meritage Homes Corporation bought more than 200 acres on Howell Branch Road and east of Semoran Boulevard to develop a community being called Hawk’s Crest. The purchase price was about $40 million, property records show. New homes will have 1,600 to 5,200 square feet with three to six bedrooms. Prices are expected to range from $260,000 to $635,000 with sales starting in late 2018 and closings planned for early 2019, according to the company.
Mary Shanklin Contact Reporter
Orlando Sentinel
August 18, 2017
Mary Shanklin Contact Reporter
Orlando Sentinel
August 18, 2017
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