Ideal for Generation X families, this magnificent two-story home was designed by Canin Associates in Orlando

Centerline Homes, Florida’s premier homebuilder for the past 18 years, gets top billing for the soon to be unveiled Show Homes built specifically for this year’s International Builders’ Show in Orlando. Created in conjunction with Builder Magazine, the Centerline Homes’ team worked with a group of top industry professionals to create three very unique residences designed specifically for three entirely different generations. Woodley Architectural Group and Canin Associates provided dynamic and progressive living spaces which have been merchandised by award-winning designer Kay Green. Set to open in February 2012, the Show Homes offer a trio of refreshing layouts that address the way individuals and families live today. Located in Eagle Creek Golf & Country Club in the Lake Nona area of Orlando, the Show Homes will make their public debut in February.

For additional information on Eagle Creek, visit www.CenterlineHomes.com

The Housing Historian – The Conversation Pit.
What was America Thinking?

It was one of those new home features that came out of nowhere. You can almost hear the first architect’s pitch; “Well, it’s a hole in the middle of the room that has a fireplace and built-in (and usually uncomfortable) seating.” I can see the builders’ (surprised) faces. Personally, I have a lot of respect for the first builder who approved a floor plan that featured a conversation pit. But those were different times, and like fashion, automobiles and everything else, housing design mirrors the mind-set and preferences of the American public. The first conversation pit that I ever saw was in 1969 in Levitt and Sons’ Monterey model at Cambridge Park in Marlton, New Jersey. It turns out that the conversation pit was a real conversation piece and it attracted throngs of homebuyers to see this new trend in housing. On the practical side, it was heralded as a place for the family to get together and enjoy each others company. It also provided a great place for entertaining friends and neighbors, while proving that you were stylish and maybe even mod. Most importantly, it communicated that you had the very latest in modern home design. Today, a conversation pit dates a home and I suspect that many have been filled in over the years to provide a larger, more practical one-level living area. The concept of family togetherness is still quite valid today, but somehow it seems that the conversation pit was more appropriate for a generation who wore polyester fabrics, had larger than life hairstyles and a 21’ foot coupe in the driveway that got a whopping eight miles to the gallon.

www.CenterlineHomes.com

Centerline Homes’ Black Friday savings event in Central Florida was a resounding success. Three families took advantage of the additional savings on a day traditionally known for strong retail sales. As reported in the Wall Street Journal, the Coral Springs, Florida based builder offered an additional $20,000 in options and upgrades – free of charge – at several of their Orlando area neighborhoods. “Today’s consumer is looking for a great value,” noted Deb Marton – Vice-President of Sales for Centerline Homes. “Centerline Homes was founded on the principles of providing a top-quality home, in a great location at a price that represents a true value in the marketplace.” An example of this philosophy is Eagle Creek Golf and Country Club in the Lake Nona area of Orlando.

Centerline Homes is the preferred home builder in this master-planned Emerson community which features a choice of four types of homes priced from $159,900.

For additional information on Eagle Creek, call (407) 278-0356 or visit www.CenterlineHomes.com

“Underwater” homeowners can start submitting applications Thursday under a revised government program meant to make refinancing easier.

The Obama Administration announced this fall it’s making changes to the Home Affordable Refinance Program so more struggling homeowners can take advantage of it.

Among the criteria homeowners must meet:

• They need to be current on their mortgage payments.

• The loans must be backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, the government-run companies that guarantee about half of all home loans nationwide.

• The loans must have been bought by Fannie or Freddie no later than May 31, 2009.

To find out if your loan is owned by Fannie, click here. To see if it's owned by Freddie, click here.

The government is doing away with a cap that prevented borrowers whose mortgages exceed 125 percent of the value of their homes from being eligible for the program. Other changes include reduced risk for lenders and lower fees for borrowers.

What's more, Fannie Mae now says it will allow some homeowners to refinance even if they've had a foreclosure in the past seven years. "That's pretty impressive," said Ryan Paton, president of Capitol Lending Group in Fort Lauderdale.

Paton wishes more people knew about the program, saying it's the best opportunity yet for homeowners to get out of underwater mortgages and refinance into 15-year loans without a huge hit to their monthly budgets.

The revamped program potentially could help tens of thousands of homeowners in South Florida who owe far more than their homes are worth. More than four out of 10 residential properties with a mortgage in Broward and Palm Beach counties are underwater, research firm CoreLogic said Tuesday.

While Thursday is the official launch date nationwide, some lenders may not be prepared to accept applications right away, said Kevin Brungardt, chairman of RoundPoint Financial, an online mortgage company based in Charlotte, N.C.

“It’s going to be frustrating, but homeowners should be patient and persistent,” he said. “If somebody’s interested in submitting an application, they should shop different lenders for the best price and contact their loan servicer.”

Brungardt said the changes are "a piece of the solution, but I don't think it's the Hail Mary pass that cures all."

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Photo Courtesy: Bloomberg News

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