WINTER PARK, FL---Fannie Hillman + Associates posted 93 existing home closings for $32.3 million in the third quarter, giving the celebrated Winter Park firm seven consecutive quarters in which transactions and sales volume have been up over comparable periods in previous years.

The 93 transactions, featuring the sale of a $2.925 million home on Lake Maitland, were up 16 percent over a comparable period in 2010, while sales volume was up a healthy 56 percent over the third quarter last year. The company’s average transaction was $346,935, up 10.3 percent over last year’s average third quarter sales price.

“Despite a troubled economy, there are some positive trends gradually taking place in the existing home market,” said Scott Hillman, president of the 30-year-old independent firm recognized as one of Central Florida’s top residential real estate brokerages and a leader in the sale of luxury lakefront residences, primarily in Winter Park and Maitland.

“Inventory has been reduced considerably in recent months, home prices are slowly gaining strength and are up in more established neighborhoods, and mortgage rates are at record lows,” said Hillman, noting the rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage was just 4.01 percent as of September 29.

For the year, Fannie Hillman’s 286 transactions are 11 percent better than last year’s 9-month total, and sales volume is up a robust 32 percent over last year at this juncture.

Seven Fannie Hillman sales associates posted sales in excess of $1 million for the third quarter, led by Cathy Richey at $3.1+ million, Nancy Bagby at $2.5+ million and Megan Cross and Mary Stuart Day at $2.1+ million each. For the year, Nancy Bagby has posted sales of $22.8+ million, Megan Cross and Mary Stuart Day $5.2+ million, Jerry Oller $4.2+ million, Katherine Bordelon $4.1+ million, and Janis Fuller $4.0+ million.

About Fannie Hillman + Associates

Fannie Hillman + Associates is a member of the Orlando Regional Realtor Association, is listed in Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate, and maintains a global presence through affiliations with London-based Mayfair International, Luxury Portfolio, and Chicago-based RELOHomeSearch, a website run by Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®. Fannie Hillman is located at 205 W. Fairbanks Avenue. For more information or a hard copy of The Hillman Report, call Scott Hillman at (407) 644-1234 or visit the company’s web site at fanniehillman.com and click on The Hillman Report link.