Winter Haven chamber organizes economic summit

The Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce's East Polk Economic Summit will be at 7 a.m. Thursday at Lake Ashton Club House, 4141 Ashton Club Drive, Winter Haven. The program features "Factors Driving the Economy and the Markets" by Robert Schumacher, executive director and chief strategist for Van Kampen Investments, and "Central Florida Values Unveiled" by Jacob Stuart, president of myregion.org and the Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce. Cost: $25. Deadline for reservations is Tuesday. Details: 863-293-2138.

Business After Hours

The Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce will have a Business After Hours at Michael Holley Chevrolet, 925 S. U.S. Highway 98, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Cost: $10 for members, $30 for nonmembers. Reservations: 863-688-8551, Ext. 301.

The South Lake Chamber of Commerce will have a Business After Hours at AmSouth Bank, 2630 E. State Road 50, Clermont, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

New communities

Nicholson Homes has opened 88 new home sites at Lake Tracy near U.S. Highway 27 and Old Polk City Road. The community has 12 lakefront home sites and homes will be priced from the high $200,000s. Construction of model homes will begin in the spring.

Juicing Up!

The Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce's sixth Juicing Up! Your Small Business meeting will be at 7:30 a.m. Nov. 15 at Cleveland Heights County Club. Stacy Campbell-Domineck, director for Polk Works WorkForce 2020 will be the featured speaker. Reservations: 863-688-8551, Ext. 228.

New-member orientation

The South Lake Chamber of Commerce will have a new-member orientation at 7:30 a.m. Thursday at Jenkins Auditorium in Clermont. Reservation deadline is Tuesday. Details: 352-394-4191.

Sponsors, vendors needed

The Greater Davenport Chamber of Commerce seeks sponsors for its second annual charity golf tournament at Deer Creek Golf Course on Nov. 19. Hole sponsorships are $300. All proceeds will benefit the Sunshine Foundation and the Boys & Girls Clubs.

Clermont's Hometown Holiday Celebration is planned for Dec. 2 and 3 in the downtown area. To be a craft or nonprofit food vendor, call the Clermont Business Partnership at 352-536-0988 or e-mail Barbara@ExecutiveEventsGroup.com.

Send information for this listing to Linda Florea, Orlando Sentinel, 280 Patterson Road, Suite 1, Haines City, FL 33844 or southwest@orlandosentinel.com; fax 863-422-0033; or call 863-422-8017.

What are people saying about mortgages today:

Rates on 30-year mortgages edged down last week to a seven-month low. Mortgage-giant Freddie Mac reported Thursday that 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages fell to 6.3 percent, down slightly from 6.31 percent two weeks ago. It put rates at the lowest level since they were at 6.24 percent the first week of March.

Bank of Hawaii, Central Pacific Bank, Territorial Savings Bank and Wells Fargo Home Mortgages all cut their 30-year mortgage rates to 5.75 percent this week.

Most people think of a mortgage as a means to an end. After all, you buy a house, not a home loan. But a mortgage is much more than the path to homeownership. It is a financial instrument that must be managed, just like any other financial investment.