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Pizza in Florida

When living in NY and NJ we could get great pizza with lots of flavor, sometimes we would order a thin crust, well done pie and sometimes we would order a Wood Fired Pizza with lots of crispy, burnt edges.  Living in Florida we almost forget the taste of a good pie, but recently we found a delicious pizza at a neighborhood place, unfortunately just not in our neighborhood.  We had pizza at Dimitri’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar and Grill in Sebring , Florida.  We were working with clients in Sebring who recommended we give this local “joint” a try.  We were glad we did.  The pizza was delicious and reminiscent of NY Pizza.  It was well done, served hot and bubbly and really hit “our pizza spot”.  In addition to Pizza, the 5’O’Clock Somewhere Bar has a full bar including Cold Beer on Tap, and how could you not love a beer with your pizza.  Casual, Comfortable and VERY LOCAL but Worth the trip in our book.

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Real Estate News

Our housing market is highly competitive and has been for quite some time.  There are more folks looking to buy a home than folks looking to sell.  Housing prices, like all commodities, are based on Supply and Demand.  Many of our buyers have found themselves in situations with multiple offers, quick closing dates, and homes selling at unbelievable prices, making home buyers wonder if this is the right time to jump into the market.  If you purchase a home you love and plan to stay in the home for at least five years, you cannot go wrong.  Although interest rates are climbing, in five years interest rates are predicted to be even higher, therefore a home purchased now may be a bit overpriced, but your mortgage interest is still quite low, putting two x’s in the win column.  One X for the home you love, and one for the still favorable mortgage interest.  Historically home values rise, in this market it is possible for a year or two you may be underwater, but if you stay for a few years and enjoy your home you cannot lose.  Remember, in Real Estate the Mantra is Location, Location, Location and Solivita is an Award Winning Community in Central Florida, the perfect location and the Perfect Community.  You can always redo your kitchen, or change the paint color, but you cannot change your location and if you buy in Solivita your location is as good as “money in the bank”.

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Road Trippin

Time to Plan an End of the Summer Trip.  Awhile back, Lee and I enjoyed a trip to the “Sippin Safari “ held at  Zoo Atlanta on September 17th. The whole zoo becomes uncorked for everyone over 21.  This event is always fun and features wine sampling and delicious bites from the best Restaurants in Atlanta. 

VIP Hour: 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. |    Main Event: 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Tickets go on sale in June. https://www.zooatlanta.org

Tickets go on sale in June, and although it seems that September is a long time away, we all know that time flies by when you are having fun in Solivita. 

The Sippin Safari is a great event to plan a road trip around.   Last time we attended this event we did a short but fun road trip.  Our first stop was Valdosta, GA where we enjoyed a delicious meal and wandered through the area before checking into a hotel for the night.  Well rested, the next morning, we were up and out on our way to Atlanta.  Atlanta is a great city with lots of interesting neighborhoods to enjoy.  Lee and I like to stay in Buckhead or in the Inman Park Neighborhoods of Atlanta, but there are lots of nice places to stay and great attractions to visit while in Atlanta.

If a few days in the city is not your thing, spend a few days out in Clearwater Beach.  Tons of great things to do beside hanging out at the beach or pool.  Take a boat cruise, watch the dolphins frolic in the sea, go fishing, go shelling or take a ride to Dunedin.  Dunedin is an out of the way, cool little town with nice dining, a few interesting stores to wander around in, plus there is a sheltered beach with a good vibe.  

Whatever you do in Florida you can count on the sun shining and nice weather.  We are heading into Hurricane Season so watch the weather before you take off for the beach.

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Cool Down with an Ice Cream Cone

Summer is here and a great way to cool off is with a delicious ice cream cone. A short road trip to Frostbite, Florida can solve your ice cream craving, and a car ride to Frostbite is an easy, traffic free trip. The location of Frostbite Ice Cream & More is not a location you would normally pass by, as it is on a country road nestled in the farmland of central Florida.  This spot was recommended to us by two separate clients, two weeks apart, so we thought we would give it a try.

Frostbite Ice Cream & More is a true throw-back to the “Happy Days” of poodle skirts and D.A.’s , a true retro feel. You can pick a table inside or choose a table outside under the awning and revisit the happy days when eating a cheeseburger, drinking a shake, or enjoying an Ice Cream Cone did not raise your cholesterol or your glucose.

Frostbite Ice Cream and More is located at 801 N. Scenic Highway, Frostproof. FL 33843 and is Mom approved. Mom and our family friend, Marilyn were the first ones hopping in the car to try out Frostbite Ice Cream & More, and they both loved it.

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What Inflation Means to the Housing Market

Inflation is Up.  But since our last housing market crash in 2007 we have many protections in place to prevent a crash similar to the crash we experienced in 2007.  In the old days, “anyone with breath in their bodies could get a mortgage” but not so today.  Underwriting standards have been improved and lending laws are much stricter in 2022.  In fact, it is not easy to obtain a home loan due to the strict guidelines and the verifications all lenders apply to all loan applicants. Housing and interest rates are up due to the economy, but at this date, the market remains steady. 

The Plus side, all Homeowners have record amounts of equity this time around.  Even if prices were to drop, which is not expected, lots of equity has been built up to protect the homeowner.

So, what can we expect, well with inflation and rates rising, the housing market can expect a slow-down. 

If you are planning to buy a home and want to gauge how inflation and higher rates will influence your goals, reach out to a mortgage professional and they will crunch the numbers for you. 

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Planning for Retirement

While Most of our Clients look forward to the time they can officially stop working full time and change their work status to “Retired” we do have some clients that want to live in Solivita yet still work. It is all possible, Solivita is a great place to live, gated, private, peaceful, and surrounded by beauty. The bonus of our area is there are lots of jobs outside our gates. If you want to work at Disney, great, Disney has special work programs for seniors; and who doesn’t want to work in the “happiest place on earth.” Would you rather work at Publix, no worries, they are a great employer and have multiple stores near Solivita.

Solivita is near hospitals, medical offices, manufacturing plants, and stores offering lots of opportunities for employment while you ease into retirement. I have had many clients move to Solivita and work full time for a few years and many clients who move to Solivita and work part time while considering full time retirement. When you move to Solivita you will be assured of a beautiful home in a lovely, active community filled with life, lots of new opportunities and plenty of friends to make.

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Easy Chicken Hawaiian In Foil

  • 4 Skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
  • 1 cup of Teriyaki marinade
  • 1 Red Bell Pepper, seeded and sliced into strips
  • 1 Yellow Bell Pepper, seeded and sliced into strips
  • 1 Red Onion, chopped
  • 1 Ripe Florida Fresh Pineapple cut into chunks
  • Pepper to taste (salt is already in the marinade)
  • Preheat your grill to medium high heat

Lay out 4 squares of Heavy-Duty Aluminum foil. Place one piece of chicken in the center of each square. Pour the sauce over the chicken in each packet and turn to coat. Distribute the peppers, onion, and pineapple chunks in each packet sprinkle each packet with fresh ground pepper and fold the foil up to tightly seal each four packet.

Place the packets on the grill, cook for 25 minutes. Open one packet and check to see if chicken juices run clear when tested, if so, remove all four packets and enjoy.  Clean up is a breeze.

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A Local Adventure to Winter Haven

Recently Lee and I enjoyed a late lunch at Tempo 1930 in Winter Haven. We were in Winter Haven shopping for vinegar at the Treasured Olive Store on 4th Street when we noticed this small, but enticing, restaurant with a curious name. After tasting and buying an interesting assortment of delicious Extra Virgin Olive Oils and Vinegars we decided to try Tempo 1930.

The décor of the restaurant was inviting, attractive, and reminiscent of many public houses we have enjoyed. As for the name, Tempo references the sounds of Jazz and Blues that inspired the décor and 1930 pays homage to George Jenkins, the late founder of Publix. George honed his skills as a manager at the Winter Haven Piggly Wiggly Grocery Store and in 1930 George resigned from Piggly Wiggly and founded Publix Markets in the exact location of Tempo 1930, therefore the name. 

The menu at Tempo 1930 is Eclectic with a nice assortment of appetizers, including vegetarian options. We tried Fire Roasted Ahi Lettuce Wraps, a Grilled Romaine Caesar Salad, and an Amazing Cauliflower Burger. All were tasty. Tempo 1930 has a full bar and a decent wine list. Our server was friendly and helpful and told us that on Saturday and Sunday, Tempo 1930 serves brunch, the menu looked good and will be a brunch stop Lee and I will make in the future. 

Back to the Vinegar, we purchased four different flavors, but our favorite from Treasured Olive was raspberry. Yum. We drizzled a bit on our Florida Fresh Strawberries and enjoyed it with Vanilla Ice cream for dessert.

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A Few Days on the East Coast or a Few Days on the West Coast

If a Beach Adventure is more your style why not try STUART, a lovely Atlantic Coast City, known as the “Sailfish Capital of the World,” just north of Palm Beach and South of Vero Beach. Stuart has an historic, pedestrian friendly downtown, beautiful Atlantic beaches, great river views, charming cafes, and art galleries. Stay in a beachfront accommodation, in town, or on the river. Lee and I like the East Coast Beaches in the summer and the West Coast Beaches in the winter, so the East Coast is always our summer beach pick. Wherever you choose to hang your hat for a few days, enjoy the sunshine and the fun this area offers.




Clam Pass Park in Naples located at the end of Seagate Drive, this 35 Acre mangrove forest is the gem of North Naples. Clam Pass Park is a public beach with a parking lot with a fee, and a tram that crosses a boardwalk through a mangrove swamp. The sand is like fine sugar and the beach is shallow. This is a great, quiet place to hang out on the Gulf Coast for a few days. If you swim or wade across Clam Pass, the beach extends for miles and is lined with sea grape trees and lush foliage. The red, white, and black mangrove trees are resistant to salt from the gulf and the ¾ mile walk is remarkable as you stroll along Outer Clam Bay. The park is open daily from 8 am to sundown. This beach is a local beach and is the perfect place to “get away from it all” but, If you are staying at the Naples Grand Beach Resort, this is the hotel beach.

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Although it is only May it feels like Summer in Florida:

Most folks that have relocated to Florida full time adjust to the summer sun by being active early in the day, relaxing by the pool or the clubhouse in the hot summer afternoons, and then enjoy the evening in the cool of the air conditioning. Lee and I have been Full Time Florida Residents for about 20 years; and after all this time, are fully acclimated to the heat. If you are a full-time resident, enjoy every moment of the summer sun, but please be careful, use sunblock, and stay hydrated.

We wish all our Snowbird friends, clients, and neighbors safe travels to their summer destinations. We will miss you in Solivita and look forward to your return in the late fall or early winter when our weather is WONDERFUL, our sky is a deep blue, and the activities in Solivita are in full swing. 

Summer Fun:

McKee Botanical Gardens: June 18, 2022 is the Waterlily Celebration in Vero Beach at McKee Botanical Gardens. We have been enjoying this once very popular roadside attraction for years.  In fact, if you go back in the Bella Verde Archives on our website to June 2021 you can read all about the history of this unusual historic garden in Vero Beach. The Waterlilies were beautiful last year, and we expect another spectacular explosion of delicate and lovely waterlilies this year. Please visit the Gardens remotely to see dates, times, and events at: https://mckeegarden.org.  If you go, bring your camera as you will be treated to some lovely photo opportunities. 

Lake Placid Caladium Festival, Lake Placid, Florida     July 29 – 31, 2022
A rare small-town festival in the summer, offering arts and crafts, beer garden, food booths, entertainment and a car and bike show. Lake Placid is known as the Caladium Capital of the World. 

Lake Placid is One of Florida’s prettiest small towns, and it boasts almost 50 outdoor murals in the downtown area. This area of Florida has lots of lakes and beautiful farmland. Visit the Sugar Sand Distillery, Henscratch Farms, or if you visit during the Caladium Festival buy some bulbs to plant. Lake Placid’s attractions include 27 freshwater lakes and Toby’s Clown School and Museum. This little Central Florida town has something for everyone. Lake Placid is truly a day away from it all with the small-town charm and is the perfect stop for folks looking for a day filled with simple pleasures. The Caladium Bulbs are world famous, and produce brilliant, beautifully patterned foliage. If you are looking to add some color to your garden, this little bulb is happy to grow in Florida year after year and will bring bursts of color to your yard.