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Lee and I would like to wish all our friends, readers, clients, neighbors, and family a Happy, Healthy Thanksgiving. Although 2021 was another Challenging Year due to Covid, the year surprisingly passed safely and quickly. Our Real Estate Brokerage remained busy, and we are happy to say that Bella Verde Realty is the Top Selling Real Estate Firm in Solivita. Each of our realtors remained safe during the pandemic, and we are all praying that Covid-19 is in the rearview mirror. We are planning a Thanksgiving to be Thankful for in Solivita surrounded by family and friends. Lee has a new BBQ smoker, and this year we are planning to smoke a turkey. Weather in Florida is brilliant in the fall, and we will enjoy the beauty of the day and our surroundings as we experiment with the smoker. Lee has been testing smoker recipes and the unique flavors each different wood infuses into the meat, flavors that an oven just can’t match. I am confident that by Thanksgiving Lee will be serving up a delicious Turkey Dinner. So far the recipe leading the pack for the Perfect Roasted Turkey follows:

1 Turkey Cleaned and seasoned with poultry seasoning
1 Whole Onion cut in half
1 Stalk Celery
2 Cups broth, wine, or water

Instructions: Set the grill up for indirect cooking with a temp at 350 degrees. Use a handful of pecan chips for a light, smoky flavor. These chips will also provide a deep brown color to the turkey.

Spread the seasoning generously over the outside of the bird. Load the bird onto a Vertical Poultry Roaster or Roasting Rack, then place into a drip pan. Add the onion and celery to the drip pan. Fill the pan with broth, wine, or water.

Cook for 15 minutes per pound until the turkey has reached a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees throughout the product. Reserve the drippings from the drip pan to make gravy.

Most experts define this year’s housing market, as “incredibly overheated” as characterized by massive multiple offers, contingency waivers, price escalation clauses and record home prices. Indeed, 2021 sent home prices skyrocketing, with competition hotter than ever, combined with a low supply of homes, homebuyers were and (still are) paying top dollar for a home. Factor in mortgage rates near rock bottom and 2021 gave us a true seller’s market. The housing market is still hot, but signs are leaning to a small cool down due to a climbing inventory of homes giving homebuyers more options and seller’s less competition for each home.

This cooling trend does not mean the seller’s market is ending, all predictions point to the seller’s market remaining strong, but predictions are pointing to a more balanced market for 2022. When you Combine low mortgage rates and financing in general remaining favorable to buyers, and an improved housing inventory, predictions are that the market will skew a bit more in favor of buyers.

Don’t expect home prices to decrease, home prices will just rise at a pace slower than we saw in 2021. While it is a fact that around one third of homebuyers paid more than they were expecting for a home in 2021, still two thirds of the market is selling at or below list price, so there are still opportunities for buyers to purchase a home without getting into a bidding war.

On the mortgage front, mortgage rates are expected to rise in 2022. Currently mortgage rates are around 3%, but by the end of 2022 mortgage rates are expected to trend up and hit about 4%, an important fact for homebuyers to consider.

Good News for Solivita, the suburban home market is expected to remain hot for 2022. As home sales in the cities slow, sales in the suburbs are on the rise. In addition, the baby boomer market is strong, therefore as folks who moved to Solivita 20 – 25 years ago leave Solivita to live nearer their children, baby boomers are coming to Solivita in droves and looking to buy a modern, affordable home in an Award-Winning Community. Solivita consistently ranks within the TOP 50 Places in America to Retire to, our community is active, strong, and beautiful. Florida is an affordable, tax friendly state and a great place to call home especially in retirement.