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Sales in Solivita

Sales are steady, although existing home sale prices edged a bit lower year over year in May.  This is a promising sign for home shoppers, and experts do not expect nationwide price declines anytime soon.  In May, although prices elevated in the North and Midwest, prices did fall slightly in the South and West.  The Good news for Solivita homeowners and buyers, is housing prices in Solivita have remained steady.  

Thanks to an uptick in mortgage rates and elevated home pricing mixed with the housing affordability crisis, bank sector volatility, inflation, and the debt ceiling drama there is a strain on the housing market.  Homes remain on the market for more days than most seller’s desire but are selling, even with interest rates sticking between 6% and 7%.  Housing supply is holding steady despite the explosion of new homes being built, therefore the market is being sustained by low supply and a high pent-up demand.  

Single family home construction starts rose for the 3rd consecutive month indicating builder confidence is steady.  A good sign.  New home construction is taking on an increased role in the marketplace because many homeowners with loans well below current mortgage rates are electing to stay put, keeping the supply of existing homes for sale at a low level.  Best news, if you do not need a mortgage, now is still a great time to buy.

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Crooked Bass Grill and Tavern

Local, Fresh and Tasty.  The Crooked Bass may be new to the Bella Verde Team but it is certainly not new to Babson Park, Florida.  The Restaurant was established early in 2016 and is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream for Tim and Tammy Bracewell, residents of Babson Park.  Tim loves to cook, and Tammy loves to entertain.  Combine both these qualities with tons of experience in the hospitality biz, and the Crooked Bass was born.

Far from fancy, in fact had we not had the recommendation of a trusted friend, we would never have stopped our car here.  No reason to dress up, put on a pair of jeans or shorts and a tee shirt, grab your car keys and head to Route 27 South.  Babson Park is about 40 minutes away, an easy drive.  Although we live in Florida, finding fresh fish can sometimes be a challenge, but not at the Crooked Bass.  They run daily specials, and have a nice menu that includes a large selection of burgers, salads, fish, beef, pork and chicken.  Insider tip if you ask for the pizza menu you can order a pizza too.  We were a group of six, and each of us had something different to eat, including the pizza.  Every dish was good, the salads were fresh and crisp, and the blue cheese dressing was homemade.  The fish was perfectly prepared, and the ribeye came to the table at the perfect temperature.  No one in our group had dessert, but we did order coffee and our waitress brewed a fresh pot for us and that made a perfect ending to a good meal.  Crooked Bass has a full bar and lots of beer on tap.  Looking for a new place to dine, a great place for lunch or dinner, this restaurant is Worth the drive and worth the try.

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Banana Ice Cream

This recipe is perfect for a Hot Summer Day.  To serve top the ice cream with toasted coconut or toasted Almonds.  

4 Ripe bananas, peeled and mashed

1 14 oz can sweet condensed milk

¾ cup whipping cream

Combine bananas and condensed milk in large bowl. Whisk in cream. Pour banana mixture into 8 x 8 x 2 inch glass baking dish.  Cover and freeze until softly set, stirring occasionally, for about 2 hours.  Transfer to a large bowl.  Using an electric mixer, beat ice cream just until fluffy.  Return to same glass dish.  Cover and freeze until firm, about 6 hours.  Can be made up to 3 days in advance.  Keep frozen.

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Road Trippin with the Bella Verde Team

One of our Bella Verde Team members just recently returned from the Big Apple on a Quick Weekend Broadway Show Tour.  Great Adventure, 3 days, 2 Broadway Shows and lots of good food.   New York, New York and Some Like It Hot were the show picks for the weekend.  They returned with glowing reviews of their first NY Theatre Experience.   New York, New York, “an amazing musical playing at the St. James Theatre”. This Recently opened musical has already earned nine Tony Nominations.  The show is loosely based on the 1977 Martin Scorsese movie.  The year is 1946, the war is over, and NY is beginning to rebuild. Steel beams are swinging overhead, and a group of NY artists have dreams as big and diverse as the city itself.  But do these singers, dancers, musicians, and makers have what it takes to survive this place, let alone succeed? If they can make it there, they can make it anywhere, and make it they do.

Seems our team members thought the theatre, originally built in 1927, was as dazzling as the show itself.  They returned from Sitting in front row seats and said they felt the rich history of performers who danced and sang their way across the stage, Ginger Rogers, Tony Danza, Pearl Bailey, Glen Close, Imogene Coco and Madeline Kahn just to name a few.   

Some Like It Hot also had a stellar realtor review, but when comparing both shows, our realtors felt that New York, New York stole their hearts.  However, Some Like It Hot is playing at the Famed Shubert Theatre and that theatre won the award for amazing.  This beautiful old theatre has amazing interiors with plaster frescoes and according to our realtors “enjoying a show at the Shubert was like sitting in a cathedral and delivered all the glitter of Broadway.”    

It was interesting to hear these reviews.  Lee and I grew up in NY and spent lots of time in the theatre district.  These reviews are making us think it may be time for us to take another bite out of the big apple and revisit the charms of Broadway.