Real Estate, Community Updates, Events, and More

Life in Central Florida Active Adult Communities

Explore what it’s like to live in Central Florida’s active adult communities, from real estate insights and local updates to events, recipes, and everyday community life. This is a closer look at the communities we serve and the lifestyle that makes them unique.

Latest Posts

What’s Happening in the Communities We Serve

From real estate updates and community highlights to local events and everyday moments, this is where we share what’s happening across Central Florida’s active adult communities.

Some posts will help you compare communities or understand the market, while others give a closer look at the lifestyle, events, and people that make these communities unique.

Solivita

Our Newest Member of the Bella Verde Team

We are happy to welcome Debbie Di Cintio to the Bella Verde Family of Realtors. Debbie and her husband Paul have been Solivita Residents for over 18 years. Since moving to Solivita, Debbie has worked in Solivita New Home Sales and enjoys working with clients while living in an active

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Solivita

Kick Off to the Holiday Season with a “Walk in the Park”

Leu Gardens, 1920 North Forest Avenue, Orlando, FL The Beautiful Leu Gardens is lighting up for the Holidays. Leu Gardens is on the National Register of historical places. The house and garden history dates back to 1885 when the first owner, Thomas Mizell. Thomas Mizell built a farmhouse on the

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Solivita

Happy Thanksgiving

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

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Solivita

Expectations for the 2022 Housing Market

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

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Solivita

Our Newest Member of the Bella Verde Team

We are happy to introduce Richard Streitler to the Bella Verde Family of Realtors. Richard has been a friend of our family for over 25 years. Richard moved from Maitland and has lived, worked, and played in Solivita for the last few years. Richard has a background in design and

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Solivita

Fall Apple Acorn Stuffed Squash

2 Acorn Squash, halved and seeded 2 Tbsp Butter 1 cup chopped onions 4 cups peeled Granny Smith apples seeded and chopped ½ cup golden raisins, or dried cranberries 2 Tbsp Light brown sugar 1 Tsp ground cinnamon 1.5 cups shredded Cheddar Cheese   Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put

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Solivita

Solivita Fall Festival

Solivita is scheduling the Annual Fall Festival in the Village Center for Saturday, the 6th of November. This will be the 20th Fall Arts and Crafts Festival and we have been to each and every festival. We are Proud Solivita Pioneers, we picked our lot, contracted for our home and

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Solivita

Columbia Restaurant at Celebration

OK. Enough family fun, how about dinner out for the adults at Columbia in Celebration. With Covid we have been laying low, but this week family was in from NJ, and Lee and I were tired of cooking and cleaning up the party remains. Celebration is an easy drive and

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Solivita

Safari Animals are coming to Polk County

Safari Land being Planned for River Ranch Resort & Rodeo in Polk County Looks like Safari Animals are coming to Polk County at Westgate Ranch Resort in 2022. Another great place to enjoy and to share with the grandchildren. The animals planned are all non-aggressive and include water buffalo, giraffes,

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Solivita

Fall in Florida

Finally, a cool breeze is rustling through the Palm Trees in Solivita. I love this time of the year, the morning air is fresh, and the afternoon highs are manageable announcing the arrival of fall, my favorite time of the year. This year we are taking the grandchildren to the

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Decorating

Resilient Landscaping

Resilient Landscaping that Looks Lovely & Ups Your Curb Appeal plus your selling price. A lovely landscape is great for curb appeal and increases the value of your home while bringing joy to the gardener or the homeowner who plans, plants, and sits back, and enjoys their landscape bloom and

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Solivita

Do Unto Others (DUO)

Stop by the Farmer’s Market at Solivita and visit the DUO Tent to bring food donations for the St. Rose Food Pantry. Donations are most appreciated and being accepted on Monday and Friday, September 24th through October 11th. The most needed items include canned vegetables, canned fruit, canned meat, or

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Solivita

The Music Series at the Howey Mansion

Announcing the 2021 – 2022 Music Series at the Mansion. A series of six concerts. We attended a few of the Howey Music Concerts on the lawn last year and each was a treat. This year there is a mix of concerts, some in the great hall and some outdoor

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Solivita

In Florida, Every Day is a Beach Day

The beauty of Life in Central Florida is we are “Central to it all”, about 1 hour and 15 minutes from an east coast or a west coast beach. Lee and I prefer the east coast beaches as the beaches are usually empty, the water is refreshing, and a day

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Solivita

Picnic Lunch at the Back Porch at the Barn

Far from Fancy, but a nice, easy dining experience, enjoy the wrap around porch under the trees and on the lake. The farmhouse is old, weathered and rambling, but you are greeted warmly and made to feel welcome. Once seated at your table, you waitress or waiter explains the menu.

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Solivita

Fall is in the Air

Cooler Weather Is on the Way. It has been a Hot, Steamy, Solivita Summer but the heat has not dimmed anyone’s spirits, our community is active, out having fun, and enjoying all the benefits life in Solivita has to offer. Truth be told, Lee and I look forward to the

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Solivita

A Few Great Reasons to Live in a Planned Community

Solivita is a planned community in the center of Florida, and I like to say in the “Center of Everything”. There are lots of reasons to reside in a planned community and I would like to share a few with you. Planned Communities have lots of Open Space. Solivita has

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Solivita

Spend the day or the weekend in Sarasota

If the beach in August is too hot for you, take a visit to the The Ca’ d’Zan Mansion in Sarasota in the afternoon and hit the beach at sunset. This Mansion is the former winter home of one of America’s eccentrics and very wealthy couples, John Ringling, of the

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Solivita

Westview is coming in 2022

Westview is a new Master Planned Community separate from Solivita. The residents of Westview will not be using Solivita Infrastructure but instead will be an entirely new community opposite our gates. Taylor Morrison has filed a subdivision plan for Westview, seeking approval for 1,844 detached home lots in five sizes,

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Solivita

Living on the Sunny Side of Life

Florida is a Tax Friendly State with an average property tax rate that is 10% below the national average. Life in Florida has many benefits including a Homestead Exemption of up to $50,000 in assessed property values, a low sales tax rate, plus Florida does not charge an estate or

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Solivita

4 Corners Tavern

4 Corners Tavern in Champion’s Gate, a good stop for a burger, a brew, brisket, ribs, salmon, or even just a soup and a salad, plus it is only 15 minutes from our gate. Lee had a black bean burger, and I enjoyed the pulled pork sandwich with a side

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Solivita

The Benefits of Buying in an HOA Community

Solivita is an HOA Golf Course Community with Tons of Benefits. Included in your monthly HOA Dues you get 150,000 sq ft of Amazing Amenities that include Tennis Courts, Pickleball Courts, Bocce Ball Courts, Shuffleboard Courts, a Softball Field, Basketball Courts, Horseshoe Courts, a Billiard Room, 14 Temperature Controlled Pools,

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Solivita

It’s a Seller’s Market!

Current Market Report. During the last 30 days, 51 homes sold in Solivita. As of the middle of August we only have 24 homes in Solivita Active and on the market for sale. An unusually low inventory for a community with over 5,000 homes. Bella Verde Realty has a list

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Solivita

Living the Good Life in Solivita

Solivita Chefs have risen to the occasion and are creating, cooking, and plating delicious meals in Mosaics on Friday and Saturday Evenings. Three of us were there on a Saturday Night, we each ordered a different meal, every meal was delightful, creative, and each plate was accompanied by an orchid,

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Solivita

Grilled Chicken with Rosemary and Bacon

4 Tsp Garlic Powder 4 Skinless, boneless Chicken Breast Halves Salt and Pepper to Taste 4 Springs Fresh Rosemary 4 Thick Slices of Bacon Preheat your outdoor grill to medium-high heat. Lightly oil the grill grate. Sprinkle 1 Tsp garlic powder on each chicken breast half. Season each with salt

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Solivita

Escape to Maitland for a Day

Looking for a great day away, why not spend a day in Maitland, Fl. Maitland is just past Orlando, but a world away from the big city. Yes it is busier than Solivita, but it has some great quiet beautiful spots to visit, spend a few hours away, yet be

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Solivita

New Grocery Retail Center Planned in Poinciana

More shopping and dining options appear to be headed to Solivita Marketplace Poinciana. Kimley-Horn, a leading Engineering and Land Planning Firm, has filed a conceptual site plan with Osceola County for a 15 Acre grocery-anchored retail center east of Poinciana Medical Center. This project falls within the 180 Acre planned

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Solivita

Buyer’s Market Quick Takeaways

Home prices rose over the past year in nearly every metro area, including ours. This hectic housing market causes appraisal headaches and delays. Home prices are surging as high as they have ever been, leading in a few cases, to a significant gap between the sale price and the appraised

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