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On January 6, Zillow, a leading real estate and rental database, announced its predictions for 2017’s 10 hottest housing markets. Topping the list this year, at #4 in the nation and #2 in the East, is our very own Orlando, Florida!
Zillow’s predictions are based on rising home values, low unemployment rates, and
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IT’S A NEW YEAR AND A NEW BROKERAGE
Just when I thought we could start winding down after all the holiday celebrations, gift giving, food, fun, and visits with friends and family we are pleased to announce that Lee and I have opened a new realty company – Bella Verde Realty. Translation – Beautiful Green. We are grateful and thankful for each and every client, friend, family member and neighbor that has helped us achieve this goal. We could not have done it without you. Thank You.
OPEN FOR BUSINESS: REAL ESTATE BROKERAGE
We are ready to list, show homes, show commercial spaces, assist you in your move to Florida or just find a new home for you around the corner from your existing home. The past does dictate the future, and we remain happy to provide each of our clients with a beautiful new home space to hang their hats in.
Lee is our Commercial Space Expert and will be happy to assist you in locating commercial space for the relocation of your business or assist you in securing space for a new business venture. I will continue to concentrate on the residential side of real estate sales, as I find great satisfaction in finding clients the home of their dreams.
Our office is set up and running and we are pleased to say the phones have been busy.
Please call us with any of your real estate needs, questions, or concerns. Or, we invite you, your friends and your family to join our newsletter – a great way to stay in touch with me and to stay in touch with what is going on in Solivita and real estate. Sign up today to see what is new in Solivita, Photos, the Latest Information, Fun Ideas, Reviews, Recipes, Articles, Etc. We publish the Newsletter once per month and I will be delighted to add you to our list.
May 2017 bring us all Great Health, Peace and a Beautiful Year!
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Where to Retire Magazine has named Solivita one of the country’s best master-planned communities. Solivita is celebrated, admired, and with an active 55+ Community with over 4,300 acres of great natural beauty, pristine ponds, conservation, walking and biking paths for your enjoyment, it’s easy to see why.
Solivita offers 150,000 SF of fabulous amenities designed to create an active country club lifestyle. Included in the amenities are two resort style complexes; the PALMS, and the RIVERA SPA AND FITNESS CENTER. Together these complexes include outdoor and indoor heated pools, multiple hot tubs, exercise suites with aerobics studios, highly trained coaches, cardio & exercise equipment, active dance and fitness classes, and an indoor temp controlled walking track.
Throughout the community you will find lap and splash pools, multiple hot tubs, a softball diamond, tennis courts, bocce ball courts, pickle ball courts, and horseshoe pits. Solivita is the home of two championship golf courses, waterfront restaurants, a library, a sports bar, a driving range, a lake for dragon boating and kayaking, parks and a community garden. In downtown Solivita you can explore your creative side at the sculpture and ceramics studio or enjoy movie screenings, dances, concerts and theatrical productions in the 17,000 SF Starlite Ballroom. These amenities are for your enjoyment. This is the time you worked your entire life to enjoy and Solivita is the place to enjoy your time.
Dear Lorraine,
I can’t thank you enough for selling Mom’s Home in one day. Mom knew you from Church for 14 years, always said nice things about you, and told us you were tops in your field. She was right, you are tops. You did what we thought was impossible.
Thank you for your help, and the kindness you shared with us, during the listing and sale.
Richard and Family
—
Finding the right Agent is the answer to getting your home SOLD QUICKLY for the RIGHT PRICE. Glad I could help Richard and his family. I can help you and your family with my proven successful track record of marketing and sales. I have been the number one sales agent in the area for the last 3 years and have achieved this goal by being honest and working hard for my clients. This week I was notified that I am on track to be awarded the 2016 Chairman’s Club Award. This means I have been the top sales agent in the area for 4 years in a row. Do not hesitate to call me for help with your real estate needs. I am not only a top agent but also your neighbor and will help you through the process of selling and buying a home.
-Lorraine Valdes
Holidays in Solivita and in Florida are always fun. Not the typical fun I experienced growing up. I must admit it is hard to skate on one of our ponds or take a sleigh ride in Kissimmee, but between the decorated golf carts, the beautiful spirit of our neighbors, the Fantastic Holiday Display on Lemon Grove, and the Christmas Tree, Menorah and the Holiday Decorations downtown, the season shines brightly in Solivita.
Our friends and neighbors seem glad to see winter arrive as it heralds in months of beautiful weather as well as the Holidays. Very different from the winter darkness and dread I experienced while living in colder climates. Sure, it was fun to ski, skate, and have an occasional snowball fight, but now that I have arrived at 55+, I am glad to have traded in my Parka for a Sundress. Now the scarf I wrap around my neck can be silk instead of wool and my boots have heels and are perfect for kicking up my feet instead of kicking snow out of my path.
The Holidays in Florida are not so focused on gift giving, but rather on sharing time with friends, neighbors and family. Adopt some new traditions, decorate your lanai, enjoy some egg nog while watering your tropical plantings, or spend a day at the beach. Having enjoyed the holidays in the cold as well as the warmth of Florida I am enjoying the time of my life in Solivita.
Hope your Holidays are Bright and Beautiful and that you have made some new Holiday Traditions of your own. Enjoy the Blessings of the Season.
Dear Lorraine,
Lived in Massachusetts most of our life. Like most folks, worked 49 weeks a year, had weekends off, and three weeks a year we vacationed.
Now we were finally at the point in our life that we could put work behind us and enjoy our retirement. What will we do with all this time? Well the first thing we did was google homes in central Florida so that we could escape the inclement weather up north. Luckily your name came up as a top realtor. One phone call and a plane trip and you hooked up with us and “hooked us up” with a great home and community. Thank you.
We have found plenty to do in our neighborhood, as well as, in Florida. We have been busy since we got here. We love our new home, it is spacious and the weather is beautiful. We are members of a few clubs, are actively playing golf and swimming a. few times a week. Have played tennis a couple of times, but must say, it does not seem to be a good fit for us, or perhaps, we are not fit enough for tennis? Anyway, we are open to all our new life has to offer and are planning on exploring all the possibilities.
As far as our experiences in Central Florida, we have gone gator hunting in the swamps of Boggy Creek, hiking, biking, have picked oranges and strawberries, found some antiques in Lake Wales, Haines City and Dundee. Twice a month we enjoy a Wine Flight Night in downtown Kissimmee, as well as, a delicious Pizza at Broadway Pizza. We have taken a train ride and have enjoyed a fun afternoon at an Olive Oil Tasting in Mount Dora. Gone to a bailgame in Tampa, enjoyed lakeside dining at the Port and in Sebring, Florida. We have been to Palm Beach, rubbed elbows with the rich and famous at the Breakers, and have enjoyed PB&J sandwiches on the beach in Melbourne. We still have a list of dozens of places and things to do and plan to do them all.
Bottom line is, we are glad we are here, we love our home and we are not letting a moment pass us by. Florida has been good for us and so have you. Thank you for making it so. Laura and Steve
Imagine taking badminton, ping-pong, and tennis and put them in a bag and shake it up. What you get is pickleball. Solivita Pickleball is fun, great exercise, and a wonderful way to make friends.
Why is the game called Pickleball? In 1965 Bill Bell and Congressman Joel Pritchard invented the game in Joel’s backyard. Rumor has it, the game was named after Joel’s family dog Pickles, who would run away with the ball.
The more people that became introduced to the game the more people began playing the game. By 1972 a corporation was created around the sport and in 1976 the first world tournament was played in the state of Washington. Now Pickleball is played in all 50 states.
Solivita has a strong and active Pickleball Club. The Solivita Smashers Pickleball Club seeks to provide an opportunity for social interaction through sport and recreational activities. The annual picnic and themed games are just a small part of all that the Smashers have going on. The club travels and plays against other pickleball clubs; the game has really caught on in Florida and is one of the most popular sports to play!
Never played pickleball? No worries! When you choose to spend the best years of your life by purchasing a retirement home at Solivita, you get the benefit of having a community of wonderful people to learn from. The Smashers Pickleball Club offers clinics for newbies!
All in all, pickleball is just one of the many activities available at Solivita. The fun is waiting. Will you be joining in?
Warm days, small towns, lovely gardens, scenic lakes, walking trails, and great golf are just the beginning of the wonderful amenities of living in Central Florida. Since my family’s roots are not from the South, we don’t have much hurricane experience. When we heard a storm that was targeting Florida had been named a Hurricane, we wanted to be as prepared as possible.
We took the outdoor furniture off the lanai, rolled up the rug, and moved the potted plants from the front entrance to the garage. Then we hunted down two flashlights, checked the batteries, and stocked up on water. The hurricane preparation guide said to fill up the tub with water, just in case we lose power. We followed all the recommendations and then went to the grocery store; got some chips, bread, cheese and wine. Red wine, as it is good for the antioxidant value. Although we have spent time in England, we still have not developed an appreciation for warm beer.
We sat back satisfied that we were as ready as we could be. When Matthew hit, it rained some and the wind blew. We heard a few claps of thunder but all in all Central Florida was quite fortunate. Sadly, all of Florida was not so lucky. Hurricane Matthew hugged the coast and damaged countless homes, bridges, roads and the beautiful beaches along Florida’s east coast. Much of the coast was without power for multiple days. Solivita and Central Florida did quite well. Our power lines are underground and we had no damage, nor did we lose electricity. A few branches fell, but Solivita Maintenance was out cleaning them up as quickly as the clouds cleared. We were out and about within a few hours after the storm blew through. In fact, we still have the wine to prove it!
Originally we had planned to move to one of Florida’s coasts, but after looking around and finding Solivita we changed our minds. While looking at property it is important to look at insurance and maintenance costs as these expenses need to be factored in to your future expenses, especially when purchasing a retirement home. These costs are much lower in central Florida than the costs to insure and maintain property on either coast. Our friends in Daytona and Jacksonville agree, as they are paying higher premiums and have had quite a few storms blow through causing concern, damage, and dollars. Dollars in retirement that should be spent on the golf course, spa, mall, or a vacation and not on storm repairs and storm insurance.
All roads point to Solivita!
If beautiful weather, breath-taking sunsets, and an extensive selection of recreational activities for adults 55 and better are part of your retirement wish list, look no further than Orlando.
WalletHub, a personal finance website which seeks to help it’s users make better financial decisions, conducted a study where it ranked the 150 largest U.S. cities based on its viability for retirees to live a blissful retirement. Several Florida cities made the top 5, but what’s most impressive is that my very own Orlando metro area ranked no. 1!
What exactly did WalletHub factor into its study? Important factors such as Affordability, Activities available in the area, Quality of Life, and Healthcare systems were key in determining rankings for each city.
The Orlando area is known for it’s extensive list of activities for all ages, but the activities available specifically for people 55 and better are difficult to compete with. Orlando retirees have plenty to keep entertained with all year, and even have plenty to keep the grand kids entertained when they do visit. The activities factor was key for earning the top spot on the List Of Best Places To Retire In 2016.
Orlando comes in first, followed by Tampa in second, Scottsdale in third, Miami in fourth, and Sioux Falls coming in fifth.
The Orlando area boasts some of the best active adult communities in the country such as the decoratively awarded Solivita. Solivita is a luxurious gated community located in the heart of central Florida. With a name that means “sun” and “life,” after a stroll down Solivita’s community streets, it’s easy to see why so many choose to call Solivita “home”. No matter where you live within this lush gated 55+ community in central Florida, you can easily walk, bike or drive your own golf cart to indoor and outdoor dining venues, state-of-the-art spa and fitness complexes and other facilities for sports and games.
Take advantage of all the perks of an Orlando area retirement, and explore what your retirement could look like in Florida today! I can help you find the perfect home so that you just worry about what exciting activities you will be indulging in.
I am just so excited to see what is coming to Solivita in the upcoming months! What exactly is coming? More amenities and major improvements to existing amenities!
AV Homes a national, award-winning trusted homebuilder of active adult communities, such as our beautiful Solivita in Kissimme, Florida, announced the major remodel to the Stonegate Grille and the addition of other amenities.
The Stonegate Grille remodel began this month (August 2016). The new plans for the Stonegate Grille will include an enlarged outdoor seating area, redecorated dining area, and a new sports bar with TV’s. The Stonegate Grille will be re-launched as the Stonegate Sports Bar and Grille upon the completion of the remodel. This was already one of my favorite dinning spots, and the upgrades should really bring up the energy!
On the list of added amenities are a pharmacy and a convenience store offering sundries on Village Drive. The pharmacy and convenience store will add a new level of convenience and service to the community. Less time spent driving to pick up everyday items means more time to golf and more time to indulge in all that the spa and wellness centers have to offer!
Completion of Poinciana Parkway will provide an added ease of access to Solivita. A State-of-the-art gate entrance equipped with high-end transponder technology and a license plate recognition software. This is a huge deal for me as a resident of Solivita – I already felt secure, but this just gives me absolute peace of mind. Less worrying and more living!
I just can’t express how excited I am for all that is coming to Solivita. I will be sure to give you my update on the Stonegate Sports Bar and Grille after it is re-launched. Maybe you’ll give me a call and I would love to show you around Solivita so you can see first-hand all that it has to offer… who knows, you make love it so much you’ll make it your new home.