No Comments

Springtime In Solivita: Community Garden Time In Solivita!

Community Garden in Solivita – What a blast!

We recently got our first plot and decided to plant some seeds. Explored the internet for seeds and stumbled upon the Burpee Seed Catalog. What a Hoot! Seeds for every fruit and vegetable. While searching for seeds we found Direct Sow Seeds. After reading and researching we picked a few varieties to plant, provided Burpee with our address and credit card info, and in three days our seeds were in our mailbox.
Prior to moving to Florida, when planting seeds, we nurtured them under a grow light, and transplanted the plants when they were strong and the earth had turned warm. We both (Lee & Lorraine Valdes) always had fun playing in the dirt and eventually harvested some vegetables, but most of our efforts went into feeding the local rabbits, deer and birds. Who can relate? *Chuckles*
Take a look at this close-up of the community garden, it’s truly looking marvelous!

Well, it is about three weeks since the seeds hit the dirt, and already we have spinach, carrots and peppers emerging from the earth. Solivita has a great fenced in Community Garden Space with raised beds, easy access to water, fertilizer, soil and neighbors and friends to advise, share and help you water your garden plus share the bounty of fun and friendship.
On a beautiful sunny morning we had our first garden meeting. The sun has been shining and we’ve had a few showers – the best climate for healthy growing plants! I know we will not only enjoy the time spent in the garden but the fruit of our labor as well.
Off to weed the garden!

No Comments

Mortgage Qualification: 5 Factors That Determine How Much Mortgage You Can Qualify For

mortgage-qualification

Mortgage Qualification Factor #1: Know Your Credit Score. Beef it up.

This is the single biggest mortgage qualification out there. Why? Because it’s proof that you can pay back what you owe. Your credit score is the combination of all of your loans, credit cards, and your payment histories. If you haven’t got all your ducks in a row, there are all kinds of tools out there to help you when you want to improve your credit. The most simple goal to aspire for is to make sure you’re making payments on time, and that no bill collector is trying to collect on things you owe.
Credit is complicated. The first thing to do to get bad credit back on track is to check your credit reports through the main credit companies: Equifax, Experian, TransUnion; Get everything you owe paid up-to-date. It can take a while for your credit to clear out, so the goal is to be vigilant. The best way to raise your scores is by establishing your credit history through a single lender with a small debt while building savings and assets. Another huge factor for your credit is your current income.
BOTTOM LINE:
With a high enough credit score, you can secure much lower interest rates on your mortgage than someone with poor credit.

Mortgage Qualification Factor #2: Loan-to-Value Ratio

loan
It wouldn’t make any sense to put a huge chunk of money down on something that was never going to bring a solid return on your investment. Imagine if your friend had a bike that sold at the local big-box store for $125, but they needed to borrow that amount from you to purchase the bike. You don’t know if they’re ever going to be able to completely pay you back, but you can take their bike if they don’t pay you- the catch is, you can only expect to sell it for 50 to 75 percent of what you spent on it. This means that you’d automatically take a $40 to $62.50 loss if your friend doesn’t pay you back and you end up taking the bike.
If this friend was a good friend, you might invest the money in him/her to get a nice shiny bike, but most mortgage lenders aren’t there to be your friend – they’re there to make money. This is why mortgage lenders use a ratio called the Loan-to-Value Ratio to establish a person’s credit. Obviously, this isn’t the only factor that a mortgage lender is going to use, but larger loans are seen as a larger risk (this can be said of smaller loans too) and therefore bring higher interest and payments.
BOTTOM LINE:
If the house you really want is going to require you to take a mortgage over 75% you should probably consider another house.

Mortgage Qualification Factor #3: Debt-to-Income Ratio

America is all about working and proving your livelihood to improve your lot in life. Plus, you have to expect to grow and expand if you want to raise a family, be successful and expand your life. If you haven’t got these expectations for yourself, don’t worry the bank does!
Typically speaking, when you’re looking to get a mortgage, you should have a debt-to-income ratio around 43% or lower. What debt-to-income ratios show lenders is how you are personally able to manage your payments on the money you’ve borrowed in comparison to your finances that you earn. A rough example of this is to assume you’re paying $1,000 a month on your mortgage, $200 on your shiny new car, and another $800 for all of your other debts (school loans). Take the sum total ($2,000) and divide it by 0.4. You should make this amount (in our example it’s roughly $5,000 a month) for a bank to give you the best deal on your mortgage. If you don’t, the bank might still give you your mortgage, but it won’t be a qualified mortgage.
BOTTOM LINE:
Cut out your extra debts or increase your income to get the bank on your side when you’re looking to get the best mortgage out there.

Mortgage Qualification Factor #4: Housing Cost-to-Income Ratio

mortgage-qualification-
You don’t buy a car without expecting to change a few parts after years of owning it, why would you do any differently with your home? Lenders see houses as huge investments. They assume your goal is to make an investment that makes you money and this requires you to take all the necessary steps – paying your mortgage principal, your interest payments, property taxes, hazard insurance, mortgage insurance, and fees. If all this exceeds over 28% of your income, you’ll probably have to find something more affordable.
Banks or lenders might still lend you money, even if your front ratios are too high. These types of negotiations typically require co-borrowers to lower initial payments, but if you have a mortgage that’s too high and you can only afford to pay the bare minimum because of your debts, and housing costs aren’t low enough compared to your salary, you’re going to find yourself swimming in a debt that just keeps getting bigger and bigger.
BOTTOM LINE:
You might forget about your bills and expenses, but banks don’t. If you aren’t making enough so that your salary is higher than projected housing costs, you might have to look into something more affordable.

Mortgage Qualification Factor #5: Down-payment Amount

A down payment is your ace in the hole. The more cash you can put down, the lower your payments are going to be, which plays a huge factor in deciding your other ratios. A good rule of thumb is to try and put a sizable chunk into the amount you’re trying to borrow. It helps to consider the principal of your loan, and the amount of time that you plan on taking to pay it back, plus sometimes lenders will give you additional incentives when you put money down in the form of rebates, that can definitely add up over the long run.
BOTTOM LINE:
The best thing to do is to try to put down 20% on your initial mortgage. This means if you’re trying to borrow $100,000, you should aim to put at least $20,000 in. Not only will you get lower interest rates, your payments will be drastically smaller. If you can’t pay 20%, experiment to see how lower amounts of down-payments can affect your costs.

No Comments

What's With The Solivita® Pink Flamingos?

[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=” mobile_display=”]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
solivita-pink-flamingos

[/av_textblock]
[av_social_share title=’Share this entry’ style=” buttons=”]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]

Have you Seen Any Solivita Pink Flamingos Lately?

While driving through Solivita be on the look-out for Pink Flamingos, not the ones with feathers, but rather pink painted Flamingos planted on the front lawns in Solivita.
Why are you looking for Pink Flamingos? The answer is – So that you can go to a party and make some new friends. Many of our neighbors have taken to planting Pink Flamingos on their front lawn as
Read more

No Comments

Things to do in Orlando When the Family Comes to Visit

[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=” mobile_display=”]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]

Things to do in Orlando When Family Comes to Visit

As Northern temperatures drop and entryways are strewn with snowy boots and wet gloves, hats and scarves, our northern friends and family inevitably grow jealous of our sandals and sun-drenched surroundings. Next thing we know, they’ve dug out their shorts and sun hats, and packed their bags to find relief in our sunny backyards.
While the amusement parks offer easy entertainment, especially for the kids and grandkids, we know that our lovely home-city has so much more to offer outside the park gates. From beautiful gardens and nature preserves to museums and a rich performing-arts scene, there are endless ways to entertain your northern visitors in and around the city. Perhaps you’ll even convince them to trade-in their snow boots for a pair of flip-flops and join you in the sunshine state for good – and with their own yard!
Here we’ve highlighted a few Orlando favorites to show off when the family comes to visit, as well as a link to download our Orlando Area Guide – for those ready to delve a little deeper.
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full][av_one_third first min_height=’av-equal-height-column’ vertical_alignment=’av-align-middle’ space=’no_margin’ margin=’0px’ margin_sync=’true’ padding=’30px’ padding_sync=’true’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ radius_sync=’true’ background_color=” src=’https://bellaverderealty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Darker-Green-Textured-Pattern-Background-300×260.jpg’ attachment=’1668′ attachment_size=’medium’ background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’repeat’ animation=” mobile_display=”]
[av_image src=’https://bellaverderealty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Orlando-Things-to-Do-Guide-300×232.jpg’ attachment=’1725′ attachment_size=’medium’ align=’center’ styling=’no-styling’ hover=” link=” target=” caption=” font_size=” appearance=” overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’ animation=’no-animation’][/av_image]
[/av_one_third]
[av_two_third min_height=” vertical_alignment=’av-align-top’ space=” margin=’0px’ margin_sync=’true’ padding=’30px’ padding_sync=’true’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ radius_sync=’true’ background_color=” src=’https://bellaverderealty.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Darker-Green-Textured-Pattern-Background-300×260.jpg’ attachment=’1668′ attachment_size=’medium’ background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’repeat’ animation=” mobile_display=”]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]

Orlando Area Guide

See Orlando through an Insider’s Eyes

[/av_textblock]
[av_mailchimp list=’899f62affa’ on_send=” sent=’Thank you for your interest in our free resources! Check your inbox for an email from Bella Verde Realty.’ link=’manually,http://’ color=” hide_labels=’aviaTBhide_labels’]
[av_mailchimp_field id=’1′ type=’text’ check=’is_empty’ options=” label=’First Name’ width=’element_half’ disabled=”]
[av_mailchimp_field id=’2′ type=’text’ check=’is_empty’ options=” label=’Last Name’ width=’element_half’ disabled=”]
[av_mailchimp_field id=’0′ type=’text’ check=’is_email’ options=” label=’Email Address’ width=’element_two_third’ disabled=”]
[av_mailchimp_field id=’av-button’ type=’button’ check=” options=” label=’Get Free Copy’ width=’element_third’ disabled=”]
[/av_mailchimp]
[/av_two_third][av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=’av-align-top’ space=” margin=’0px,0px’ padding=’0px’ padding_sync=’true’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ radius_sync=’true’ background_color=” src=” attachment=” attachment_size=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=” mobile_display=”]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
For the Earthy Eater: East End Market
Live local at this neighborhood market, a collection of locally sourced eateries in the Audubon Park Garden District of Orlando. The market is full of organic food options, like the “all-Florida-all year” Local Roots Farm Store and flights of Florida beer and wine. La Bretxa specializes in wild-caught Florida seafood ready for grilling, and Skyebird Juice Bar & Experimental Kitchen offers fresh vegan juices, smoothies, and raw-food menu – and that’s just the beginning. Grab your selection inside, then head out to the picnic tables, nestled amongst the flowerbeds, to bask in the Florida sunshine.
For the Sweet Tooth: Private Island Ice Cream
The kids will be wowed when they visit Private Island Ice Cream. Once they’ve chosen their flavors, they’ll watch as the bowl of cream is shot with liquid nitrogen, turning it into ice cream right before their eyes. The treat comes with unlimited mix-ins and toppings like delicious homemade caramel and cookie dough or cayenne pepper for the more adventurous eater, all for a set cost of $5. Private Island is located right across from Gatorland – a perfect end-of-the-day adventure stop.
For the Kids: Pirates Dinner Adventure
The kids will go crazy for a chance to join the show as a member of Captain Sebastian the Black’s crew of evil pirate renegades. This dinner show takes place on board a pirate ship anchored in an indoor lagoon, and is filled with music, laughter, stunts and adventure, not to mention the Port of Call Feast.
For the Adventurer: Wallaby Ranch
Get a thrill and enjoy the sights from above by hang gliding over central Florida. Wallaby Ranch offers year-round Tandem Flights and hang gliding instruction. Located just outside of Orlando,   the staff at Wallaby Ranch use the latest tandem aerotowing techniques to provide the safest, most enjoyable hang gliding experience possible.
For the Nature-Lover: Harry P Leu Gardens
The beautiful Leu Gardens, located right near Downtown Orlando, offers an extensive 50-acre botanical sanctuary. With the mission of inspiring visitors to appreciate and understand plants, each garden is designed to be a delight for the senses. The Leu House Museum is located in the heart of the gardens and provides a lesson in turn-of-the century living experiences by the families who once called the museum home. The Gardens also play host to a number of events year round, from concerts to storytimes and movie nights, and even outdoor exhibits like the current Dinosaur Invasion.
[/av_textblock]
[av_social_share title=’Share this entry’ style=” buttons=” share_facebook=” share_twitter=” share_pinterest=” share_gplus=” share_reddit=” share_linkedin=” share_tumblr=” share_vk=” share_mail=”][/av_social_share]
[/av_one_full]

No Comments

Orlando Hits #4 on Zillow’s Projected Top 10 Housing Markets of 2017

[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=” mobile_display=”]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]

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
Read more

No Comments

It's a New Year and a New Brokerage

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!

Stay in touch with our
Email Newsletter

No Comments

Solivita Retirement Community Boasts Accolades

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.
retiring-florida-pickleball
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.

No Comments

When the impossible is possible: Richard and Family

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

No Comments

Holiday Time in Solivita

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.

No Comments

What will we do with all this time: Laura and Steve

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