No Comments

Retiring In Central Florida: Pickleball In Solivita

retiring-florida-pickleball

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?
 

No Comments

New To Central Florida: Hurricane Matthew

orlando-hurricane-mathew

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!

No Comments

Orlando Tops List Of Best Places To Retire In 2016

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.
List Of Best Places To Retire In 2016
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.

No Comments

55+ Adult Communities: Solivita Is Getting Better And Better!

Solivita-downtown-golf-carts

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.

No Comments

Every Reason You Need to Avoid Buying or Selling Without an Agent

buying-or-selling-without-agent

Many things are doable with a little bit of research and time, but is buying or selling without an agent a gamble you are ready to take? A real estate agent has put hundreds and hundreds of hours into market research, developing skill sets, and creating systems that will allow them to out perform other agents in their market. Your greatest ally and strategy for buying or selling is to have an expert agent by your side. If you’re still not convinced, here are 5 reasons buying or selling without an agent is something you want to avoid:
Read more

No Comments

Shopping For Your Home: Memorial Day Weekend Sales To Take And Avoid

By now you have been blasted with Memorial Day Weekend Sales promotions from big box retailers for things such as patio furniture & grills, mattresses, appliances, and other home goods. It can be difficult to decide what offers are great and which are more talk than an actual deal, but I’m here to help!
I did a bit of research on what Memorial Day Weekend Sales you should jump on and which you should avoid, and here’s what I found (credit goes to FatWallet, a deal-hunting website):
Read more

No Comments

Downsizing Your Home In 5 Smart Moves

Cashing Out When Downsizing Your Home

The kids are out of the house, up-keeping the home has begun to take more and more time, and you’re looking for a setting where you can live smooth and easy. Do these symptoms sound familiar? Downsizing your home often gives homeowners a big break after decades of cash tied up in equity. When you sell your home, you’ve got tons of purchasing power that most home buyers don’t –  this means striking better deals and beating out competitors. You may also have enough cash left over to use as a buffer between you and your retirement savings. How does all of this magic happen? (1)Make the following 5 smart moves and (2) work with a realtor who knows the ins and outs of the area you’re looking to downsize to.

1. Stage Your Home

The most minimal and cost-friendly upgrades can make all the difference. Replacing old, out-dated bedding and bath towels, for example, can give your home a new look with minimal effort. Also, remove clutter that you have held on to for a decade or more – put it away in storage or get rid of it completely. De-cluttering will also make life easier when moving into your smaller home!
If you’ve got a higher-priced home, you might want to look into getting a professional stager. A stager can really shine new light on your home and help get you top dollar. Costs for hiring a stager can vary, but a NAR survey revealed a median cost to be $675. The NAR survey also revealed that 90% of sellers’ agents said staging resulted in an increase in price buyers would pay.

2. Consider a Town House or Condo

If you’re looking to keep more of your cash for retirement savings, consider moving into a town home or condo. Prices for these rose just 3.1% in 2015, NAR says, vs. the 7.2% growth among single-family homes. Other perks, besides more money in your pocket, include less upkeep – landscaping, repairs and service to major appliances, and more.
Though, town houses and condos do have some drawbacks.; the biggest being high HOA fees and surprise costs. Working with a realtor who knows the ins and outs of the area you’re looking to downsize to can help with avoiding some of those surprise costs.

3. Build a Mortgage That Is The Right Size For You

Cashing out your home puts money in your pocket, and this means you can put down a larger down payment which will reduce your monthly mortgage. Were you thinking of paying off your new home? Think again! Having a mortgage at this stage in life isn’t a bad idea, as 30-year loan rates are below 4%, and it’s tax deductible.

4. Take On Cosmetic Repairs

This is where purchasing power and time come together to strike gold. The likelihood of finding a real bargain in a home that is perfect for you is high if you are willing to take on some cosmetic upgrades.
You can find bargains because younger buyers are still trying to find their way in life and cannot take on such a project. Also, you most likely have more time at hand to manage a contractor who will make the needed cosmetic repairs. In turn, the money you save on the new home because of its cosmetic shortcomings will almost always keep you well under what you would have paid if the home was up to par. What kind of numbers can you expect? NAR survey found savings of 15% to 55% for homebuyers who opted to buy a fixer-upper.

5. Try It On For Size Before You Buy

Have a particular square footage or home style in mind? Don’t rush into something you might deem unfitting later on. Consider renting something with the square footage you have in mind. You may find that it’s just not enough space for you, or that the style of home wasn’t quite what you needed.