Broker’s Corner – November 2025
By: Tanya Chappell, Broker/Owner – Secure Investments Realty & Management Corp.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
Wow — this year is flying by! It feels like just a week ago we were all dressing up for Halloween, enjoying Tricks and Treats… or in our case, a full Mardi Gras masquerade ball and a fun costume party on the Suwannee River. Even my crew got into the Halloween spirit — they were adorable.
Now it’s November in Florida, and you simply cannot beat this weather. Highs in the mid-70s, lows in the 50s — perfect for slow sunset boat rides, morning coffee on the dock, and cozy evenings around the fire pit.
The Suwannee is exceptionally beautiful this time of year. The fall colors are stunning — sometimes the reflections on the water look even more vibrant than the trees themselves. The river is peaceful and quiet, with very little traffic. We’ve been spotting plenty of alligators sunning themselves on the banks, soaking up the last bit of warm weather.
Water levels are also at historic lows right now, revealing extra shoreline that we don’t normally get to see. In fact, my floating dock and Jet Ski ports are currently sitting on the bottom — something I haven’t seen in nine years of living here. It’s wild!
This year for Thanksgiving, instead of our traditional big family gathering in Keystone Heights with sisters, cousins, and great-nieces and nephews, my immediate family and I are changing things up. We’ll be camping in South Carolina near the Tennessee and Georgia borders.
We found a great little spot — the Chattooga River Resort — with a lodge, restaurant, lounge, creek-side campsites, and beautiful outdoor fire pits. I used ChatGPT to plan the waterfalls, hiking areas, and side-by-side off-road trails within a two-hour radius. It added maps, links, custom directions from our campsite, and even checked which locations were temporarily closed from flood damage.
It researched for 33 minutes straight and handed me a complete itinerary — something that would’ve taken me hours. I just can’t get over the time-saving benefits of using AI for travel and planning!
As for the market, we’re moving into the natural holiday slowdown that happens around Thanksgiving and Christmas every year. We usually get a burst of activity in October, and then things start to taper off as fewer people move during the holiday season. It gives everyone — clients and agents — time to breathe, enjoy their families, and reset before the new year.
At Secure Investments Realty & Management, we use this quieter period to fine-tune our policies, complete internal audits, and thoroughly review financials and work orders. With fewer turnovers, we shift our focus to preventative care for our properties:
– Pressure washing– Roof and gutter cleaning– Rotten wood repairs– Trimming trees and bushes– General upkeep and improvements
Our goal is always the same — protect and enhance the value of your investment while keeping your tenants happy in well-maintained homes.
As we enter this season of gratitude, I want to thank you for the trust you place in us year after year. Managing and selling your homes is a privilege I don’t take lightly. I feel truly blessed to make a difference — by placing quality renters, caring for your properties as if they were our own, and being part of your real estate success.
Wishing you and your family a warm, memorable Thanksgiving surrounded by loved ones, good food, and moments worth treasuring.
Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!
— Tanya ChappellOwner/BrokerSecure Investments Realty & Management Corp.