Many years ago, I saw a real estate advertisement with a picture of some turkeys and the words, “No turkeys in Riverwoods. Our listings sell fast because they are priced right, show great and marketed most effectively.”

Riverwoods was an older townhome development in Burnsville, Minn. While some homes needed to be updated, those that had newer paint, flooring and appliances sold very well.

That ad always bothered me, because it was not nice to refer to houses as “turkeys.”

It was also a bad rap for turkeys. And it was false advertising (as I knew there were a couple of turkeys living in Riverwoods).

Once in a while here in the Lowcountry, an agent will tell me about a turkey that was shown or previewed in a certain plantation or development.

Recently, I was startled when I noticed a real estate advertisement that said “Absolute Turkey.” I called the listing agent and she told me that it was mistake – it should have read “Absolute Turnkey.”

Here are some dictionary definitions of the word “turkey”: 1. A large North American gallinaceous (heavy-bodied, ground-feeding) bird that is domesticated in most parts of the world; 2. A failure, flop, as in a theatrical production that has failed; 3. Three successive strikes in bowling; 4. A foolish or inept person (“he was acting like a complete turkey”).

With the holiday season upon us, I did some turkey research.

Did you know that in 1621, Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared a harvest feast (something about a nice place to live, friendly neighbors and increased home values), acknowledged as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations?

Did you also know that on Nov. 23, 2016, President Obama pardoned two turkeys, Tater and Tot?

And on Nov. 21, 2017, President Trump pardoned two turkeys, Wishbone and Drumstick.

As reported by the NBC News that day, Trump noted that he’s been “very active in overturning” executive actions taken by his predecessor – but not this time. “I have been informed by the White House counsel’s office that Tater and Tot’s pardons cannot, under any circumstances, be revoked,” Trump joked. “So, Tater and Tot, you can rest easy.”

Moving right along, I wish you all a happy and healthy Thanksgiving.

Larry Stoller is the broker-owner and Realtor with Real Estate Five of the Lowcountry. Larry@RealEstateFive.com or RealEstate-Five.com