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Ocala, FL Real Estate News

By Sara Homan, Realtor, Homes, Farms & 55+
(Coldwell Banker Ellison Realty 352-209-4044)
Reality!  It's what makes us or breaks us.  Whether buying or selling a house it is vital to look at things from a realistic perspective.  What is this home actually worth and who is determining value? There are several factors that determine value.  Some realistic some not. What the seller thinks it's worth What the buyer thinks it's worth What the market indicates What a bank is willing to finance What an appraiser determines as value In our own mind we can do comparisons but that does not necessarily indicate accuracy.  This current buyer's market continuously challenges and surprises buyers, sellers & realtors alike. If a house is not priced right for the market the activity will be very low.  It would be better to price the house at market price or even below to assure activity if ...
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By Sara Homan, Realtor, Homes, Farms & 55+
(Coldwell Banker Ellison Realty 352-209-4044)
    The bigger they are the harder they fall could be the theme for this current buyer's market. Often sellers have the misconception that houses are not selling because buyers are not in the market.  NOT SO! Buyers are in the market, but they are buying at lower prices these days. If you are thinking of selling here are a few tips for you: Don't allow the house to be priced higher than the market Don't try to control price by holding on to something that just isn't working Listen to reality on pricing The more overpriced that your house is the more likely it will sell for much lower than initially expected  Learn a lesson from our friend the "pole climber".  He climbed too high, he didn't wear safety gear and when he hits bottom the fall will be much harder and more painful than if he...
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By Rhonda Buckner, We Make Your Dreams Come True
(Buckner Homes Realty Inc.)
As a result of the subprime loan market collapse, numerous bills were introduced this year in the California Legislature, including the recently enacted SB 1137.  Within this highly charged political environment, the California Land Title Association (CLTA), along with trustees, escrow companies, and lender groups originally opposed this legislation, which subsequently underwent a series of significant amendments before being signed by the Governor earlier this week. SB 1137 became effective July 8th as an urgency measure.  However, requirements pertaining to the notice of default and the posting and mailing of an entirely new notice will not become operative until 60 days after the effective date. The provisions of the new law outlined below apply to loans secured by owner occupied res...
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By Crystal McCall
(Keller Williams Cornerstone )
Everyday we hear and read how challenging it is to market  your home and we are all looking for a better way to make our homes show.  As I show properties to prospective home owners, I am truly amazed how "motivated sellers" allow their homes to be previewed by a possible Buyer.  The home is featured with unnecessary clutter all around.Clutter and disorganization is not only a huge time waster (as stated in Revolution Health article by Laura Stack) and cause for stress, it is also a deterrent when showing the property in a market that is overrun with an abundance of inventory.Stack offers the Five Box Technique which is very organized and efficient.  First, take the opportunity to step back and review what needs to be better organized to make showings more effective. The five boxes meth...
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By Sara Homan, Realtor, Homes, Farms & 55+
(Coldwell Banker Ellison Realty 352-209-4044)
We all want that chance of a lifetime, that opportunity to strike it rich and be able to pay down our debt, send the children to college or go on a great vacation.  Daily living doesn't always provide those opportunities. In Fact it rarely does, often people find themselves taking loans against their homes at a time when they should be getting free from financial stress. In 2004 through the early part of 2006 the real estate market in many parts of the country experienced tremendous value increases, That "Gold Rush", sending buyers and sellers into a huge buying & selling frenzy. That season has most definitely passed and may not resurface for a long while.   So what happens to those who bought in that period of time and now want to sell?  Good question! In any market "reality thinking"...
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By Sara Homan, Realtor, Homes, Farms & 55+
(Coldwell Banker Ellison Realty 352-209-4044)
The Meals on Wheels program that has been such a wonderful blessing to so many of our elderly is now struggling to reach the elderly due to the high gas prices. This may very well be a wonderful opportunity for those of us who have a little extra time and a few bucks for gas to bring an elderly person or 2 some food. I never really thought about Meals on Wheels having difficulty but I sure do think about the elderly who were barely making it before this surge in prices. Here in Ocala Florida we have plenty of 55+ communities and lots of elderly folks who may be silently struggling for survival. One sure way to beat the depressing feelings of the current economic state is to reach out to others. I for one am going to look into how I can help.
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By Sara Homan, Realtor, Homes, Farms & 55+
(Coldwell Banker Ellison Realty 352-209-4044)
Stereotypes have really heaped Trailers, Mobile Homes & Mobile Manufactured Homes in the same pot.  They don't belong together! Years ago my parents bought a trailer that was more than tired and put it on some property that they purchased in the Catskills NY.  It needed a hand grenade!  It was a hunk of junk!!! Later they bought a new singlewide mobile home but the standards were still very loose on construction.  After 20 years it is still on the property but uninhabitable. Here's a glimpse into the current market for Mobile Manufactured Homes:  Click Here                                                   
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By Joe Dallorso, Ocala Real Estate
  The hottest thing in Ocala real estate right now are foreclosed properties. Foreclosures vary widely but most are newer homes purchased by investors at pre construction prices who had hoped to flip them for a profit. As the market changed the values of these homes declined, the owners defaulted on their loans and the banks foreclosed.   Foreclosured homes are mostly concentrated in the lower price ranges and in areas of Marion county where there were a lot of speculative building like the Shores, Marion Oaks and Rainbow Park.    In a foreclosure the house is sold "As Is with right to inspect". In Florida the seller is often asked to make repairs found during the home inspection up to a certain limit set out in the purchase agreement. In a foreclosure the buyer, at his expense, can hir...
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By Joe Dallorso, Ocala Real Estate
  Well the weather here in July is hot and humid, as it should be in Florida, in the summer time. This year we have returned to a more normal rainy summer. The past couple of years have been too dry causing a drought. This year we've returned to normal. By normal I mean a gully washer thunderstorm most afternoons. This is a good thing. It keeps the water levels up and makes everything lush and very green.   The weather in July is very predictable. It is in the 90's every day but never above 95. At night the temperature drops to the mid 70's and still humid. Afternoon thunderstorms start around 3 pm and are caused by winds from the Atlantic colliding with winds off the Gulf.   Although we are technically in hurricane season now it really doesn't get going until AUGUST when the ocean heat...
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By Sara Homan, Realtor, Homes, Farms & 55+
(Coldwell Banker Ellison Realty 352-209-4044)
One of the home inspectors that I've worked with has graciously given me the privilege of recording the following video.  It explains what you can and can't expect to be checked during an inspection. Selecting an inspector is your choice as a buyer and it is you, the consumer who needs to decide the service and attention your soon-to-be home should get during an inspection. Remember, The inspector works for you, you're paying him.
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By Sara Homan, Realtor, Homes, Farms & 55+
(Coldwell Banker Ellison Realty 352-209-4044)
In 2004 & 2005 if you could fog a mirror, you could sell real estate, especially to the "investors".  Here in Ocala Florida we had those investors coming out of the woodwork, they came from near and far like the gold rush! Some took home equity loans so they could build houses and flip them, some bought for cash.  Deals were being made that were putting builders at a 6-18 month backlog. The buzz was that if you build these homes at the current rate of increase in value you'll make a killing!!! The media was pushing the "bubble burst" mindset, as much as we didn't want to hear it, it was clear that a train wreck was a brewin'. Now the market is saturated with short sales and foreclosures, so many that it is making it hard for the resale folks who are not in those catagories to compete. T...
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By Sara Homan, Realtor, Homes, Farms & 55+
(Coldwell Banker Ellison Realty 352-209-4044)
$100 per night, $150, even $300 or $400 per night.  It depends where you're going and why you're there. From a Realtor's perspective I really appreciate when local businesses treat my customers with a great deal of respect and understanding. Often I have had customers comment about accommodations at various hotels, motels or inns.  Some good, some not so good. Economy is often a factor in making a decision as to where you will stay, but should economy mean dumpy and dirty, no amenities and an uncomfortable bed?...I think NOT!  In a few weeks I have a customer coming here to Ocala, he wants to buy a nice house with certain criteria.  I am more than willing to work with him to find that perfect home, but one thing I don't want to deal with is an uncooperative, dirty, hotel story.  It sour...
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By Joe Dallorso, Ocala Real Estate
    OCALA REAL ESTATE MARKET REPORT Homes Sold June  2008 .................212* $100,000.00 or less..........................53 $101 to $200,000.00.......................101 $201 to $300,000.00........................32 $301 to $500,000.00........................14 $500,000.00 Plus.............................11 Active Listings as of 7/1/08..........7102* *This does not count homes sold by builders that may not be listed on the MLS Number may be revised due to late reports from board of Realtors.  WHAT"S HOT IN OCALA REAL ESTATE · Foreclosures and Short Sale · Newer Homes priced to compete with foreclosures & short sales  Sales in June were off significantly from May. In May we sold 250 homes in Marion county as compared to June with only 212 sales.    Buyers are looking for foreclosure...
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By Joe Dallorso, Ocala Real Estate
June is the beginning of the rainy season that will last until October. We have the possibility of afternoon thunderstorms almost every day. They are very hit or miss but quite predictable. Winds off the Atlantic collide with winds out of the Gulf of Mexico creating an unstable atmosphere resulting in thunderstorms.  Central Florida is the lightning capital of the world. Two years ago lightning hit the ground in my back yard and got into the wires that control my lawn sprinkler system. The electricity followed the wires into the house and blew the sprinkler system timer off the wall and out onto the middle of the garage floor.  June is also the beginning of hurricane season. Ocala has never had a direct hit by a hurricane which is one of the reasons I moved here. Hurricane season also l...
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By Sara Homan, Realtor, Homes, Farms & 55+
(Coldwell Banker Ellison Realty 352-209-4044)
The houses listed below just closed in the last month.  The prices are bargain basement prices.  So I was wondering; What are you waiting for?  Come on down to Ocala and take a good look at what you can get practically for a song!                     List $69,900 Sold $64,000 2 Beds 2 Baths 2 Car garage 1408 sf                    List $67,500 Sold $62,175 2 Beds 2 Baths 1 Car Garage 1302 sf                    List $136,500 Sold $136,500 2 Beds 2 Baths 2 Car Garage 1504 sf                    List $165,000 Sold $138,500 3 Beds 2 Baths 2 Car Garage 2021 sf                    List $75,000 Sold $70,000 2 Beds 2 Baths 1 Car Garage 1411 sf                                     List $109,900 Sold $109,000 2 Beds 2 Baths 2 Car Garage 1748 sf                          List $73,000 Sold $69,000 2 Bed...
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By Sara Homan, Realtor, Homes, Farms & 55+
(Coldwell Banker Ellison Realty 352-209-4044)
My nephew is in China on a semi-school exchange.  He has been there for over a week and longs for home. He's a young man and has never been away from home, so this is a really big adventure! Last week he emailed me twice along with all his other contacts...not really a personal way of communicating. Yesterday I downloaded.  It was pretty cool this morning when I turned on my computer, all of a sudden there he was ringing in. We talked for quite a while...it was wonderful!!! He is exactly 12 hours difference so my 6am was his 6pm.  That was convenient! He doesn't have video yet but he does have audio and that was Awesome!  I was thrilled to be able to hear his voice and he mine.  Even though I sat in front of my Logitech camera in my PJ's!!! I am looking forward to using a lot more, ther...
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By Sara Homan, Realtor, Homes, Farms & 55+
(Coldwell Banker Ellison Realty 352-209-4044)
Being of Italian decent and being raised in New York I developed a taste for good Italian food, and better yet good Italian pastries. I've lived in Ocala Florida for 4 years and have returned to New York twice.  When we went back it was a necessity to have a slice of pizza and then visit our favorite bakery in Kings Park on Long Island.  Well its been 2 years since my last visit so I've had a hankering for canoli's, pignoli cookies and good pizza for a good long while. There are a few good pizza places here, one being Belleview Pizza.  Go to Belleview Pizza while the snowbirds are here and you will be waiting with great anticipation for a seat.  Belleview Pizza has the closest to NY pizza I know.   View Larger Map   Now for Dessert!  Honestly I haven't tried the pastries at Belleview Pi...
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By Denise March
(Coldwell Banker Ellison Realty, Inc)
Through the FHA program, a seller may offer down payment assistance via the Ameridream program supplemented by the DreamKeeper program which will make mortgage payments in the event the buyer is suddenly unemployed or disabled. This is a great avenue for buyers today in an economy that seems uncertain. There are fees to the seller, but as we know there are many sellers who are more that willing to pay to move their property in a market that is flooded with inventory. Especially in Marion County, Florida. In addition, it's good info to know that even the lender may pay for the DreamKeeper premium. Any lender may offer that incentive. It really helps if you work with a lender who is well versed in FHA. The agent may pay for the premium, even the buyer can pay it - only $295 for 12 months ...
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By Jim Lally
(Osceola Mortgage)
Today at the end of the month , like any other we get the calls. You know the ones, the Real Estate Magazines, Radio, TV and every other form of media. We have found that direct advertising, other than response needed mail, to be a supplement but not much more. Rarely if ever can we attribute a closing from an ad we did. We have found though, that by being in the local media,when we go to call on a Realty group or Builder thay have heard of us and have a more open mind to listening so that we can create a relationship. Many of our Realtor clients tell me that there best capture rates come from internet campaigns , which we have never done. I'm interested in how those are calculated. In a direct mail campaign for instance we know we mail X#, then Y# respond and Z# end up being a closing....
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By Monica Hubert
(Kiefer Realty)
Okay, So I live in Ocala and I drive around my community daily and see funny little things that catch my eye. For instance, On 17th Street (known for all the Professional offices and Banks) which also has single family homes and a Duck pond, well this duck pond happens to be kind of interesting in that there is this beautiful tree that hangs almost into the pond. I have never seen a tree like this. I think it is an Oak tree (Someone correct me if I am wrong, please). The tree began growing at a strange angle and actually looks as if it is going to fall into the water. I am not sure the history about this tree and if there is one, someone please enlighten me. Anyway, back to the reason for this blog. Driving down Maricamp today (also known as CR 464) and I was at the Red light and looked...
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