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... 06/29/2008

June is fast becoming over. How was everyone's month? Ours was good, not great mind you, but good. We are of the opinion that the low came in Dec/Jan and has long since past. Recovery is always a process, think of someone who has a surgery, they are slow to walk, a little sore. As time passes though, that person will run, train and gain strength. Often having excised the problem,  the person comes back stronger than ever. Business markets are  often the same. We are bullish on our market here in North Cen Fla, if not why would we be here, that would be hypocritical wouldn't it? Many write about the prices that have declined yet fail to see the opportunity in that decline. Two years ago as 1400 ft homes in the Shores approached and exceed 200k the buyer making 40-45K could barely or not ... 06/27/2008

We've reached the halfway point of the year and its always good to review what is happening in local markets.  Below are the numbers of listings, pending sales and totals for each month along with various subdivisions. If you are planning a visit to Ocala soon I'd be delighted to provide you with a free map of Marion County.  All the pictures and graphics are helpful links to various sites of interest in Ocala/Marion County, so browse around and learn about my Ocala and then give me a call to assist you with all of your real estate needs.  Sara Homan Closings This Week 61 Residential 11 Vacant Land                     Currently Pending Contracts Residential 468 Vacant Land 107 Commercial 13   Active Listings Residential7270 Vacant Land 5950 Commercial 572 2008 Sales in SW Ocala Subdivis... 06/26/2008

Yesterday I received a contract on one of my listings!  Yippee!!!   It makes such a difference when you have an agent on the other side who is just so incredibly sweet and is looking to get the job done with a pleasant attitude! The contract and closing process goes so much smoother.  I know,  I know!  We just went into contract and I haven't really seen what awaits us.  There is always something that has to be dealt with, and that's ok.  It is just a matter of whether or not we face it with a sweet attitude or not! I've had my opportunities to work with good and pleasant agents and a few opportunities to work with pickles. THANKS BUT I'LL TAKE THE SWEET ONES HANDS DOWN!                        3/2/2 Meadow Glenn   Why would anyone want to be cranky?  We have a buyer who wants to buy, a ... 06/23/2008

Living in Florida has its own unique circumstance to deal with.   The State has provided a wonderful, but time-limited resource that can truly save you money. This is not a pass or fail opportunity, but depending on the results of the inspection you could save up to 35% on your homeowners insurance. Someone in my office had this inspection and saved over $700 a year on their insurance policy. So what is it?  A Free Wind Inspection!  You can have your home inspected for certain criteria and if you either have these items or update your house to meet the criteria then you too may enjoy the benefits of reduced Insurance Premiums! If you would like further information on this inspection feel free to contact me.    06/18/2008

We're hearing so much about the market being so bad, but is it? Or is it the prices that make house undesireable or unreachable? Well whatever the answer is it is always a good idea to know what houses are selling for in different locations and what kind of deals are there to be had. So here's a quick video of recent sales in Ocala Florida. If this whets your appetite for Florida give me a call and let's find you a steal of a deal! 06/14/2008

On April 11 I posted a blog The Best FSBO in the Nation? It was about a real estate marketing idea by a person, who is not a Realtor. The author of the idea - Clementina Marie Giovannetti - offered her Ocala Mansion for ... the best pet lover story of 300 words or less plus a $200 entry fee. So, if you win, you owe a $1,250,000 (according to the owner) mansion on a very large lot with mature vegetation free and clear in this beautiful part of quaint Ocala. The rules were quite elaborate, but the idea behind was pretty simple. Ms. Giovannetti would only do it if she gets the minimum number of entries (over 6,000) so that she gets her $1,250,000 that she claimed the mansion was worth. If she could not get the set number of entries, she would return the $200 entry fee minus $20 processing ... 06/12/2008

Yes, Buyers and Sellers are experiencing activity in the North Central Florida market.  Both retirement communities and traditional neighborhood homes are closing.  Banks are doing financing because they realize that is the only way they can make money.  Yes, you need to have great credit ratings if you are going to the financial institutions for new money.  Also, there are private lenders willing to hold mortgages. The inventory supply has declined a little due to sales taking place and unmotivated sellers backing out of the marketplace.  There is also an abundance of foreclosure properties with many more to follow for the next twelve months in North Central Florida.  This area was a large speculator nest during the years of 2005-2006.  Many of these properties were built to "flip" and... 06/12/2008

    The Ocala Horse Show is at it again!  This is such a fun video of Medieval times an of Cowboy mounted shooting.  You'll Love It!!! Featured guests are:  Mary Rivers Downey, famous for her Fresian trick horses and sidesaddle riding & entertainment Denny Chapman, Competitor, trainor and professional Cowboy Mounted shooter. This is a show worth watching, it's fun, educational and entertaining.       The pictures to the right will take you to the show and various other related sites!   ENJOY!!!             05/30/2008

My friends live in Florida, I want it to be me, To swim in the pool and fish in the sea. I want to live in Florida but where do I go, I just don't want to shovel anymore SNOW. I've heard of gators, sharks and snakes, The gators like swamps.  The sharks of the sea he partakes. The snakes hate mothballs and that works for me. So stay out of the swamps and enjoy the sea, Put mothballs out and the snakes they will flee. Now do you like waterfront, Subdivisions or farms, 55+ living, or the Gulf where the water is warm? You may want to live inland away from the coast? Where horse farms abound and the Triple Crown boast. We've got 55+ Communities where you can have fun, Meet some new people or bask in the sun, You can make friends in the clubhouse or on the golf course Deal some cards, play bi... 05/26/2008

May is here and the humidity is coming back. Most days will be close to 90 during the day and the high 60's at night. It's just a little humid and I find myself turning on the AC most afternoons.   We are in the "dry season". It hasn't rained a drop in over a month. This is unusually dry even for the dry season which ends at the end of May.  You probably see terrible wild fires in other parts of Florida. In the 4 years I've been in Ocala we have never had a major fire. A couple of time fires in other counties were so bad I could smell the smoke from miles away but Marion county is pretty much untouched. The fires always seem to be south or east of Ocala. You'd think the Ocala national forest, which is 300,000 acres would catch fire once in a while but never sems to. Why, I don't know.  ... 05/22/2008

    My Dad, My Hero!   Charlie Thide   What an awesome guy!  He was funny, loved fishing, hunting and practically any outdoor sports.  Worked 3 jobs at a time to keep a roof over our head, clothes on our backs and food in our bellies. Bellies?  Yes 10 of us!  I have 6 brothers and 3 sisters. Dad loved us all and although there were things about each of us that he liked, he never showed favorites. Above all that Dad loved his Rosie (Mom) she was the love of his life and he let the whole world know it! I hear his voice within me to this day, sometimes I really wonder if he really is right  here with me in the challenges I face in life.  Dad served in the United States Navy at the end of WWII as a hard hat underwater demolition diver and SeaBee.   Because of my Dad I know how to: tie sailo... 05/19/2008

For 30+ years now we have been waiting & watching to see a horse with heart, a winner who just doesn't perform- he exceeds our expectations!  Those of you who missed it, today at approximately 6:15pm was the 2008 running of the Preakness, the second leg of the Triple Crown.  The winning horse was the runaway Big Brown.  It appeared that he won by at least 5 lengths!  Similar to that of Secretariat who always seemed to blow all the competition off the map by several lengths and ran with all his heart! Stay tuned for a great moment in history on June 7th the third and final leg of the Triple Crown will be run at Belmont Racetrack in Elmont NY.  I personally, eagerly await the moment! Having worked at Belmont Racetrack several years ago when I lived in NY, the trill of this moment is param... 05/17/2008

The water fun season has arrived! Pools, lakes, the ocean, rivers etc. Everybody loves the water, it's refreshing, enjoyable and great for physical activity. Tragically though the water can be incredibly dangerous, especially to the very young who don't have the knowledge and skills to navigate the water safely. Whenever I sell a pool home (and I currently have some pool homes available here in Ocala Florida) I always urge families to teach their children to swim. Perry's Swim School is my school of choice here in Ocala. Take a look! 05/12/2008

This is the season for pools, buying pool homes, going to the beaches lakes and rivers. Everybody loves the water! I even have some beautiful pool homes available here in Ocala Florida. They are wonderful! They are entertaining, good for physical activity and lots of other things, BUT... they can be very dangerous to those, especially the very young who don't have the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the water and be safe. I highly recommend that families who are buying a pool home make it a priority to make their family "WATER SAFE" 05/11/2008

Wednesday I was driving around a neighborhood looking for houses that were For Sale By Owner. I came upon a house that was listed with a local agent whom I have not had much contact with.  I remembered seeing it on the internet but sometimes the houses all seem to mix in your mind and a fresh preview for my buyer is always a good idea, especially with a very high inventory on the market right now. I called the agent's cell phone and got her voice mail.  Now I was sitting in the driveway at this point and thought I remembered this house being vacant.  There was a lockbox on the door.   Then there should be no problem, right?   WRONG! Yesterday I got a call from an enraged agent who happens to like getting both sides of a sale.  Honestly, we all like to get our own listings sold but our g... 05/10/2008

Everyone, especially the media has jumped on this bandwagon of "It's a buyer's market" .  No it is NOT!  It is an overpriced market with lots of holdouts who will likely get burned, and lots who have already gotten burned.  No matter the market, if a house is priced right it WILL SELL!  The challenge is in finding what "priced right" is.So how long should a house be left on the market without activity and remain at the same price?Let's take a look at the chart below.  The most amount of activity occurs within the first 2 weeks.  After that the activity declines until the house stops getting showings.  The house grows old as a listing on the market.What is the point of putting your house on the market?  To sell it, right?  So then why are sellers holding out for higher odds, or for more ... 05/07/2008

  OCALA REAL ESTATE MARKET REPORT Homes Sold April 2008 ..............237*$100,000.00 or less..........................61$101 to $200,000.00.......................117$201 to $300,000.00........................32$301 to $500,000.00........................21$500,000.00 Plus..............................6Active Listings as of 5/1/08.......7163**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· Homes priced below $150,000.00 · Golf Course & 55+ communities.   · SE Ocala near but not in the Historic district· New Homes priced at or below $100.00 per sq ft of living area   Sales in April were up from March by 39 units! The total number of homes on the MLS has gone down... 05/06/2008

   Deed restrictions in Ocala and surrounding Marion county can mean a lot of things. They can be common sense things like you can't put a mobile or manufactued home in a subdivision of $300,000.00 block homes. Or they can keep you from parking your boat or RV in your yard. Deed restictions in Ocala can run the gamout from the common sence to the intrusive.    A lot depends on the personality of the buyer. If you're a free spirit and tolerant of others then you should look at non deed restricted subdivisions. However deed restrictions are there for a purpose. That purpose is to preserve property values by maintaining a homogeneous appearance to the neighborhood. Take it from me, there is nothing harder than showing a beautifull home that is right next door to a dump.  Most but not all s... 05/06/2008

I'VE GOT A GREAT IDEA!               LET'S SELL THIS HOUSE.   I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A GARAGE SALE             ,          GREAT IDEA! THE NEXT SIGN IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE A FOR SALE SIGN, WHICH MEANS HELP WANTED TO A REALTOR!                                  SO HERE COMES THE REALTOR THINKING:                                               WE ARE GOING TO SELL IT OURSELVES! I CAN SEE IT NOW            WE'LL BUY FOR CASH     SO YOU MAKE SOME FLYERS AND YOU TELL THE WORLD! ONLY YOU FIND THE WORLD IS BIGGER AND TOUGHER THAN YOU THOUGHT! BUT YOU ARE COMMITTED, SO NOW YOU'RE READY FOR BUSINESS! AH THE PHONE IS RINGING, MY FIRST CALL!  OOPS! IT'S THE SITTER I HAVE TO PICK UP THE BABY, SHE'S NOT FEELING WELL!                                             THINGS CAN QUICKLY GET OUT OF ORDER!     ... 05/06/2008