Find a RealtorAnywhere in the Country    Yesterday my business partner and I went out into a local subdivision that has been one of my favorites since I came to Ocala Florida 4 years ago.  Our goal was to meet people and get to know the residents there. The subdivision?  Oh yes, the subdivision is Majestic Oaks!  A more perfect location would be hard to find.  It is close to shopping, medical needs, malls, highways within minutes and yet is in such a beautiful peaceful setting bordering a horse farm with a very visible exercising race track for the horses.  You can actually watch the horses in the distance running on the track in the early morning.  It is a sight to behold!            The most amazing part about this community is ho... 05/01/2008

 Who is Clementina Marie Giovannetti? And why is she handing over the keys to her Ocala mansion to someone who wins a Pet Story Essay contest?  At first glance this may look like some sort of scam. At first sight it sounds as if this is too good to be true. But it is totally legal;it is not a scam and it is going to be good and true to the winner of this essay contest. It  is sad that because of all the spammers and scammers in the online world we become on guard and have a preconceived idea that is filled with doubt and therefor someone has to prove themselves as the real deal.  I had the honor and privilege to speak to Clementina Giovannetti herself on the phone today for over an hour. It was a very enlightening conversation.  First of all, I want to reassure everyone that this essay ... 05/01/2008

Thursday, May 1, 2008I`ve been avoiding a recruiter for a several months. They refuse to take no for an answer.They were hired to locate a "Closer" who can turn around an established Real Estate Office in Orlando.They apparently, like the way we conduct ourself when doing Real Estate and the job of "CLOSING"....I like to use the:AIDA METHOD in closing.For those who have never heard of AIDA,here it is:AIDA is an acronym used in marketing that describes a common list of events that are very often undergone when a person is selling a product or service:A - Attention (Awareness): attract the attention of the customer.I - Interest: raise customer interest by demonstrating features, advantages, and benefits.D - Desire: convince customers that they want and desire the product or service and th... 04/30/2008

 April 2008 Ocala/Marion County FloridaReal Estate Market In Review   Total Active Listings7284  Residential6333 Vacant Land527 Commercial ResidentialNew listings 994Pending 426Closed  248 Majestic Oaks Report 30 Active Listings5 new listings2 closed3 pending Closed Prices$132,000$224,500 Marion LandingA 55+ Community Marion Landing12 new listings$92,500-$174,0003 Rentals Marion Oaks65 New Listings39 Pending14 Closed/Prices $50,200-$206,000Thinking of Buying or Selling in Ocala Florida?Sara Homan, Realtor352-209-4044sarahomanrealtor@hotmail.comhttp://www.greenerpasturehomes.com/These numbers were compiled by the Ocala/Marion County MLSIf you are interested in other information concerning Ocala Florida please email me at sarahomanrealtor@hotmail.com and I will do my best to assist you. 04/28/2008

 The decision to move and the process that you will go through can be very emotional.  It is important that  you choose a Realtor who can assist you through from listing to close efficiently and professionally.Having been a Realtor in NY and now a Realtor in Ocala Florida I understand the challenges facing people who want to or need to relocate.  I can assist you in your relocation efforts to secure a Realtor who can assist you at the place you are leaving and another Realtor at the place you are going anywhere in the country. The positioning of homes for sale on the market is vital for success.Proper positioning of a home for sale will bring buyer activity  Who is seeing your house and where they can see it drives buyers to your home The negotiating process determines your bottom line.... 04/27/2008

Oh my favorite time of year is nearly here again.  Every year I just get so excited about the Kentucky Derby.  IT's Next Week May 3rd at 6:04 pm Eastern Standard Time!  I can't wait!!! It's not about betting for me, it's all about watching those beautiful animals run!                                  Here in Ocala Florida we have enjoyed the privilege of breeding, birthing, raising and auctioning several competitors and winners of the Kentucy Derby, in fact within the last few months several foals have been born here that could very well be competing in the 2010 Triple Crown Races.So who is the favorite???  Looks like Big Brown & War Pass are in close competition.  Big Brown is undefeated and Pyro who had an impressive win at the Louisiana Derby has failed to defeat War Pass.  Read abou... 04/25/2008

   Taxes, insurance and deed restrictions are the three big questions that buyers have about Ocala real estate.  Property taxes in Ocala are based on the selling price of the home minus homestead excemptions.   Homestead excemptions are currently $25,000.00. There are additional $500.00 excemptions for widows & widowers, blind persons and permanently disabled persons. There is also a $5,000.00 excemption for permanently disabled veterans.  Everyone asks "what are the current owners property taxes?" In Ocala, that question is irrelevevant because taxes are capped by Ammendment 10. Ammendment 10: "Beginning January 1, 1995, the assessed value of property receiving Homestead Exemption will be limited in the amount of increase from the assessed value for the prior year. The increase shall n... 04/24/2008

Today was an eye opener for me.  I showed 1 house, yes just one.  It was a foreclosure, oh my they can be so nasty and smelly.  I didn't want to show it.I got my nose ready to plug up and off I went to Marion Oaks.  The Buyers were going to meet me at the house.  I arrived first.  As I drove up I thought, well this isn't a bad house and the location seems pretty nice.  The pinkish color left a little to be desired but that's just paint.                                         Well I thought, I'll just open it up and see what kind of mess awaits me.  Much to my surprise it was a loved house, somebody at one time took really good care of it and even put real hardwood floors in it.  THEY WERE GORGEOUS!  It is a 3 bedroom 2 bath home on .23 acres.   Wow, I was impressed, If I had $79,900 to... 04/22/2008

        The difference between a bank foreclosure and a short sale is that the bank has now taken title to the house and is the legal owner. Prices offered by banks can range from great to really mediocre. Banks view their inventory as a whole, looking to hold firm on desirable homes and get rid of those in poor areas or in poor condition first.   There are several big differences between a Foreclosure sale and a traditional sale. In Florida the seller is often asked to make repairs found during the home inspection up to a certain dollar limit set out in the purchase agreement. In a foreclosure the house is sold "As Is with right to inspect".     Foreclosures cross a broad spectrum of the real estate market. You would think they would be mostly new homes lost by speculators but that is ... 04/22/2008

Just a quick question.The popular site Trulia offers free ads, but only for licensed Real Estate Professionals.  Yet there are numerous feeds they receive where they just list the name of the website that it came from, not the broker's name.  I did not know that "postlets.com" was a licensed real estate broker!  This is a no no under the Code of Ethics and State Law.  Why aren't brokers and agents being more careful with their advertising?I noticed one listing I clicked on and the broker was shown as "coldwellbanker.com" not a registered broker. I could however click back through the feed from coldwellbanker.com to the Coldwell Banker website, and then back to the actual brokerage information that by state law and the code of ethics should be included on all Internet advertising includi... 04/19/2008

We are hearing so much on TV about the real estate market.  Some is true and some is just a doom and gloom mentality. The question that everyone is facing right now is how do I get my home sold.  In my video below I address some of those very issues.It is my goal as a realtor to get your house sold.  I do what I do to feed my family just as any other person.  Holding listings is not my job and it is not productive for sellers.  So if you or someone you know is trying to sell their home, here's some tips for you.        04/14/2008

In the quest to buy a home there are plenty of websites to view and lots of houses to look at.  A catch phrase that Realtors and Owners use is "this home is being sold in "As Is" condition."Now the question that goes through your mind is "WHY?"If the house is bargain priced then the "why" might not be a challenge, on the other hand it could be."As Is" Speaks volumes:To a potential buyer:  This house has issuesThe seller is not really negotiableBuyer beware.Seller:I don't want to do any repairsI don't want to negotiateI just want to get rid of it quicklyRealtor:Disclosure of "Why"Potential problems with inspectionLow offers likelyLower sales price The reasons for using the term "As Is" may vary greatly, but in most cases it conveys a negative connotation and casts a shadow on the home.  ... 04/14/2008

I don't do FSBOs and do not pay attention to them. This one however came from the TV news yesterday from our local Central Florida Fox News Station. Get a mansion on over 2 acres for an essay... wow! $1,250,000 mansion in Ocala, FL for an essay? What the heck is that? Are they serious? Turns out the Seller is serious. She is an accomplished writer according to the news report and to her own website http://www.ocalamansion.com/mansion.html So, is she giving away her $1,250,000 gorgeous mansion in Ocala for the best essay about your pet? 100 to 300 words can really get you the home? Well, sort of. The owner, Clementina Marie Giovannetti, set the rules, and the event will kick off April 23 at 12PM at last until end of the day July 23, 2008. The owner can extend the contest up to 6 months i... 04/10/2008

   It's April in Ocala Florida. As you probably know I don't actually predict the weather, I just give you an idea of what the weather is like from month to month here in Ocala. The highs are in the mid 80's and the nights are in the low 60's. It is still pretty dry. It's actually the dry season but so far this month we have had quite a bit of much needed rain.  The trees are getting new leaves, the azeale's are in bloom and wild flowers are growing along the sides of rural roadways.  Why are you freezing uo north somewhere instead of living here in Ocala? That's the big question.As always contact me any time for more in on Ocala Real Estate                                                                                                                                 Wild Phlox growing ... 04/09/2008

 OCALA REAL ESTATE MARKET REPORT Homes Sold March 2008 ........199*$100,000.00 or less..........................65$101 to $200,000.00........................84$201 to $300,000.00........................27$301 to $500,000.00........................15$500,000.00 Plus..............................8Active Listings as of 4/3/08.......7279**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 March of 2007 were 387 homes. In March of 08 we sold 199!! That's a 49% drop in sales from a yea... 04/09/2008

It is often more comfortable to use the bank that you have become familiar with over the years?  Parting with tradition is not necessarily easy.You are considering a move out of state.  You are qualified for a mortgage and assured by your bank that you can go forward with a purchase.  Once you've made the trip and found your dream home its time to talk to your banker again and get the process going.Often the question arises, should we use the bank we are familiar with or an unfamiliar local bank in the town where we are buying.  There are considerations of licensing in various states that can affect your decision.  The greatest consideration should be the service that you will get in your new home.When customers want to use their bank from back home there are often challenges with coord... 04/08/2008

The city of Ocala, along with the whole of Marion County at present, has a very high housing inventory level , which amounts to approximately a 12-month supply of homes. This present scenario is one of the major causes for the drastic price reductions in home prices. There have been movements seen, however, which indicate a slowdown in the reduction of home prices. With the housing market here showing directions of hitting the bottom, and as the mortgage slump affects all aspects of the housing industry, real estate market observers are saying that now would be a good time to purchase new homes, as interest rates are still pegged at one of their lowest levels. Current Home Construction Figures For Ocala Based on current data provided by local property market veterans and county building... 04/05/2008

Michael Veri | Realty Executives Ocala | 352.502.4661 2305 SE 30 Street, Ocala, FL WOW... Custom pool home in Avondale 3 Bdrm Single Family House offered at $335,000 Year Built 1993 Sq Footage 2,902 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 3 full, 0 partial Floors 1 Parking 3 Car garage Lot Size .38 acres HOA/Maint $30 per month DESCRIPTION Take a dip in the heated pool in your new custom home in one of Ocala's premier neighborhoods! Everything you could want in your dream home including tall ceilings, ceramic tile floors, Jetta-Stone counters, planning desk, an oversized 3 car garage, guest rooms with a Jack & Jill bath, separate den & HUGE family room which overlooks the pool, spa, & large private back yard! The spacious master suite has trey ceilings, hers & hers closets, dual vanities, separate shower... 04/01/2008

The city of Ocala in the central part of Florida is an area filled with many wonderful natural and historical landmarks, and combines natural and man-made diversity, which makes it a relaxing and exceptionally-delightful location for young families and professionals to call home. The city is located in Marion County, and is noted for successfully blending the past and the present. Living Amid Horse Farms And Forests Beyond the city, one sees a large area of crop lands, horse farms, and acres of national forest, and just close to these natural sights are the collage of masterfully-planned residential communities, where its residents enjoy all the comforts of modern living, and nearby these villages are the presence of shopping centers and malls, restaurants, cultural festivals, nature-ba... 03/31/2008

Market Report Ocala/Marion CountyIf you are interested in statistics on a particular subdivision, please email me at sarahomanrealtor@hotmail.com    Including specific reports on Marion Landing (55+), On Top Of The World (55+), Bent Tree, Timberwood, Ocala Waterway & Majestic Oaks,STATUS FOR WEEK MARCH 23-30 2008     ACTIVE RESIDENTIAL7456PENDINGRESIDENTIAL460   ACTIVEVACANT LAND6504PENDINGVACANT LAND 138   ACTIVE COMMERCIAL514PENDINGCOMMERCIAL19   ACTIVITY FOR WEEK MARCH 23-30 2008     ACTIVERESIDENTIAL188PENDINGRESIDENTIAL65CLOSEDRESIDENTIAL52EXPIREDRESIDENTIAL206   ACTIVEVACANT LAND36PENDINGVACANT LAND15CLOSEDVACANT LAND4EXPIREDVACANT LAND134   ACTIVECOMMERCIAL5PENDINGCOMMERCIAL1CLOSEDCOMMERCIAL0EXPIREDCOMMERCIAL6    SUBDIVISIONS MAJESTIC OAKSMARION LANDINGON TOP OF THE WORLD   39  A... 03/30/2008