More News from Ocala, The Horse Capital of the World!     More horse news from Ocala, The Horse Capital of the world..     To Honor and Serve, a colt owned by Ocala-based Live Oak Plantation, just won the Grade 1 Woodward Stakes at Saratoga last Saturday.     We are so proud of this local horse who has not had the easiest road to victory with a ligament injury and some close racing losses. On the morning after To Honor and Serve's game neck victory over Mucho Macho Man in the $750,000 Woodward Sept. 1, the 4-year-old colt was in excellent shape and doing well.   We look forward to seeing more of him in the weeks to come at either $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic or the $2 million dollar mile. We'll just have to wait and see...   And continue to enjoy life here in Ocala, FL!   09/06/2012

More Labor Day Fun In Ocala, FL   Here's a sneak peek at some of the fun things going on in the Ocala area over the upcoming Labor Day weekend and the week following. Get ready, because there's plenty to do which just might convince you to take the entire week off of work!   Ocala Shrine Rodeo: Your chance to spend an exciting day watching rodeo contestants geared up to compete. Saddle and bareback bronco riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, team roping, barrel racing and the always popular and most dangerous eight seconds in rodeo - bull riding!       The Ocala Civic Theater: Ocala Civic Theatre opens its season with the bawdy musical Best Little Whorehouse in Texas running Sept. 6-30. The theater is at 4337 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala. Call 236-2274 or go to ocalacivictheatre.... 09/01/2012

Marion County Real Estate Market Continues to Improve! "Marion County's real estate market continued to improve in July, as the median sales price for single-family homes rose, inventory shrank and more people joined the ranks of property buyers." Ocala Star Banner - August 22, 2012 What/where is Ocala?   Now is a great time to buy or sell!   Buy?  A combination of low prices and low interest rates make home affordability at an all time record high!   Sell? Yes!  The same factors above are creating strong buyer demand.  When interest rates rise, buyer demand will go down!   "Meanwhile, sellers are also getting closer to their original asking prices.   During July, sellers received 89.1 percent of their asking price, up from the past 12-month average of 87.4 percent." - Judy Ray, preside... 08/28/2012

Ocala Florida is a great place to begin a new career in Real Estate and the School of choice to help you achieve your goals is Rowlett Real Estate School.  If you are looking for a great Ocala Real Estate School with online real estate courses, check out our website at www.rowlettrealestateschool.com 850-547-1333.  Captain Wayne is looking for a Ocala Florida Real Estate Instructor to teach for our Florida Real Estate School in Ocala Florida.Rowlett Real Estate School is the full service Real Estate Career Center providing you with the best Ocala Real Estate School in Marion County FL.  We have online real estate courses to serve Ocala Florida real estate Brokers and Sales Associates with all their Real Estate Licensing requirements in Marion County Florida. Contact Captain Wayne Rowlet... 07/23/2012

Wynchase Townhomes.  Underwater and Now About to be Upside down!         Pity the poor folks who bought in this section of Fore Ranch, in Ocala, Florida!   These homes were built and sold in 2005-6 for $180-$200k.  And now are short selling for $80-$90k!         But when it rains it pours!!!  Tropical Storm Debbie decided to blanket the area with 11-12" of rain.  Now those town homes are sitting on the edge of a precipice.  In fact, several were evacuated.         Let's hope they don't become upside AND underwater! 07/05/2012

  Here's something fun for all of you parents with children that are out of school for the summer.  I don't know about the rest of you, but mine have bellyached almost everday about me forcing them to attend summer camp. Bob reminded me of this song and I just couldn't help but to post it with some of my usual funny photos.  I can't wait for school to start........Here's hoping you get a kick out of this!   Hello Mudda, hello Fadda, Here I am at Camp Granada.Camp is very entertaining,And they say we'll have some fun if it stops raining I went hiking with Joe Spivy; He developed poison ivy.You remember Leonard Skinner;He got ptomain poisoning last night after dinner.         All the counselors hate the waiters,And the lake has alligators,And the head coach wants no sissies,So he reads to... 06/19/2012

Buyers love color when they drive up to your home, they're wanting to see beauty and be entranced with splendor upon arrival.   The house can be a variety of conditions but their heart is screaming for you to color their world with eye candy!  People want to see things that are catchy to their eye, pretty flowers, nice landscapes, a welcome home look. When you are thinking of selling your home take a good look around as though you've never seen your home before and visualize what a buyer would want to see.  Flowers are a wonderful way to cheer up any house. 05/18/2012

SOLD! CALL SARA FOR AN UPDATED LIST OF CURRENT LISTINGS IN OCALA. 352-209-4044Spacious ranch style home with covered front entry,covered back patio,galley kitchen with breakfast bar,pantry,eat in kitchen. Inside laundry,split bedroom floorplan,appliances convey if on property at the time of closing. Property may be eligible for homepath financing.  This home would be good for first time home buyers or retirees. 05/18/2012

 SOLD!  PLEASE CALL FOR OTHER LISTINGS FOR SALE352-209-4044 SARA HOMANNice 3/2 Split Bedroom Ranch-style home with cathedral ceilings, Fireplace. Kitchen has updated cabinets and countertops, Pantry. Property has inside laundry, ceiling fans and a screened-in patio. Appliances convey if present at closing.  Great home for first time home buyers or retirees.  Located in the North West part of Ocala within a short distance to I-75 and other main routes.     05/18/2012

      Today I walked in your house and I need to be honest with you.  Your refrigerator is telling on you.   I decided not to buy your home because I loved your kitchen and all that it has to offer, but, as I went over to the refrigerator I noticed some telling things. I saw a business card from a septic company, another one from an electrician, another one from a termite company and each of them had a bill for recent work done.   It's good that you are taking care of your home now that it is for sale but it makes me concerned that you are trying to hide things and really haven't cared for your home all along. The appearance of your refrigerator is unkempt.  To me, that is indicative of the rest of your home except I get the feeling that you have tried to cover a multitude of sins in ot... 05/15/2012

Adorable 2/2 home with covered front entry,cathedral ceilings and a split bedroom floorplan,ceiling fans,screened in lanai,quaint kitchen with pantry and appliances co nvey if on property at the time of closing. Master bath features a whirlpool tub. Situated on nearly a quarter acre lot. This is a Fanne Mae Homepath Property.Purchase this property for as little as 3percent down! Property si eligible for Homepath Mtg and Homepath Renovation Mtg Financing. For more info visit www.homepath.com 05/13/2012

Kentucky Derby Winner from "The Horse Capital of the World"   I'll Have Another Wins 2012 Kentucky Derby At Churchill Downs   and Ocala, Florida claims another victory!   Ocala has long claimed to be "The Horse Capital of the World" and now I'll Have Another adds to that claim.     In fact, "At least 11 of the 20 horses running in today's Kentucky Derby once called the Ocala area home." Horse Captial of the World says Wikipedia!   Thinking Ocala or just Florida? Call The Ruiz/Miller Team!   Get 2 Realtors for the price of 1! Join Active Rain Can they sell it? Yes they can! 352-547-1074   Bob@bobtherealtor.net     Bob the Realtor     05/08/2012

Turtles & ducks are fun to watch.  We visited some local parks over the weekend and watched the ducks follow us around the pond. I found it interesting that there wasn't a Ma & Pa around.  These little ones seemed to be thriving nevertheless, don't you think? Looking rather weightless and casual! I think moss on algae on the top of a turtle's shell can get sunburned! This is why I love Ocala parks! ` 05/04/2012

"I'm so grateful I took your advice, I got a home inspection and I'm so glad I did!"  My buyer said to me today.  He knew it was a fixer-upper but he had no idea of the fixing it needed.   Being the passionate Realtor that I am I urge all my customers to get a home inspection done by a top quality inspection service.  NOT JUST ANYBODY!  After 8 years in my local area I think I've seen it all.  Some companies are about money and quantity while others are about quality and care.  I prefer the latter and so do my customers.  It is very easy to look at a home and think "it's not that bad"  while many a sin lies beneath the surface.  Home inspections are designed to bring those sins to the surface so that the buyer can decide whether they truly want this home or another one would be best. D... 05/04/2012

A picture is worth a thousand words they say, so I'd like to give you a little tour of Marion Landing. The Clubhouse where all the fun begins, The beautiful pool which is very hard to get a picture of because people are almost always in it.  The Bowling alley which has 8 lanes.  Then you have shuffle board, Tennis Courts, Exercise Room, Ball Room, Craft Room and so much more.   For a personal tour of Marion Landing & to see all the amenities that it has to offer call me at:  352-209-4044 or email me here.   04/29/2012

I alway liked to feed the ducks as a child, but we obeyed the rules! These young ducks followed us as we walked around the pond.  I think their parents abandoned them and they wanted someone to follow. Spanish moss hanging from the trees.   It looks great to some but not to others.  Often folks like to take it indoors but it does have little mites in it that bite soooo leave it on the trees. For additional info, to schedule an appointment or for a list of AVAILABLE FORECLOSURES reply to this ad or call:   Sara Homan, Realtor 352-209-4044 Coldwell Banker Ellison Realty7621 SW Hwy 200OcalaFl 34476 04/28/2012

What is the current housing inventory in Marion County Florida? Available Residential Short Sales 228 Available Residential 55+ Short Sales 22 Available Residential Foreclosures 177 Available Residential 55+ Foreclosures 23 Available Residential 55+ Homes 593 Available Residential Homes 1338 Total Available Residential Homes  3368 Vacant Land 3171 Available Farm Short Sales 17 Available Farm Foreclosures 12 Total Available Farms 474 Total Available Commercial Properties  532 Search Our MLS Here For Your Dream Home For additional info, to schedule an appointment or for a list of AVAILABLE FORECLOSURES reply to this ad or call: Sara Homan, Realtor 352-209-4044 Coldwell Banker Ellison Realty7621 SW Hwy 200 Ocala Fl 34476     04/25/2012

A recent listing that I had and just closed was located in a lovely community.  Lockbox on the door, sign in the window (Deed restrictions forbid signs on the lawn). The home had been listed for 3 months at higher than market value, we had few showings and no offers.  We lowered the price but not enough.  Finally someone knocked on their door, THEY FOOLISHLY LET THEM IN!  This gentleman negotiated far more than I would have allowed but he preyed on a vulnerable woman. After the deal was verbally negotiated the seller called me and excitedly said "GUESS WHAT?  I JUST SOLD MY HOUSE!"  I asked her to tell me how she did it.  Listening to the story I started hearing her suggesting that she no longer needed my services... UH NO! Can you give me a break on the commission?  After all, I did se... 04/22/2012

Provoked by Chrissy Doremus' post on 10 Important things to do on your new house I thought I'd share some insight on her point # 1. 1.  "Change the locks, reprogram garage door opener codes, and check that all window locks operate properly. If there's a security system, learn how it operates and sign up for any maintenance or monitoring plans that that yours requires." A few weeks ago I closed on a beautiful home in a lovely, exclusive hamlet.  This home backs a small lake and the hamlet is surrounded by very high end horse farms.  No need to concern yourself with safety, right?  WRONG! Now it's not like the buyers were burying their heads in the sand, they weren't.  They finished the closing and left thinking they'd stop for a bite to eat in celebration and then proceed to their new ho... 04/20/2012

We need to talk about those guns while your home is being offered for sale.  This is an important issue for safety sake above all else. Let me start by saying I am a 2nd Amendment advocate, I 100% support the American people’s right to keep and bear arms.  My definition of gun control is “Use Both Hands”  This however is a post about safety during the time a home is being sold. Several years ago I was listing a home in a rather transient and potentially dangerous neighborhood.  The seller was an elderly widowed woman who was legally blind.   I had no problem with her owning guns, nor was I concerned that the 357 magnum handgun was in her nightstand drawer fully loaded.  I did however have a problem with the fact that she was legally blind and couldn’t make out my face just 3 feet away f... 04/17/2012