Market Report Ocala/Marion CountyIf you are interested in statistics on a particular subdivision, please email me at sarahomanrealtor@hotmail.com STATUS FOR WEEK MARCH 8-14 2008    ACTIVE RESIDENTIAL7529PENDINGRESIDENTIAL429   ACTIVEVACANT LAND6578PENDINGVACANT LAND 122   ACTIVE COMMERCIAL517PENDINGCOMMERCIAL14   ACTIVITY FOR WEEK MARCH 8-14 2008    ACTIVERESIDENTIAL198PENDINGRESIDENTIAL59CLOSEDRESIDENTIAL20EXPIREDRESIDENTIAL216   ACTIVEVACANT LAND79PENDINGVACANT LAND20CLOSEDVACANT LAND10EXPIREDVACANT LAND161   ACTIVECOMMERCIAL14PENDINGCOMMERCIAL1CLOSEDCOMMERCIAL1EXPIREDCOMMERCIAL27    SUBDIVISIONS MAJESTIC OAKSMARION LANDINGON TOP OF THE WORLD   41  ACTIVE         29  ACTIVE212  ACTIVE   1   NEW LISTINGS   1   NEW LISTINGS    7  NEW LISTINGS  1   PENDING 2  PENDING  9  PENDING 0   CL... 03/14/2008

   Early March has been kind of cool here in Ocala. by that I mean just barely 70 some days and it was in the mid 30's at night a couple of times. That's cool for March in Ocala. We should be in the high 70's this time of year.  No the less the grass, which gets brown in the winter, is getting green again. The azalea bushes are in flower and the live oaks will be setting some more leaves. It's a great time of year, plenty of sunshine and no humidity.                                                                                                           AZALEA in Joe's Yard March 4,2008  If you'd like to learn more about the Ocala area or Ocala Real Estate then just give me a call. 03/12/2008

Are you wanting more than anything to be in another location to pursue your dreams?  Are the grandchildren growing up without you?  Is it really worth it to get all the money you possibly can even if it takes forever?Having only sold one of my own houses I must say I don't relish the thought of having to do it again!  Honestly I'd like to be carried out of my present house someday when I am old and full of years.  I hope my children live close and if they choose to have children that I can be right here with them.  When I listed my own house in NY (I was a Realtor then) I wanted RESULTS NOW!  I wanted it gone.  My dream was to move to Florida or at least get off Long Island.  I really loved the place but the taxes were a killer and the winter weather was brutal on me.  I yearned for war... 03/10/2008

Having grown up on Long Island NY and lived there most of my adult life, when I moved to Florida I was somewhat concerned about things like snakes, gators, sharks, and a bunch of other things.  I've been down here with my family for 3.5 years now and quite honestly I haven't had much exposure to the critters.  Thank God!!!  I have to admit, I don't do those things that Floridians consider acceptable, things like, swimming in water where gators & snakes live.   I go in pools only, I can see what's in the water.  That is my ultra conservative perspective on things.  They tell me that gators are more afraid of you than you are of them...I don't want to find out.  Reality perspective is that the concerns about critters can be easily avoided.                                                  ... 03/08/2008

TOTALS     ACTIVE RESIDENTIAL7525PENDINGRESIDENTIAL403   ACTIVEVACANT LAND6601PENDINGVACANT LAND 117   ACTIVE COMMERCIAL506PENDINGCOMMERCIAL14   ACTIVITY FOR WEEK MARCH 1-8 2008    ACTIVERESIDENTIAL234PENDINGRESIDENTIAL53CLOSEDRESIDENTIAL36EXPIREDRESIDENTIAL271   ACTIVEVACANT LAND120PENDINGVACANT LAND16CLOSEDVACANT LAND8EXPIREDVACANT LAND183   ACTIVECOMMERCIAL16PENDINGCOMMERCIAL2CLOSEDCOMMERCIAL0EXPIREDCOMMERCIAL42 The market here in Ocala is still relatively soft but we have had a slight increase in activity.  This is a wonderful time to get bargains on the home of your dreams.  People are wanting to sell and buyers haven't exactly been knocking the doors down.  So what are you waiting for?  Come on down or up to Ocala, as the case may be and lets get you into a home or buy some land ... 03/08/2008

[ShowLife February-March Issue - HITS Ocala Story]HITS Ocala - It's a HIT with everyone- Including Spectaors!January 23 - March 16HITS Post Time Farm - Ocala, FLMarch Highlights:Ocala Masters: February 26 - March 2 featuring Talking Phone Book's Kids Day on Sunday, March 2 and the $50,000 Purina Mills Grand PrixOcala Tournament: March 4-9 featuring World of the Horse on Sunday, March 9and the $50,000 Strongid® C 2XTM Grand Prix presented by Bel~LagoOcala Winter Finals: March 11-16 featuring the season finale - the $100,000 DeLuca Toyota Tundra Grand Prix of Ocala, presented by Great AmericanInsurance GroupThe grounds have been jumping in Ocala for the past four weeks at the HITS Ocala WinterCircuit and there are still three more fabulous weeks of show jumping to look forward to.For thos... 03/07/2008

          http://www.ocalahorseshow.com/http://www.ocalahorseshow.com/episode1.htmlhttp://www.ocalahorseshow.com/episode2.htmlWhat is the Ocala Horse Show?  Its not an event to take the wife and kids to.  Its not a competition.  Its not going to cost you anything but time.  It is a series of TV shows that's designed to explore many disciplines of horsemanship.  We want all of you that love horses to see various horse disciplines that drive your passion.  There are however some of you out there who would like to be involved in horses but its a little more than you have the knowledge and experience for.  Then there are those of you who only want to get TV close to a horse.  Whatever your interest, this is the show for you.   Its educational, its entertaining and its enticing.  If you are ... 03/07/2008

Current Market Report in Ocala/Marion County MLS                                                       Residential Active Listings       7491  Pending/Contingent                   406Closed 2007                                  3713Closed 2008                                  367                                            Majestic Oaks    Amount             Price/Range     Active Listings     (39)             $184,000-$354,900 Range     Pending             (1)               $229,900     Closed 2007       (19)              $175,000-$345,000  Range       Closed 2008       (1)                $205,000                                                    Bent Tree Active Listings      (9)                        $229,000-$355,000   Pending              (0)Closed 2007       (8)                  ... 03/03/2008

OCALA REAL ESTATE MARKET REPORT Homes Sold February 2008 .............187*$100,000.00 or less..........................55$101 to $200,000.00........................99$201 to $300,000.00........................17$301 to $500,000.00........................11$500,000.00 Plus..............................5Active Listings as of 3/3/08..........7478**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· New homes around $150,000.00· Golf Course & 55+ communities.   · SE Ocala near but not in the Historic district· Houses priced at or below $100.00 per sq ft of living area    I was hoping the market would pick up in the beginning of 2008. Sales for January were pretty much ... 03/03/2008

 Did you know that there are only 4 known places in the world that are strongly desirable for horses?Owning horses in various areas of the country can most definitely be a great thing and in many other locations there are things that can be enjoyed that Ocala doesn't offer.  For example, going for a ride in Gatlinburg Tennessee you can find some of the most picturesque trails and as nice as that is, it still doesn't create the environment that is conducive to raising strong healthy horses.  Lexington, Kentucky and Ocala, Florida have similar qualities which make them both desirable locations for horses.  Both locations compete for the title of The Horse Capital of the World!  Both are certainly worthy.  Personally I prefer to give that name to the location where I reside, Ocala, Florida... 02/28/2008

     Location, Location, Location!  That is what best describes Marion Landing in a nutshell!  This community is just off Hwy 200 in Ocala, so close to shopping, medical needs, a brand spanking new mall and I-75 is just a few miles down the road.  That's all wonderful stuff but more than that the community has a wide range of house prices and styles and a wonderful clubhouse with a large in ground pool, tennis courts and a bowling alley!  Amenity fees are very reasonable too.  Oh my!  I don't want to push it but 55 is looking better every day.  At one point Marion Landing was an 80% 55+/20% 18+ community or 80/20 as it is referred to and then became a 90/10.  Those days are rapidly coming to a close as it nears the ability to become 100% 55+ residents.  Living nearby Marion Landing, I o... 02/28/2008

The city of Ocala prides itself with being in the crossroads of Florida. The city is known for its lush rolling green fields, and the large concentration of equine horse arms, which gives it the title of being the "Thoroughbred Capital of The world." Aside from having a lush green natural setting, the area is also famous for offering residents and newcomers a healthy array of real estate choices to choose from, ranging from affordable bungalows, single-family homes, apartments, town homes, condos and even sprawling estates. The city as well as Marion County also offers residents and visitors many outdoor recreational activities and amenities, with its wide array of parks and recreational facilities. The County Has A Large Number of Parks And Recreational Centers Marion County's parks an... 02/25/2008

The winters here in Ocala are a wonderful and exciting time filled with equestrian activities that will keep you busy nearly every weekend.  After all, we are the Horse Capital of the World!  I know we compete for that title with Kentucky but our climate is tops for horses!We are so fortunate to have the Florida Horse Park (FHP) it is 500 acres of the most beautiful terrain located on the Florida greenway just south of Ocala proper it spans between 475A and 475.  The best part is that most of the events can be seen free of charge or at a very minimal fee.  My favorite thing to do is to volunteer for these events, this gives me a birds eye view of the horses that I love so much!  It is awesome to see how horse & rider can work together and perform so beautifully.  This doesn't just happe... 02/23/2008

The city of Ocala in Central Florida bears the distinction of being named an "All America City" in 1995.  The metropolitan area is the county seat of Marion County, and presently has a total population of 49,439, making it the largest city in the county. What strikes most visitors here is the city’s historic district, where tourists will be impressed by the great strides taken by local residents in the preservation and care of the area's historic homes and structures.The City Best Suits Those Who Long For Country LivingFor individuals who long for living both the urban and country life, the county offers plenty of options and possibilities, ranging from freshly completed country-style villages to weathered farm houses, horse farms, and large, elegant and grand estates. The area’s  state... 02/21/2008

The city of Ocala in central Florida is a haven for horse lovers, lush green rolling fields, and wonderful real estate choices.  According to real estate analysts, now is a great time to buy new homes, as there are a lot of excellent home purchase deals to find out there.  With interest rates at near historical lows, the median price for homes in this area is considered to be the the 2nd lowest in Florida, which necessitates the entry of a tremendous potential for property value appreciation over the next several years.It's Still A Buyer's Market Out There According to statistics, the homes listed on the Marion County MLS as of March 30, 2007 were placed at  6,869.  Home sales are off quite a lot from March of 06 when 614 houses were sold. According  to some housing market observers, th... 02/18/2008

THis is the perfect time to buy your next home!  Prices are down, interest rates are low, and there are some real deals to be had right now.  If you would like to talk more about the current market and find out how we are saving our clients THOUSANDS of dollars, call me at 352.502.4661.  You can also visit my website www.buyocalahomes.com where you can search for home for sale! Thanks & Have a great day! Michael Veri 02/18/2008

Here are the new guidelines from 2 of the top mortgage insurance companies. Distressed markets  (FLorida)Two of the largest U.S. mortgage insurers announced they would be requiring larger downpayments in Florida:PMI Group Inc. (starts March 1)· At least 10 percent down in distressed markets.· A minimum 620 credit score is required.· No negative-amortizing loans or option-payment mortgages.MGIC Investment Corp. (starts March 3)· At least 5 percent down in distressed areas except a mandatory 10 percent down on condos.· A minimum 620 credit score is required.· No cash-out refinances.· No reduced documentation.· No investment property loans.· No negative-amortizing loans or option-payment mortgages.  02/15/2008

    In other parts of the country February is the dead of winter but here in Ocala spring is just around the corner.   First I will recap January. It seemed warmer than normal but we did have a hard frost that burned several shrubs that I pruned too late and didn't harden off in time.   Winter in Ocala is basically a series of cold fronts. A cold front will come through, it will get in the 30's at night and the 50's or 60's during the day and then we go back to what is winter normal, 50's at night and 70's during the day.  The great thing about February is that when the month ends so does winter. Actually even now as I write this in the middle of the  month, new leaves on the trees are causing pollen that bothers people with allergies and puts a greenish dust on cars. The grass is turni... 02/13/2008

Facing foreclosure or short sale? At no charge to you we can provide help!Ocala Florida Short Sale and Foreclosure Experts are standing by to assist you free of charge!At Florida List For Less Realty,Inc. our office has been actively involved with satisfying judgment's and accelerated mortgage payments to homeowners throughout Dade,Broward,Palm Beach, Marion and Orange county.  Our services are provided "Free of Charge" to people who are experiencing difficulties with the possible loss of their home.   Question:How does it work? Ans.Our company negotiates directly with the lenders for you with our attorneys. If we`re successful in satisfying your default, we`re compensated by the lenders at the time of closing.   Question:Do I pay any additional fee`s?   Ans.Not at all. Our company will... 02/08/2008

OCALA REAL ESTATE MARKET REPORT Homes Sold January 2008 .........133*$100,000.00 or less..........................51$101 to $200,000.00........................54$201 to $300,000.00........................16$301 to $500,000.00..........................9$500,000.00 Plus...............................3Active Listings as of 2/2/08.......7596**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· New homes around $150,000.00· Golf Course & 55+ communities.   · SE Ocala near but not in the Historic district· Houses priced at or below $100.00 per sq ft of living area  I think  the market is picking up. I'm getting about a buyer a week coming to my web site and using my Drea... 02/07/2008