Wow! Is this Great News for Ocala!     Ocala's real estate market is slowly recovering, but is probably 6-12 months behind most of the country. If there is any one thing holding Ocala back it is jobs! So this is Great News for Ocala!   Forbes ranks Ocala 5th nationwide for projected job growth       "Of the 200 largest cities by population, Ocala ranked fifth among Forbes magazine's listing of the best American cities for job growth.   ...       Ocala, the only Florida city to make it into the top 10, has a projected job growth of 3.4 percent. The city's median household income is $39,630.       Ocala's 8.0 percent unemployment rate is 2.5 percentage points higher than Austin's."   By Susan Latham Carr Staff writer   Published: Friday, August 9, 2013 at 2:00 p.m.   09/04/2013

Farmers’ Almanac: Nasty winter on tap for much of US, Super Bowl could become ‘Storm Bowl’    LEWISTON, Maine — The Farmers’ Almanac is using words like “piercing cold,” ‘’bitterly cold” and “biting cold” to describe the upcoming winter. And if its predictions are right, the first outdoor Super Bowl in years will be a messy “Storm Bowl.” By Associated Press, Published: August 25       So what's one to do?       Go Ice Skating in Ocala!   Get Ready for Some 'Ice' Skating in Ocala?                   08/31/2013

Get Ready for Some 'Ice' Skating in Ocala?   The last time we saw ice skating in Ocala was ~December 2006.  Even with a bubble tent over it the ice was more slush that ice.  But hey!  It is ice skating in Florida! Well now something a little more practical is coming to Ocala! "The Ocala City Council on Tuesday approved the purchase of a synthetic ice rink for use downtown during the holiday season. The 64- by 32-foot rink will accommodate up to 40 skaters at a time, according to a memo from Kathy Crile, director of the Recreation and Parks Department."  Staff report Published: Wednesday, August 21, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. 08/31/2013

More Accolades for Ocala & Marion County   Appleton earns accreditation from American Alliance of Museums "The Appleton Museum of Art has earned a prestigious accreditation that only 6 percent of museums nationwide have obtained, officials announced Wednesday. The Appleton is one of only 50 museums in Florida to be awarded accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums (AAM.)"   WELCOME TO THE APPLETON MUSEUM OF ART   The Appleton Museum of Art is recognized throughout Florida and beyond as a vibrant cultural center because of its world class permanent collection, outstanding exhibitions, educational programs and year-round special events. As you explore this website, you will find 08/30/2013

Ocala & Marion County Market Report August 2013 Homes 40% higher last month than during previous July July was an active month for Marion County’s single-family home market. Realtors reported 518 sales of existing homes - 40 percent more than recorded during the same month last year.The median sales price was $107,500, which was 15.7 percent more than the July 2012 mark.Of those 518 sales, 246 were cash sales. That’s 31 percent more than last July. By Jim Ross City edito Published: Wednesday, August 21, 2013 at 1:05 p.m.   For a little broader view, the chart below breaks down activity for the last six months into various price ranges.  Overall, the market in Ocala & Marion County has become "balanced" - favoring neither buyer or seller.  And for homes priced below $150k it has become ... 08/24/2013

 FedEx Ground closes $7.8M deal to buy 150 acres at commerce park "Ocala 489 LLC on Monday morning closed the deal selling 150 acres of land at the Ocala/Marion County Commerce Park to FedEx Ground Package System Inc. for $7.8 million, clearing the way for the company's plans to build a hub facility off Interstate 75." ... It is expected that 165 jobs will be created."          By Susan Latham Carr Staff writer Published: Monday, August 5, 2013 at 2:52 p.m.       08/20/2013

  Why not Ocala has so much else to offer, why not add the World Series? "Visalia claims Under-10 Cal Ripken World Series title" OK, so Ocala's Rampage did not advance, but in this kind of a series everyone is a winner!                       10-YEAR-OLD Ocala, Florida August 10-17, 2013 About Ocala   08/19/2013

And Now the Present; Getting to Know Each Other Better This is part 2 'And Now the Present' of get to know me on Debbie Reynolds’s Contest: What We Have in Common, Getting to Know Each Other Better, August Challenge in ActiveRain Part 1, From the Past; Getting to Know Each Other Better   Got into the challenging but rewarding field of real estate in 2006. Joined Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty Fished the Paralyzed Veterans of America tournament on the Harris Chain of Lakes Survived the burst of the real estate bubble. Joined Active Rain and thoroughly enjoy blogging and Meet-ups with other members, both on-line and in person Travel to all the great Florida attractions including Disney World, Cape Canaveral, Rainbow Springs State Park and Ocala's & Florida's oldest attraction Silver S... 08/17/2013

Two Ocala Hospitals Shine in Rankings by Consumer Reports     Munroe, Ocala Regional fare well in Consumer Reports ranking   "Both of Ocala's main hospitals were ranked near the top of Florida hospitals for surgery performance in elderly patients, according to a national report from Consumer Reports released last week."   Munroe Regional Medical Center and Ocala Regional Medical Center received the highest rating of "better" -- the highest of five categories that went from "better" to "worse."     By Kristine CraneStaff writer   Published: Wednesday, August 7, 2013 at 6:30 a.m   So Ocala has great weather, great location, Horse Capital of the World and a great health care system! 08/16/2013

While showing a home in a 55+ community the other day to a couple, the wife started sneezing and her nose and eyes began to run.  They loved the house and honestly there wasn't a cat in sight, in fact the owners didn't live there anymore yet the furnishings and personal items remained. We all love our little creatures, but we don't realize how they can affect other people.  My suggestion to remedy a situation like this is to remove all furnishings that are made of cloth and have rugs shampooed before leaving it.  Another suggestion would be to let other Realtors know that cats, dogs or other little critters lived there.  Some people are so allergic that they could end up in the hospital when a little note could have prevented it all.   07/21/2013

Ocala Ready to rock at City Hall   "American Idol," "The X-Factor," "The Voice" and other TV singing contests feature talented people from all walks of life, from every corner of the country. But this little corner of the country also has its share of undiscovered singers and bands. Some of them will perform Friday, July 19, in downtown Ocala. The free show will not have the fanfare of Ryan Seacrest or the voting masses, but it will have original music and hundreds of local fans." By Keith ChartrandCorrespondent   Published: Thursday, July 18, 2013 at 6:30 a.m. Last Modified: Tuesday, July 16, 2013 at 11:25 a.m. Ocala Rocks!! 07/20/2013

Ocala's IHMC Wins Robotics Competition   IHMC Finishes First In International Robotics Challenge Pensacola, FL -- A team from the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC) took first place in the initial stage of the DARPA Robotics Challenge, topping a roster of 26 of the top robotics research groups in the world. IHMC’s team scored 52 out of a possible 60 points in the DARPA Virtual Robotics Challenge, a computer simulation using software that will power a real-life humanoid robot in the future. Members of the top nine teams in the scoring will move on to the next competition, with the top six getting funding from DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) and provision of a humanoid robot, built by Boston Dynamics, for the next stage of the two-year competition,... 07/06/2013

CF ranks as nation's 8th most affordable 4-year college We always brag about Ocala's great weather, being the Horse Capital of the World, and its many attractions and activities.  Now we can also brag about it great College and being one of the most affordable in the country! "The U.S. Department of Education ranked the College of Central Florida as the eighth most affordable four-year public college in the country for 2011-12. CF's annual tuition for a full-time student in 2011-12 was $2,365, 66.9 percent below the national average of $7,135, U.S. education officials report." By Joe Callahan Staff writer Published: Thursday, June 27, 2013 at 3:44 p.m. Last Modified: Thursday, June 27, 2013 at 3:44 p.m.     06/29/2013

God and Country Day is back on for July 4th Earlier this week we wrote: God and Country Day Canceled for this Year!! Need a Miracle! Well the miracle occurred and Ocala Marion County will have its 44th annual God & Country Day God and Country Day is back on for July 4th "A day after announcing the 44th annual God and Country Day celebration on July Fourth was canceled, the Ocala Jaycees said it's back on. Club President George Edwards confirmed Wednesday afternoon that insurance has been secured, and the annual Independence Day festivities are once again a go. The day's activities begin about 1 p.m. on July 4 and run through a fireworks display at sunset. As in recent years, the celebration will be held near Golden Ocala at the intersection of U.S. 27 and County Road 225A."   One of the... 06/29/2013

God and Country Day Canceled for this Year!!  Need a Miracle! Could a forty year tradition be coming to an end in Ocala & Marion County?  One of the biggest 4th of July celebrations in the county has been happening for 43 years.  Most recently turned into a "tailgate party" in the heart of horse country in the "Horse Capital of the World"; it is now in jeopardy! God and Country Day canceled for this year "God and Country Day, a 40-plus year Independence Day tradition in Marion County, has been canceled for 2013. The celebration typically draws tens of thousands of residents every July 4th, and boasts one of the larger fireworks displays in the area." "But don't give up hope yet, said George H. Edwards III, president of the sponsoring Ocala Jaycees. "We're hoping for a miracle," he said ... 06/26/2013

Could the Ocala National Forest become the Next Amazon Jungle?  Just a little stretch of some imagination.  Although Ocala does have a national forest.  And even a few monkeys are living in the wild there.  No, the Ocala National Forest in not the next Amazon Jungle. But Amazon, the internet blockbuster store may be considering Ocala for one of its next warehouse locations and for many reasons, it would make a good choice. Leaders hopeful Amazon might build in Ocala "The news that Amazon is bringing thousands of jobs, millions of investment dollars and massive distribution hubs to Florida has touched off mad speculation about which communities would reap the windfall. And many locals hope Ocala is in the mix." "Locally, officials and observers believe the Ocala-Marion County Commerce Pa... 06/15/2013

Ocala & Marion County Unemployment Improving Thanks to High Tech!   R+L Carriers' new tech center fueled in part by incentive money "From cigarettes to cellphones to Chinook helicopters, R+L Carriers Inc. prides itself on delivering the goods more efficiently than most. “From Bangkok to Bangor, Maine, if it needs to move from A to B, we're here,” said Rob Bowman, R+L's president of logistics. “We'll figure out a way to get stuff moved.” By Bill ThompsonStaff writer Published: Saturday, June 1, 2013 at 8:38 p.m. Last Modified: Saturday, June 1, 2013 at 8:38 p.m.   06/03/2013

 Ocala's Final Honor Flight How appropriate as we approach Memorial Day that volunteers and supporters organize a trip to Washington DC's WWII memorial for what is often called The Greatest Generation.  It is so sad that for many of these heros Ocala's last flight may be their last flight.   Veterans prepare for May 23 Ocala Honor Flight     "Julian Schulze, a World War II veteran, will be on the final Ocala Honor Flight, which will take wing on May 23.     Photo Galleries Getting ready for Ocala Honor Flight     "On Oct. 25, 2012, the last scheduled flight was supposed to include two airplanes filled with veterans bound for Washington, D.C., to visit war memorials and other sites. One plane departed as scheduled. The other, which had a mechanical malfunction, was left sitting on the ta... 05/24/2013

Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty Field Day for ARC Marion At its 5th annual Red Day "Give Back Where You Live", Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty organized a Field Day for the clients of ARC Marion.   WHO WE ARE! ARC Marion, Inc., established in 1959, creates opportunities for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Ocala and Marion County Florida to live, work and play to the fullest of their capabilities.                 WHAT WE DO! We offer a variety of programs for clients with intellectual and developmental disabilities ranging from the Early Intervention Program, for ages birth to 3-years, to the Seniors Program in our Adult Day Training. Some of our clients are medically diagnosed as intellectually disabled, autistic, handicapped, and/or disabled. See our S... 05/20/2013

Ocala & Marion County Jobless Rate Continues to Plummet "Marion County's unemployment rate is continuing its downward trend, falling to 7.5 percent in April, down 0.3 percentage points from March's rate of 7.8%  This is the fifth consecutive month that the Ocala/Marion County metropolitan area has led the state with the fastest job-growth rate at 3.2 percent, with 2,900 new jobs for the year. Florida's job-growth rate during the same period was 1.6 percent." And this goes hand in hand with Ocala & Marion County's Real Estate market recovery. Top Five Easiest Real Estate Markets To Crack 05/18/2013