Crystal's Blog

WHAT DO WE DO WITH OUR MONEY—WHERE DO WE INVEST?

Crystal McCall ABR,CRS,CRB,GRI,SRES,CIPS (Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 09:57:36 -0500

The Bailout Recovery Package has been approved and hopefully we can move forward with our lives. The big question out there is where do we put our money for tomorrow? Please do not leave it under the mattress! We have to build faith again in our economic system in America. The principal of "Buy low, Sell high" needs to be considered.

Ocala, Belleview, Summerfield and The Villages, FL are well supplied with home inventory. Currently it will take two years to sell the available inventory in our area. The average market time to sell a home is over nine months. The one thing we have going for us is that central Florida is still a very desirable location for all due to our great weather.

Yet, people still need to have a place to live and the needs to buy and sell real estate remain constant. Many folks are downsizing due to energy challenges all over the country. Younger families in growth mode still desire to take advantage of these current lower prices and are buying larger homes. The one thing that is prevalent in the market is that buyers are making more decisions based on pricing more than on the emotional factors of choice.

Have you looked at what is going on in our real estate market? There are so many great buys out there. Just remember to be cautious by using Home Inspectors, Real Estate Appraisers and of course Real Estate professionals who are experienced and can make sure that you take all the right steps to protect your investments.

When buying homes, look for the basic 3 bedroom 2 bath 2 car garage homes. These are usually the easiest to rent and resale. Also, consider owner financed properties. This was a very common practice when interest rates were up in the teens back in the 1980's. This will be terms that are available with older more established properties, not the victim properties of the past few years. Location is another important factor when buying investment properties.

The final question to consider, is the election really going to make a difference on whether you buy a home now? Many people believe that the election will change our market. I hope that many people understand each one of us has to contribute to the idea of change no matter what the results of our forthcoming election. One thing we can all be sure of nothing ever stays the same.

OCALA FLORIDA REAL ESTATE OCTOBER 2008 UPDATE

Crystal McCall ABR,CRS,CRB,GRI,SRES,CIPS (Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty) — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 10:15:09 -0500

The housing market is certainly experiencing an incredible challenge in North Central Florida.

The passing of the Economic Bailout Deal is not going to give us an instant band-aid. It will hardly ease the pain. There are currently over 2500 pre-foreclosure and Bank owned properties in the Ocala marketplace according to RealtyTrac, Inc which follows all the foreclosure and lis pendens (pre-foreclosure) transactions around the country. This is all represented in the failure of many banks and financial institutions along Wall Street. Many sellers are having to take the route of short selling their homes back to the bank as they are buried in debt, experiencing challenges with home owners insurance and increased property taxes and are unable to make mortgage payments.

How is this affecting the Ocala marketplace?

Buyers are very skeptical. They are slow in making decisions and concerned that the prices will continue to decrease. The media states loans are difficult to obtain, but we have not had any challenges with banks. If a buyer has good credit, a secure job and a twenty percent investment, they can get a loan. There are also some FHA programs allowing smaller down payments to qualified buyers

Sellers must price their homes competitively with like properties. Many home owners still believe they are excluded from what is happening in the money market along with the housing market. In order to offer a competitive sale, the property has to be below what has already sold and terms are essential. We are seeing owner financing reappear in the housing market and cash is always the best way to deal.

Daily evaluation and re-evaluation is essential for Realtors to keep up and inform the home owners and buyers of these current marketplace trends. Experience and knowledge are the key to being well represented in a ever changing market. If you are needing counseling or advice as to what to do whether buying or selling, it is imperative that you contact a very skilled and experienced professional to represent your interest.

GATED COMMUNITY IN THE HEART OF OCALA!

Crystal McCall ABR,CRS,CRB,GRI,SRES,CIPS (Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:24:23 -0500

Crystal McCall | Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty | 352-547-1077

2041 Twin Bridge Circle, Ocala, FL

GATED COMMUNITY IN THE HEART OF OCALA!

4BR/4BA Multi-Family, 1 units

offered at $774,950

Year Built	2007
Sq Footage	3,450
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	4 full, 0 partial
Floors	2
Parking	3 Car garage
Lot Size	.64 acres
HOA/Maint	$140 per month

DESCRIPTION

Nestled amongst the trees, this 4 bedroom 4 bath home was built in 2007. It’s a true beauty that you must see to appreciate.
The front yard features a coy pond and circular driveway. This luxury home has an elevator leading to the full suite that includes a sitting room. The master has extensive closets and built in storage areas, and overlooks the pool and lanai. The kitchen comes complete with top of the line stainless steel appliances, has a breakfast bar and nook for casual dining. There is a Summer kitchen out by the private pool, perfect for entertaining. An in-law suite, with a separate entrance, could also be used as an office. This home is ready for immediate occupancy.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Central heat	Fireplace
High/Vaulted ceiling	Walk-in closet	Tile floor
Family room	Living room	Bonus/Rec room
Office/Den	Dining room	Breakfast nook
Dishwasher	Refrigerator	Stove/Oven
Microwave	Stainless steel appliances	Laundry area - inside
Balcony, Deck, or Patio	Yard	Swimming pool

COMMUNITY FEATURES

Clubhouse	Swimming pool(s)	Lake
Gated property	Secured entry

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Crystal McCall

Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty

352-547-1077

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Sep 23, 2008, 6:11am PDT

OCALA and THE VILLAGES FL 2nd QUARTER FORECLOSURE REPORT

Crystal McCall ABR,CRS,CRB,GRI,SRES,CIPS (Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty) — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 09:38:46 -0500

What is going on in today's foreclosure market? Based on the most recently released report from Realty Trac, the website that keeps us abreast of what is going on in the foreclosure market, things are just moving down the road. Foreclosure activity is up 14% in the second quarter of 2008:

"Florida documented the nation's fourth highest state foreclosure rate in the second quarter, with one in every 78 households receiving a foreclosure filing during the quarter - more than twice the national average. Foreclosure filings were reported on 109,433 Florida properties during the quarter, the second highest total of any state and an increase of nearly 25 percent from the previous quarter.

This definitely is placing a lot of activity of Buyers/Investors looking for great deals of which we are complying with the public's needs. Sellers want to sell and Buyers are looking for great deals and getting them."

Lenders have had a challenge to get the mortgage appraisals to agree with the current pricing but things are working as sales are closing. I strongly encourage that you work with a Real Estate professional who is highly experienced in assisting you with these pre-foreclosure and foreclosure purchases as many deals are not completed because of the lack of knowledge and understanding of what needs to be done in these transactions. I have dealt with these properties for over 25 years and know they change daily as to what needs to be done with each financial institution.

If you need assistance with dealing with foreclosures contact us at Crystal@CrystalMcCall or http://OcalaForeclosureSpecialist.com or http://VillagesForeclosures.com .

BUYING OR SELLING A HOME—WHICH COMES FIRST?

Crystal McCall ABR,CRS,CRB,GRI,SRES,CIPS (Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 16:31:05 -0500

Traditionally, we have been told that it was best to place your current home on the market, take the equity from the property and reinvest it in the next home you plan on buying. As we know, the current market in Ocala and The Villages, Fl is leaving many sellers with little or no equity or even negative value.

One fact that has become very evident, the purchase prices of today are becoming incredible. We are seeing great buys and it has become an outstanding market to buy real estate in. There are many folks looking for great homes to rent and this might be the time to turn your home into an investment property if it does not afford you enough equity in the current market.

Of course, you must have great credit to get a loan and this is a factor that must first be considered. Just today, my loan officers have contacted me to let us know that interest rates have dropped down to the 5% range. It has been a while since we have seen this and we do not think that it will last very long.

Renting your current home may be a good option in a buyers market until the market switches. This is the current trend for many people who want to buy with these great prices but they are not able to sell for a great profit. Renting your current property will hopefully take care of your debt service owed and cover most of your expenses leaving this as a lateral move and still enable you to take advantage of what is going on in our current market.

If you would like further information or need a great mortgage lender contact, please let us know.

Crystal@CrystalMcCall.com

Luxurious Farm in the Gated Community of Bradford Farms Ocala Florida

Crystal McCall ABR,CRS,CRB,GRI,SRES,CIPS (Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 10:51:16 -0500

I wanted to share a terrific listing with you that is in my portfolio. Look at this beautiful "smart house"in Bradford Farms complete with screened in pool, horse paddock, 3 stall barn and seperate gentleman's cottage or office. This home has a lot to offer!

Crystal McCall | Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty | 352-547-1077

9140 SW 52 Terrace, Ocala, FL

3.65-ACRE LUXURIOUS FARM IN GATED COMMUNITY!

4BR/3.5BA Single Family House

offered at $948,750

Year Built	2006
Sq Footage	3,800
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	3 full, 1 partial
Floors	2
Parking	3 Car garage
Lot Size	3.65 acres
HOA/Maint	$50 per month

DESCRIPTION

Welcome to this safe and secure “smart house” in Bradford Farms! Custom designed for casual living lifestyle in this well planned French country style. Design includes wood floors, tray ceilings, columns, kitchen with breakfast bar and nook, granite, stainless appliances including Thermador Professional Oven. Media/game room on 2nd floor. Indoor utility room with Bosch washer and dryer. 38-foot garage. Screen enclosed custom saltwater pool with waterfall. Master suite features a double-sided fireplace. New 3 stall barn, as well as separate Gentleman’s cottage/office.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Central heat	Fireplace
High/Vaulted ceiling	Walk-in closet	Hardwood floor
Tile floor	Family room	Bonus/Rec room
Office/Den	Dining room	Breakfast nook
Dishwasher	Refrigerator	Stove/Oven
Granite countertop	Stainless steel appliances	Washer
Dryer	Laundry area - inside	Yard
Swimming pool

COMMUNITY FEATURES

Secured entry

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

Gentleman's Cottage/Office

Salt Water Pool

38 Ft. Garage

New Barn and Tack Room

Paddocks

Property Fenced and Cross Fenced

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Crystal McCall

Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty

352-547-1077

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Aug 19, 2008, 6:56am PDT

Shady Wood Ocala FL Dream Home---Below Market

Crystal McCall ABR,CRS,CRB,GRI,SRES,CIPS (Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 08:59:09 -0500

What a great buy in SE Ocala in this remodeled and update home nestled in the trees for privacy. The price of $218,750 which includes real hard wood floors, updated maple cabinets and Corian countertops in the kitchen, beautiful enclosed Sun room overlooking a naturally landscaped private backyard and brick fireplace. This property is close to both Munroe Regional Medical Center and Ocala Regional Hospital in addition to being close to SE schools including Forest High School, South Ocala Elementary School and St Johns Lutheran School.

Shady Wood is known for its great location and affordable housing for your family's needs. View great pictures and virtual tour of this home and others at http://www.CrystalMcCall.com or http://www.OcalaHomeSource.com . For a direct link to preview the quality of this home click here.

For further real estate assistance in Ocala, Belleview, Summerfield and The Villages, contact Crystal McCall and The Sold Team to meet your real estate needs.

Crystal McCall & The Sold Team
Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty
Serving Ocala-Marion County, Summerfield and The Villages for 29 Years!
352 547 1077   Ocala
352 267 7846   The Villages
352 547 1078   Fax
email: Crystal@CrystalMcCall.com
Website: http://www.CrystalMcCall.com

Do you want a Realtor or a Salesperson Representing Your Home Purchase in The Villages, FL??

Crystal McCall ABR,CRS,CRB,GRI,SRES,CIPS (Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 09:34:57 -0500

You are faced with decisions in choosing location and properties and now you must think about who to call when you want to buy a home in The Villages, FL. The Villages is a "retirement community" which is also called the Disneyland for adults located in Central FL, just south of Ocala and 75 miles north of Orlando. Golf is just one of the many activities that are available for mature adults looking for a fun lifestyle. Hundreds of homes are for sale with good prices but it is the "great deal" that you are looking for which can seal your emotional purchase.

The Villages is a development which has numerous sales people who work for the developer. Their first objective is to sell you a new property versus a resale or as they term quality pre-owned homes. The developer has built all of the homes and they are good construction. Some homes that are pre-owned have been customized. The most important thing that all Buyers should know: The Villages adds their own infrastructure bond to a new purchase which can be over $ 30,000.00 added to your expenses. Of course they let you pay this off over a time period for a competitive rate of interest, but in reality, you have added a mortgage to your property as this is a debt that you the owner incur.

As a Realtor, I do not work for the Villages but for the buyer looking for a great deal. I have found these bonds are very negotiable to a motivated seller. Some property owners have paid off their bond as they understand this is a tax and new owners of resale properties are not willing to pay the prior owners left over tax on the property.

A Realtor who is offering the buyer Buyers Representation should take the active role and negotiate the transaction for the buyers to make the deal work in your favor - not the developers favor.
Understanding the power of negotiating makes a big difference in what a new homeowner will pay whether buying a new home or a preowned home in The Villages. This can save you many thousands of dollars for a beautiful golf course home in this fun community of golf cart transportation, a lifestyle for mature adults.

Bottom line, you the buyer make the decision. Do you want the Villages Salesperson representing the owner or the Realtor with 29 years of experience who has sold over 2500 properties and represents you the buyer! It's your call.

Give Crystal McCall and the Sold Team a call today at 1-800-391-8354 x 0

Abundant Foreclosures from Ocala to The Villages

Crystal McCall ABR,CRS,CRB,GRI,SRES,CIPS (Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 08:51:41 -0500

Today's real estate market is abundant with terms of shorts sales and foreclosures and the best time to buy a property for a "good deal" is when it is an official Bank Owned property. This means it is completely through the foreclosure property, all appraisals have been completed, the bank has a completed file on the property and it wants to get this property off their books as soon as possible.

In the month of June, 2008, there were over 20,000 foreclosures filed in the state of Florida. These are homes both over the $ 500,000 price point with the best inventory in newer homes from $ 150,000 to $ 250,000. Many of these homes are brand new and never lived in and they are in great repair. Yes, there are those homes that have been stripped and abused and some of these are great buys but the new owner has to be willing to accept them in "as is" condition and willing to repair and improve at these discounted prices.

Summerfield, Fl which includes retirement communities of Stonecrest and Del Webb Spruce Creek Golf and Country Club and The Villages have been included in this overwhelming market of Foreclosures and Bank Owned(Real Estate Owned)properties. These are homes in golf course and retirement communities.

The difference in these properties and the "Short Sales" that the media describes is that the Foreclosed properties are ready to be sold. There is not a waiting period of submitting an offer and then waiting, sometimes 60-90 days for a counter offer which many times is greater than the asking price. Buyers are finding that these short sales are causing disappointment at the end of negotiation as the bank is truly not ready to discount the price at the time.

Looking for great deals in real estate in the North Central Fl market including Ocala, Summerfield and The Villages, Fl contact us at 352 547 1077 or email us at Crystal@CrystalMcCall.com.

Five Box Technique to Prepare Your Home for Sale

Crystal McCall ABR,CRS,CRB,GRI,SRES,CIPS (Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:23:07 -0500

Everyday we hear and read how challenging it is to market your home and we are all looking for a better way to make our homes show. As I show properties to prospective home owners, I am truly amazed how "motivated sellers" allow their homes to be previewed by a possible Buyer. The home is featured with unnecessary clutter all around.

Clutter and disorganization is not only a huge time waster (as stated in Revolution Health article by Laura Stack) and cause for stress, it is also a deterrent when showing the property in a market that is overrun with an abundance of inventory.

Stack offers the Five Box Technique which is very organized and efficient. First, take the opportunity to step back and review what needs to be better organized to make showings more effective. The five boxes method helps you systematically de-clutter and get everything better organized. Label the boxes as follows:

1) Put Away-- replace items out of place
2) Give Away-good condition, but of no use to you any longer
3) Store-items you will use in the future
4) Toss-broken, old or of no value to you any longer
5) Belongs here-items that belong in the area but need to place appropriately

Schedule this activity for one hour at a time and set your goals for this not to be a burden on your already overly taxed daily routine. You will see what a great difference this makes without spending any money to hire a professional to come and Stage your home. It will also make it easier to prepare your home for showings with minimal preparation.

Set the Stage. Show your motivation as a seller by the presentation.

Crystal McCall
Accredited Staging Professional
Broker Associate Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty

Central Florida Foreclosure Specialist

Crystal McCall ABR,CRS,CRB,GRI,SRES,CIPS (Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:19:12 -0500

Realty Trac, one of the nations largest Foreclosure Specialist has assigned Crystal McCall, Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty to handle Pre-foreclosed and Foreclosed properties in the Ocala, Summerfield and The Villages marketplace in Central Florida.

Realty Trac is the most comprehensive and convenient link to what is going on in the Foreclosure market today. They have the nations largest database of Pre-foreclosures, Auction and Bank Owned properties. Buyers using this network through Crystal McCall will be afforded the ability of purchasing properties 25-50% below market prices. Financing for these properties is easily to obtain and this is a great source for investments today!

If you are in the market for these properties, just give me a call! 1 800-391 8354 or visit my website, http://www.CrystalMcCall.com.

9140 SW 52 Terrace, Ocala, FL 34476

Crystal McCall ABR,CRS,CRB,GRI,SRES,CIPS (Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:09:23 -0500

Crystal McCall | Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty | 352-547-1077

9140 SW 52 Terrace, Ocala, FL

3.65-ACRE LUXURIOUS FARM IN GATED COMMUNITY!

4BR/3.5BA Single Family House

offered at $948,750

Year Built	2006
Sq Footage	3,800
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	3 full, 1 partial
Floors	2
Parking	3 Car garage
Lot Size	3.65 acres
HOA/Maint	$50 per month

DESCRIPTION

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Central heat	Fireplace
High/Vaulted ceiling	Walk-in closet	Hardwood floor
Tile floor	Family room	Bonus/Rec room
Office/Den	Dining room	Breakfast nook
Dishwasher	Refrigerator	Stove/Oven
Granite countertop	Stainless steel appliances	Washer
Dryer	Laundry area - inside	Yard
Swimming pool

COMMUNITY FEATURES

Secured entry

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

Gentleman's Cottage/Office

Salt Water Pool

38 Ft. Garage

New Barn and Tack Room

Paddocks

Property Fenced and Cross Fenced

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Want to see more - for Visual Tour click here!

Crystal McCall

Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty

352-547-1077

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Jun 19, 2008, 5:58am PDT

The Real Estate Market is Back on the Move

Crystal McCall ABR,CRS,CRB,GRI,SRES,CIPS (Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 08:59:38 -0500

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 ended up flopping. The banks are foreclosing on these properties for much less than what the original loan amount was owed and are great buys for today's buyers.

Lets look at lenders and what are their plans. We are seeing a slight increase in interest rates and buyers need to consider buying today or the interest rates might be a disadvantage to your purchase. Buyers need to be very concerned at their credit scores as they are changing the way that your financials are being reviewed.

Real estate is still one of our greatest investments. This is truly the time to buy! Buy low! Todays' prices are great values and will be reflecting increased values within the next 36 months.

Home Resale What You Should Know

Crystal McCall ABR,CRS,CRB,GRI,SRES,CIPS (Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty) — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 03:41:53 -0500

Choosing and buying a new home is one of the most important steps you will make during your lifetime. Along with getting married and having a baby, it also ranks as one of the most stressful. And once you finally find the home of your dreams and settle in, you begin to notice all of the little problems you may have overlooked originally.

If you make the decision to sell, of course you will expect to receive the highest possible market vaue available for your area. But, unfortunately the things that made it your perfect home may not appeal to another buyer. So how do you make the correct choices to create appeal for the potential buyer?

Be careful before you sink thousands of dollars into remodeling or upgrades. Your home may outshine your neighbors, but that is not necessarily a good thing. If you price your home over the median price for the area in an effort to recoup your investment, it may actually end up driving buyers away. On the other hand, failure to update an outmoded residence or improve an awkward layout can also give a negative message to buyers. It is important to document all changes made to the home, providing a new buyer with peace of mind and conveying to them your pride of homeownership.

Other issues such as lack of security, privacy, or a view, the condition of the surrounding area, and declining property values can be more difficult to overcome, but not impossible.

No one will be knowledgable about the state of your local market than a qualified Realtor. Contact a real estate professional in your area for tips to increase your home's desirability and market value.

Is the Condition of the Housing Market Influenced by Media Hype or Local Trends?

Crystal McCall ABR,CRS,CRB,GRI,SRES,CIPS (Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty) — Fri, 04 May 2007 04:24:09 -0500

It seems everywhere you turn these days, there is another disturbing headline or negative prediction in regard to the state of the national housing market. We are set up to expect everything from a recession to another great depression, and everything in between. How are we supposed to separate media hype from actual facts and how much impact does the press really have on whether or not people are buying or selling their homes? If as some believe, the decision as to whether or not to purchase or place your house on the market is largely psychological, the repercussions of negative media statements may be partially to blame on the slowed housing market in some areas of the country. In reference to last year's housing slow down, Ellen Renish, regional Vice President for the National Association of Realtors (NAR) stated, "What happened to us is the media". But, how accurate is the media's portrayal of the national market for your area locally?

As an example, while headlines warned of a widespread bottoming out of the housing market, a comparison last year between a number of East and West coast states actually showed many of the westerly states reported increases in appreciation upwards of 17 percent while those on the east coast saw a decline in home prices. In other parts of the country such as California sellers continued to keep prices high determined to cash in on the appreciation boom of previous years causing the market to stall for a time as buyers largely refused to accede to their demands. And while current value is high in the Midwest, with large homes priced to sell at around $200,000, there have not been any increases in the number of sales reported likely because of the high number of job shortages and the ramifications to the local economies.

Contrary to the picture afforded by the media, the NAR is predicting the latter part of 2007 will actually show an overall strengthening of the market nationally. It is rumored that the worst part of the housing slump has passed, with the neighborhoods that benefited the most now showing the largest subsequent aftermath. As sellers become more and more willing to reduce their asking prices and interest rates stabilize there will be an increasing number of good deals to be found. It is just a matter of knowing when and where to look and who to ask.

Logic dictates if you want to know the facts about an area, its economy, its resources or its housing market, you must go to the source. It is just not feasible to believe that you can make an informed decision as to the condition of an area's market simply by reading the opinion presented by someone who does not live, work or study the trends in that place. When you decide to sell or buy a house, be sure to contact a trusted real estate professional in that area who can provide you with the knowledgeable guidance and direction necessary to make the process an effortless and even enjoyable one. Even if you are relocating to a new area, your Realtor will be more than happy to connect you with an affiliate who specializes in that locale.

Just remember when it comes to real estate it is true what they say, it is all about the location.

Reversing the Effects of Poor Lending Practices

Crystal McCall ABR,CRS,CRB,GRI,SRES,CIPS (Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty) — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 18:05:40 -0500

As people across the country begin to take notice of recent news involving the housing market and the state of the subprime mortagage industry, steps are being taken to reverse the economic damage.

Well-known fair housing advocate, the National Community Reinvestment Coalition have teamed with some subprime lending companies to encourage the establishment of laws to regulate nationwide foreclosure proceedings. This is in answer to the large amount of recent property reposessions upon homeowners with subprime loans. The legislation would still allow qualified borrowers to obtain mortgages while providing guidelines that will safeguard from predatory and unsafe lending practices. It could also afford those facing foreclosure the time and opportunity to receive a fair assessment of their circumstances prior to litigation.

Perhaps sensing the need for change from within, some mortgage finance companies have begun offering restructured fixed-rate mortgages to replace the high-interest, adjustable rate loans held by some of their sub-prime customers. In the long run, this will provide homeowners with poor credit ratings the chance to bounce back from the brink of foreclosure as they start to rebuild their borrowing history. Eventually, this will contribute to the reestablishment of our economy and the housing market on a national scale.

To search for properties or for further information on the local housing market in the Ocala, Marion County area, visit our main website at http://www.crystalmccall.com/.

Outside Factors and the Housing Market

Crystal McCall ABR,CRS,CRB,GRI,SRES,CIPS (Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty) — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 21:41:22 -0500

As more and more subprime loan companies falter or sink altogether the Federal government has finally decided to step in and is beginning to take measures in an effort to avert further fallouts from occurring. National lending standards are being reviewed by Congress, and if passed laws will put an end to current dangerous lending practices such as overly high interest rates or inequitable penalties and fees forcing banks to provide more stringent requirements for loan applicants. Lawmakers realize this may take some time, understanding the importance of ensuring that any final legislation does not create the opposite effect of some being totally unable to receive loan acceptance. In the meantime, the percentage of foreclosures among bad risk credit homeowners continues to increase creating a flood of homes on the market. Unfortunately, this has not translated to an rise in home purchases; instead the number of sales nationwide is lower than in previous years.

Another factor which may affect the number of homes being sold is an increase in adverse weather conditions and natural disasters, a side effect to the increasing concern over global warming. Although Ocala's inland position decreases the immediate effect of many of the hurricanes and tropical storms which hit Florida, we certainly feel the far reaching outcome these disasters wrought upon friends, neighbors and the local economy.

For information on local market trends or to view property in the Ocala-Marion County areas, visit http://www.crystalmccall.com/.

Ocala Lifestyles

Crystal McCall ABR,CRS,CRB,GRI,SRES,CIPS (Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty) — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 12:20:05 -0500

Alligators Under Attack

Florida's state reptile and unofficial mascot, the alligator, has come under attack. The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission recently began a statewide study that may determine the eventual fate of wild alligators in Florida. Frequent reports of alligator attacks throughout the state have increased primarily due to the population insurgence over the past few years, causing many to question whether or not prehistoric creatures can live side by side with modern man. With no easy solution in sight and lines being drawn between the opposing views, the conservationalists and the hunters, only time will tell what the future holds for these ancient predators.

Market Status Update

This year's worldwide economic failures and fluctuations are still being felt here in the U.S. 30-year mortgage rates are still some of the lowest on record while investors continue to study the market's activity.

Although the stock market ended with a slight rise on Thursday, bolstering hopes for its continued increase, the floundering real estate industry and continued downturn among sub-prime lenders remain a cause for concern. Here in Ocala, we have been fortunate compared to some, but the far reaching effects of our world's changing economy have yet to be revealed.

The McCall Sold Team continues to look ahead to the future of real estate, focusing on national trends and their effect on our home market, while providing the highest levels of professionalism, personal attention and service to our clients. If you would like more information about Ocala Florida homes or the current market trends, contact us at crystal@crystalmccall.com.

2006 Tax Tips

Crystal McCall ABR,CRS,CRB,GRI,SRES,CIPS (Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty) — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 15:00:47 -0500

Tax time is almost upon us, here are some tips to make things easier.

Self-Employment Retirement Contributions - Self-employed? Simplified Employee Pension (SEP)? Make tax year contributions until April 16, 2007 or October 15, 2007 if you file an extension.
Home office deduction - Self-employed? Qualify for a home office deduction? Include a portion of heating and lighting costs and home insurance premiums with your write-offs.
Renovations - Recent eco-friendly renovations? Additions like natural gas, new windows, energy-saving appliances, renewable energy sources like solar panels or windmills increase your eligibility for a tax credit.
Investment properties - Repair costs on investment properties are deductible for the year paid with major residential remodeling projects depreciated over a span of 27.5 years.
Early mortgage/property tax payments - Deduct the mortgage interest and any pre-paid property taxes this year for January 2007 mortgage payments made in 2006.

Recent Foreclosure Activity in Ocala

Crystal McCall ABR,CRS,CRB,GRI,SRES,CIPS (Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty) — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 14:59:25 -0500

The Marion County Clerk's office reported 142 foreclosures for February 2007 up from 107 in February 2006, a 33% increase. One group that seem to be profiting from the sudden influx of homes on the market are the real estate investors who are willing to step in and purchase foreclosed properties at a greatly reduced rate.
This increase in failed homeownership may be due in part to the number of sub-prime mortgages which were authorized during the market rise at the beginning of the decade. The recently popularized habit of "flipping" properties (buying property at a reduced rate and selling it right away to make a quick profit) has dropped over 4% between 2005 and 2006. Now many people are stuck with property they can no longer sell and can not afford to hold on to. The Florida Association of Realtors reports the average median sales price for a home in Ocala is down $159,600 from $166,200.
Because of the increased home inventory and falling prices, Ocala will most likely continue to see the number of foreclosures on the rise for the next few years before the market corrects itself again.

Reflections on National Marketing Trends and their effect on Ocala

Crystal McCall ABR,CRS,CRB,GRI,SRES,CIPS (Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty) — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 14:57:52 -0500

There is a reason so many people choose the Marion County area of Florida as their place of retirement. The pace of life is slower here, a southern style of living unusual for Florida, but it is what makes Ocala unique from any other part of the country. Sometimes it is easy to forget about the rest of the world surrounded as you are by so many natural wonders. The historic Silver Springs nature park, Ocala National Forest (Florida's 2nd largest after the Everglades) and Florida National Scenic Trail, not to mention a lush array of farms and horse pastures. It is not surprising that this area also attracts a steady stream of tourists, year after year. After their vacation has ended, most go back to their homes and lives, but some decide they never want to leave this place again. For those, becoming a home owner is the only possible outcome.

The communities that comprise this county have seen a steady increase in home ownership over the past few years. Real estate prices soared all over the country and 2004 and 2005 were record-breaking years in many markets. However, a recent breakdown of several influential sub-prime mortgage groups has many asking if the country is headed for a recession? What affect might this have on our communities, families and way of life here in Ocala?

Sub-prime mortgages are often given to those who may have less than perfect credit, but the loan's higher interest rates seem to doom it to failure right from the beginning. The increase in real estate sales and expansion across the country has been astounding, and these past few years have seen a larger percentage of minority buyers than ever before. The 2005 Minority Home Buying Surge report, by ComplianceTech, lists Ocala, Florida as "the high volume metro area with the greatest change in all minority lending...with a 90% increase over 2004 levels for minorities ". Over the past two years, about 20% of all loans were sub-prime and studies suggest that about 2 million defaults may occur within the next two years.

How will these financial changes effect our local real estate market? Please allow our team of well-qualified, knowledgable agents to help answer any questions you may have.

Getting Around Ocala, Florida

Crystal McCall ABR,CRS,CRB,GRI,SRES,CIPS (Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty) — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 07:36:44 -0500

Marion County is often called the crossroads of Florida, and rightly so. Its location in the north-central part of the state puts it within an hour or two of major metropolitan areas. Ocala is at the hub of the system of federal and state highways that crisscross the county. Area residents enjoy easy access to Interstate 75 for north/south travel, to U.S. highways 27, 301, and 441, and state roads 40 and 200, which connect Ocala with points east to the Atlantic and west to the Gulf of Mexico. Greyhound bus line provides daily passenger and package express service. The Ocala Regional Airport is a general aviation facility that offers private and charter flight services, as well as a business aircraft terminal. This general aviation airport has expanded to include an FAA Aircraft Rescue Firefighting Training Facility and an emergency response driver’s training center.

Private and charter traffic is also handled at the airport in Dunnellon. Gainesville Regional Airport, which is a 35-mile drive from Ocala, serves the region with connections nationwide. International flights are less than two hours away in Orlando, Tampa, and Jacksonville.

AMTRAK provides daily passenger train service, and CSX Transportation, the nation’s largest Class 1 railroad, carries freight throughout the United States and Canada.

Distances From Ocala

Gainesville: 35 miles
Orlando: 75 miles
Tampa/St. Petersburg: 95 miles
Jacksonville: 98 miles
Tallahassee: 171 miles
Miami: 294 miles
Atlanta: 377 miles

Airports

Ocala Municipal Airport 629-8377	Gainesville Regional Airport 373-0249
Dunnellon Airport 489-2804

Bus Service

Greyhound Bus
732-2677

SunTran Bus
401-2450

Relocating to Ocala, Florida

Crystal McCall ABR,CRS,CRB,GRI,SRES,CIPS (Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty) — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 07:33:49 -0500

Thinking of moving to the area? Need a real estate agent, an apartment, utilities or just a hotel to stay in? Visit my other websites for valuable resources to assist you with the move.
www.OcalaVirtualTour.com
www.TheVillagesHomeSource.com
www.OcalaHomeSource.com
www.Fl-RetirementCommunities.com
Find out population information.
Read about the Quality of Life in Ocala/Marion County.
Residency information for Ocala/Marion County.
Find a Church.
Marion County Schools
Subscribe to our local newspaper.
Ocala Police Department
Marion County Sheriffs Office
Need more information? Order our FREE customized Relocation Package! It has everything you need to make your move more smoothly.

Ocala Florida - Something for everyone!

Crystal McCall ABR,CRS,CRB,GRI,SRES,CIPS (Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty) — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 07:30:18 -0500

The Ocala Chamber of Commerce hosted a Fish Fry on July 14th with over 1,000 people attendance. The 32nd Annual Chamber Fish Fry and Corn Boil was presented by Embarq. The theme "Escape to Tiki Island" was highlighted by a group of "castaways" welcoming chamber members to the event.

Chamber President Jaye Baillie and the Tiki Island "Castaways"

Ocala, Florida Offers You Fun and Free Things To Do!

Crystal McCall ABR,CRS,CRB,GRI,SRES,CIPS (Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty) — Fri, 14 Jul 2006 08:20:54 -0500

One of the best things I enjoy about living in Ocala is all the fun things you can do. We live in such a beautiful part of Florida, which offers you not only perfect weather, but also offers you some fun things to do and for FREE!

Take a look at what all Ocala has to offer all year around!

Play to your heart's content on one of the playgrounds at area parks.

Stroll or jog on one of our walking trails at Jervey-Gantt, Martin Luther King Recreation Complex or Lillian Bryant Park.Go fishing at Lake Tuscawilla, Ritterhoff Park or Nature Park (youth and seniors only).

Enjoy music on the downtown square on Friday evenings in the Fall.

Enjoy a nutritious lunch at select community centers in the summer (children only).

Visit Santa on the square during the month of December.

Enjoy the annual Fishing Derby held at Tuscawilla Park in April.

Go bicycling at Coehadjoe park.

Try your hand at cards - Pinochle, Bridge and more.

Access computer labs at local community centers.

Picnic at one of Ocala's 31 parks.

Participate in a variety of court sports -- Basketball, volleyball, racquetball, tennis and shuffleboard.

Discover science and the wonder of the outdoors at one the Science Center's open house days (held several times per year).

Enjoy a nature walk at one of several City nature trails (you'll see our wild side!) -- Heritage Nature Conservancy, Brick City Quarry, and Celebrate 2000 Community Park.

Participate in the annual Easter egg hunt.

Go see a local little league game (it's as American as apple pie!)

Help kick off the holiday season at "Light Up Ocala" in November of each year.

Receive tutoring on schoolwork at local community centers.

Obtain information on local services at the annual Parade of Senior Services.

Join in daily for a variety of board and table games available at all of our community centers.

Watch the latest video releases at community centers.

Get free tax help.

Receive a health screening.

Try roller-blading at Brick City Track or Coehadjoe park.

Improve your cardiovascular health -- participate in exercise classes.

Fly a kite at any of our "green space" parks.

Show off your artistic talents -- join in a variety of arts and crafts programs.

Can't bounce? Take lessons to improve those basketball skills.

Feed the ducks at local ponds and lakes.

Take dance lessons.

Read a book under a big oak.

Looking for more fun things to do? Visit http://www.ocalacc.com/ocala_florida/templates/tourism.aspx?articleid=17&zoneid=8

Soak in some rays at Lake Tuscawilla (soak safely -- use sunscreen).

Fine tune your golfing skills -- Pine Oaks offers a free 4.5 acre practice area which includes 3 greens and 2 sand traps or Pine Oaks and Ocala Golf Club both offer free putting greens.

Get the guys (and gals) together for a game of pick-up baseball at an area park.

Ride the STARS bus to area centers (income eligibility required).

Toss horseshoes at Coehadjoe Park.

And much more...