I have created a Google Map showing the location of all Ocala area 55 plus communities. Eventuaaly I plan to put a link from the place marks to blog entries that will discribe each community. If you're not familiar with Google Maps, you can zoom in and out, move the map around with your mouse and even get an aereal view. For a breif discription of Ocala 55 Plus Retirement communitiies visit my web site. This is the link to my Ocala 55+ Communities Map.

The weather here in Ocala has been unusually warm for October. As a matter of fact it's been so hot that we have set records for he date several times. Here is how it has been. So far, half way through October, it's been in the low to mid 90's almost every day. It should be in the mid to high 80's and getting dryer all the time. October is also the beginning of the dry season where the afternoon thunderstorms stop, the humidity goes away and it doesn't rain for weeks om end. If you'd like to know more about Ocala weather visit my new web page that has all sorts of Ocala weather info.

GolfLink.com ranks Ocala as number 8 in it's list of Florida golf destinations. In addition of some great golf courses like Golden Hills, which just hosted the 2009 U.S Woman's Mid amateur Championship, Ocala has some really great Golf Course Communities. These great communities combined, with the fact that the Ocala area has the second lowest median home price in Florida, makes for some pretty great deals on homes. You can actually buy a home right on a golf course here in Ocala for under $200,000.00. Interestedin finding out more about Ocala Golf Course Communities? Call or email me and I can send you a list of Ocala area golf course homes for sale. There has never been a better time to buy.

This is a very nice 10 acre lot of cleared and partially fenced pasture land in the town of Citra which is just NW of Ocala. This land is located on a quiet tree lined street in an area of really nice farms.

Offered at only $175,000.00

Contact me any time about this property or other Ocala Farm Properties

I've been busy with mu other blog and neglected my real estate market reports here on Active Rain. In August Ocala real estate sales were up a little from July. Both months were huge improvements from a year ago. We still have a fairly considtant number of listings, hovering around 5,500. That's over 19 months of inventory and it doesn't seem to be going down fast. Inventory is down a lot sinve last year though.

Our market is still driven by short sales and foreclosures which combined account for around 40% of all sales. Our market has improved so much do to bargain hunters realizing that now is the time to buy and get the best selection.

If you're interested in Ocala Foreclosures just contact me and I'll send you a list.

I've had a lot to say about Ocala Short Sales both in my Ocala real estate blog and in my Ocala Foreclosure Guide on my web site. I'm not crazy about short sales but I'm gradually changing my mind.

I'm very excited by the fact that my new broker, Coral Shores Realty, has a program through their affiliated title company where the title companies lawyer will prepare a short sale package and handle all the negotiations with the lender. I think this is a huge step in the right direction for sellers needing short sale help here in Ocala.

From the buyers side I still prefer foreclosures to short sales but I think a greater percentage are closing as Realtors get better at them and banks get more and better trained staff.

Still too many short sales never close and go to foreclosure. If you are a seller and want to know more about Ocala Short Sales feel free to contact me any time. I'd be glad to help.

   The government is offering a tax credit of $8,000- to first time buyers here in Ocala Florida. If you have not owned a house in the past 3 years you probably qualify. The thing is that you must close on your new home by the end of this year. That means you have to get a house under contract by early November of this year. You need to start looking now!

   This is a credit and not a deduction. You don't need to owe $8,000- in taxes. Yes, you can get a lot more in tax credit than you owe. That's free money! Buy a house. Prices and interest rates haven't been this low in years.

   Learn more about the First Time Buyers Tax Credit in Ocala FL

   Everything you wanted to know about Ocala real estate

The weather here in Ocala FL in June is just plain hot and humid. June is the beginning of the wet season here in Ocala. We get regular afternoon thunderstorms caused by winds off the Atlantic colliding with winds off the Gulf of Mexico. June is also the beginning of Hurricane season. Ocala is one of the least hurricane prone areas of the state of Florida.

Although I don't really like the humidity I do like a nice hot summer. As I'm fond of saying, the heat and humidity are a small price to pay for no winter.

Interested in reading more about Ocala real estate then visit my other blog.

Want to see what home prices are like here in Ocala? See my Ocala MLS search.

 Please visit my new Ocala Real Estate Blog for additional information and other market reports