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.

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.

   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

ROLLING HILLS SALE MAY 29, 2009         

2135 sq ft Living   

1.16 acre lot

3 bedroom

2 bath

office

Center island kitchen

2 car garage

Not a short sale

Not a Foreclosure

List Price $200,000.00

Sale Price $170,000.00

This home was sold by an investor. Unlike short sales and foreclosures the AC was never turned off. This just goes to show that there are deals out there other than and in this case better than bank sales.

See images of this house on my Featured Listings page on my web site.

So in a sellers market you sell your home fast and you get top dollar. So what, unless you're going to live in your car from now on you'll need to buy another house. In a sellers market you will pay top dollar and have a poor selection.

In a buyers market you will have to sell low or not at all. However you can then go off into a buyers market with a ton of inventory and get a steal of a deal.

The best of all scenarios is reserved for the first time buyers. They are the ones who can buy low without having to sell low. This combined with the first time buyers tax credit, income tax deductions and record low interest rates makes owning cheaper than renting.

Looking for a house in Ocala? Check out my Free Ocala MLS Search