Ocala Real Estate Talk

Archive for January, 2012

Home sales in Ocala/Marion County were up over November. That’s not a surprise as we are going into Snowbird season. We don’t have an off season like winter in northern areas but we do have more business in the winter than the summer. The worse the winter is up north the better it is for selling homes here in Ocala.

IS THE WORST BEHIND US?

The following analysis is from Michael White and Ocala Valuation Services a local appraiser.

Based on the declining amount of inventory, Marion County may be near the bottom for real estate values. Values have continued to decline, although at the slowest rate since 2007. Meanwhile inventory levels have been reduced substantially. In 2011, the Marion County Multiple Listing Service (OMCAR) saw more than 4,300 single-family homes sold. This is the highest number since 2006, when more than 4,700 homes were sold. At the end of 2008, Marion County had a 26 month supply of single-family inventory, compared to an 18 month supply at the end of 2009, a 13 month supply at the end of 2010 and a 9 month supply at the end of last year. Absorption rates have increased from 215 per month in 2008, to 268 in 2009, 333 in 2010 and 361 last year.

Several areas are noted to be under-supplied at present, including Marion Oaks,Silver Springs Shores and the 34479 zip code in NE Ocala. Marion Oaks currently has less than a four month supply while Silver Springs Shores has slightly more than a three month supply. At the end of 2011, Silver Springs Shores and Marion Oaks accounted for 8% of the available inventory recorded in the OMCAR database. 21% of all residential properties sold in 2011 through OMCAR were located in these two subdivisions as well.

Of all of the data analyzed, the reduction in distress properties (foreclosure and short sales) seemed to stand out the most. Distress sales accounted for 39% of all sales countywide in 2009, 51% in 2010 and 47% in 2011. At the end of 2011, only 21% of all active listings were marketed as distress properties.

OK, this is where I tell you that now is the time to buy. Call me, email me or better yet use my Ocala Dream Home Finder.

I always have buyers looking for a retirement home and an item high on their wish list is a nice view.  Most retirement communities are laid out with parallel streets and the homes are back to back. This is especially true of newer communities. If you think about it this makes a lot of sense. The builder gets a maximum number of homes on his land.

There are options for what you’ll see in back of a 55+ home.

1. A house right behind you, which is by far the most common.

2. A house right behind you screened by a buffer of trees or shrubs. In this case you’ll still see you neighbor to some extent

3. A view of woods. You find this in a home located on the outside perimeter of a community.

4. A golf course view. This is a premium lot that adds a great deal to the price of a new home but you do find deals on resales.

Some of your best bets for finding a home with out another home directly in back of you are Oak Run and Ocala Palms. Oak Run isn’t laid out with parallel streets. It is divided into neighborhoods and a lot of homes face a buffer between these neighborhoods. Ocala Palms was set out to maximize the number of golf course lots. There are great prices on homes with golf course frontage in Ocala Palms.

If you’re interested in Ocala 55+ retirement homes then either call me, email me or better yet use my Ocala Dream Home Finder.

January is the only true full month of winter here in Ocala. December gets colder towards the end of the month and February begins to warm up by the end of the month. Winter in Ocala revolves around cold fronts. The normal high is around 70 but for a couple of days after a cold front comes through temperatures during the day can get down into the 60′s and even 50′s. Then things warm back up until the next time a front comes through. It’s hardly ever rains, there is no humidity and the sun shines every day. That’s winter in Ocala.

Looking back December 2011 was unusually warm this year. Most days were in the mid to high 70′s with no humidity.  Absolutely fantastic weather all month long.

If you’re sick of northern winters then why not move to Ocala.  With interest rates so low you can buy a house here for a mortgage payment not much different than a loan for a really nice car!! Call me, email me or use my Dream Home Finder.