So far this month the weather here in Ocala has been unseasonably hot. The day time temperatures should be in the mid to high 80’s but we have been in the 90’s almost all month. Several days have actually recorded record highs for the date. It has also been unusually humid for October, more like August.
October should be the start of the dry season. It should be in the mid 80’s during the day and around 60 at night. Most of the humidity should be just about gone too.
The beginning of winter and the dry season is my favorite time of year. You can leave the doors and windows open and not pay for the AC. It’s a great time to do projects in the yard too.
If you don’t look forward to winter why not move to Ocala? Visit my Ocala Real Estate web site to find more about moving to Ocala.
Sales in September were 273 homes, August was 283 homes, July came in at 269 homes and June was the best month so far this year at 319. Total listings remain around 5,500 homes. Homes are selling every day here in Marion County.
Sales are still being driven by bargain hunters. There were 27 short sales and 92 foreclosure sales in September. That accounts for 45% of all sold homes. Worse yet are the number of short sales that expire or get withdrawn because these are the foreclosures of 6 months from now.
My advice to sellers is to price your house very aggressively. In addition to a great price the only thing that might give you an advantage over bank sales is condition. By that I mean an immaculate move in ready house. A house with maintenance issues isn’t much better than a foreclosure.
Buyers, now is the time to buy. Prices are low and there is a great selection out there. Interest rates are at historical lows and given our countries debt have no where to go but up.
https://www.ocalarealestatetalk.com/2016/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/header.jpg00Valerie Ostromhttps://www.ocalarealestatetalk.com/2016/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/header.jpgValerie Ostrom2009-10-07 11:26:192020-07-29 16:44:27Ocala Real Estate Market Report for September 2009
I work with a lot of first time buyers and out of state buyers and as we look at homes I try and point out things that make one house better than others. Here are some things that I think make for a quality home here in Ocala.
CBS or concrete block and stucco construction. Everything else is considered inferior do to the termites. CBS homes can get termites because there is wood framing in the walls and roof but CBS is considered the best material and commands a higher price than frame house. Read more
https://www.ocalarealestatetalk.com/2016/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/header.jpg00Valerie Ostromhttps://www.ocalarealestatetalk.com/2016/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/header.jpgValerie Ostrom2009-09-21 11:27:172009-09-21 11:27:17What to look for in an Ocala area home.
Real estate online has revolutionized the industry. It has empowered the consumer. Real estate agents used to be able to just show buyers listings of their own or those of their broker but all that has changed. Buyers can look at hundreds of houses from the comfort of their own homes and develop a real feel for value. This is a good thing.
I constantly send listings to buyers through my Ocala Dream Home Finder which sets buyers up with a predetermined search of their choosing and automatically emails them listings.
The problem is that there is just no substitute for seeing a house in person. You need to get a feel for the space, imagine yourself living there, check out the neighborhood. The size of a house can also be very deceiving. Online all you can do is look at the square feet of living area. I’ve been in houses with great floor plans that felt 25% larger than they really were and just the opposite with poor floor plans. Buyers see a great priced foreclosure but don’t realize that it’s in the middle of no where. Realtors don’t know what to expect from a listing either until they see it. I’ve been in foreclosures that were obviously never lived in and I’ve been in others that were so nasty I wanted to go home and take a shower. I once went to show a really nice looking house. We pulled into the driveway and saw the neighbor with cars parked on his lawn. There he was working on his Harley in the driveway. A guy who looked like a member of the band ZZ Top.
The moral of my story is the internet is a great thing for real estate. The internet has brought transparency to buying process. However it is just one tool. A starting point and no substitute for a good real estate agent. That would be me of course.
https://www.ocalarealestatetalk.com/2016/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/header.jpg00Valerie Ostromhttps://www.ocalarealestatetalk.com/2016/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/header.jpgValerie Ostrom2009-09-11 09:20:352020-07-28 16:17:22Looking at homes online vs real life
Sales in August at 283 homes were up from July’s 269 homes. June was the best month so far this year at 319. Total listings remain around 5,500 homes.
Sales are way up in 2009 over 07 & 08 but that is because home prices are way down. Most of current sales are driven by bargain hunters snapping up foreclosures and short sales. The 55+ communities will always attract buyers because people retire regardless of the economy but prices are coming down in these communities as well.
Home prices in Marion County will not rebound to 2006 levels because they should never have gotten that high in the first place. Marion County does not have an economy to support $200,000- plus housing and never did. That is what out of the area builders and investors never understood and local builders ignored. Now that construction has almost stopped our unemployment rate is 12.5%.
I don’t mean to get down on our area but it is important for sellers to get a true picture of our economy so they can make informed decisions. Homes are selling every day but price is the way to move a house. The MLS is on the internet and buyers know a good deal from an over priced house and no amount of advertising can change that.
Buyers now is the time to buy. Interest rates are at historical lows and given the deficit spending our government is doing, inflation and higher rates are almost certain.
https://www.ocalarealestatetalk.com/2016/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/header.jpg00Valerie Ostromhttps://www.ocalarealestatetalk.com/2016/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/header.jpgValerie Ostrom2009-09-11 08:53:512020-07-29 16:45:35Ocala Real Estate Market Report Aug 09
Ocala FL Weather October 2009
/in Ocala WeatherSo far this month the weather here in Ocala has been unseasonably hot. The day time temperatures should be in the mid to high 80’s but we have been in the 90’s almost all month. Several days have actually recorded record highs for the date. It has also been unusually humid for October, more like August.
October should be the start of the dry season. It should be in the mid 80’s during the day and around 60 at night. Most of the humidity should be just about gone too.
The beginning of winter and the dry season is my favorite time of year. You can leave the doors and windows open and not pay for the AC. It’s a great time to do projects in the yard too.
If you don’t look forward to winter why not move to Ocala? Visit my Ocala Real Estate web site to find more about moving to Ocala.
For more on Ocala Weather see my new web page.
Ocala Real Estate Market Report for September 2009
/in Market Reports, Ocala Real EstateSales in September were 273 homes, August was 283 homes, July came in at 269 homes and June was the best month so far this year at 319. Total listings remain around 5,500 homes. Homes are selling every day here in Marion County.
Sales are still being driven by bargain hunters. There were 27 short sales and 92 foreclosure sales in September. That accounts for 45% of all sold homes. Worse yet are the number of short sales that expire or get withdrawn because these are the foreclosures of 6 months from now.
My advice to sellers is to price your house very aggressively. In addition to a great price the only thing that might give you an advantage over bank sales is condition. By that I mean an immaculate move in ready house. A house with maintenance issues isn’t much better than a foreclosure.
Buyers, now is the time to buy. Prices are low and there is a great selection out there. Interest rates are at historical lows and given our countries debt have no where to go but up.
What to look for in an Ocala area home.
/in Ocala Foreclosures, Ocala Home-Buyers, Ocala Real EstateI work with a lot of first time buyers and out of state buyers and as we look at homes I try and point out things that make one house better than others. Here are some things that I think make for a quality home here in Ocala.
CBS or concrete block and stucco construction. Everything else is considered inferior do to the termites. CBS homes can get termites because there is wood framing in the walls and roof but CBS is considered the best material and commands a higher price than frame house. Read more
Looking at homes online vs real life
/in Ocala Home-Buyers, Ocala Real EstateReal estate online has revolutionized the industry. It has empowered the consumer. Real estate agents used to be able to just show buyers listings of their own or those of their broker but all that has changed. Buyers can look at hundreds of houses from the comfort of their own homes and develop a real feel for value. This is a good thing.
I constantly send listings to buyers through my Ocala Dream Home Finder which sets buyers up with a predetermined search of their choosing and automatically emails them listings.
The problem is that there is just no substitute for seeing a house in person. You need to get a feel for the space, imagine yourself living there, check out the neighborhood. The size of a house can also be very deceiving. Online all you can do is look at the square feet of living area. I’ve been in houses with great floor plans that felt 25% larger than they really were and just the opposite with poor floor plans. Buyers see a great priced foreclosure but don’t realize that it’s in the middle of no where. Realtors don’t know what to expect from a listing either until they see it. I’ve been in foreclosures that were obviously never lived in and I’ve been in others that were so nasty I wanted to go home and take a shower. I once went to show a really nice looking house. We pulled into the driveway and saw the neighbor with cars parked on his lawn. There he was working on his Harley in the driveway. A guy who looked like a member of the band ZZ Top.
The moral of my story is the internet is a great thing for real estate. The internet has brought transparency to buying process. However it is just one tool. A starting point and no substitute for a good real estate agent. That would be me of course.
Ocala Real Estate Market Report Aug 09
/in Ocala Foreclosures, Ocala Home Sellers, Ocala Home-Buyers, Ocala Real Estate, Ocala Real Estate NewsSales in August at 283 homes were up from July’s 269 homes. June was the best month so far this year at 319. Total listings remain around 5,500 homes.
Sales are way up in 2009 over 07 & 08 but that is because home prices are way down. Most of current sales are driven by bargain hunters snapping up foreclosures and short sales. The 55+ communities will always attract buyers because people retire regardless of the economy but prices are coming down in these communities as well.
Home prices in Marion County will not rebound to 2006 levels because they should never have gotten that high in the first place. Marion County does not have an economy to support $200,000- plus housing and never did. That is what out of the area builders and investors never understood and local builders ignored. Now that construction has almost stopped our unemployment rate is 12.5%.
I don’t mean to get down on our area but it is important for sellers to get a true picture of our economy so they can make informed decisions. Homes are selling every day but price is the way to move a house. The MLS is on the internet and buyers know a good deal from an over priced house and no amount of advertising can change that.
Buyers now is the time to buy. Interest rates are at historical lows and given the deficit spending our government is doing, inflation and higher rates are almost certain.