Sara Homan, Realtor, Ocala Fla The Horse Capital of the World

On Top of the World is a 55+ Community, gated with lots of things to do, people to meet and places to go. Home styles vary from villas to single family homes and all homes are concrete block. Finding a home within your budget in Top of the World should be a cinch!

Take a look at the links below of homes that have come on the market in the last 30 days, ones that have gone into contract and the ones that have been purchased. You'll see that there are plenty of good deals to be had!

New Listings

Pending Contracts

Closed

Featured Property

Only $112,000

A beautiful Expanded Montgomery model, many many extras such as kitchen appliances replaced in the last 2 yrs, new roof, newly painted walls and ceilings, new vanity sinks and vinyl floors along with ceiling fans and light. New hot water heater, heat pump and A/C. Windows are insulated, double-paned. This home comes with a 1 year AHS home warranty. This is a must see!!

Hmmmm, I've met all kinds! This morning in our office meeting one of the agents invited a home inspector to speak. He has used him several times and is satisfied with his work.

Not knowing him, and being the outspoken, question asking person that I am, I asked "Who do you work for? The customer who pays you or the Realtor who gave you the referral?"

Now I know that this is a pretty tacky question to ask, but the truth of the matter is that the tendency is to favor those who butter your bread! You know, don't bite the hand that feeds you!

When I bought my house in NY several years ago, I asked a friend who had been a Realtor for quite some time for a referral for a home inspector. I don't believe he & she were trying to take advantage of me but the home inspector did a horrible job that cost me $350!!! Once we moved in and got a hard rain we found out that the roof leaked and had been patched so that we couldn't detect it easily, but with a walk on the roof he would have been able to detect it quickly.

That was shortly before I became a Realtor!

We ultimately had the roof redone but it was an expense that we could have negotiated with the seller instead of shouldering it ourselves!

Reputations are always on the line, word of mouth is what our business is all about. Personally I don't ever want to hear a customer complain about any of the contractors or workers that I connect them with. That is why I ask questions. I interview the people I refer.

It was a nasty lesson for me to learn, and an experience I would not like to see my customers go through, so I do take serious interest in selecting home inspectors and other contractors.

Home Inspectors may take offense at what I am saying, but deep down they know that this happens! The ones who would admit this are more than likely the ones who try their darnedest to do a good job for the customer regardless of the Realtor who referred them.

Realtors are not paying your mortgage! They are a resource into unfamiliar territory for many, so feel free to ask for referrals but take the time to interview home inspectors or any other contractors before you hire them.

It's just good clean & dirty fun!  Saturday September 20th was a fun day at the Florida Horse Park.  We had several teams of mounted shooters competing and showing off their stuff!  Plenty of beautiful horses, talented riders and good food made for a great day at the Park.

Following the Mounted Shooters was the Polo matches...wow!  I never saw Polo played live and in person.  Those horses turn on a dime and chase that ball like a dog after a bird.

Visit the Florida Horse Park and join us for some upcoming events!

               SEE FOR YOURSELF!

Call it a miracle, call it a coincidence, call it whatever you want, but today I had to choose between meeting people to list their house or going to see Sarah Palin at The Villages.

There really was no choice, I am a Realtor and I keep my commitments.

On Friday my sister and I went and got 3 tickets for "We 3 sisters". Turns out, 2 of us couldn't go. I had brought the tickets with me to church and thought it would be very easy to give them away. Lots of "yes" answers that turned to "no I can't go" once the other person was contacted via cell phone of course!

I went to the first church service and during the closing prayer my phone beeped softly. I thought I recognized the number and quickly picked it up and slipped out of the service.

The voice on the other end of the phone was not familiar but she said I saw your blog on Sarah Palin coming to The Villages and I can't get tickets! We have an autistic child and we need help for her, my husband wants to go but we need tickets!!!

With tears streaming down my face I told her I had 2 tickets in my hand she could have them, come and get them.

I just love the plans we make, thinking we are in control of our lives and then God had His plan all along!

The turn out was estimated at 60,000-70,000 people AMAZING!

The Villages in Lady Lake will be hosting Sarah Palin on Sunday September 21. It is expected to have an overwhelming attendance and traffic promises to be extremely heavy.

The doors open at 1:30pm and tickets are required. It is advisable to allow plenty of time to go through security. The following has been copied from their ad on the internet.

Sarah Palin Comes to Central Florida!

SIGN UP FOR A CHANCE TO MEET SARAH PALIN!
VOLUNTEER AND GET "VIP TREATMENT"
TICKETS REQUIRED

Republican Vice Presidential Candidate and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin will lead a McCain/Palin Rally at the Villages this Sunday, September 21, 2008 . Everyone is invited, but there are special incentives and benefits for volunteers!

Details:
Location
Villages Market Square at 1020 Lake Sumter Landing, The Villages, Florida 32162
Time
Doors open 1:30 PM, Sunday September 21, 2008
Who is invited
Anyone and everyone. Invite friends and neighbors.
How and Where to get Tickets

Tickets are required for entry. You have to pick them up IN PERSON at the Orange County GOP/McCain HQ.

We need names and contact information for everyone who gets a ticket. One person may pick up tickets for up to 5 other people, but we must still get the names and contact information for all ticket holders, so if you are picking up tickets for others, be sure to get that name and contact information before you come in.

The Orange County McCain/GOP HQ is located at 234 S. Semoran Blvd, Orlando, 32807. This is just behind the Sonic Hamburger Place, in the Royal Oak Shopping Center located on SR 436/Semoran just slightly north of the 408 Expressway. The office is open 9 am - 9 pm through Saturday. The office number for directions is 407-277-0880.
Special Volunteer Incentives - Meet Sarah Palin Personally! VIP area!

The Campaign NEEDS YOU. We need phone bankers and precinct walkers to get out the McCain/Palin message. As an incentive for volunteers, anyone who makes 500 calls or walks 100 doors between now and Sunday will be entered into a drawing to have a personal visit with Sarah Palin at the Rally! Anyone who makes 200 calls or walks 50 doors will get a VIP pass to get right up close to the front at the event. (We expect over 10,000 so this is a big deal).
Directions to Event Site
Please check mapquest.com for best route from your location.
Questions and Further Information?
Call 407-277-0880
This is a paid political Announcement paid for by the McCain/Palin for President Campaign.