We're hearing so much about the market being so bad, but is it? Or is it the prices that make house undesireable or unreachable? Well whatever the answer is it is always a good idea to know what houses are selling for in different locations and what kind of deals are there to be had. So here's a quick video of recent sales in Ocala Florida. If this whets your appetite for Florida give me a call and let's find you a steal of a deal!

On April 11 I posted a blog The Best FSBO in the Nation? It was about a real estate marketing idea by a person, who is not a Realtor. The author of the idea - Clementina Marie Giovannetti - offered her Ocala Mansion for ... the best pet lover story of 300 words or less plus a $200 entry fee. So, if you win, you owe a $1,250,000 (according to the owner) mansion on a very large lot with mature vegetation free and clear in this beautiful part of quaint Ocala.

The rules were quite elaborate, but the idea behind was pretty simple. Ms. Giovannetti would only do it if she gets the minimum number of entries (over 6,000) so that she gets her $1,250,000 that she claimed the mansion was worth. If she could not get the set number of entries, she would return the $200 entry fee minus $20 processing fee. There was an attorney involved, which was clear from the well thought rules.

I first saw it on our Central Florida TV, checked her website and was fascinated with the idea. Knowing how tough the market was, I was curious to watch how this would play out. I did not know whether all the heavy artillery that Clementina employed would help to melt the iceberg of the real estate slowdown.

After I posted a blog about the Ocala Mansion sale for the best pet lover story, I received the comment from... Clementina Marie Giovannetti herself. Obviously she was monitoring Google, and came to AR from there. As a very aggressive marketer, she went way beyond commenting on my blog, and one day spammed everyone leaving comments with the link to her site (http://www.ocalamansion.com/mansion.html) on every post she could find. That raised a lot of eyebrows of us. I sent her a comment regarding spamming, and she stopped (maybe not because of me, but it is always warm to feel that you are important, so here I am).

On March 23 (if memory does not fail me) I went to the kick off ceremony. We toured the property, and, when leaving, had a chat with Clementina (she is posing for me on this photo). She told me that she was viciously attacked by AR members in private e-mails sent to her. She threw some well known names at me. She said there were threats, cursing, and everything you can imagine. She even promised to send me them by e-mail, but did not, and I did not insist, as I believed she got some nasty stuff just from what I have seen myself on AR. Some of that stuff was simply hilarious. Claims that this was not her real name, that she is a man and other funny and not funny stuff.

I drove around this gorgeous very stable higher end area, made a few calls of for sale signs to get the idea of the prices, then sent an e-mail to a local broker asking for CMA. He did not do CMA, he did not like the whole thing about the owner, told me that the house was for sale since she had bought it, and that the last price was $995,000 and there were no takers.

I wanted to write a blog after visiting Ocala, but got busy and dragged, and dragged and dragged. Recently, from curiosity, I went to her blog, and read the announcement that due to lack of interest she cancelled the pet lover contest and that every cleared check is being refunded in dull. She did not take $20 fee, so it is clear that she had quite the expenses with this endeavor, and she spend some money on this idea.

So, now it is listed by Tom Heller. I communicated with Tom by e-mail, he thinks that the price is somehow supported. For me, if it did not go for $995,000, and the market is still on a downward trend, I would be very surprised to see any activity on this house,

Me wife and myself both thought that the value range was more in the $700s to $800s, but we could be wrong.

After all adversaries are happy that she failed, I want to look back at that whole Ocala Mansion thing.

• It is practically impossible to build the value, if it is not there. Though theoretically there are ways to hype the property, you can't really fool the market.
• It is very difficult to create a successful campaign which would go against the grain, like in this scenario.
• I don't think this wouldn't play in a hot market. A lot of hunters, a lot of hype, so what's the big deal about $200? We spend more on state lottery where the odds are soemtime 1 in 81 million, and here the odds were only one in just over 6,000.
• The apathy of a slow market puts us into the letargic state
• Sellers are not happy with agents (quite often) and try taking the control
• Agents get easily pissed off by these sellers

I guess there is some lesson in that story, At least for myself.

My friends live in Florida, I want it to be me,

To swim in the pool and fish in the sea.

I want to live in Florida but where do I go,

I just don't want to shovel anymore SNOW.

I've heard of gators, sharks and snakes,

The gators like swamps. The sharks of the sea he partakes.

The snakes hate mothballs and that works for me.

So stay out of the swamps and enjoy the sea,

Put mothballs out and the snakes they will flee.

Now do you like waterfront, Subdivisions or farms,

55+ living, or the Gulf where the water is warm?

You may want to live inland away from the coast?

Where horse farms abound and the Triple Crown boast.

We've got 55+ Communities where you can have fun,

Meet some new people or bask in the sun,

You can make friends in the clubhouse or on the golf course

Deal some cards, play billiards or karaoke til you're hoarse.

This is Florida, My friend, it's different than up North,

Springtime abounds with a glorious warmth.

In the summer we enjoy the cool air inside,

In Autumn you may want to throw the windows open wide.

The winter may bring a touch of some frost.

But by noontime you'll put on your t-shirts & shorts.

So give ear to this former Up-Norther, you see

This land is for living, for you and for me.

I'd love to help you find the home of your choice

A place where you and your family rejoice.

So give me a call don't wait ‘til tomorrow

To buy here in Florida you might not even need to borrow.

From Florida and Ocala you may never want to roam,

Now call me today! Pick up your phone,

You'll want to start living in your Brand New Home!!!

May is here and the humidity is coming back. Most days will be close to 90 during the day and the high 60's at night. It's just a little humid and I find myself turning on the AC most afternoons.

We are in the "dry season". It hasn't rained a drop in over a month. This is unusually dry even for the dry season which ends at the end of May.

You probably see terrible wild fires in other parts of Florida. In the 4 years I've been in Ocala we have never had a major fire. A couple of time fires in other counties were so bad I could smell the smoke from miles away but Marion county is pretty much untouched. The fires always seem to be south or east of Ocala. You'd think the Ocala national forest, which is 300,000 acres would catch fire once in a while but never sems to. Why, I don't know.

That's May in Ocala. Next month the afternoon thunder storms return.

For more information about Ocala Florida Real Estate contact me any time.

The Koi pond picture above is for sale along with a nice house and 3 1/2 acres of land in Lake Tropicana.

Wednesday I was driving around a neighborhood looking for houses that were For Sale By Owner.

I came upon a house that was listed with a local agent whom I have not had much contact with. I remembered seeing it on the internet but sometimes the houses all seem to mix in your mind and a fresh preview for my buyer is always a good idea, especially with a very high inventory on the market right now.

I called the agent's cell phone and got her voice mail. Now I was sitting in the driveway at this point and thought I remembered this house being vacant. There was a lockbox on the door. Then there should be no problem, right? WRONG!

Yesterday I got a call from an enraged agent who happens to like getting both sides of a sale. Honestly, we all like to get our own listings sold but our goal should be to expose our listings and make them available to all agents as much as possible.

Exceptions being; a dog is in the house, a sick child, an ailing family member etc. In such case the lockbox should be removed!

The agent proceeded to tell me that these people were very sensitive about their house being shown and that I should have made an appointment. I tried! She (the agent) was not available!!! & I had mistaken this house with another that was vacant and had a lockbox.

Now my questions are:

1. Is this the response that you want agents to have when they see your house?
2. Are you serious about selling you house?
3. Do you want someone elses house to sell instead of yours because the agent wasn't available?
   

Wherever you are there are good agents and not so good agents, the job of the seller is to choose which agent will most closely represent you, the homeowner.

It is vital especially in the current "buyers market" that every opportunity for showing your home be made available and that all roadblocks be removed.

To me, as a Realtor, it appeared that these owners wanted their home exposed and open for showings as much as possible or they would not allow a lockbox on the door. In my opinion, the challenge was not with the owners but rather with the Realtor that they chose.

Things that you can do as a seller:

• Interview a few agents so that you have a more rounded perspective to choose from.
  
• Ask your Realtor to show you the full agent view of the listing so you can see if there is anything on there that would hinder showings.
• Put all valuable items out of sight, packed away or in a safe deposit box, so that you have no fear of something turning up missing.
• If you have a dog you may need to isolate the dog either outside, in a garage or a room that is clearly labeled "Dog inside Do Not Enter"
  

Proper exposure for your home is the number 1 reason why you hire a Realtor. The areas of exposure that are most appropriate but not limited to are:

• MLS
• Accurate Market Value Pricing
• Accessibility
• Fair & reasonable commission
• Internet advertising
• Plenty of Pictures
• Virtual Tours if possible

Because this is the sign we all want to see!

If you have a home in Ocala Florida that you are thinking of selling, it would be my honor to give you the full benefit of resources and exposure that I possibly can to get your house SOLD!

I also can assist you in finding and interviewing agents anywhere in the country who can properly market your house to bring about a sale. Don't settle for less! Expect and insist on the service you deserve.

Everyone, especially the media has jumped on this bandwagon of "It's a buyer's market" . No it is NOT! It is an overpriced market with lots of holdouts who will likely get burned, and lots who have already gotten burned.

No matter the market, if a house is priced right it WILL SELL! The challenge is in finding what "priced right" is.

So how long should a house be left on the market without activity and remain at the same price?

Let's take a look at the chart below. The most amount of activity occurs within the first 2 weeks. After that the activity declines until the house stops getting showings. The house grows old as a listing on the market.

What is the point of putting your house on the market? To sell it, right? So then why are sellers holding out for higher odds, or for more money.

If the intent is to sell for the best possible price then the likelihood is that the house, if priced right, will sell within the first month, give or take a little.

Clearance Rack: How do clothes obtain the status of being placed on a clearance rack?

They stay on the shelf too long, they have been taking up valuable space and new merchandise must replace it. New, fresh, priced right merchandise.

Holding out for higher odds, or shall I say higher than market value is not a game that serious sellers often benefit from.

Do upgrades matter? Yes, they make the house more desirable if they are something the buyer likes, but they do not necessarily make the house more valuable.

What should sellers do to get their house sold? First and foremost, listen to reality. Have your Realtor show you recently sold listings that are comparable to your home. The price of your home should be at or below that price.

Why? You ask. Because buyers shop prices first, after that, then the character of a home. Market prices or slightly lower than market prices tend to bring more activity. More activity means more offers, which creates competition. Competition could drive the price up instead of buyers negotiating you down! Wouldn't that be a hoot in a "Buyer's Market."

The real estate market will always have its ups and downs, but one thing remains constant. Buyers control the market! Only the buying market determines what the value of a home is, not the realtor, not the appraiser, not neighbors. Realtors are most in touch with recent sales and pricing so their evaluation tends to be more on the pulse of the market.

Thinking of moving to Florida Search listings in several counties including Ocala/Marion County Florida "The Horse Capital of the World"

If you need help locating a realtor in your area Click Here

If you have any questions regarding real estate, please feel free to Contact me

OCALA REAL ESTATE MARKET REPORT

Homes Sold April 2008 ..............237*

$100,000.00 or less..........................61

$101 to $200,000.00.......................117

$201 to $300,000.00........................32

$301 to $500,000.00........................21

$500,000.00 Plus..............................6

Active Listings as of 5/1/08.......7163*

*This does not count homes sold by builders that may not be listed on the MLS Number may be revised due to late reports from board of Realtors.

WHAT"S HOT IN OCALA REAL ESTATE

· Homes priced below $150,000.00

· Golf Course & 55+ communities.

· SE Ocala near but not in the Historic district

· New Homes priced at or below $100.00 per sq ft of living area

Sales in April were up from March by 39 units! The total number of homes on the MLS has gone down 2 months in a row! This is good news. Lower prices has brought of a number of buyers. Admittedly they are serious bargain hunters but they are buying.

Short sales, foreclosures and homes priced to compete are selling. Don't be mislead into thinking we have hit bottom and price will begin to recover. The rest of 2008 will be dominated by bargain shoppers buying very, very well priced homes.

I have 3 homes under contract pending to close by the end of may!!! All 3 are in hard to sell areas like Marion Oaks, Rolling Hills and Rainbow Park. Here are some examples of homes that are priced to sell. I can't give out the sold price until after the closing, sorry.

Rolling Hills....2014 sq ft living area....listed at $239,000.00

Rainbow Park ...1434 sq ft living........ listed at $139,000.00

Marion Oaks Unit 1 ..1781 sq ft living listed at $150,000.00 (short sale)

I now need more listings. Call me even if you owe more than the home is worth. I can advise you on the Short Sale process.

Deed restrictions in Ocala and surrounding Marion county can mean a lot of things. They can be common sense things like you can't put a mobile or manufactued home in a subdivision of $300,000.00 block homes. Or they can keep you from parking your boat or RV in your yard. Deed restictions in Ocala can run the gamout from the common sence to the intrusive.

A lot depends on the personality of the buyer. If you're a free spirit and tolerant of others then you should look at non deed restricted subdivisions. However deed restrictions are there for a purpose. That purpose is to preserve property values by maintaining a homogeneous appearance to the neighborhood. Take it from me, there is nothing harder than showing a beautifull home that is right next door to a dump.

Most but not all subdivisions have deed restrictions. Before writting an offer the buyer should read a copy. Having said that, some older communities have deed restrictions that have grown huge over the years due to ammendments and changes. They can be a lot to get through but it's incumbent apon the buyer to be sure that there isn't something they can't live with.

Find a RealtorAnywhere in the Country

Yesterday my business partner and I went out into a local subdivision that has been one of my favorites since I came to Ocala Florida 4 years ago. Our goal was to meet people and get to know the residents there.

The subdivision? Oh yes, the subdivision is Majestic Oaks! A more perfect location would be hard to find. It is close to shopping, medical needs, malls, highways within minutes and yet is in such a beautiful peaceful setting bordering a horse farm with a very visible exercising race track for the horses. You can actually watch the horses in the distance running on the track in the early morning. It is a sight to behold!

The most amazing part about this community is how the homes and properties are kept. Yes, there are deed restrictions that enforce maintenance and upkeep but the residents in this community are passionate about how their homes look. And it shows!

I spoke with several people yesterday. Some wanted to move for various reasons and some wanted to remain there forever. That's normal in any area.

I enjoyed talking to each and every one of them. They are a friendly bunch and I feel like I made lots of new friends!

Being a Realtor is a wonderful occupation. It's not just about listing, selling, contracts, inspections, closings and finally getting your pay check. It's about people! It's about developing rapport and trust. That's something that a mailing or a for sale sign can never do.

No, I won't give up mailing nor will I give up putting up signs but more than that I want to meet more people face to face and get to know them as people & neighbors. After that, when they want to buy or sell it is based on a relationship of trust and confidence, not just a piece of paper in their mailbox!

If Florida is the place you'd like to call home, then take a good look at Ocala! I'd like to have the opportunity to meet with you face to face and get to know you so I can more easily assist you in finding the house that you will call home.

I call myself "The Real Estate Matchmaker" because my passion is in "Bringing You Home!"

Sara Homan, Realtor sarahomanrealtor@hotmail.com 352-209-4044 www.greenerpasturehomes.com

Who is Clementina Marie Giovannetti? And why is she handing over the keys to her Ocala mansion to someone who wins a Pet Story Essay contest?

At first glance this may look like some sort of scam. At first sight it sounds as if this is too good to be true. But it is totally legal;it is not a scam and it is going to be good and true to the winner of this essay contest.

It is sad that because of all the spammers and scammers in the online world we become on guard and have a preconceived idea that is filled with doubt and therefor someone has to prove themselves as the real deal.

I had the honor and privilege to speak to Clementina Giovannetti herself on the phone today for over an hour. It was a very enlightening conversation.

First of all, I want to reassure everyone that this essay contest is totally legal in the state of Florida. She hired an entire legal team with attorneys to research all about running this contest. Her legal department contacted the State Attorney General's office and the Attorney General's office to make sure that the rules and regulations of the contest would comply with Florida state law and any Federal Law that might govern this essay contest. The research itself took hours and all of this money is coming out of her own pocket. The rules of the essay contest are posted on the Ocala Mansion website available both in word and pdf format. Anyone wishing to enter the contest is encouraged to read the rules prior to sending in their $200.

One of the things that Clementina found out was that there were a couple of other homes where the owners were running an essay contest. These homes were in the 100K to 300K price ranges and their entry fees were between $100 to $200. So in figuring the ratio of what she could charge to enter this contest the Ocala mansion pet story essay contest should have been at least $1200 per entry. However, Miss Giovannetti did not wish to make it difficult for people to enter.

Clementina Giovannetti is a very famous author of spiritual novels. She is a gifted healer and has blessed many lives thus far and is about to bless another life with this essay contest. Since I am a writer I felt it an honor that Ms Giovannetti would speak to me in person. Every since I was 12 years old I have dreamed of being a best selling author and as I listened to her story and her explanation of her contest I realized I was speaking with who I want to be. Perhaps our paths have crossed for more than one reason and one day I may have the privilege of having Clementina Giovannetti endorse one of my books. You just never know!

The reason that the pet essay became the subject matter of this essay contest for the Ocala Mansion is because pets are near and dear to Clementina's heart as you will be able to read about when her new book is released:

Clementina Giovannetti is not going to be judging the essays. She does not want to interfere with whoever God chooses to have this mansion. The attorneys are opening up all the entries, numbering and separating the essays from their cover letters so that the anonymous judges will not know who wrote the entry. If there are not enough entries by the deadline the essay most likely will be extended to allow for more entries since it is the honest desire of Clementina's heart to be an instrument in God's hand to bless the lives of a family or a non profit organization. Even Real Estate agents are allowed to enter. This contest is open to everyone even children, with their parents' consent.

If a good number of the entries are of publishing worthy quality Miss Clementina is considering publishing the essays in 'Pet Lover Stories' as like a second place prize. The published authors would receive a by-line.

I felt the spirit of this woman in each word she spoke and a soul connection. Please pass this post along to those you know who may be deserving of her Ocala Mansion.