The Ocala real estate market showed signs of stabilization through November of 2022. The impact of the economic upheaval caused by the pandemic appears to be behind us and trends point upward. Additionally, real estate market projections continue to paint a positive picture through the end of 2024 and beyond. However, inventories of homes for sale are still limited, and demand is moderating in the short term. This appears to be a reaction to increasing interest rates. With signs that inflation is a threat, the Fed has recently raised the prime rate significantly. Of course, mortgage rates have risen in reaction to the Fed’s actions. However, the economy has remained resilient and there are signs that inflation is moderating and a recession will likely be avoided.
Over the last few years, our city’s growth rate has been among the fastest in the United States. Since the local market forces supporting future growth are strengthening, we anticipate our economy will thrive in the intermediate to long term. The new World Equestrian Center has opened and will expand in stages over the next few years. As a result, visitors, investors and new residents will be drawn to our metropolitan area. Because of this, we project continued aggressive growth in housing demand over the next decade and farther into the future. Therefore, the Ocala real estate market appears to be on very solid footing.
Our vision is that Ocala is in the early stages of the growth cycle seen by Orlando since Disney arrived in the late sixties. This offer a great opportunity to both homebuyers and investors alike.
To make an Ocala winning offer, you must balance price and terms carefully. Our market is evolving and many factors are interacting to make Ocala a great place to invest in real estate. Some of these are two edged swords. For example, while interest rates have stabilized, they are significantly higher than a year or …
The Ocala spring housing market is upon us. Of course, once upon a time, we lived in a dream real estate market. Homes were appreciating quickly, jobs were plentiful and both inflation and interest rates were at record lows. In short, the economy was thriving and homeowners were building wealth at an unsustainable pace. But …
The Ocala real estate market is surging. Actually, that statement speaks more to the future and the immediate past than to today. But there is no doubt in my mind that the future of our real estate market is exceptionally bright. Fortunately, people like Larry Roberts are betting with me. Mr. Roberts is the logistics …
Ocala Real Estate Surging – Nationally, Mansion Sales Plummeting Read More »
So you feel like it’s time to move. But you keep asking yourself, should I sell my Ocala house now? After all, there is so much family history in your home. There are so many memories packed within its four walls, not to mention all of your stuff. Here are a few thoughts you may …
Our Ocala real estate investment forecast points to this area being at the vortex of a perfect storm. The economic forces generated by the amazing efforts of our Chamber & Economic Partnership and the opening of the World Equestrian Center create extraordinary opportunities for real estate investors. We have reported on the effects of these …
Ocala Real Estate Investment Forecast: Update 02/2023 Read More »
Many have voiced concern about the rapid development of Ocala residential projects. Some have even sought to turn the clock back and return to city and county development plans of the past. However, clearly that ship has sailed. When planners approved the building of the World Equestrian Center, they committed to an expanded rate of …
The Ocala real estate forecast is for strength in intermediate and long terms. Of course, last year one factor drove the real estate market more than any other, rising mortgage rates. In March 2022, the Federal Reserve began a series of interest rate hikes in an effort to tamp down inflation.1 Then mortgage interest rates reacted …
You May Be Pleasantly Surprised By Your Current Home Value! It’s easy to verify how much money you have in your savings account or the real-time value of your stock investments. But determining the dollar value of a home is a far more complex endeavor. As a seller, knowing your home’s value helps you to …
Home Value: What’s Your Ocala Home Really Worth? Read More »
Are instant cash offers the future of the real estate market? Technology is changing the way we do almost everything, and real estate transactions are no exception. In fact, a new crop of tech companies wants to revolutionize the way we buy and sell homes. iBuyer startups like Opendoor, Offerpad, and Properly are rapidly expanding …
In this volatile market, what will it take to submit a winning offer? Our nation is in the midst of a serious housing crunch. Last year, a lack of inventory and soaring prices left many would-be homebuyers unable to fulfill their dreams of home ownership. But now, with interest rates climbing, many are also feeling …
Today our real estate market faces rising rates which make the cost of mortgage financing more expensive. However, homes are still in short supply and demand is brisk. So where are we headed? The last two years caught many of us off guard, and not just because of the pandemic. They also ushered in the …
Many fear that a real estate bubble is upon us, a bubble sure to burst soon. But are such fears justified? According to OMCAR, our local board of Realtors, Ocala housing saw astounding appreciation year over year as of February, 2022. In fact, appreciation exceeded 40% during that time interval. As a result, rents also …
Ocala residential real estate is appreciating at historic speed and affordable housing is becoming scarce. Our city is in the midst of a real estate boom that is likely to be with us for a while. Low inventories of homes listed for sale and high demand have created an aggressive seller’s market. Of course, as …
Today Ocala housing demand is off the charts. However, opportunity almost passed us by. Many years ago, an entertainment industry giant imagined a new Ocala. He could see into our future, and what he saw was truly visionary. Marion County would be the second coming of Disneyland, albeit on a much grander scale. Surrounded by …
If there is one thing certain, it’s that Ocala’s sellers’ market is showing no signs of moderating. Undoubtedly an old adage applies here. The best time to buy a home was yesterday. The second best is today. In our community price appreciation is brisk, while the days competitively priced homes stay on the market are …
The Ocala housing market continues to show robust appreciation. Rising prices are fueled by several factors. The historically low inventory of homes for sale is a prime cause. However, demand excelerated by historically low interests rates and economic conditions has a major impact as well. To be sure, the opening of the World Equestrian Center …
Ocala home appreciation is a function of strong demand and the historically low inventory of homes for sale. Together they may impact affordability in the intermediate to long term. Today we live in times when interest rates are at levels that are unsustainably low as well. Additionally, GNMA estimates that builders must add 3,800,000 housing …
The supply of Ocala area homes continues to be very tight. However, local sellers and buyers are caught in the teeth of a dilemma. We read stories about inflationary forces rearing their ugly heads. Therefore, some are beginning to talk of interest rates soon rising. As a result, we are beginning to see articles written …
Ocala home sales are setting records year over year. Despite a market dominated by health concerns generated by a generational pandemic, demand has set a pace seldom seen before. Additionally, historically low inventories and interest rates have generated a whirlwind of repercussions. According to Realtor Magazine, the median sales price of an Ocala home has …
The Ocala vacation home market is a reflection of trends in the United States as a whole. Additionally, it may be a reflection of global trends as well. As of September of 2020, national demand for second homes had climbed 118% year over year. However, by early this year, it had tapered off to a …
Ocala luxury homes feature architectural designs and craftsmanship to rival the finest our state has to offer. However, not long ago sellers of ultra luxury dream homes found their mansions languishing on the market. They discovered that supply far exceeded demand for such homes. Buyers were redefining their lifestyle choices. However, as the stock market …
Ocala Faces A Contradiction: Our Future Is Bright, Yet The Pandemic has Taken Its Toll This community is a great place to call home. Of course, the future of Ocala is bright indeed. But while our economy is set to explode, some struggle to survive the pandemic. Many small businesses need our help. Undoubtedly, the …
The perfect storm is about to influence Ocala real estate values and migration. However, the pandemic has already had an unexpected impact on the latter. In 2020, the number of baby boomers who retired increased by sixty percent year over year. Interestingly, the top eight destinations which attracted these newly retired people are located in …
The Ocala economy will continue to rebound in 2021 and its long term prospects are certainly rosy. However, nationwide growth may be slower than forecast several months ago. In addition, the impact of the pandemic on small businesses is just now coming into clearer focus. It may be worse than initially projected. But despite the …
Ocala new construction homes offer many advantages over resales. However, the most significant given current market conditions is the availability of inventory. The Inventory of Homes For Sale In Ocala, as in most of our country, the inventory of resale houses is at a historic low. While the pandemic rages on, sellers are reluctant to …
Ocala rural home sales are booming: In the face of the pandemic, Ocala continues to evolve into an exciting metropolitan area. As people reconsider the wisdom of living in large urban areas, our countryside is proving a desirable alternative. Therefore, many are drawn to rural communities where social distancing is a normal part of daily …
Ocala housing market trends are governed by supply, demand and the cost of borrowing, the same factors that influence all real estate markets. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the supply of homes listed for sale in North Central Florida is closely linked to the national trend. Fewer and fewer sellers are putting their …
All The Real Estate News That’s Fit To Print: Our Ocala real estate blog will present new ideas because life waits for no-one. Despite the pandemic, there are things to enjoy and be thankful for. Is this a good time to sell or buy an Ocala home? How is the economy impacted by the ravages …
Welcome. Today we publish the first installment of our new Ocala Blog, your online source for information about all things Ocala. Since Ocala is a thriving, rapidly evolving community, there is always something interesting going on here. Although we will be emphasizing issues of interest to home sellers and buyers, we will also delve into …