July 2017

How Dreams Become Reality…

Note: There’s a pretty cool motivational video that complements this post – so you may want to watch the video first. (But you certainly don’t have to.)So, how dreams become reality…Talent is great. If you have some athletic ability, or you’re really intelligent, or you’re gifted with amazing instincts for negotiation, more power to you…But the truth is, talented people are a dime a dozen. Even super-talented people are pretty much everywhere.And… less talented folks routinely leave the “gifted

Real Estate Investing vs. Playing the Stock Market

People often want to know how to compare investing in real estate with playing the stock market. Which is a better investment approach?It’s a good question, and I’m happy to give my take on it.We’ll begin by laying out what I’d like to be able to do in order to invest in stocks safely and profitably… and then see how that compares with my real estate options. Nothing real complicated.So, if I were going to invest a significant amount of money in a company’s stock – and I wanted to go in with

Ocala, Florida

DEMOGRAPHICS
Unemployment Rate: 4%
Recent Job Growth: 3.4%
Median Income: $46,798
Population: 360,000
Population change since 2010: Up 38%

AREA INFORMATION
Median Home Price: $172,000
Vacancy Rate: 5.2%
Average Commute: 25 min
Average Temp: 43-91

www.bestplaces.com
www.citydata.com
Ocala, a small agricultural and manufacturing center, is about halfway between Gainesville to the north and Orlando to the southeast. With its attractive tree-lined streets and Old South–style homes, it more resembles a typical Southern city than a Florida city or beach town. Ocala is the capital of Florida’s thoroughbred industry, and ranching and horse-breeding are popular

Highlights

    • Housing growth in and outside the city is largely driven by retirement and new families looking for somewhere that feels like home. Lots of families find this in Ocala because of the comfortable southern feel. The cost of living is 6% below the national average and interest rates are low.

    • Located in the heart of central Florida, there is easy access to attractions found all around the state. Ocala also houses many attractions of its own, including The Appleton Museum of Art, Fort King National Historic Park, and Silver Springs State Park.

    • Job growth increased by 3.4% in 2016, and continues to do so. There are many employment opportunities in manufacturing, healthcare, and sales. The presence of Lockheed Martin, provides many jobs in the manufacturing of advanced technology.