February 2018

Three Simple Ways to Up Your Financial Game

It’s never too late to get better at managing your personal finances. Whether you’re 25 or 65, you can’t go wrong by taking your game to the next level. Here are three ways to do it…Attach Your Finances to Exciting GoalsFolks often decide to improve their finances because they know they could be doing better. They “should do something about it.”And that’s fine, as far as it goes. But make sure your financial goals… get you really excited.For example, “getting out of debt” just isn’t very

When it’s Time to Sell: Three Principles for Doing it Right

What do I do when it’s time to sell my investment property?That’s a great question to ask. Often, we focus mostly on how to find and purchase these properties. We talk about the benefits of holding them over time as investments. But it’s good to think about the end game: how do I get the best price with the least amount of hassle when I’m ready to sell?Here, I’ll lay out three underlying principles to keep in mind. That way, we won’t get caught up in too many details. These mental tools will

Getting Your Head Straight about Raising Your Rents

“Should I raise my rents? How much and how often should I raise them?”These are frequent questions in the world of real estate investment. And that kind of makes sense. On the one hand, property owners know that the numbers matter ‒ you want the rent that gives you the best return on your investment. Then again, this issue is a hassle for a lot of folks. If you and your tenants are happy, why rock the boat? And how do you raise your rent without losing good tenants or pricing yourself out of the

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.