April 2018

I’ve Arrived at My Destination… Now What?

As I’ve written before, in many ways retirement is about thinking backwards…Or, as Stephen R. Covey put it, “Begin with the end in mind.” So let’s build on that today.Here are three issues to ponder as you look forward to the day when your real estate investments bring you to the place where you are free to retire.You’ve escaped the rat race ‒ you’ve “arrived”. Now what?When you’re “retired”…You Have OptionsThis is big. And it can actually be a little unsettling, believe it or not. The choices

How To Minimize Vacancy in Your Rental Properties

Vacancy ‒ it can be a powerful friend in your real estate income portfolio… or it can be profit-sucking enemy to your success and well-being.Calculate a realistic vacancy rate into your property’s assessment from the beginning (after all, you can’t guarantee you’ll always have tenants in place…), and approach tenant retention the right way ‒ and vacancy will not be a problem for you.On the other hand, if your cash flow calculations aren’t reality-based to begin with, and if you don’t follow best

Should You “Follow Your Passion” To Be Successful in Business?

These days, the question about whether following your passion leads to business success is a pretty hot topic…I get it. You look at professional athletes, for example, and think, “Well, they look pretty successful, and they’re obviously following their passion.”Or entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs ‒ people like that are very passionate about what they do. So isn’t it pretty obvious? Isn’t the path to success to just discover your passion and then find a way to monetize it?Well, it’s just not that

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.