Ocala A Real Paradise (Tampa, Belleview: rental car, credit, homes)

[Miamigirl0416]

What is the best area to rent or own? That is family friendly and has a good school program? Good elementary school? Suggestions?

[jigajohnson]

Originally Posted by manchester

It seems there are a lot of doublewides and mobiles for sale on 5-10 acre lots. It's crazy how many people build beautiful barns and put up nice 4-board fencing and then live in a mobile down here


what's the matter with that
I don't live in either but to some people they like the land, open area they don't need mansions as they are just fine with their little house, it gives them what they want, privacy and a roof over their head


just to ad living in one doesn't make then any less than the person who moves down here and buys a 1 million $ house in a housing association

I agree.
I am planning on buying some land here and putting a doublewide on it.
That is all I need. Hell the dimensions on some double wides are the same as my 3 bedroom ranch back in CT.

[OneSweetWorld]

Originally Posted by jigajohnson

I agree.
I am planning on buying some land here and putting a doublewide on it.
That is all I need. Hell the dimensions on some double wides are the same as my 3 bedroom ranch back in CT.

Yeh but they aren't very effective when it blows 60 miles per hour...many cities are phasing out mobile homes. Unsightly, lower property taxes, easily damaged, negative connotation. We want to raise the standard of living in central florida not lower it....

[Jlivan]

Originally Posted by jkwing

Travolta lives in Jumbo Air estates about 15 miles North of Ocala,

It's not "Jumbo Air" it's Jumbolair.

Originally Posted by jkwing

Ocala is a great place to live. I just moved out of Ocala about 9 months ago. The problem is the pay in the area is fairly low, hard to find a decent paying job .

I agree that the pay is low. I'm actually going to move out of Ocala in the near future for a better job.

Originally Posted by morrissey

Ocala is Growing too fast. If you work in the health care area you can find better opportunities.

Yes, Ocala is growing fast but the city is not keeping up with the new growth. If your into the health care field that is great but not everyone likes to work in that field.

Originally Posted by complacent vagabond

You can get out of it and see what you want to. I want to leave and experience different places, and I have stopped appreciated what is here ... but when I stop to look, it isn't bad at all, and with recent development, it is getting better.

I'm totally with you on that! I have lived in Ocala for 27 years and want to experience something new. It's good to see people moving here and enjoy it so much. Maybe I have been here too long and have seen the negative things.

Originally Posted by THX 1138

More humid and buggy, limited culture, not much to do, more of the real south mentality. If you like that kinda of thing, it's probably a nice place to live, don't know for how long it will last with all the people moving there.

Yeah the southern hospitality is almost gone. I don't mind the heat but at this time of the year w/the humidity is gross. It's nicer on the coast where there is a bit more of a breeze and 4 degrees cooler. I hope more people live here so that I can sell my house

Originally Posted by deeni

I have to agree with V1-P. There is not much in the way of jobs, the shopping is horrible, bad drivers, and there is just not much to do. However, the pace of life is nice, we are within an hour or two of all the best that Florida has to offer, and housing/rents are super low compared to other areas of Florida. And if you love horses, this is the place to be.

I agree. I know a couple that moved here from PA and they are struggling to pay their bills with their current job. I know that the housing is cheap and everyone is for that but they have to realize that the jobs are to equal that. So if your coming from up north please do your research.

[Jlivan]

Originally Posted by Miamigirl0416

What is the best area to rent or own? That is family friendly and has a good school program? Good elementary school? Suggestions?

I think a decent area would be the NE Ocala side between HWY 40 & 17th street (maricamp). In that area the best Elementary school is R.L. Highlands. That area has decent access to much of the area. Historic Ocala is a little more upscale but very beautiful.

[Jammie]

Originally Posted by OneSweetWorld

Yeh but they aren't very effective when it blows 60 miles per hour...many cities are phasing out mobile homes. Unsightly, lower property taxes, easily damaged, negative connotation. We want to raise the standard of living in central florida not lower it....

Well, that doesn't seem to be working out. Some of the people who tried to buy half million dollar homes and have now lost them maybe should've considered buying a mobile home.

[Angela in Florida]

Originally Posted by Jammie

Well, that doesn't seem to be working out. Some of the people who tried to buy half million dollar homes and have now lost them maybe should've considered buying a mobile home.

Yup, you're right on! One man's dump is another man's castle. A

[minn_mom3]

We are thinking of moving to the Ocala area, too, but I have heard so much conflticting information, now we are not sure. Can someone please answer the following...we are looking for a home in the 230,000 range, what would insurance and taxes be? Is there hurricane insurance...how much? We've heard lizards get into your house...is this true? How often and what other bugs get into the house? We would like a fenced in backyard so we can get a dog, are there a lot of covenants that don't allow fences and larger dogs? I'm getting my AAS degree in Clinical Lab Technology/Medical Technology and my husband is getting his BS in the same, can anyone tell me pay for these positions at these educational levels? Are there plenty of job openings in this area? Are there smaller towns outside Ocala that would be safer/less expensive than Ocala? We've heard the old people run around like two year olds on golf carts being rude to people, is this true? What is the average summer temp in Ocala and would having your own pool help to keep the heat from being so excruciating? We'd like to have a pool home. We are coming from Minnesota and can't stand these winters anymore. We don't want to make a mistake by leaving and going so far away, so any information anyone can tell me would be wonderful. I really need a Florida reality check.

[kshe95girl]

Originally Posted by minn_mom3

We are thinking of moving to the Ocala area, too, but I have heard so much conflticting information, now we are not sure. Can someone please answer the following...we are looking for a home in the 230,000 range, what would insurance and taxes be? Is there hurricane insurance...how much? We've heard lizards get into your house...is this true? How often and what other bugs get into the house? We would like a fenced in backyard so we can get a dog, are there a lot of covenants that don't allow fences and larger dogs? I'm getting my AAS degree in Clinical Lab Technology/Medical Technology and my husband is getting his BS in the same, can anyone tell me pay for these positions at these educational levels? Are there plenty of job openings in this area? Are there smaller towns outside Ocala that would be safer/less expensive than Ocala? We've heard the old people run around like two year olds on golf carts being rude to people, is this true? What is the average summer temp in Ocala and would having your own pool help to keep the heat from being so excruciating? We'd like to have a pool home. We are coming from Minnesota and can't stand these winters anymore. We don't want to make a mistake by leaving and going so far away, so any information anyone can tell me would be wonderful. I really need a Florida reality check.

I have lived in Ocala for 20 years, so I will try to answer your questions as best I can.
1. Yes, there are bugs, and yes, an occasional lizard WILL get in the house, so if you have a thing about bugs, Ocala might not be for you.
2. Yes, hurricane ins is available.
3. It gets hot here, I would say 88F is the average temp here, summer lasts from April to November, in the worst months the humidity is close to 100%.
4. I am sure there are jobs in your field, its about the only field where there are jobs, but they are not well-paying.
5. If you stay away from the subdivisions with HOA's you will be fine with fences and dogs.
6. Yes, the old folks run around in golf carts, but only in the retirement communities they reside in.
The economy here is not in good shape at all here, a high rate of unemployment, and businesses folding up all over the place.
I am sure some of the cheerleaders on this thread will refute everything I have just told you, but its all true.

[sherry07]

i am still considering a move to the area, my friend lives in dunnellon, and she also suggested ocala for me and my kids....where are the less diverse areas with good schools and safe?