If you haven’t had a chance to do it yet, take a little time some sunny afternoon and stroll the tree-lined streets of Ocala’s Historic Districts. It’s worth an hour or two just for the quiet getaway from the bustle of downtown, but not only that, it’s truly amazing to see how many absolutely gorgeous old houses still stand like sentries on watch. They’re a tangible link to Ocala’s industrial period, with multiple architectural styles including Georgian, the Victorian Queen Anne Revival style, Colonial Revival, Craftsman Bungalow, and Carpenter Gothic, among others. The variety is pretty as ..read more

For many, waking up and watching horses grazing peacefully in their back yard is a dream come true. But, the cost and maintenance of a large farm can be challenging. Horse properties under ten acres let you enjoy the leisurely equestrian lifestyle you love with minimal maintenance and effort. Additionally, Mini-farms and small farm properties are the perfect seasonal solution, offering equestrian competitors a luxurious home away from home for both themselves and their horses. These turn key mini-farms are perfect for first-time farm buyers or ranch owners looking to downsize ..read more

These days, planning a trip to the grocery store can sometimes make you feel like one of the Spartan soldiers at the Battle of Thermopylae. You’re fighting through the aisles with a wobbly cart that has one wheel that just won’t move, and you increasingly find yourself corralled and then trapped in the bottleneck of the Deli section. Many of us look upon it with grim purpose or outright dread. This would explain why smaller, locally-driven markets and U-Picks are so popular, but not just because of crowd reduction. There’s the added bonus of knowing where the food and goods come from, how th ..read more

In our recent posts Investing in Real Estate: Your Key to a Diversified Investment Portfolio, we talked about whether to sell or rent your property, as well as top reasons to invest in real estate. Renting your home is a great source of passive income, and real estate is a time-tested investment. If you’re considering purchasing an investment rental or turning your current home into a vacation rental home, Florida, where beautiful beaches and mild weather attract one million snowbirds each year, is a prime location.   While Miami has the most saturated short-term rental market in the ..read more

Anyone involved in the equine industry knows it’s a commitment, particularly for young riders who are training and competing. The hours of work dedicated to simply reaching the point of qualifying for competition are demanding – let alone the training and discipline required to prepare for each event. These kids have the added responsibility of school on top of all that, and it goes without saying that finding the balance between education and training without exhausting themselves can be a real challenge. Upper Echelon Academy (UEA) was created for the express purpose of providing young eq ..read more

Ask anyone in the horse world about Clyde Rice, and 90% of them will probably use words like ‘legend’ and ‘legacy’. In an incredibly competitive and exacting field, Rice was, to put it in pop culture terms, a superhero. He built a career of breeding thoroughbreds from literally nothing, establishing himself and his family as experts in the equestrian industry. “Take care of the horses, and they’ll take care of you”, was Rice’s straightforward philosophy. It’s a simple premise. It kept him focused, ultimately developing the passion of a modest and curious schoolteacher into what ultimately ..read more

Perhaps you’ve traveled to Florida with your family to visit attractions like Disney World. Maybe your grandparents or parents have a home in a community along the Gulf Coast. Or, like many college-aged Americans, maybe you’d spent a spring break or two on the beaches of Tampa, Miami, or other popular destinations. Although Florida is best known as an ideal retirement location, our state has always attracted visitors of all ages seeking to get away from cold weather and soak up the sun. However, during the recent pandemic, with a combination of the rise in remote work and the desire to escap ..read more

We’re pretty lucky to live in a part of Florida with so much natural, pristine beauty around us and the bonus of a temperate winter climate. Central Floridians tend to be fairly outdoorsy; we’re horse people, farm people, water and boat people, and we just like being outside this time of year. It’s no surprise that we’re chocker block full of national, state, and municipal parks and campgrounds; sometimes ‘getting away from it all’ means jumping in the RV or packing a tent in the car for a weekender in the woods. There are plenty of campgrounds and parks within a short car trip offering quie ..read more

A legend in American architecture, Frank Lloyd Wright once wrote “The fireplace? The heart of the home itself.” According to a report by the National Association of Home Builders, 60% of new homes have at least one fireplace, compared with the 36% of homes built in the early 1970’s. Whether you choose to use it to dispel the cold, set a mood, or just use it as an accent to a room, the fireplace still endures as a sought-after fixture in today’s homes. Ready to curl up in front of a crackling fire? We can help find the perfect fireplace for you. While Central Florida isn’t exactly known ..read more

You’re ready to move to a new home but are conflicted about what to do with the old one. In many areas of the country, the decision may be simpler. But in Florida, the number one state in the country for population growth, we’re experiencing continued hot real estate markets for both homes for sale and homes for rent. Choosing to rent your house out in many cases may make as much sense as selling it—especially if you have a low interest rate on its mortgage. If you’re lucky enough to own a property in Alachua, Citrus, or Marion County with an affordable monthly payment (or no monthly payment ..read more