2880 NE 63rd Street, Ocala – $635,000

Posted by Duke Rountree on

Tasteful and classic home located in the hard to find area off of NE 63 Street. This beautiful 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom home includes 2732 living square feet and was originally built in 1978 but updated over recent years(see below). Short and scenic driveway leads to a very private and secluded location on 1.78 landscaped acres with variety of hardwood trees. Walking up the paver sidewalk you will notice the Florida stacked stone, wood siding and metal roof. As you enter the home, to the right is a beautiful living room with wood tongue and groove and wood beam ceiling, stacked stone wood fireplace from floor to ceiling. The hallway leads to a nicely sized main bedroom with walk in closet and french doors leading to screened sitting area overlooking pool/spa. Updated main bathroom includes vanity w/ double sinks, tiled shower/ glass door and tiled floors. Guest bedrooms 2 & 3 are cozy in size and guest bathroom has been updated with new double sink vanity, steel tub ,new fiberglass shower surround and luxury vinyl flooring. Kitchen has been 100% redone with solid wood cabinets, granite countertops and all stainless steel appliances are included. Kitchen includes eat in area with bay window views and formal dining room on other side of passthrough window. Bedroom 4 is a suite with full bathroom including tiled shower, bay window sitting area and additional storage/closet space. Florida room is located just off dining area through sliding barn doors and leads to pool deck. Pool area is 1282 square feet(25’x51′), fully screened with 51′ of covered patio area to relax and enjoy views of pool and spa. Outside has several relaxing sitting areas…1st under shade trees, 2nd for late night fires and 3rd overlooking the large fields of green acreage on neighboring farm. New landscaping includes 2 rose gardens, established Monarch butterfly garden with milkweed and garden’s are full of tropical plants and well established with full irrigation system as well. Detached metal garage is 20’x22′ with 2 roll up doors and attached lean to are 11’x36 and 16’x20′. This home has it all and is true one of kind that anyone would love to call home. Updates – Kitchen redone recently – Main Bathroom remodel 7 years ago – Bathroom 2 remodeled recently – HVAC venting 8 years ago – 4.5 ton HVAC 3 years – All interior and exterior are new – New wood porch with ceiling fans – Metal roof 7 years ago. – Pool diamond bright 9 years ago. – Screen pool enclosure with updated wind resistance design 4 years ago – All new and updated lighting and ceiling fans throughout. – Blown insulation 8 years ago

ASKING PRICE $635,000

  • 3 Bedrooms 
  • 2 Bathrooms 
  • 2,732 Living Sq. Ft 
  • 1.78 Acre Lot 
  • POOL HOME

918 NW 123rd Place, Citra $259,500

Posted by Duke Rountree on

Under Construction. BRAND NEW block and stucco home! Location is key! Easy to commute to Ocala or Gainesville this 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom split floor plan home includes 1443 living square feet and 2022 total square feet and has NO HOA fees! Upon entering you will notice the open floor plan, all tile, granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances, breakfast bar, dining area, inside laundry, carpet in the bedrooms with a seamless glass shower in the master bathroom, along with a two-car garage. There is an irrigation system as well as a pre-wired security system all placed on this lovely lot. Construction to be completed soon. Make your appointment today to take a look! Citra, Florida is known as the home of the pineapple orange, (originally called the Hickory orange) a name coined in 1883 for an orange (fruit) with an aroma reminiscent of the pineapple. Citra has two buildings on the National Register of Historic Places: The Citra Methodist Episcopal and the Armstrong House. It is home to a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences plant research facility. Some funs things to do include visiting Animal Rescue Sanctuary or stop by The Orange Shop for fresh squeezed Florida Orange Juice or some cool merchandise. Skunkie Acres offers horse back riding and every local loves visiting Crones Cradle Conserve with great outdoor gardens and country store full of local homemade foods and stuff. Located just short drive to Ocala or Gainesville, don’t miss this great property surrounded by horse country.

ASKING PRICE $ 259,500

    • 4 Bedrooms 
    • 2 Bathrooms
    • 2 Car Garage
    • 1,443 Living Square Feet
    • New Construction 
    • 0.28 Acre Lot

578 NE 44th Avenue Ocala, FL 34470 $225,000

Posted by Duke Rountree on

Beautiful home – perfect for first time home buyer or downsizing! Oversized lot is .42 acres and located in a desirable SE location won’t last long! The homes was originally built in 1977, includes 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and 1347 living square feet under roof. Upon entering the home you will see a tiled foyer which carries through the hallway and sunken living room to your right. Living room has wood burning fireplace and huge picture glass window providing lots of natural light. Living room slider leads to 10×27 screen room and step up to the dining area. Kitchen is open with dining area, with wood painted cabinets, lots of counter space, and range, refrigerator and DW(Microwave not functional). Main bedroom is cozy in size with carpet, nicely sized closet and has full bathroom with large soaker tub/tiled walls. Bedroom 1 & 2 include carpet and guest bath includes soaker tub with tile surround. Back door leads to 7.5’x16′ wood deck overlooking large back yard. Detached garage is perfect for one car and has washer and dryer hook ups. Rock cement water feature could easily be set up again and mature trees and hedges provide nice privacy. Close to schools, shopping and dining! NO HOA!! Only minutes away from Silver Springs State Park, Appleton Museum, golf, shopping, restaurants, and medical options. What more could you ask for? Schedule a private showing today before its to late! New roof 10/2020

ASKING PRICE $225,000 

  • 3 Bedrooms 
  • 2 Bathrooms so many people
  • 1,347 Living Sq. FT 
  • Garage(Detached) 1 Car 
  • 0.42 Acre Lot 


1274 NE 70th Street, Ocala $425,000

Posted by Duke Rountree on
  • 10 Acres. 
  • Fenced 
  • Paved Frontage
  • Well & Septic 

Prime land and hard to find location! Don’t miss this beautiful, cleared and fenced 10 acres with well and septic. Property is currently being used for cattle but would would make awesome new homesite or farm. Several live oak tress, wooded acreage to West and horse track to East, provide lots of privacy. Easy and quick access on 326 with short drive to I-75 or Hwy 40.

 

Please call/text (352) 572-1739 for more info

13661 NE 247th Lane, Fort McCoy $398,000

Posted by Duke Rountree on

13661 NE 247 Lane Fort McCoy, FL 32134

This is a beautiful 23.86 +/- fenced acre heaven sitting on two paved road frontages (CR 315 and NE 247th Lane) and having two addresses. Because the property backs up to the governmentally preserved land, wildlife including deer, turkey, and many others are plentiful. The land has so many large, beautiful trees. The 2000 year built manufactured home is well kept and move-in ready with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and 2280 living square feet. The house has a spacious open floor plan including a dining room, living room, kitchen, and laundry room. The kitchen includes lots of cabinets and counter spaces, with a large island and all appliances are included. The living room is spacious with lots of windows and natural light. The main bedroom is nicely sized with a bathroom including a garden tub, shower, and privacy toilet plus a large walk-in closet. Guest bedrooms are spacious as well. The large bonus room is currently used as a billiard/game room, which could also be used as another bedroom, office, or family room setup. Next to the billiard room is a half bath that offers easy access from outside or for entertaining guests. The front deck is 12×16 and great for enjoying a morning cup of coffee or watching the sunset in the evening. Outside will find 2 storage sheds (12×24 & 11×24) w/ power and water and a large chicken coop. Located within minutes from a boat ramp of the Ocklawaha River, grocery store, doctor’s office, pharmacy, hardware, convenience store, gas station, pizza delivery, and more. It is within 30 minutes to either Silver Springs, which is great for kayaking, boating, and outdoor activities or Ocala or Gainesville (Home of the Florida Gators) with Walmart, Lowes, Bealls, Outback, and many large shopping malls, and restaurants. The property is within minutes of Ocklawaha River, Rodman Reservoir boat ramp, Ocala National Forest, and many natural springs (Salt Springs, Silver Glen Springs, Juniper Springs) with horseback and walking trails, and off-road vehicle trails awaiting explorations while being in short drives to Ocala or Gainesville making it one of a kind property and location!

  • 23+/- Acres 
  • Zoned A1 (agriculture) 
  • 3 Bedrooms 
  • 2 Bathrooms 
  • 2000 Mobile Home
  • 2280Living Sq Ft

Asking Price $ 398,000

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Functional Spaces at Home

Posted by R_yn5_@_ul on

10 Ways to Make a Room More Functional

  1. Maximize vertical space
    Take advantage of wall height by adding tall bookcases, cabinets or shelves, or by hanging hooks for jackets in the hallway, separate office or study, add a desk in a corner of a bedroom or living room, preferably under a window to take advantage of the natural light and to keep your back turned from distractions like the TV and bed.
  2. Keep traffic paths clear
    Avoid bumping into furniture by creating an efficient layout. Make direct paths to commonly used zones and leave enough space to manoeuvre around each piece of furniture. 
  3. Control clutter
    Get rid of items you no longer need or use, deal with paperwork as it comes in, file important items in labelled folders or boxes, and return everything to its original place when you’re done with it.
  4. Add storage
    Store like items – such as cleaning products or bathroom supplies – in labelled boxes or plastic bins. For particularly unkempt areas, purchase storage options like an over-the-door rack to get shoes off the floor, or a closet-size second shelving unit to stash seasonal clothing.
  5. Create a nook
    If you don’t have the luxury of a separate office or study, add a desk in a corner of a bedroom or living room, preferably under a window to take advantage of the natural light and to keep your back turned from distractions like the TV and bed. 
  6. Use a room for what it’s intended
    Keep the children’s toys in their bedrooms or playroom and out of the living room, do paperwork or homework in a home office or den – not the dining room – and move all of your craft or woodworking projects out of the kitchen and down into the basement or crafts room.
  7. Store items in the rooms in which they’re used
    Keep table linens in the dining room, books and magazines in the den, dish towels in the kitchen, and detergent in the laundry room.
  8. Purchase double-duty furnishings
    Select pieces that are versatile, such as a coffee table with a shelf for magazines and books, a lighting for reading, eating or writing, and for setting the mood.
  9. Have multiple table surfaces
    Rather than having to get out of your chair every time you want a sip of coffee, make sure that there are enough surfaces within arm’s reach of living room seating to hold items such as drinks, books, table lamps and reading glasses.
  10. Purchase efficient lighting
    Ensure that your space has table lamps, floor lamps and other lighting for reading, eating or writing, and for setting the mood.

Thanks for reading!

Questions To Ask When Buying Homeowners Insurance

Posted by R_yn5_@_ul on

For many homebuyers, property insurance is a detail, a box to be checked off on the way to closing. But details are important and missteps can be expensive. Purchasing insurance may not be as fun as choosing new furniture and paint colors, but it’s a critical part of the homebuying process. Your homeowners insurance policy is a financial safety net in case of a disaster, so you’ll want to ask a few important questions to make sure you have the coverage you need at a price you can afford.

What’s the dwelling coverage per square foot?

Imagine that a fire burned your house to the ground and your policy didn’t pay out enough to rebuild it. That could happen if your dwelling coverage – the part of your policy that covers the structure of your home – is too low.

To prevent this, don’t simply accept the initial dwelling coverage amount an insurance company recommends. “Insurance companies use replacement cost calculators, but they’re not 100% accurate by any means,” says Ryan Andrew, president of The Andrew Agency, an independent insurance agency serving Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C.

For a more accurate estimate, ask your insurer to send someone to your house for a replacement evaluation, suggests Amy Bach, executive director of United Policyholders, a nonprofit that advocates for insurance consumers. You can also ask a local builder who specializes in new construction to estimate your home’s rebuilding cost per square foot.

Once you’ve chosen an appropriate dwelling limit, consider adding extended replacement cost coverage to your policy. With this coverage, your insurer will pay 10% to 50% more than your dwelling coverage amount to help you rebuild. This could save you thousands of dollars if building prices spike for unforeseen reasons such as a lumber shortage or high demand after a disaster.

A typically pricier option, guaranteed replacement cost coverage, will pay to rebuild your home regardless of expense.

Do I have multiple deductibles?

Homeowners may not realize that on some policies, higher deductibles may apply for claims due to wind, hail, named storms or other disasters.

For example, say a hurricane causes wind damage to your roof. Your insurance policy might have a wind deductible worth 5% of your dwelling coverage rather than the $1,000 deductible that applies to most other claims, Andrew says. So if your house were covered for $250,000, you’d have to pay for the first $12,500 of damage before your insurer paid anything.

Getting quotes from multiple insurers may help you reduce or eliminate these high deductibles.

What isn’t covered?

You might be unpleasantly surprised by your policy’s exclusions. “Flood insurance, which is excluded on almost all homeowners policies, is definitely a big one,” Andrew says, adding that this is especially important for homeowners with finished basements.

Even houses that aren’t near a body of water could experience flooding during heavy downpours, Andrew says, and a standard homeowners policy is unlikely to cover any damage.

You can buy flood insurance through companies that participate in the National Flood Insurance Program. The program’s average flood claim payout was $52,000 in 2019.

Andrew also suggests adding water backup coverage to your policy. This pays for damage due to water backing up into your house from sewer lines, sump pumps or other water lines.

Another common coverage gap involves keeping up with current building laws. “If you have to make improvements when you’re repairing or replacing (your home) because the codes have changed since your house was built, a typical policy will exclude that,” Bach says. Though this can be particularly expensive for older homes, “even a house that was built five years ago is out of code,” Andrew says.

Both Bach and Andrew recommend adding ordinance or law coverage to your policy to handle these expenses.

How can I save?

While having the right coverage is generally more important than paying the bare minimum, there are discounts to make your policy more affordable. Andrew suggests buying your car, homeowners and other insurance through the same company to take advantage of bundling discounts, which can save you 20% or more.

“The best way to bring down the price without sacrificing coverage is to raise your deductible,” Bach says. Being willing to pay for smaller repairs yourself rather than filing claims will help keep your premiums low.

If you’re confused about coverage and discounts, reach out to an insurance agent to talk through your options. “Take a little extra time to understand what it is that you’re purchasing,” Andrew says. “For most people a house is the most expensive asset they have.”

March Newsletter

Posted by R_yn5_@_ul on

It is officially March and the start to a new month!

In the March issue of our newsletter you will find events this month, featured listings, market predictions for 2021, and how to follow us on social media.

Click the attachment to check it out!

Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any of your real estate needs.

March Newsletter

Duke Rountree
Rountree Realty Corp.
Broker / Owner
Call / Text 352-572-1739
Info@Search352Homes.com
Search352Homes.com

Home Design Trends

Posted by R_yn5_@_ul on

There are plenty of reasons to look forward to 2021, especially when it comes to the home. After a year that guided many of us to spend more time at home, the new year is an opportunity to bring comfort and creativity to our living spaces. From calming room ideas to stylish (and smart) approaches to home office design, we are predicting 5 of the biggest interior design trends for 2021.

Grandmillennial Grandeur

“Grandmillennial” (modern takes on granny chic) style might be a surprising trend on the surface (it’s the exact opposite of sleek, modern minimalism) – but it actually fits in well with what we’re currently craving in our homes. Cozy details a la grandma’s house, pretty florals, and elegance definitely have a place in the 2021 design landscape.

Plenty of Plants

It seems like 2020 was the year that many of us went back to the basics (hello, green thumbs) and chances are that these primal habits will continue to grow in 2021 – especially when it comes to indoor plants. Incorporating house plants into your decor can help refresh your air and brighten your mood.

Multi-Functional Spaces

This past year has made many of us rethink how we use our rooms. When spending more time at home, it makes less sense to dedicate whole rooms to just one purpose – especially in smaller spaces. With this is mind, we’re betting that we’ll see creative storage and design solutions to help dining room, living rooms, and bedrooms double up as home offices and workspaces. 

Walls on the Wild Side

When it come to interior design trends, we tend to focus a lot on what’s between our walls, but what about what’s on the walls themselves? While paint is always popular, textured, bold, and unusual finishes like floral wallpaper fabric upholstery or even a living wall can add a fresh feel to our spaces in the year to come.

Earthy Tones

You’ve probably picked up on one of the overarching themes for home decor in the year to come: a return to nature and earthy inspiration. This feeling extends to color trends, as warm, comforting color palettes (think wine reds, golden yellows, and sage greens) take precedence. 

Hey, Buyers: These Home Appraisal Tips Are for You

Posted by R_yn5_@_ul on

Most people have deeply personal reasons for wanting to buy a home. Maybe it’s the bathroom that feels like a dreamy, modern spa. Or that two-tiered deck just made for parties.

Your lender doesn’t care about the freestanding tub. Or the built-in outdoor fire pit. Their only concern is that the house you buy is worth as much as the value of your mortgage.

To them, a house isn’t a home. It’s collateral. (Harsh, but true.) If someday, for some reason, you can’t make your mortgage payments, the lender can foreclose on the home and sell it to recoup all or some of its costs. (Even harsher, but also true.)

For that reason, a home must be valued at, or above, the agreed-upon purchase price, and this has to happen before you can close on a house. That’s where a home appraiser comes in. 

A Home Appraiser Is Neutral (Like Switzerland)

After you sign a home purchase agreement (the contract between you and the seller about the terms of the pending sale), and before your lender approves your loan, the home you’re buying must pass an appraisal — an assessment of the property’s value by an unbiased third party: the appraiser.

An appraiser is a state-licensed or -certified professional. Their job is to assess an opinion of value — how much a house is worth. The appraiser is on no one’s side. They don’t represent you or the seller; instead, this person is a contractor chosen by your lender through an appraisal management company (AMC), a separate, neutral entity that maintains a roster of appraisers.

Appraisers survey a house in person, using five main criteria to determine the value of a home:

  • Location
  • Age
  • Condition
  • Additions or renovations
  • Recent sales of comparable homes

Be Prepared to Pay for the Appraisal — or to Negotiate

Generally speaking, the home buyer is responsible for paying for the appraisal — and the fee is typically wrapped into your closing costs. However, who pays for appraisal is negotiable. It never hurts to see if the seller is willing to cover it.

How much money are we talking about? The average professional home appraisal will run between $287 and $373, according to estimates by the home-professionals resource HomeAdvisor.com. Costs can vary depending on the square footage and quirks of the house, with higher appraisal prices for larger or more unique homes.

Appraisals Take a While, So Be Patient

Typically, a purchase agreement has a “home appraisal contingency” requiring that the appraisal be completed within 14 days of the sales contract being signed. Because it takes appraisers some time to visit your house and write a report — up to a week, or longer in a busy housing market — your lender will order the appraisal immediately after you sign the purchase agreement.

So, You Have a Valuation. Here’s What It Means — and What to Do Next

When the appraisal is finished, the appraiser issues a written report with his or her opinion of the value of the home. To produce the report, they use their analysis of the property and data from comparable homes, as well as review the purchase offer. The report will outline their methodology and also include photographs that they’ve taken of the property, inside and out.

You and your lender will both receive a copy of the report. Three things could happen next: 

  1. If the appraiser’s valuation matches the price you and the seller agreed to for the home: Your lender will proceed to underwrite your loan. Great news: This is the final step in your loan-getting process!
  2. If the appraiser’s valuation is higher than what you’re paying for the home:Congratulations! You’ve gained immediate equity. How, you ask? Let’s say, for example, you’re paying $200,000 for the house. If the appraiser says it’s worth $250,000 — jackpot. That’s an instant $50,000 in equity. (Keep in mind, this is very rare.)
  3. If the appraisal is lower than what you’ve agreed to pay for the home: Your lender won’t give you a loan for more than the appraised value. If you and the seller agreed on $200,000, for example, but the appraisal is $190,000, that creates a $10,000 shortfall. So what happens next?

Don’t despair — not yet. If you’re faced with a low appraisal, there are several ways the deal can still go through.

If an Appraisal Is Low, You Can Still Make It Work

Before we talk strategy, some reasons why appraisals come in lower than expected:

  • The seller overvalued the price of the home. 
  • The appraiser isn’t familiar with the neighborhood.
  • The appraiser overlooked pending sales data.
  • The appraiser had trouble finding comparable homes, or missed comparable homes, so they compared your home with properties outside the neighborhood.
  • Home prices in the area are changing so fast that the listing agent’s price no longer reflects the market.
  • The appraiser rushed the job.

If the appraisal comes in low, your agent will offer recommendations about how to proceed. In general, your best strategy is to persuade the seller to lower the sales price, or to split the difference between the home’s appraised value and the price with you. This is when you can rely on your agent — and their negotiating skills — to go to bat for you.

You can also appeal the appraisal assessment. You’ll work with your agent to research comparable homes that support the sales price you agreed upon with the seller and present this information to your lender, who will forward it to the appraiser for a re-evaluation of the home’s value. Ultimately, though, it’s up to the appraiser to decide whether to revise their valuation of the property.

Alternately, you can ask your lender for a second appraisal, though there are caveats:

  • You’ll have to pay for it out of pocket (or persuade the seller to foot the bill).
  • You’re more likely able to challenge an appraisal for a conventional loan than a government loan. And you’d need solid facts to back it up in either case.
  • There’s no guarantee that it will be higher and meet the sales price.

The last option: You can come up with the cash yourself to cover the difference between the home’s price and the appraised value. 

If you don’t want to take that route (and who could blame you?), a purchase agreement’s home appraisal contingency gives you the ability to walk away from the deal scot-free, and with your earnest money deposit in hand.

Let’s assume it all works out. With the appraisal behind you, you’ll be one step closer to closing on that house.