Deeply Disappointing Experience…read more I cannot recommend Kathy Van based on my experience selling my deceased mother's home. From start to finish, the process was marked by a lack of professionalism and inattention to detail that cost me time, stress, and likely money. The original listing was poorly written, riddled with errors and generic language that did nothing to highlight my home's best features. The photos were even worse--taken without any staging whatsoever, and several actually showed debris and clutter that should have been cleared before any camera came out. I was stunned these images were deemed acceptable to represent the property. Once listed, there was virtually no marketing effort that I could discern. I expected proactive outreach to potential buyers, social media promotion, or creative strategies to generate interest. Instead: nothing beyond the bare minimum. She also did not stop by to check that the house was showing well or to address any issues that might turn off prospective buyers--basic upkeep that I assumed was standard practice. Though I was largely an out-of-town seller, I needed to visit the house on two occasions to take care of my mother and then her estate. And upon each return I found the house to be dirty and ill-used. When the house didn't sell quickly, rather than reassessing the approach or stepping up efforts, her solution was simply to pressure me to drop the price. Repeatedly. At one point, she even suggested the neighborhood was "going downhill" and becoming poorly maintained--a particularly odd critique given that she herself lives in this same neighborhood. It felt less like honest counsel and more like a tactic to push a quick sale at my expense. If you want an agent who will actively champion your property, look elsewhere.

Steer clear of Carissa Sawyer and Foxfire Realty. Carissa and her broker listed a home for sale…read morethat never should have been listed. The "seller" does not even own the house! They have STOLEN almost $1,000 from me that I prepaid in fees, inspections, etc. Neither Carissa nor her broker will take my calls. The title company was professional and thorough and they saved me from becoming further financially invested in this scam.

Mercy is extremely professional! very kind, patient, and informative when it comes to the process…read moreof buying or selling a home! If you are searching around the Ocala area, make sure to contact mercy! You wont regret it.

From the owner: I’ve dedicated my life to helping people make confident real estate decisions, and I bring a…read moreunique combination of experience, education and local expertise that sets me apart. A Florida Native with Deep Roots I was born and raised in Miami, Florida, and I’ve been licensed as a real estate professional since 1997. With nearly three decades of experience I’ve navigated every type of market—boom, bust and everything in between. My background allows me to provide grounded advice that helps clients feel secure in their decisions. I have six specialized certifications to better Service and ensure my clients always receive the highest level of service, I’ve earned six advanced certifications: SRES® (Seniors Real Estate Specialist): Helping retirees and 55+ buyers find the perfect fit for their next chapter. Luxury Home Marketing Specialist: Tailoring strategies for high-end properties and exclusive communities. Certified Probate Specialist: Guiding families through sensitive estate transactions with professionalism and care. Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR®) Representing buyers with strong negotiation and market knowledge. Home Mortgage Finance Certificate: Giving clients clarity on financing and lending options. E2X Certification: Continuing education that keeps me at the forefront of today’s real estate practices. Member of National Association of Realtor and under the Code of Ethics. I'm bilingual English Spanish helping clients in their own native language.

Five months before we retired we flew to Florida to find our retirement home. The first place we…read morevisited was OTOW in Ocala Florida . There we met Mercedes Hernandez. Her knowledge of the community and the homes impressed us. She showed us homes to see what we liked. We let her know what features and upgrades we wanted. She was fantastic! We searched other communities, however, nothing compared to OTOW and we found ourselves back at OTOW before our return trip home. Once we sold our home, Mercedes was able to find us a move in ready home with all of the options we desired. She also introduced us to their relocation team. Greatly reducing the stress of a long distance move. Now that we've been here for over four months, life is good! We love it here in our new home and we are very grateful to Mercedes for taking the time to show us what our next chapter should look like. Thank you, Mercedes! Laura & John Savino

Here's my sort of rounded star rating:…read more As recent "former" resident (only moved for family reasons) I'll provide my take on OTOW. I'm not a golfer but that never matter as the community gets 5 stars for all kinds of things to do. This isn't The Villages so there is not AS much going on. But was fine as it is not a zoo like latter either. You still have absolutely enough activities and fun clubs in OTOW. We really enjoyed the music both within the community and just outside the gate by Chandler Hills. Library, ping pong and wood shop were just a few of our favorites. Excellent fitness centers! Pools can get a busy at times but that's to be expected. Timing! Now for 3 stars. High HOA. Most places go up over time but it was pushing here. That said, you still get lots for the money. Put it this way. I wouldn't let $100 keep me from staying here. Personal advise. Wherever you move, OTOW vs the Village or elsewhere, look for a home that doesn't back up to common road. We lived on street with no road behind us. That was a smart buy living wise. Probably made our house sell that much faster, too.