Work/Life Balance in Ocala, Florida’s Horse Country

Living the North-Central Florida Dream: A Conversation with Amy Jo Lord

Amy Jo Lord knows the importance of a good work/life balance—and how living in the Ocala area makes it a little easier to achieve.

As the co-owner/broker of Homes to Ranches Realty, Inc., Amy blends her above-and-beyond work ethic with enjoying family time, social events, and competing at the national level in team roping.

We sat down with Amy to ask how she makes sure to set aside time for family, friends, and fun along with having a very successful real estate career.

Q: You recently went on a family cruise—was it a good opportunity to spend time together without distractions?

Yes! On our four-day cruise, I was able to relax and rejuvenate, and I only had to check in with the office about once a day. Of course, I was able to do that because I have a great support system in place! And since we have a blended family, it was a wonderful opportunity for all of the kids [6 total] to have some new experiences and just have fun. We are blessed that they all get along really well and have a great time together. And living in Ocala, it’s easy to just decide to take a cruise on a long weekend without having to worry about booking flights, hotels, etc.

Q: Do work and leisure overlap sometimes?

Well, you will often see me set up with my laptop and phone at the kids’ baseball games, football games, track meets, and so on, trying to manage things that just can’t wait. I even keep on top of work when I’m competing at team roping events, too.

But I am thankful to have the flexibility to ensure I am giving my customers the best service possible while still taking the opportunity to enjoy family vacations and activities, local social and fundraising events, entertaining at home, or competing in an equestrian sport that I love.

Q: How does living in the Ocala region allow for a better work/life balance?

There are so many things available to us here, year-round, whether you’re a horse person, or you like the outdoors, or you enjoy cultural and social activities. In minutes, we can be from our office to watching grand prix jumping followed by a nice dinner at Stirrups [at the World Equestrian Center]. Or in under an hour, we can be at the Gulf for some boating, fishing, and paddleboarding. It’s not that far to the beaches on the East Coast or the Tampa/St. Pete area, either. We can leave in the morning to take the kids on a fun beach day and still be home in time for bed that evening.

Q: How do you define success when it comes to both your career and your family?

In my family life, my goal is always to ensure everyone feels loved and supported. I want them all to know how important they are to me.

I consider myself successful in my career when I provide excellent service to my customers and help make the transaction process as smooth as possible for them. There are many details to coordinate in order to achieve this in real estate, especially when you’re dealing with equestrian properties and large estates. But because that’s what our brokerage specializes in, we know the ins and outs of our business and can use our expertise to best serve our customers, whether they’re selling or buying property.