Sellstate Next Generation Realty - Dunnellon

05/31/2026

Eighteen years ago, Joe and I packed up our lives in St. Petersburg and moved to Dunnellon and the Rainbow River.
At the time, our daughter was just 3½ years old. We loved St. Pete, but we wanted something different for her.

A quieter life, a small-town community, country schools surrounded by cow pastures, and a childhood that moved a little slower.
Fast forward 18 years and our now 21-year-old daughter has rented an apartment in downtown St. Petersburg's. She absolutely loves it there and plans to make it her home. The energy, the restaurants, the waterfront, the culture, and all the things a young person could want are right at her doorstep.

I never really questioned our decision to move. The thought only crossed my mind recently because our daughter has fallen so in love with St. Pete. Seeing the city through her eyes made me pause for a moment. But then I remember that she loves Dunnellon and the Rainbow River too. She's simply 21 years old, and at that age, the energy, excitement, and endless opportunities of city life are exactly what they're supposed to be.

Then I look at the incredible young woman she has become. I think about the values she learned, the childhood she was given, the countless memories we made on the Rainbow River, the lifelong friendships we built, and the slower pace of life that allowed us to focus on what mattered most.

And in that moment, I know we made the right decision.

So no, I wouldn't change a thing.

The beautiful part is that St. Petersburg is still there. It's close enough to enjoy whenever we want, yet so different from the life we've built in Dunnellon. We love visiting, soaking up the energy, the waterfront, and everything the city has to offer, but after a day or two, we find ourselves looking forward to coming home to the Rainbow River, where life slows down and the water still flows at the same peaceful pace it always has.

St. Pete will always have a piece of my heart, but Dunnellon is my forever home.

As a local realtor, I meet people all the time who are considering making the move from a larger city to a small town. There isn't a right or wrong choice, just the place that fits the chapter of life you're in.

For our family, Dunnellon was exactly what we needed, and if I had the chance to do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing.
Dunnellon has grown over the last 18 years, but compared to St. Pete, life still moves at a gentler pace. The Rainbow River still winds through this town with the same crystal-clear water. The springs are still as beautiful as ever.

And somehow, despite the growth, there's still a sense of calm here that's hard to describe until you've experienced it.

Maybe that's what we fell in love with all those years ago, and what keeps us loving it today.

05/29/2026

05/24/2026

Recently I listened to a conversation between two people who were complete opposites politically. One strongly conservative, the other deeply liberal. Normally, society would tell us they have nothing in common.

But the conversation wasn’t about politics.

It was about aviation.

As I sat there listening, something really hit me. They were laughing at the same stories, sharing the same passion, asking the same questions, and appreciating the same things. There was no anger. No labels. No division. Just two human beings connecting over something they both loved.

And honestly, it reminded me of something we all forget far too often:

Most people, regardless of political views, want many of the same things deep down. Safety for their families. Opportunity, Purpose, Stability. A country that does well. A future that feels hopeful.

We may disagree on how to get there, sometimes strongly, but underneath all the noise, we are still people first.

It made me realize how easy it is to see each other as “sides” online, but how different it feels when you actually sit and listen to one another as human beings.

Maybe we’d all hate each other a little less if we spent more time talking about the things that connect us instead of only the things that divide us.

05/20/2026

🔥 JUST LISTED in Juliette Falls ⛳️
Luxury Golf Course Living on the Famous 11th Hole!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjIK_YbbStQ&t=22s
🏡 4 Bedrooms + Office | 3 Baths | Approx. 3,000 Sq Ft
🌴 Heated Pool & Spa
⛳ Panoramic Golf Course Views
🚗 2-Car Garage + Separate 1-Car Garage/Gym
⚡ Whole-Home Generator + Starlink Internet
📍 Dunnellon, FL — Minutes to WEC & Rainbow River
Welcome to resort-style living in the gated golf community of Juliette Falls! This custom Mediterranean-style home sits directly on the Par 5 11th hole with breathtaking panoramic fairway views, luxury finishes, and incredible indoor/outdoor entertaining space.
💲 Offered at $769,000
📲 Call or Text Marion & Joe Renda
352-470-0563
🌐 SellStateDunnellon.com See less

05/19/2026

We still haven’t killed each other yet… and after almost 29 years of marriage, living together, flying together, working together, and spending just about every waking moment side by side, honestly that alone should make people trust us.

We’re Joe and Marion Renda — local husband-and-wife realtors, business partners, licensed pilots, and proud locals of Dunnellon. We love everything about our little town — especially the beautiful Rainbow River and the laid-back small-town lifestyle that makes this place so special.

Joe is the negotiator of Team Renda and has been in sales his entire old-ass life. The man has the gift of gab and can hold a conversation with absolutely anybody, anywhere, at any time — whether they want to or not. He’s turning 60 this year, which basically means he’s had six decades to perfect the art of negotiating, storytelling, and talking to complete strangers like they’re lifelong friends. Honestly, if you stand still too long, Joe’s probably going to sell you a house.

Marion handles the paperwork, communication, organization, and compassionate side of the business. She believes empathy, understanding, and good communication are just as important as contracts and closing dates. She also loves animals… possibly more than people. Between the 6 cats, 2 dogs, 2 vultures, and whatever animal Marion is trying to rescue at the moment, our house already feels like a small zoo.

In fact, Marion once had a pet duck named Mango who lived inside the house for FOUR YEARS and went kayaking with her on the river almost every single day. Yes, really. If you ever spotted a woman paddling around Dunnellon with a duck riding shotgun like it was the most normal thing in the world, that was probably Marion — basically an older Florida version of Ellie May Clampett.

Now Marion wants a capybara, and Joe is absolutely not receptive to the idea. Mainly because after surviving life with an indoor duck, he’s terrified he’s going to lose his spot in the bed to a giant emotional-support rodent.

Together, we balance each other perfectly — Joe talks, Marion organizes, rescues animals, and somehow it all works.

And if you’re up early around Dunnellon Airport (X35), you may spot us flying over town in our little red Citabria — “airbatic” spelled backwards — weather permitting, of course. Which means we literally know the market from a bird’s-eye view.

At Team Renda, real estate isn’t just business — it’s personal. We know this community because we live it every day, and we genuinely love helping people find their own place here in our little corner of Florida paradise.

One important question remains…
Should Joe let Marion get the capybara, or is surviving four years with an indoor duck enough trauma for one marriage?