A guide to Ocala 55 plus retirement communities.

   You might ask, isn't a community only for people 55+ discrimination? The answer is that age isn't one of the governments protected groups.

  The advantages of a 55+ community is being around people your own age, lots of amenities like a club house, fitness center, pool, golf course ect. Of course that varies from one place to another. Many 55+ communities are gated for the residents security and some are not.

  The disadvantages are maintenance fees, higher water and sewer than in some areas that aren't 55+ developments and being around people who are all the same age without enough to do.

   There are often a lot of resales in the 55+ communities because people either pass away or move back to where they came from in order to be closer to relatives. A lot of resales gives the buyer a lot of choices and a good negotiating position.

   Here is a Google Map of the locations of Ocala 55 Plus Communities .

   Below is a partial list of Ocala retirement communities with a brief description.

CANDLER HILLS  Located in SW Ocala. Candler Hills is a newer part of On Top of the World. It is a golf course community with a lot of amenities. There are both new homes and resales here. Resales range from $150,000- to $250,000-. For more info and images of Candler Hills see my blog post.

CHERRY WOOD  is located in SW Ocala. No new homes just resales priced from just below $100,000- to about $200,000-. These are single family homes on 1/4 acre lots. HOA fees include maintenance of common areas, trash pickup, basic cable tv and a club house and pool. Cherry Wood is not gated. More about Cherry Wood on my blog.

FALLS OF OCALA   Manufactured home community priced in the mid 100's.

HARDWOOD TRAILS  Located in the SW part of Ocala. Newer single family homes on 1/4 acre lots in a yet to be completed development. There is more info and images of Hardwood Trails on my blog.

HILL TOP ESTATES  Manufactured homes in the $100 to $150 range.

INDIGO EAST  Another part of On Top of the World. Single family newer homes priced from the mid 100's to mid 200's. Much like Candler Hills but without the golf course. See my blog post on Indigo East for more info on amenities, fees and images.

LIVE OAK VILLAGE  Older condominiums with a club house, pool and golf course. Priced under $100

MARCO POLO VILLAGE  Large single family homes on 1/2 acre lots priced from the mid 100's to the mid 200's. Marco Polo 55+ is not gated and does not have a club house. It's basically single family homes in a 55+ setting. HOA fees are $135.00 per year to maintain the common areas. More on Marco Polo Village on my blog.

MARION LANDING   Homes here vary widely from older frame and vinyl homes priced below $100 to newer block homes priced up around $200. There is a club house and pool. HOA fees are $318.00 per quarter year and include water & sewer, twice a week trash pickup, maintenance of common areas & club house & pool. Marion Landing is not gated but has a random nightly security patrol. If you'd like to see more about Marion Landing including images vist my blog post.

OAK RUN A huge gated community that's divided into neighborhoods.. It has 3 club houses with extensive amenities, 2  golf courses and a restaurant.. New and resale homes exist. Prices vary greatly depending the age and size of the house and the area it's in. HOA fees and what they cover vary widely. For more info on Oak Run including a lot of images and amenity ino see my blog post.

OCALA PALMS  is not a 55 plus comunity even though it shows up as one on some MLS listings. I only include it here to clear up any misinformation.  Ocala Palms is a golf course commity and like similar communities it has a very high 55+ population but that is not part of the deed restrictions.Ocala Palms is still a great retirement option.

ON TOP OF THE WORLD  A huge gated 55+ community in SW Ocala. On Top of the World has 2 golf courses, indoor and outdoor pools, a craft building, dog park, tennis and much more. All homes here include total exterior maintenance. To see more about On Top of the World see my blog post.

PALM CAY  A medium sized community of frame and vinyl construction single family homes on 1/4 are lots. A gated community with a club house and pool. Priced from $50,000.00 to the low 100's. HOA fees are $81.00 per month and include common areas, club house, guard at gate and twice a week trash pickup.For more info on Palm Cay see my blog post.

PINE RUN   An older gated development of frame and vinyl construction. Priced from $35,000- TO THE LOW $100's. HOA fees are $80.00 per month and include club house, pool, common area maintenance, basic cable tv, guard at the gate and twice a week trash pickup. More about Pine Run Estates on my blog.

QUAIL MEADOW  Located in the NW part of Ocala. Single family block homes on nice 1/4 acre lots with 55+ deed restrictions. For more on Quail Meadow see my blog post for prices, fees, amenities and images..

SPRUCE CREEK  Frame and vinyl homes priced from $50,000- to around $100,000-. Located in SW Ocala. This is an early Del Webb project. It is not gated but does have a very nice pool and clubhouse. See my blog post on Spruce Creek for more info and a few images.

SPRUCE CREEK GOLF COURSE  Located in the SE part of Ocala, This is a golf course community that caters to active retirees. Priced from $100,000- to $300,000-. There are a lot of resales here. It is a very large gated sub division with a lot of amenities.

SPRUCE CREEK PRESERVE  A SW Ocala gated golf community of frame and vinyl and frame and stucco construction. Priced from a little below $100,000- to the high 100's. For more about Spruce Creek Preserve check oput my blog post.

SPRUCE CREEK SOUTH  A gated golf course community with a club house and Olympic sized pool. Frame and vinyl construction from about $75,000- to about $200,000-.

STONE CREST  Located in the SE part of Marion County. This is a gated golf course community with all the amenities you would expect. Block built homes and villas priced from the high $100's to over $300. A newer development with lots of resales.

SUMMER GLEN   Both new homes and resales. Great club house and pool. Also a golf course. Very nice community with homes starting in the low to mid $100's. For more about Summerglen including images, HOA info & fees see my blog post.