After seeing homes in 55+ retirement communities buyers realize that even though the homes may be on smaller lots close together a private view out the back from the Lanai makes all the difference. Private lots sell for a big premium new and are hard to find. There are resale homes with private lots some with a really nice view in many price ranges.
On Top of the World Ocala Florida
On Top of the World is a huge 55 plus retirement community located in SW Ocala Florida. Sidney Colen, a visionary Florida builder, purchased the 12,872 acre Circle Square Ranch in 1975 and began to develop On Top of the World in 1982. His son is still building new homes here today.
On Top of the World is unique in Ocala real estate for a couple of reasons. This is a leasehold property which is unusual for our area. This means that you own the house but the lot is leased for 99 years from the time of the first sale. A buyer also can’t finance more than 80% of the purchase price of their home. Unlike most Ocala 55+ communities all outside maintenance is part of the HOA fees.
In addition to new homes there are quite a few resales here. Older homes are often attached in groups of 4 to 6 and of concrete block and stucco construction. The newer homes are single detached and also CBS. Sizes range from 1,000 to about 2400 sq ft of living area.
HOA fees for attached Villas and detached single family at On Top of the World include all outside maintenance including lawns, painting and roof repair but not replacement as well as property insurance on the building but not the contents or interior.
Amenities include the Arbor Club with indoor and outdoor pools and tennis, the Health and Rec Center with a fitness center, racketball, steam room ect. and a craft building with a complete woodworking shop, The Spa Ranch and Fitness Center, a library, a dog park, a bus service for shopping and the Circle Square Cultural Center. There are 2 golf courses, the Tortoise and Hare and The Links. Golf, the Ranch Spa and Fitness and the Cultural Center all have fees above and beyond your HOA fee. There is also great adult education and cultural opportunities at Master The Possibilities which is also open to the public.
On Top of the World is also a golf cart community which means you can drive your cart down the street. You can even access a Publix grocery store, small shops and a few restaurants with your golf cart.
Update March 2015. If you are interested in OTOTW the resales are selling for a significant discount over new homes.
Update 3/16 HOA fees for single family homes are $324- to $332- month. The Villas are $404- month.
Update 3/18 HOA fees on single family homes are from $332 to $353 per month. Villas are now $417 month.
Update 2/25/18 HOA fees on single detached homes are from $337 to $358 per month depending on the neighborhood. Villas are now $424 month.
Update 3/2/2020 HOA fees on Villas have gone down since they no longer include water and sewer. HOA fees vary by the neighborhood and range from $350-$362 a month for both Villas and single family homes.
Update 3/4/2021 HOA fees have gone up. They vary by the neighborhood and range from $355- to $375- per month.
If you would like a list of homes for sale in On Top of the World fill out my Dream Home Finder, call me or send me an email.
Villas in On Top of the World
We are now is a sellers market here in Ocala. Just a couple of years ago there were quite a few 55+ homes under $100,000.00. That is no longer the case. Prices have gone up and inventory has gone down. As of this posting January 2018 most 55+ homes under $100K are Villas in On Top of the World. Villas are homes attached in rows of 6-8. The Villas do include exterior maintenance, water and sewer but the $400-+ a month HOA fees are high for some buyers looking for a low priced retirement home. Today there are only maybe a dozen single detached homes in other 55+ communities. They are small around 1000 sqft of living area, 2/2 with a 1 car garage. They do have reasonable HOA fees but you need to hire a lawn guy and pay water and sewer. There are low priced mobile home communities but mobiles in Florida on rented lots are not considered real estate and I can’t sell there.
Del Webb Stone Creek
Del Webb Creek is a 55 plus, gated, golf course community located in SW Ocala. Stone Creek is a newer community that is still under construction with both new homes and resales available. The homes here are concrete block with stucco and range in size from 1450 to over 2400 sq ft of living area. Prices range from about $170,000- to over $400,000- plus for resales. In addition to the Stone Creek golf course there is a huge clubhouse with a state of the art fitness center, craft and game rooms, a resort style outdoor swimming pool, an indoor heated lap pool, tennis courts, a softball field and even a fishing pond and dog park. HOA fees are around $185- per month. Stone Creek is conveniently located just north of SR 200 with easy access to shopping, restaurants and health care. If you are looking at the Villages you really need to look at Stone Creek.
Update 6/14 HOA fees are $183- month. Stone Creek came out with new models in January 2014. This is the 2nd time they changed the models since the originals in 2004 so there are now quite a few floor plans.
Update March 2015 HOA fees are now $188- month. Stone Creek is a very hot market right now. This was one of the only 55+ communities to continue building after the real estate market crash. It is not one of the only sources for newer 55+ homes in the area.
Update 3/16 HOA fees are now $192- month. Homes sell fast in Stone Creek and prices are going up.
Update 12/18/17 HOA fees remain at $198 month for homes without lawn care. There are also a few Villas and smaller Garden Series homes with lawn care. This is a very popular 55+ community with great amenities. Houses sell fast here
Update 1/23/10 HOA fees for Classic and Estate series homes are $198- month and the Garden Series that include lawn care are $307- month
Update 3/4/2021 HOA fees for Classic and Estate series homes are $204- month. Garden Series $326- month. Villas $437- month
If you’re thinking about buying a new or resale home in Stone Creek I can help. Only a Realtor can show you both new and resales. A Realtor will also show you comparable sold properties and help you negotiate your sale. Before you register for a brochure or a tour ask about being represented by a Realtor.
If you would like a list of homes for sale in Stone Creek either email me or use the Ocala Dream Home Finder. I can set you up a Listing Cart on the Ocala MLS for Del Webb Stone Creek homes.
In the interest of full transparency I am building a new home in Stone Creek this year 2019. I have become somewhat of an expert on new homes in Stone Creek. I know all the options and the entire building process. I am blogging about building new in Stone Creek if you want to follow my progress.
Updated pictures below
Summerglen Ocala Florida
Summerglen is a 55+ retirement community with a very nice golf course just south of Ocala. All homes are 2004 and newer. Homes in Summerglen are all concrete block with stucco and range in size from a little under 1500 sq ft of living area to a little over 2500 sq ft. HOA fees include maintenance of the common areas, clubhouse and amenities, trash pickup, guard at the gate and lawn mowing but not fertilizing. Summerglen is an active 55+ community with a great clubhouse, heated beach entry pool, fitness center, library, crafts, dog park, softball field, basketball court and a lot more. Two things that Summerglen offers that most other communities don’t have are lawn mowing and free RV parking, both are extra costs elsewhere. Golf is an extra fee. There is also a nice restaurant, Moreno’s Grill located next to the clubhouse. As in any community that has lawn care you cannot fence your yard.
Update 6/14 HOA fees are still at $125- month which includes lawn mowing. The developer has turned over the community to the HOA. I am surprised that they can continue with such low HOA fees.
Update 3/15 HOA fees have increased to $130- month. Still a bargain seeing considering the lawn mowing.
Update 3/16 HOA fees remain at $130- month. The best deal in our area !
Update 1/30/17 HOA fees have increased to $150- month. This still includes lawn mowing and trimming but not pruning, lawn water or fertilizer. You do get a $20- month credit at the restaurant though.
Update 12/2/17 HOA fees are $156- month and still includes lawn mowing and trimming but not pruning, lawn water or fertilizer. You do get a $20- month credit at the restaurant though. Best HOA fee deal in town !
Update 12/10/2018 HOA fees have gone up to $206- month. In addition to mowing and edging the yard you now also get cable TV, Spectrum Bronze Tier 1 and super fast 100 mbps internet. A $20- month voucher to the restaurant is also included. You won’t get more for your HOA $ than Summerglen.
Update 1/20/2020 HOA for 2020 is $252.00 and they no longer offer a monthly voucher for the restaurant.The restaurant on premises is now operated my Turnpike Mike’s and the people seem happy with it..Happy Hour daily etc..The lawn service is also new and they are doing a great job.The Golf Course is in very good shape and that was taken over a couple of months ago..
Update 3/4/2021 HOA fees remain the same at $252- month
If you would like a list of homes for sale in Summerglen fill out my Ocala Dream Home Finder , call me or send an email. I’ll set you up a Listing Cart which is custom MLS search for Summerglen.
Images below.
Oak Run is a large 55 plus community located just off SR 200 in the SW corridor area of Ocala. Construction began in 1985 and was built out in 2007. Oak Run is divided into neighborhoods. These neighborhoods have evolved over a 25 year period and each one has a unique character. The older homes are frame with aluminum or vinyl siding. The newer homes are concrete block and stucco. As time went by the size of the houses grew as buyers expectations increased over that 25 year period. You will find older homes as small as 700 sq ft of living area and newer homes over 3,000 sq ft. Prices as you might expect vary tremendously. HOA fees vary by the neighborhood. In a few areas the homes include lawn care which adds to the fee. In general HOA fees at this time range from $110- to about $150- with homes that have lawn care being higher at about $230- $250 per month, exact fees vary by neighborhood. Amenities at Oak Run are extensive. They include 3 gates with a guard house, basic cable TV, curbside trash pickup and common area maintenance. There is the Royal Oaks Golf Course, 5 outdoor pools, an indoor pool, a great fitness center that is like joining a gym, a restaurant, numerous clubs, tennis, pickleball, horseshoes, shuffle board ect. Golf is not included in the HOA fee.
Update 3/15 Fees remain stable but I think prices are starting to go up. Oak Run gives you a lot for your HOA $. It is a must see.
Update 3/16 HOA fees are always stable in Oak Run. They do vary by the neighborhood, size and age of the home. Inventory is down and prices are up from last year.
Update 11/9/17 HOA fees seldom go up in Oak Run. They vary by neighborhood which is related to the age of the home and if the house is on a maintained lot or not.
If you would like a list of homes for sale in Oak Run fill out my Dream Home Finder or send me an email. I’ll set you up a Listing Cart for Oak Run. Read more
I often get buyers looking in The Villages contacting me to see what is available further north in Summerfield and Ocala. There are nice alternatives to the Villages in Ocala and Summerfield. I don’t work in The Villages myself but the Ocala Marion county MLS does cover some of it. This morning I was looking at what sold yesterday on our MLS and saw a house in The Villages that sold for $179,500-. It was only 1179 sqft living area, frame with siding and $153 sqft, built in 03. I thought wow that’s crazy expensive and prompted this blog post.
The following are just examples of homes sold in the past 30 days. They may or may not be comparable. They are only intended to provide a rough idea of prices in various communities. When comparing homes of different sizes look at the $/sqft.
The Villages :
2005 1535 sqft block and stucco $246,000 $162 sqft Mallory Square
2006 1602 sqft frame/siding $279,000 $180 sqft Tanglewod
2018 1196 sqft frame/stucco $285,000 $259 sqft Sumter Jacaranda Villas golf view
Ocala and Summerfield:
2017 2017 sqft block and stucco $284,295 $146 sqft Candler Hills Stonebridge 3 baths GC garage
2002 1680 sqft block and stucco $185,000 $113 sqft Ocala Palms golf/water views GC garage
2016 1928 sqft frame/cement board $257,000 $146 sqft Ocala Preserve at Trilogy
2006 1504 sqft block and stucco $146,500 $100 sqft On Top of the World
2009 2419 sqft block and stucco $374,888 $155 sqft Stone Creek birdcage golf view GC garage
2009 2279 sqft block and stucco $226,500 $101 sqft Summerglen golf course view
2004 1958 sqft block and stucco $240,000 $123 sqft Spruce Creek Country Club
2006 1812 sqft frame and stucco $274,500 $154 sqft Stonecrest birdcage and golf course view
If you’re interested in seeing homes for sale in any of these Ocala or Summerfield communities fill out my Ocala Dream Home Finder and I’ll set you up a search and Listing Portal.
New home building has started to pick up in the Ocala and surrounding Marion County Florida area. For the longest time new home building was dead. Starting in maybe 2015 things picked up and now there is new construction popping up around the county.
Where. Not 55+ homes are being built in Silver Springs Shores, Marion Oaks, Ocala Park Estates, Heathbrook, Oak Hill Plantation, Ocala Waterway and Meadow Glenn to name a few areas with a fair amount of new homes. The 55+ communities with new home construction are JB Ranch, Del Webb Stone Creek, On Top of the World including Candler Hills and Indigo East and Trilogy Ocala Preserve.
Price. Prices vary quite a bit. Excluding very high end homes prices run from about $100- Sqft to $150 sqft. That is sqft of living area, the area that is heated and cooled.
Upgrades. Although there are spec homes that you can buy either finished or almost finished a lot of new homes are semi custom. I was told by a salesperson at a large 55+ that a good ballpark number for upgrades is to add 20% to the base price you often see advertised.
If you are interested in a new homes call me. Using a Realtor doesn’t effect the price of a new home. I can also show you alternatives such as resales just a few years old. New home sales people are employees of the builder just like a car salesperson.
I was just involved in a multiple offer situation. I don’t see them all the time but this was the 2nd one this year. Both were on 55+ homes which are my specialty. Both also had borderline over the top renovations.
A few things to know about multiple offers. The seller does not have to accept the first offer they get. The sellers can do what ever is in their best interests. Sellers don’t have to disclose that they have other offers. Sellers sometimes will ask for a buyers “highest and best” offer but do not have to. A seller doesn’t have to accept the highest offer. They may for example take a cash offer with no contingency other than an inspection over a higher offer with financing.
In order to win in a multiple offer situation it helps to pay cash and make as AS IS offer asking for no repairs. Offers with financing or even cash contingent on the sale of your existing home with lose out most every time to the cash AS IS offer.
Cherry Wood is a 55 plus retirement community in the SW part of Ocala Florida. Cherry Wood is in a great location just minutes from shopping, restaurants and hospitals. Cherry Wood has a large pool, a tennis court and shuffle board area. There is also a large clubhouse community center. Homes in Cherry Wood are concrete block and stucco construction on 1/4 acre lots. Chain link fences are allowed. This is not a gated community. HOA fees include common area maintenance, clubhouse and pool, a full cable TV package and curb side trash pickup. See my Ocala 55+ communities map for Cherry Wood’s location. Cherry Wood does not have a HOA it is managed by the developer.
Update 3/15 HOA fees are $198- month broken down like this $132- month for management, maintenance of common areas ect, $66- month for cable TV (mandatory) and 2 X week trash pick up. Great block and stucco homes. You can’t beat the home prices here.
Update HOA fees are now $208- month. Home prices are up from last year and up quite a bit from a couple of years ago. Still great prices on CBS homes.
Update 1/20/18 HOA fees are now $212 month. Still the best priced CBS 55+ homes in the area.
Update 1/23/19 HOA fees are now $220- month
Update 3/4/2021 HOA fees are now $238- month
If you would like a list of homes for sale in Cherry Wood fill out my Ocala Dream Home Finder,call me or send an email. I will set you up a Listing Cart on the Ocala MLS for Cherry Wood Estates.