Ocala is great for Seniors - 12/10/2023

My wife and I have lived in Ocala as retirees since 2014 and we love it here. It is definitely a place for retired folks. There is lots to do here for us. As for young people, the place is not geared towards them because it is mainly a retirement town. When our grandkids visit, they are bored. But for us, there is the art walk downtown on Fridays which is very nice, and music in the park. Also there are good coffee shops, restaurants and bakeries downtown. It is a small downtown but it has a historical look to it which is quite pleasant. The town is divided by Silver Springs Blvd (N/S). We found more seniors living on the SW and SE side of town compared to NW or NE. So if you are looking for a lot of things for seniors to do, keep this in mind because many events you can even walk to depending on where you live. The largest community for seniors in Ocala is On Top Of the World in the SW part of town and this is a huge, expansive senior citizen development with many golf courses and activities, but it can be pricey so you will have to decide on this based on your budget. Also, there are many mobile home parks, many which are quite nice, however you will have buy the home first and then pay a lot rent on the land that your home sits on, which can run you upwards of $600 a month on average for 2023. Many parks are owned by large corporations, and have annual lot rent increases, have fairly strict rules and will require park approval to buy into the development. But again, depending on the park, some come with amenities like sewer and water while others do not. Ocala is horse country so you will find there is a lot to do at the World Equestrian Center. Also we have regular classic car events, and RV shows at the horse park which is a good day of entertainment. We also have nice antique shops and plenty of shopping for everyone both downtown and in the local malls. We have a few Walmarts in this town to serve the needs of everyone along with several Publix stores. The weather is good year round and sometimes in winter it will dip to the 30's for a couple of days, but it never snows here. One thing you should be prepared for is the rain as it comes down like a waterfall and can be quite noisy. It is not typical steady rain in these mostly summer months as it POURS hard. So that takes getting used to. Otherwise at least for seniors you will find this a delightful town with friendly people. There is crime but usually it is in certain areas but you still have to be vigilant and be aware of your surroundings as in any town and keep your doors locked. People asked me why did I not include the job market so here it is. As for jobs, I am afraid that Ocala just does not live up to a good job market. The wages are significantly lower than the rest of the state and that is IF you can find a job. Our grandson has been here for 3 months now and cannot find any work. Many seem to be laying off and going more automated now. So for the younger people, this could be a real struggle and the rents are higher that you would expect given the wages, so this town needs a better balance of the two. Back to seniors though, there are many developments that have golf cart roads so you can tool around in your golf cart and join many of the activities like parades and such in your golf cart. We found having a golf cart to be very fun as we can visit neighbors and friends, or go to events without hopping in our car. I hope this helps anyone looking to retire or move here.

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Beautiful community ruined by crime - 12/14/2022

I lived here for 12 years during my 20's to early 30's. Raised my children and started careers. This place offered plenty of work, good neighbors and lots of memories. Downtown is pretty but small. One thing mentioned is violent crimes. Unfortunately, there was some horrible crimes that happened because of the people living in the Marion County area that would travel in the city of Ocala.

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Nice small town - 6/21/2022

I like this city, a small town and a lot to offer for adults between 30 to seniors. Now if you planing to move with teens is not for you, unless you coming from another small town. We got a house in central Ocala our area is nice. Not many options on the internet, we pay a lot for ours since my husband work from home. I’m getting used to this City but is not for young people.

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Ocala is a hidden GEM here in central florida - 3/6/2020

I have lived in Ocala Florida for 10 yrs. Moving from New England. It does indeed get hot here....IT'S FLORIDA. I am not a fan of the blistering cold of the northern states although I lived there for almost 50 yrs. although New England used to be charming to say the least you will be hard pressed to find that same charm today. Now for Ocala it is slower than New England thank goodness and as far as cleanliness goes it surpasses what the politicians are willing to do in N.E. this is one of the cleanest towns I have been in. Blight doesn't last long here they tear it down and rebuild faster than any town I've seen. The civic pride is outstanding and people here are constantly trying to improve what they offer the citizens. I had to learn to change the way I did things as far as the heat goes, like not doing yard work at high noon. Seems like Ocala has a handle on this by offering a lot of activities at night. I love it here and knew the minute I drove into town that this would be my forever home. I will never move from here.

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Why I Choose to Make Ocala Home - 12/18/2019

I have lived in different parts of FL from Miami to Live Oak. I have also lived in NH, VA, & SC. I have also made many extended visits to GA & TN many times in different seasons. I have resided in Ocala for the past 30 years. Ocala beats the snot out of ALL the large cities in FL (Ocala is meduim size) because our cost of housing is far cheaper, much less traffic with NO tolls, & less crime, central location to get to all the hot spot tourist traps, just far enough from the coast to buffer hurricanes and high insurance premiums. If someone states Ocala has crime they did not experience Maimi during the late 1970s & 80's or even lately! Ocala has access to more places and things to do within an hours drive than about anywhere else in the USA and you will not find better weather except for mid July - mid Oct but that's what all the water, shade trees & A/C is for. For the value, it is hard to beat Ocala.

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Skip the city, go to the forest - 8/12/2019

The city isn't really anything special but the real nice stuff is in the Ocala national forest with the freshwater springs and big lakes. I really think more people should visit them more often. they're beautiful, inexpensive and lots of fun to go to.

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Don’t bother - 8/10/2019

Ocala is a good ol boy town with confederate flags and right wingers. If that’s your style you will love it here. Cost of living is low, paychecks are even lower. The traffic light system is not set up for traffic flow but for traffic congestion and there is a lot of that. Some say the slowest baddest drivers live here. Crime is very high.

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Ocala Good place to live - 4/20/2019

I have been a resident since 1987 of Ocala, FL . I have raised 2 children hear. Like ever place it has its up and downs. But I choose to change the bad areas and make it better. It has nice parks, It has Horse farms and local events. If you are looking for Disney World this is not your place. There is ample employment if especially if you have credentials. If you have little to no education then the job market will likely be an issue. I find those struggling with employment usually failure to pass background checks and with failure to search hard. We do have Lockheed Martin and other large employers I am a Realtor and can help you with relocation. Fort King Realty, 3528405464.

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Ocala Good place to live - 4/20/2019

I have been a resident since 1987 of Ocala, FL . I have raised 2 children hear. Like ever place it has its up and downs. But I choose to change the bad areas and make it better. It has nice parks, It has Horse farms and local events. If you are looking for Disney World this is not your place. There is ample employment if especially if you have credentials. If you have little to no education then the job market will likely be an issue. I find those struggling with employment usually failure to pass background checks and with failure to search hard. We do have Lockheed Martin and other large employers I am a Realtor and can help you with relocation. Fort King Realty, 3528405464.

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Do NOT move to Ocala Florida - 8/20/2018

This is a very terrible place to live - believe me. There in NOTHING to do here. There are NO jobs and the pay for these jobs are pitiful. I came from Lovely Brandon (Tampa) and I am looking to return. I am a city girl and not a country bunkin, if thats what you like. Ocala has NOTHING to offer anyone except senior citizens.

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Moving to Ocala - 5/18/2018

My husband and I are moving to Ocala. In reviewing the comments, I see a very mixed group. We spent a weekend there looking at real estate and it seems there is a lot of things to do. Hiking, historical tours, great restaurants, museums, parks for recreation and of course the equestrian life.We both hate the cold and we have horses. We are really looking forward to being in Ocala. My husband grew up in Florida, so he is familiar with the weather which seems to be a constant source of complaints. We don't mind driving, so the beaches are easy for us.

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If not for the weather... - 11/3/2017

The oppressive heat ruins this place for me. Additionally, I don't drive and it was so isolating and depressing. I spent most of my years there in front of an AC unit miserable and trapped, with my animals depressed too. If you had a car, it's still rough. No beaches nearby.... the summers, and even spring and much of fall, are just god awful. The town itself is nice, and the local countryside and the nearby forest are gorgeous. If you have real money, good cars, and a pool, it could be pretty nice.

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peaceful life - 6/27/2017

Ocala ( unincorporated, not the city of Ocala ) has a great variety of stores especially since Earth Fare arrived recently. There is nature here, less traffic, and a good amount of wildlife. The community I am in ["Pine Run"] is like a bird sanctuary with even ibises flying around. Homes are less than $80,000 and some less than $40,000. Air conditioning is not necessary if one slowly accustoms oneself to the heat. The heat is less bothersome if you have a healthy , vigorous lifestyle. The body adjusts if it is in a healthy condition. Most communities have pools. If you don't have a pool here you can go to the local college and swim in their Olympic sized pool for a very low cost. The best thing is having flowers blooming all year round ( if you plant some ). Come on down. Why pay thousands of dollars on house taxes when you can pay around $700 a year instead.

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Not a bad place to live luxuriously on the cheap. - 3/4/2017

Pro's: No state tax, no yearly inspection fees for cars, the homeowner's homestead exemption is excellent, low cost of living in general. In Ocala, I rented in 2015 a 3/2 3,000 SQFT luxury condo with armed security, gated access, every possible country club benefit you could dream up at Fore Ranch. God, that place is like living in the lap of luxury. I paid $1,000/month rent. The gym, pool and clubhouse was worth it on it's own, absent the rent! It's like living at one of those grand hotels you never want ot check out of and Ocala has way more than just Fore Ranch! Tuscany is another, the list goes on. I moved to an equally small town in Longmeadow, MA and $1,000 a month got me a one room studio in a horrible section of town. In Ocala the only expensive thing is utilities. In any other place, your utility will be 70% less. In Florida, utility companies are privately owned and they charge whatever they like and pad the bill. But it's worth putting up with in exchange for 3 pks of cigarettes for $9 if you smoke, easy weather and you do get used to the humidity. Tanning salons & airbrush in Ocala are $2 each luxury session while in Mass it's $35 per session, you get the idea. Services and goods in general cost more than half in Ocala as compared to other areas. Con's: In Ocala, everyone and their brother literally, are in your business. There is a cop for every 10 people. BUT if you want a state job, Ocala is the place to be. The women still have the Lifetime Movie Network mentality and if your kid goes to school with a skinned knee they assume you beat him. If you go to work with a scratch they assume you need to visit the Rape Crisis Center. If you're broke and are trying to raise your kids, everyone will be in your business. With the redneck idiots there, I would retire there or be single and live on the cheap but I would not raise a family there. You think I am kidding, or I am exaggerating. I am not. There is a general consensus and the IQ there is extremely LOW. You have to explain things 2,3, 4x in order to get your point across. People there are idiots. No joke. But the weather and cost of living are excellent.

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mixed review - 7/4/2016

I have to say car collisions seem to be an issue here. And the heat. The heat is oppressive, and I LOVE the heat. the economy is oppressive too. I'm 34, technically educated, and looking to leave. The first thing I notice after arriving in 2015 was the collisions. Just when i think to myself: it's been a little while since I saw one. Bam. there it is again. Some look incredibly violent too, rollovers, tilt overs, multi directional pileups, T bones. People just don't care about one another here. I went to school in Gainesville. I love north central florida in general, but this summer is really hot, the rain is not even a cooling rain anymore. I'm married and trying to raise a family on one income. It's not really possible here, I am finding; is that the new reality? Or is it still possible in the north or mid-atlantic? My benefits in Ocala seem singularly crappy, I have to say. Ihave had jobs before... before the crisis, and this is the lowest compensation i have ever had... considering all things and the cost of living. Cost of living is low, but stay away from the train tracks, the CSX will run ALL FREAKING NIGHT. Have a nice job lined up before coming. There is like one engineering firm here.

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Goodbye Ocala - 6/27/2016

I have lived in Ocala for the past 23 years. I have watched this town go to crap. I am finally leaving in a couple of months and couldn't be happier about it. Murders are an every week occurrence, jobs are non existent, and the traffic will make the most patient person crazy. This town is too dang small to accommodate all these people. You guys can have it!

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crime - 4/5/2016

I just need to know how its possible the crime in Ocala is up and where ? 2014, 2015 its statics is not there ?

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why crime or how is up?? - 4/5/2016

I need to know how the crime is up and where of what part in Ocala Florida>??

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quality of life. - 8/18/2015

I lived in Ocala, Florida last year for 1 year. I recently moved from Philadelphia, Pa. I wanted to experience to see how the quality of life was in this recent town. Well, I say the cost of living is affordable but the town is too quiet. No conversations from individuals,kind of people are into themselves, no social activity whatsoever. Well what can I say,im a city guy who comes from a big city, I thought this was a place for me, but unfortunately it was not. The place is nice, beautiful, very laid back. I almost turned crazy with a depressed life. No jobs here, unemployment is crazy here. It's up to 13%. This place is for a retirement community. If you like a place that is very laid back,then this is a place for you. If you come from a big city, don't come here because it's not a place for you to settle. Try other big towns as well. I have second thoughts to come back to Florida probably through Kissimmee or Poinciana.

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Florida - 1/15/2014

Not a bad place to live if you could turn the heat down.

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