By Diego Bravo - Realtor® in May 5/2023

Many of my clients from out of town usually get excited about the possibility of buying properties in Ocala with big lots. Actually, the city of Ocala is spread out and, thus, most houses are distant from the others as they are built on bigger lots than is usual in other cities. Likewise, because property prices in this area are more affordable than in most Floridian cities, who wouldn’t like to get a larger piece of land that comes included in the purchase price?  

TYPES OF PROPERTIES TO CHOOSE FROM IN OCALA AND ITS SURROUNDING

-          Condominiums, on buildings of up to four floors.

-          Townhouses of two or three levels.

-          Villas, also called duplex.

-          Single-family homes in open neighborhoods or gated communities.

-          Country homes within lots of one acre or more.

-          Small horse farms, some in gated communities.

-          Big farms for horses, cattle, agriculture, and/or timber.

-          Luxury homes, including those in the historic district or in gated subdivisions.

-          Waterfront properties on a lake or river.

Some of the gated communities have recreational amenities such as golf course, swimming pools, fitness room, clubhouse, spa, restaurant. Some communities are age restricted (55+); others are set for equestrian or aviation activities.

In conclusion, there are properties available in Ocala for the tastes of most people, including families, retirees, investors, horse lovers, water sports fans, and recreational aviation fans.

ADVANTAGES OF BUYING A HOUSE ON A BIG LOT

1.     A big lot provides more privacy because the neighboring houses are farther apart.

2.     A large piece of land surrounding the house may be used for different purposes when permissible:

a.          a) Building additional structures such as a swimming pool (in-ground or above-ground), a gazebo, a                      doghouse, storage sheds, a workshop, additional garages for a boat or RV, a childrens’                                      playground, a greenhouse.

b.          b) Planting decorative bushes and trees, fruit trees, a garden with flowers or produce.

c.          c) Having more space for the family to play and/or for the dogs to run.

d.          d) Having space for farm animals, such as chickens, rabbits, sheep, goats, horses, cows, pigs.

e.          e) Digging a fishpond.

Although these advantages may sound exciting and some may be the perfect opportunity to fulfill some of your biggest dreams, let's discuss some possible disadvantages.

* Owning a larger piece of land requires more maintenance:

-      - The lawn and landscape require care regularly, such as mowing the grass, fertilizing, controlling weeds,           some varieties of grass and decorative plants need irrigation, and the bushes need regular trimming.               So, the larger the lot, the more expensive is its maintenance. For this reason, some homebuyers                       prefer to buy single-family homes with small lots; others prefer to buy condominiums, townhomes,                     or single-family homes in communities where lawn and landscaping maintenance is included in                         the HOA fees.

-       - If the lot perimeter or part of it is allowed to be fenced, a large lot requires more material and labor to set         up the fence and more maintenance in the future: If made of wood, it requires painting and replacing                 boards, post, and/or panels; if made of vinyl, it requires pressure washing about once a year; if made               of metal, it requires painting; if made of bushes (hedge fence), it requires regular trimming,                               depending on the season.

     *  Not all properties, even with big lots, are allowed for all uses. For example, the Covenants and                          Restrictions from some deed restricted neighborhoods may limit building some structures (e.g., above              ground swimming pools, children playground, storage buildings, workshops, additional garages)                        and/or planting fruit trees.

*   Having farm animals is only allowed in properties with the right zoning use, such as Agriculture (A). Therefore, properties in Residential zoning (R) are not allowed for farm animals, even if they have one or many acres of land.

*   Deed restricted neighborhoods of small farms, either gated or not, may limit the type of animals to keep in the properties based on the Covenants and Restrictions. For example, some equestrian subdivisions only allow having horses, but not mules, donkeys, or zebras. Note that dogs, cats, and small ornamental or singing birds are considered as pets in all deed restricted subdivisions, not as farm animals.

Because Ocala and surrounding areas offer the uncommon opportunity to own and reside in a farm as small as one acre, following, two more articles that may be of your interest:

7 great reasons to buy/own property in Zone Agriculture (A)

What the wealthy know about Horse Farms… That most people don’t !

If you are interested in buying property in Ocala or other areas in Florida, contact us at (352) 266-2782 by text, WhatsApp, or phone call. We have great options among new construction, used houses, horse farms, income-generating properties, or land.