| Marion County is generally viewed as located | | | | City" by the National Civic League, as well |
| in the crossroads of the sunny state of | | | | as the nation's fifth most desirable place to |
| Florida. Its location in the north-central | | | | live by Money Magazine. Ocala has also |
| part of the state puts it within an hour or | | | | attracted a number of US and international |
| two of major metropolitan areas. | | | | industries, which include Lockheed-Martin, |
| | | | Clairson International, Golden Flake, K-Mart, |
| The city of Ocala is at the hub of the system | | | | Dayco Corporation, Microdyne Corporation, |
| of federal and state highways that crisscross | | | | Townley Manufacturing, Signature Brands LLC, |
| the county. The area provides easy access to | | | | and Associated Grocers. |
| Interstate 75 for north/south travel,to U.S. | | | | |
| highways 27, 301, and 441, and every major | | | | The Housing Inventory Has Increased In This |
| State Road, which connect Ocala with points | | | | City |
| east to the Atlantic and west to the Gulf of | | | | |
| Mexico. | | | | As housing inventory throughout the county |
| | | | increases, it appears that the local real |
| The Ocala Regional Airport is a general | | | | estate market is becoming a buyer's market. |
| aviation facility that offers private and | | | | Local and national housing analysts note that |
| charter flight services, as well as a | | | | it's a shift in the local market , which |
| business aircraft terminal. The expansion of | | | | followed the home building explosion of 2005. |
| this general aviation airport has included an | | | | |
| FAA Aircraft Rescue Firefighting Training | | | | Housing observers surmise that it will be |
| Facility and an emergency response driver's | | | | interesting to see real estate numbers in a |
| training center. The city is also known as a | | | | few years which will better reflect market |
| world-class center for its Thoroughbred | | | | activity void of speculators who entered the |
| horses and farms. | | | | housing market in 2005. They also add that |
| | | | the national media is lumping Ocala in with |
| Tourist Destinations Are within Ocala's Reach | | | | the entire state, and while the coastal areas |
| | | | and southern Florida have seen declines, |
| This city is easily reached by the numerous | | | | Marion County still has positive values. |
| vacation destinations throughout the State of | | | | However, observers note that consumers are |
| Florida. The majority of Florida's tourist | | | | looking at national and state numbers, and |
| attractions are within an hour and a half | | | | are still a bit cautious of delving into the |
| drive from the city, however, popular | | | | housing market. |
| attractions such as Silver Springs, Wild | | | | |
| Waters, Don Garlits Museum and the Ocala | | | | Marion County And Ocala Offers A Wide Variety |
| National Forest are located in the immediate | | | | Of Home Options |
| area. | | | | |
| | | | Ocala, as well as Marion County, offers homes |
| Ocala's Economy Is Diverse, And Growing | | | | in a variety of price ranges from starter |
| | | | homes to luxurious upper-end housing estates. |
| Since the 1960's, Marion County has | | | | Many view that Ocala is a unique place for |
| experienced significant manufacturing and | | | | those looking for a starter home or those |
| industrial growth. This excellent economic | | | | wanting a second or third home. The median |
| diversity, combined with rich agricultural | | | | price of homes in Marion County for the |
| and natural resources, has made Marion County | | | | second quarter of 2007 was pegged at |
| one of the fastest growing areas in the US. | | | | $170,900, a slight jump from $169,500 for the |
| In 1995, Ocala was declared an "All America | | | | same period in 2006. |