Ocala: Is Stone Creek the best 55+? (real estate, lease, HOA)

[JohnG_NYC]

I started out looking at On Top of the World based on an ad in my local newspaper. While it looks great, I got caught up in the fact that the builder owns the amenities, some homes are on leased land, etc.

However, Ocala seems intriguing. Next I heard of SummerGlen. THere the amenities are resident owned. However, it is right off I-75 and not as close to shopping as OTOW. I have been told that some parts of SG can be quite noisy. Also, their golfing (I am not into this YET) seems quite expensive.

Next, I heard about Stome Creek. It is Del Webb which I have been led to believe means quality home features. It is next to OTOW as its land was purchased from them. Thus it is also nearer to shopping as is OTOW but not on top of a highway.There are no expensive golf feeslike the other two.

Stone Creek seems like the best of the bunch. Am I wrong or missing anything so far?

[Fleurdelis]

I don't think there's any one "best" 55+ community. It really just depends on what you want.

Stone Creek does seem quite nice, and Del Webb is offering some good deals at the moment. When we visited there last month, they were offering purchasers free golf carts.

My husband and I currently are renting in Oak Run, another 55+ community across Hwy 200 from Stone Creek. We'll probably buy here because it is (to our minds at least) the most beautiful 55+ community we've ever seen -- mostly because of all the trees, trees, trees. Oak Run is almost entirely built out now, though many of the houses are still new-ish. Almost everything built here since the mid-90s is concrete block.

The best advice I could give is to visit several communities with a real estate agent. Then "compare and contrast," as my high school English teachers always said.

[MINNIEMEME]

John I feel STONE CREEK IS REALLY NICE WE WERE UP THERE ., THE POOL IS WONDERFUL PLUS THEY GOT INDOOR OUTDOOR POOLS AND A REAL STEAM ROOM. WE TOURED WITH A GAL NAME DEBBIE SHE WAS GREAT .THE HOMES OUR NICE ALSO WELL GOOD LUCK OH THERE GETTING A NEW MALL SOON

[MINNIEMEME]

John ,the fees our great also .

[Charleysmom]

John, Stone Creek is great! We built a house there this summer. The best amenities around and great location! Unfortunately we have not been able to sell our current home in Ocala. If you are interested in the Stone Creek house, please let me know!

[sooners133]

Stone Creek is BY FAR the best 55+ community in all of Central Florida, in my opinion. The amenities are unmatched, the monthly fees are great, and the overall community is spectacular. Del Webb invented the active adult community concept, and Stone Creek is one of, if not the best example of superior execution. I would highly recommend considering Stone Creek. They even have a program where you can stay for 3 nights in a fully furnished villa home, with unlimited access to a golf cart (provided with each villa), and the ability to use all the amenities during your stay. The price per night is very reasonable, especially considering everything you get (cheaper than a hotel). I'm not sure of the price per night, but it might be worth calling and finding out more details, as it's a great way to experience living in Stone Creek.

[JohnG_NYC]

To Sooners133,

I noticed that you replied to three of my posts with similar knocks on OTOW and SummerGlen. I am curious:

Do you live in StoneCreek?
Are you a realtor or employed at StoneCreek?
You mentioned that OTOW is 30+ years old - are you sure of that?
Can you tell me which organization went bankrupt and where I can check into that fact?

I don't mean to be rude - but I need to see proof regarding such negative things.

Thanks.

[rma5502]

Unfortunately, sooners123 has an agenda. SummerGlen's developer( Florida Leisure Communities) has NEVER been bankrupt. They are a local(Lakland Office) developer for almost 40 yrs. They aquired SummerGlen from the bank that bank rolled the previous developer that went under. Since their aquisition in 04 they have sold almost 600 homes. Thusly the reason for the lowest pricer per sq ft in the area. I live here I know. This place was a dump when they took over. Now it is a community that we are all proud of. I just wanted to set the record straight.

[JohnG_NYC]

Thanks for the response regarding the facts. Actually I had checked the bankruptcy one independently on the web before my response. I knew it was false regarding the current owner at that point.

I know the poster was close on when OTOW was started - actually 25 years ago (plans going back over 30 years).

I cannot say for sure if the post was anything more than misguided. I had read that folks with an agenda sometimes will post without stating so. That is why I asked for proof. I did not receive a response - either here or directly.

I do have a question for you. Was Stone Creek available when you made your decision on SummerGlen? Which would you chose now? Why?

Also, as someone near On Top of the World, what is your take on that community? I just read that they have plans for over 30,000 homes!

[chrisp160]

could be that there are plans for additional 30000 omes in the future. Otow owner does own a vast expanse of land over there. Stone Creek land was sold by him. Plans for OTOW are the expansion of Candler Hills west which together with Candler Hills East will total 1600 homes Roads elec sewers are being put in now.The Master Association which oversees the HOA at OTOW includes Stone Creek For some strangr reason. Could be the owner of OTOW has an interest in Stone Creek also since he sells them water from OTOW and shares the golf course with them also.Plans are to connect the two with a golf cart path.