Ocala Preserve is one of the larger master-planned communities to take shape in Marion County over the past decade. Construction began in 2014 on roughly 623 acres about a mile and a half from I-75, and the plan calls for approximately 1,800 single-family and attached homes. For buyers who want new construction and a deep amenity program in one place, it deserves a close look.
The amenity core is substantial. The Oak House clubhouse, roughly 17,000 square feet, includes a restaurant, bar, and spa. Outside, there is a resort-style pool with a lakeside veranda, tennis and bocce courts, and more than 10 miles of walking and biking trails that wind through preserved natural areas and connect the neighborhoods. The community also includes a golf course designed by Tom Lehman, which gives buyers a golf setting without the private-club structure of some older Ocala communities.
Ocala Preserve is organized into both 55+ age-restricted neighborhoods and sections with no age restriction. That structure is unusual in Ocala and worth understanding early: confirm which section a specific home sits in and review the governing documents for that section, since the rules and fees can differ.
Shea Homes and D.R. Horton have been the primary builders, offering single-family and attached plans across a wide range of sizes and price points. As with any new construction community, current-generation building standards mean energy-efficient systems, open layouts, and impact-rated windows are commonly standard. Pricing changes as phases open, so ask each builder for current base prices, lot premiums, and option costs.
Location is a practical advantage. Shopping, dining, and medical offices are a short drive away, and I-75 access makes trips to Gainesville, Orlando, and Tampa straightforward. The surrounding area is still growing, which brings new services but also construction traffic. Drive the surrounding roads at the times you would actually commute before deciding.
On a new build here, a few steps protect you. Have your own agent register with the builder at your first visit, since many builders require that at the start. Ask for the builder's standard features list and warranty in writing. Order an independent inspection at the pre-drywall stage and again before closing. And compare the full cost of options against a resale in the community, which can sometimes deliver upgrades and landscaping already in place.
Finally, look at the golf and clubhouse arrangements in writing. Ask whether golf access is included in your fees or offered separately, who owns and operates the course and the Oak House, and how those costs are budgeted going forward. Those answers shape the monthly number as much as the price of the home.
