The city of Ocala is a thriving mid-sized central Florida city. This city underwent rapid growth in the 1970s with the development of the Interstate 75 and the completion of Disney World. In the past decade, the greater Ocala area has seen one of the highest growth rates for a city its size in the US.

The county's population in 2000 rose to 250,000, up from around 100,000 in the 70's. A large aspect of the county's growth could be attributed to the county's rising popularity as a viable retirement destination, particularly in the areas of the SR 200 corridor and The Villages, which are located in the southwest portion of the city.

County officials Have Begun Analyzing the Area's Housing Conditions

A major study has been launched by the Public Policy Institute of Marion County, to analyze the county's affordable housing market. the county's Affordable Housing Task Force is comparing and analyzing how communities elsewhere are finding ways to address the problem of rising housing costs. It is also examining how both state and local governments, as well as the private sector, can join to address this problem. The task force is planning to issue a report with recommendations sometime this spring.

The need for affordable housing is a real and pressing concern, and this is what county officials and the private sector is looking into. As more people move to this area, home prices continue to soar and land becomes scarcer, it poses a troubling concern to the community and the state as well.

The Manufactured Housing Sector Is Seeing A Boom

Local newspapers in Ocala have reported that manufactured housing is enjoying a boom as more families are looking into getting these types of houses, as the costs are far than the median price.

With around 30,000 mobile and manufactured houses already on the books in Ocala and Marion County, this alternative housing option makes sense for those on a limited budget, which explains for the rising demand. However, this housing market segment also is having its dproblems because of fast-escalating land prices and a lack of appropriately zoned lots and acreage.

Another Study Analyzes The Future Of Affordable Housing in Ocala

A comprehensive study has recently been released, which reports that the future of affordable housing in the Marion County area will be bleak unless more concrete steps are quickly taken by public and private initiatives.

According to the study, the housing options for low- and moderate-income residents of Ocala/Marion County are becoming limited, and is becoming a worrisome scenarion. Too few residences are available that poor and working people can afford. There is some help, but not nearly enough. Identifying problems and crafting viable solutions for a tightening residential home market is the backbone of the "2006 Housing Study: A Framework for Affordable and Workforce Housing,"

The study was produced by the Marion County Public Policy Institute, a volunteer consortium of local leaders charged with crafting a life-enhancing vision for the Ocala area. Because Ocala's housing prices are still among the most affordable in the state, the PPI study group admits that other parts of Florida face stronger challenges. Though PPI members admit some of their findings and recommendations are quite debatable, they feel certain most of the facts cannot be disputed.

The study notes that the median cost of an existing home in the county has risen by 44 percent to about $160,000 in 2005, and more than half of all local families don't make enough money to afford such prices, and would need assistance. Per-square-foot prices for new construction have also soared in the last few years of a now cooling real estate boom.

http://www.fountainsatgolfpark.com/fountains/index.htm - Ocala Real Estate

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