Welcome to Ocala
Known for its serene natural beauty, waterways and greenways, the Ocala area is also home to state-of-the-art healthcare, a bustling downtown, and a strong local economy. Situated in a quiet area of north central Florida known officially as the “Horse Capital of the World” dotted with equestrian estates and stately oak trees, Ocala is also a fast-growing commercial, medical and industrial center.
Ocala is part of the area known as the ‘Golden Triangle’, along with Orlando and Tampa, and has become home to many national and international companies including FedEx, Chewy, and AutoZone. The FedEx Ground hub is located within the expansive Ocala 489 Commerce Park just off I-75, and the 420,000-sf industrial facility kickstarted a major new logistics center ensuring Ocala’s position as a significant statewide player in Florida’s flourishing e-commerce economy.
The city is also proud of its historic downtown, which anchors this increasingly progressive city, and which is home to a vibrant symphony orchestra and a popular civic theater. The retail scene in Ocala is established and growing, offering everything from small businesses to big-box mega centers, shopping centers and two regional malls.
Most notably, equestrians around the world recognize Ocala as home to over 1,200 horse farms on more than 77,000 acres representing iconic breeds. The city also hosts major equestrian competitions and will soon to be the home of the magnificent World Equestrian Center at Golden Ocala, a sprawling facility that will draw horse enthusiasts from around the globe.
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Florida Real Estate Weekly Snapshot June 29, 2020
July 6, 2020Amazon continues to dominate industrial leasing along the I-4 corridor. The e-commerce giant just acquired 82.3 acres in Temple Terrace for $26.4 million, or $321,000 per acre. A city official confirmed there is a planned development on that site with Seefried Properties, which is a preferred developer for Amazon. Amazon has also signed a deal to lease the newly developed 425,550-sf I-4 Logistics Center in Seffner. -
Florida Real Estate Weekly Snapshot June 15, 2020
June 22, 2020The Metro Orlando Defense Task Force is facilitating a coordinated regional response to guidelines set by the U.S. Air Force for the selection of a permanent location for U.S. Space Command headquarters. Currently based in Colorado, SPACECOM’S new headquarters site selection process begins this summer and the announcement of the final selection is expected in January 2021. Orlando is well positioned for this opportunity as it has been the epicenter of the U.S.-led space race for over 60 years now. -
Florida Real Estate Weekly Snapshot June 8, 2020
June 15, 2020The industrial sector continues to exhibit strength during the pandemic. There has been a particular increase in activity along the I-4 corridor between Tampa and Orlando. At the end of May, HCA Healthcare signed a massive lease for 713,000 sf at a newly completed speculative development in Lakeland. Home Depot is also planning its third warehouse on 65 acres in Hillsborough County. -
Florida Real Estate Weekly Snapshot June 1, 2020
June 8, 2020According to the recently released Midyear Construction Outlook for the Southeastern U.S. by Dodge Data & Analytics, construction starts are expected to slump throughout the reminder of 2020, but some sectors may see a bounce back in 2021. -
Florida Real Estate Weekly Snapshot May 25, 2020
June 1, 2020There has been an acceleration in leasing activity over the last week, more traction with regard to longer term deals, and an uptick in requests for information and tours. In multiple markets, some clients that had previously put transactions on hold are now beginning discussions to move forward. -
Florida Real Estate Weekly Snapshot May 18, 2020
May 25, 2020With regard to rent collection, the general consensus is that as companies have gotten their federal stimulus money, they have increasingly been more able to cover their rent. Rent collection to date for May is similar to what was collected in April. Many office and industrial landlords have been deferring rent at 0% interest with a payback over the remainder of the term, or at the end of the year.