Candler Hills
The upscale neighborhood of On Top of the World — newer estate-style 55+ homes with their own golf course and amenity campus.
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Candler Hills — What's Selling
Recent closed sales in and around Candler Hills, live from the Stellar MLS · about $185/sq ft · aggregates only, no addresses published.
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Background
A brief history
Candler Hills is the upscale, newer neighborhood within On Top of the World, the sprawling 55+ community on Ocala's southwest side that has been one of Florida's largest active-adult developments for decades. While On Top of the World itself dates to the early 1980s under the Colen family's Sidney Colen-founded development company, Candler Hills was added much later as a more estate-oriented, golf-anchored expansion — its Candler Hills Golf Club opened in 2005 and the neighborhood was established around 2006.
The name is commonly attributed to the "Candler" sand found in the area, and the neighborhood was designed as a gated, golf-cart community with its own championship course, clubhouse, and amenity campus distinct from the larger On Top of the World core. Homes here run larger and newer than much of the original OTOW stock — single-family floor plans across multiple collections, plus attached villas — built out over the years since 2006 by the developer's in-house building operation.
Today Candler Hills functions as the premium address inside On Top of the World, combining its own newer estate-style homes and golf with access to the broader community's vast amenity base, including the Master the Possibilities lifelong-learning center, multiple recreation centers, and miles of trails. It sits off SW 80th/90th in southwest Ocala, minutes from the SR-200 corridor's shopping and the area's medical hubs.
The feel
What it's like to live here
Candler Hills is the higher-end, newer side of On Top of the World: a gated, golf-cart-friendly 55+ neighborhood of larger, estate-style homes built since 2006, with its own championship golf course, clubhouse, and amenities layered on top of access to OTOW's enormous community-wide offering. The feel is polished and active — newer construction, well-kept streets, an in-house lifelong-learning program, and a deep slate of clubs and activities. It draws retirees who want a more upscale home and golf within a large, established active-adult community.
The honest tradeoffs are those of buying into a big managed 55+ community. The mandatory age restriction means at least one household member must meet the 55+ requirement, so it won't fit younger buyers or those needing children on site full-time. The amenity lifestyle comes with monthly HOA dues — generally higher here than at some smaller 55+ communities, reflecting the scope of amenities — plus golf and certain activities that may carry separate costs. And because Candler Hills sits within the larger OTOW framework, governance, fees, and amenity access are tied to that broader community. Buyers who want a small, self-contained neighborhood or a brand-new-only home may prefer alternatives; buyers who want an upscale, amenity-rich active-adult lifestyle in southwest Ocala will find Candler Hills compelling.
The details
What to expect
Age Restriction (HOPA 55+)
Candler Hills, as part of On Top of the World, is a mandatory 55+ active-adult community under the federal Housing for Older Persons Act (HOPA). Generally that means at least one occupant of each home must be 55 or older, with limits on younger residents, but the exact occupancy rules — including any minimum age for additional residents and policies on visiting grandchildren — are set by the community's governing documents. If anyone in your household is under 55 or you need a child to live on site full-time, this community likely will not fit. Always verify the current age-restriction policy directly with the HOA before purchase.
HOA Fee & Amenity Reality
The amenities here are funded by a monthly HOA assessment — reported around the $336/month range as of early 2025, generally higher than at smaller 55+ communities because it supports On Top of the World's extensive amenity base. Dues typically cover community amenities, common-area upkeep, and access to recreation centers and trails, while golf at Candler Hills Golf Club and some clubs or classes carry their own fees. Treat any figure you see as a starting point and confirm the current amount, exactly what it includes, and any pending special assessments by reviewing the HOA budget and reserves before purchase. Verify all fees with the HOA before purchase.
Golf & The Candler Hills Course
Golf is central to Candler Hills' identity: the Candler Hills Golf Club, a semi-private championship course designed by Florida architect Gordon Lewis and opened in 2005, offers multiple sets of tees and on-staff PGA/LPGA instruction. Membership is generally available but not required, and golf fees are typically separate from base HOA dues. Many homes back to fairways, which carries a price premium and affects insurance, privacy, and errant-ball exposure. If golf frontage matters to you, weigh the lifestyle upside against the premium, and ask about current membership and play options.
Amenities & Lifestyle Within OTOW
Beyond its own clubhouse and golf, Candler Hills residents tap On Top of the World's vast community-wide offering: multiple recreation centers and pools, fitness, tennis and pickleball, the Master the Possibilities lifelong-learning center, dog parks, community gardens, and miles of golf-cart and walking trails. With a huge roster of clubs and a packed activities calendar, the social offering is a major draw and a real support for resale demand. The flip side is scale — this is a large, busy community, not a quiet enclave. Tour the amenities on a normal weekday to confirm the energy level fits what you want from retirement.
Home Vintage & Construction
Candler Hills homes are newer than much of the original On Top of the World stock, built largely from 2006 onward in multiple single-family collections plus attached villas, with floor plans generally larger than the older OTOW core. That newer vintage means more current finishes and systems than older 55+ resales, though as homes approach two decades you should still check roof, HVAC, and water-heater age. Premium lots — golf, water, or preserve frontage — command the strongest prices. A thorough independent inspection is worthwhile on any home, and on newer construction confirm any remaining builder or structural warranty coverage.
Community
Amenities
- Candler Hills Golf Club — semi-private championship course designed by Gordon Lewis, opened 2005, with PGA/LPGA instruction
- Candler Hills neighborhood clubhouse and amenity campus within the gated, golf-cart community
- Access to On Top of the World's multiple recreation centers and pools
- Master the Possibilities lifelong-learning center
- Fitness facilities, tennis and pickleball courts
- Dog park, community gardens, and an outdoor fitness/Power Park
- Miles of golf-cart paths and walking/fitness trails throughout the community
- Minutes from the SR-200 corridor shopping, dining, and area medical hubs
Know Before You Buy
HOA rules worth knowing
- Mandatory 55+ age-restricted community under the federal Housing for Older Persons Act (HOPA) as part of On Top of the World — confirm current occupancy and age-verification policies with the HOA before purchase
- Gated entry with a monthly HOA assessment reported around the $336/month range as of early 2025, supporting On Top of the World's amenity base — verify current figure and inclusions before purchase
- Golf at Candler Hills Golf Club and some clubs/classes carry separate fees apart from base HOA dues
- Deed restrictions and architectural standards apply community-wide; review governing documents and any pending special assessments before purchase
Education
School assignments
- Age-restricted 55+ community (HOPA) within On Top of the World — children do not reside here full-time, so school zoning is not a typical factor; verify current age-restriction rules with the HOA
- Served by Marion County Public Schools for the broader southwest Ocala area (relevant mainly to non-resident family or to eventual resale considerations)
School zone assignments change. Verify with Orange County Public Schools before purchase.
Market Commentary
What the market is doing
Candler Hills is the premium end of the On Top of the World market, and the numbers reflect it — the last 12 months of MLS sales show 108 closings, strong volume for an upscale 55+ neighborhood. The median came in at $440K, with the bottom tenth of sales under $285K and the top tenth above $539K. That sits meaningfully above the broader Ocala 55+ market, which tracks with Candler Hills' newer, larger estate-style homes and its own golf. The spread between the bottom and top tenth largely reflects floor plan size, golf or preserve frontage, lot premium, and finish level. Because this is age-restricted and tied to the larger OTOW community, I always have buyers confirm the HOPA 55+ rules and the current monthly HOA fee before writing, since the amenity dues here run higher than at many smaller 55+ communities. Newer, well-positioned homes draw competitive interest. — Ryan Solberg
Active MLS Inventory
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Homes available in Candler Hills
12 homes currently listed in Candler Hills.
$530,450
10109 Sw 82nd Place Rd
Ocala, FL 34481
3 bd · 3 ba · 2,211 sqft
Candler Hills
This property is under contract. Contact us for backup offer opportunities.
MLS# OM725534
$294,900
8380 Sw 82nd Cir
Ocala, FL 34481
3 bd · 2 ba · 1,701 sqft
Candler Hills
MLS# OM703507
$459,000
9077 Sw 81st Loop
Ocala, FL 34481
2 bd · 2 ba · 2,076 sqft
Candler Hills
MLS# OM717140
$432,000
8674 Sw 94th Cir
Ocala, FL 34481
3 bd · 3 ba · 2,450 sqft
Candler Hills
This property is under contract. Contact us for backup offer opportunities.
MLS# OM712100
$239,900
8404 Sw 82nd Cir
Ocala, FL 34481
3 bd · 2 ba · 1,701 sqft
Candler Hills
This property is under contract. Contact us for backup offer opportunities.
MLS# OM721956
$434,900
9026 Sw 89th Street Rd
Ocala, FL 34481
2 bd · 2 ba · 2,097 sqft
Candler Hills
MLS# OM725788
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Listings courtesy of Stellar MLS as distributed by MLS GRID
IDX information is provided exclusively for consumers’ personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing.
Based on information submitted to the MLS GRID as of June 11, 2026. All data is obtained from various sources and may not have been verified by broker or MLS GRID. Supplied Open House Information is subject to change without notice. All information should be independently reviewed and verified for accuracy. Properties may or may not be listed by the office/agent presenting the information.
Ryan Solberg, Broker · MaxLife Realty LLC · FL License #BK3354351 · Equal Housing Opportunity · Full disclaimer · DMCA