The two most-researched communities in Ocala are 3 miles apart on the same road. Leasehold vs fee simple. 54 holes vs 18. $512/mo HOA that includes lawn vs $250/mo that does not. The honest comparison — with the actual numbers — that nobody else has published.
Most buyers research On Top of the World and Del Webb Stone Creek at the same time. They are 3 miles apart on SW 80th Street. Both are gated and guarded. Both have 18+ holes of golf. Both are in Marion County with the same tax rate. On paper, they look similar.
They are not similar. The ownership structure, financing requirements, HOA fee reality, new construction dynamics, and long-term resale characteristics are meaningfully different. This comparison covers every significant dimension so you are not surprised after you are in contract.
Note: Candler Hills, Weybourne Landing, and Indigo East — all within the OTTOW campus — are fee simple properties. If fee simple ownership is essential and you want the OTTOW campus, those sections are the option.
This is where most buyers make the wrong comparison. OTTOW Central shows ~$512/mo. Stone Creek Classic shows $250/mo. Buyers conclude Stone Creek is dramatically cheaper. It is not, once you factor in what each fee includes.
Stone Creek Classic is genuinely cheaper all-in than OTTOW Central — but the gap is $1,600–$1,900 per year, not $3,100 as the headline HOA numbers suggest. The difference narrows further if you use a lawn service on the higher end, and narrows to near-zero if you compare OTTOW against Stone Creek Garden series ($395.50/mo, lawn included).
Both communities include golf in the HOA. The difference is volume vs quality.
OTTOW has 54 holes across three courses — Tortoise and the Hare, Roll and Swale, and a third layout. With 54 holes serving 10,000 homes, tee time availability is generally excellent even at peak morning hours. The courses are executive and mid-length — playable for all skill levels, not tournament-ready.
Stone Creek has one 18-hole championship course. It plays longer and is generally considered better conditioned and more challenging than OTTOW’s layouts. For the serious golfer who wants one excellent course and does not need three options, Stone Creek wins on quality. For the daily player who wants maximum flexibility and no tee time pressure, OTTOW’s volume wins.
Stone Creek is actively building new construction. OTTOW has limited new construction available in select phases but is primarily a resale market. This is a meaningful difference for certain buyers.
If new construction matters to you — builder warranty, modern floor plans, custom finish selections, new infrastructure — Stone Creek wins by default. OTTOW does not offer the same breadth of new construction options.
If you want to move in within 60–90 days, resale at OTTOW offers far more immediate inventory. New construction at Stone Creek means a 6–10 month build timeline. Resale at Stone Creek is faster but competes with new construction pricing.
OTTOW Central: the vast majority of parcels carry no CDD bond obligations. This is a genuine advantage over both The Villages and some Stone Creek parcels.
Stone Creek: some parcels — particularly in earlier phases — carry Bay Laurel Center CDD assessments running approximately $800–$1,800 per year. Not all parcels. Check the specific parcel before making an offer.
Candler Hills within the OTTOW campus: carries CDD assessments on new home parcels specifically. Resales in Candler Hills may or may not carry remaining CDD balance — verify per parcel.
The annual carrying cost is similar once you normalize for lawn care. The purchase price difference — $255K for a comparable OTTOW resale vs $345K for new construction Stone Creek — is the larger financial factor. That $90,000 difference translates to approximately $475/mo in additional mortgage cost at 7%, or $135,000 in additional interest over 30 years.
All figures are estimates. Verify current HOA fees, tax rates, CDD status, and insurance quotes for the specific parcel before purchase.
Buyers who can put 20% down, want the maximum golf volume (54 holes, no tee time pressure), want the lowest purchase price for a comparable home, are buying resale and want to close in 60 days, or want the longest-established community infrastructure in Ocala. Also: buyers who want lawn care genuinely included in the HOA without managing a separate service.
Buyers who need financing below 20% down, want clean fee simple ownership, want new construction with a builder warranty and modern floor plans, prioritize one higher-quality golf course over 54 holes, want the newer amenity campus aesthetic, or are buying in a section without CDD bond exposure and want to ensure maximum resale liquidity.
Tell us your price range, financing situation, and golf frequency. We will run the full cost comparison for your specific scenario and flag any CDD exposure on the parcels you are considering.
Get My Comparison