Real Estate Investing in Ocala, Florida (34471)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Marion County • Population: 26,031 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 34471 (Ocala, FL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (58/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 9.4% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Ocala, FL (34471)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $322,326
Avg Monthly Rent $1,525
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $56,382
% Renters 39.6%

Market Analysis: 34471 Ocala

The 34471 ZIP in Ocala, FL is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $322K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 34471 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Statewide comparisons place 34471 among FL's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

The 34471 ZIP's population of 26,031 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that registers the need for careful underwriting.

New investors are better served looking at Ocala's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 34471. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Ocala:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 70/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.7× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+0.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,525/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Ocala, FL Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
97 days
Average time to sell
Slow
8.0%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Ocala, FL metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 34471

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
5.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+10.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$91,104/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $182,208 $1,420 5.6% +8.0% $91,104
3BR $293,239 $1,830 4.5% +9.0% $97,746
4BR $460,585 $1,970 3.1% +9.4% $115,146
5BR $704,564 +10.3% $140,913

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$341K$293K$245K$196K$148K$100KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,651$1,548$1,446$1,343$1,241$1,138Mar 2021Nov 2023Jul 2026

📊 How Does 34471 Compare?

Metric 34471 Ocala Ocala, FL Florida
Home Value $322,326 $142,953 N/A $374,697
5-Year CAGR 5.7% 5.2% N/A 7.4%
Avg Rent $1,525 $1,635 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.7% 4.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 34471? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

A healthy rental market with 40% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 34471 (Ocala, FL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.7%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Ocala, FL metro

4/10
Moderate Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
72%
Days Pending
2/2
97 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $322,326
Monthly Rent $1,525
Price-to-Rent 17.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.7%
Cap Rate 3.7%
5-Year IRR 9.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +0.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +0.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -5.2% ▼
3-Year CAGR -0.7% ▼
5-Year CAGR +3.0% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.7%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
9.4%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.7%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 34471

Population: 26,031

💰 Median Household Income
$56,382
This area
$56,382
State
$70,737
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
39.6%
This area
39.6%
State
29.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.6%
This area
3.6%
State
-18.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
35.1%
This area
35.1%
State
4.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
43.3 years
This area
43.3 years
State
16.0 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
9.4%
This area
9.4%
State
17.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 75.5%
Other/Mixed 11.9%
Black/African American 9.6%
Hispanic/Latino 9.5%
Asian 3.0%
👶 Under 18
21.8%
This area
21.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
24.4%
This area
24.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
13.8%
This area
13.8%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 34471

C+ Avg School Grade
13 Schools
16.3:1 Avg Class Size
$11,790 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

EIGHTH STREET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
386 Students
👨‍🏫
14.3:1 Class Size
💰
$11,790 Per Student
B+ Above Average

SOUTH OCALA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
710 Students
👨‍🏫
14.8:1 Class Size
💰
$11,790 Per Student
B+ Above Average

MAPLEWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
836 Students
👨‍🏫
13.1:1 Class Size
💰
$11,790 Per Student
B Good

DR N H JONES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
799 Students
👨‍🏫
15.4:1 Class Size
💰
$11,790 Per Student
B Good

HILLCREST

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
161 Students
👨‍🏫
5.8:1 Class Size
💰
$11,790 Per Student
B Good

WARD-HIGHLANDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
911 Students
👨‍🏫
15.4:1 Class Size
💰
$11,790 Per Student
B Good

MARION TECHNICAL INSTITUTE

📚 08 – 12 High School
👥
111 Students
👨‍🏫
7.4:1 Class Size
💰
$11,790 Per Student
B Good

SHADY HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
683 Students
👨‍🏫
19.0:1 Class Size
💰
$11,790 Per Student
C+ Average

OSCEOLA MIDDLE SCHOOL

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
915 Students
👨‍🏫
20.3:1 Class Size
💰
$11,790 Per Student
C+ Average

MARION ELEARNING

📚 K – 05 Elementary Limited Data
💰
$11,790 Per Student
C+ Average

MARION VIRTUAL FRANCHISE

📚 K – 12 K-12 Limited Data
💰
$11,790 Per Student
C Below Average

ELC PK ESE SERVICES

📚 Grade PK Elementary
👥
27 Students
💰
$11,790 Per Student
D Needs Improvement

SILVER RIVER MENTORING AND INSTRUCTION

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
186 Students
👨‍🏫
37.2:1 Class Size
💰
$11,790 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

4 Nearby 5,115 Off-Campus Students
C+
Marion Technical College
484 students · 1.7 mi
D
Taylor College
216 students · 2.5 mi
C+
College of Central Florida
5,747 students · 2.9 mi
C
Rasmussen University-Florida
3,034 students · 4.4 mi

Investor Insight: With 5,115 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is housing expensive in Ocala, FL?

Ocala, FL median home values land near $322K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $1,525/mo-per-month rentals.

What kind of market is Ocala, FL for investors?

Our data puts Ocala, FL at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $322K and rents around $1,525/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

Are tenants stable in Ocala, FL?

Ocala, FL draws a consistent base of working renters. Demand at the $1,525/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

How landlord-friendly is Ocala, FL?

Landlord-friendliness in Ocala, FL is landlord-friendly. Eviction timelines and lease enforcement are considered reasonable by most property managers.

How quickly do rentals get leased in Ocala, FL?

Ocala, FL carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect reliable absorption at market rents of $1,525/mo.

You know 34471 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 34471 ranks in Ocala, FL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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