Real Estate Investing in Ocala, Florida (34472)

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

Marion County • Population: 34,665 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 34472 (Ocala, FL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (73/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

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: 9.5% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Ocala, FL (34472)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $236,150
Avg Monthly Rent $1,679
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $55,798
% Renters 22.6%

Market Analysis: 34472 Ocala

This part of Marion County is not an easy win. The 34472 ZIP posts softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $236K asset, 34472 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Looking more closely, 34472 offers a low basis, the region around Ocala has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Put differently, 34,665 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

The right play in 34472 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

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: 75/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.2× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-1.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,679/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 34472

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
9.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
1BR
+12.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$71,482/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $93,580 $1,220 9.4% +12.8% $93,580
2BR $142,964 $1,430 7.2% +10.3% $71,482
3BR $238,264 $1,850 5.6% +9.1% $79,421
4BR $299,058 $1,980 4.8% +7.9% $74,764

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$258K$217K$175K$134K$92K$51KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,730$1,652$1,574$1,496$1,418$1,340Nov 2021Mar 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 34472 Compare?

Metric 34472 Ocala Ocala, FL Florida
Home Value $236,150 $142,953 N/A $374,697
5-Year CAGR 5.9% 5.2% N/A 7.4%
Avg Rent $1,679 $1,635 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.5% 4.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 34472? Click to expand

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

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 34472 (Ocala, FL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.5%
Fair
5yr Growth
+5.9%
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 $236,150
Monthly Rent $1,679
Price-to-Rent 11.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 8.5%
Cap Rate 5.5%
5-Year IRR 11.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -1.3% ▼
3-Year CAGR -0.5% ▼
5-Year CAGR +5.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +9.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +1.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.5%). 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
9.5%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.9%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 34472

Population: 34,665

💰 Median Household Income
$55,798
This area
$55,798
State
$70,737
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
22.6%
This area
22.6%
State
29.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.0%
This area
2.0%
State
-18.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
18.6%
This area
18.6%
State
4.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.0 years
This area
40.0 years
State
16.0 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
9.5%
This area
9.5%
State
17.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 57.8%
Black/African American 20.6%
Other/Mixed 20.2%
Hispanic/Latino 18.4%
Asian 1.4%
👶 Under 18
23.7%
This area
23.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.5%
This area
18.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
8.8%
This area
8.8%
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 34472

C+ Avg School Grade
4 Schools
18.5:1 Avg Class Size
$11,790 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

MARION CHARTER SCHOOL

📚 K – 05 Elementary Charter
👥
230 Students
👨‍🏫
14.4:1 Class Size
💰
$11,790 Per Student
B Good

EMERALD SHORES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
698 Students
👨‍🏫
18.9:1 Class Size
💰
$11,790 Per Student
B Good

GREENWAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
746 Students
👨‍🏫
18.7:1 Class Size
💰
$11,790 Per Student
C Below Average

LAKE WEIR HIGH SCHOOL

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,426 Students
👨‍🏫
22.3:1 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

5 Nearby 5,115 Off-Campus Students
D
Taylor College
216 students · 8.4 mi
C+
Marion Technical College
484 students · 10.2 mi
C+
College of Central Florida
5,747 students · 11.5 mi
C
Rasmussen University-Florida
3,034 students · 12.3 mi
D
Tenaj Salon Institute
62 students · 12.7 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 Ocala, FL better for rentals, flips, or BRRRR?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Ocala, FL best. The market produces reliable results for that approach at the $236K price point.

Are tenants stable in Ocala, FL?

The renter base in Ocala, FL is reasonable for the $1,679/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields measured tenants.

Is Ocala, FL good for landlords?

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

Is Ocala, FL suited for a house hack?

Ocala, FL offers a challenging house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $1,679/mo rent level.

Where do rents currently stand in Ocala, FL?

Ocala, FL rentals go for roughly $1,679/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $236K acquisition costs.

You know 34472 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 34472 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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How 34472 ranks in Ocala, FL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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