SW Ocala · Gated · 55+ · On Top of the World
Candler Hills, Ocala, FL: Homes, Living & Real Estate Guide
The golf neighborhood of On Top of the World, with its own championship course, two clubhouses and fee simple ownership, on Ocala's southwest side.
Location
Where it is, and how it fits into On Top of the World
Candler Hills sits inside On Top of the World, the large 55+ community on Ocala's southwest side, in ZIP 34481. It's the golf-centered part of the community, built around its own championship course, with golf cart paths running through the neighborhood and the shops at Circle Square Commons a short cart ride away.
The course opened in 2005, and homes followed over the years after. Because Candler Hills is part of On Top of the World, residents also get the larger community's clubs, fitness centers, pools and activities, so you're buying into a neighborhood and a much bigger amenity network at the same time.
Ownership
Fee simple, not leasehold
This is the detail that surprises a lot of buyers. On Top of the World's October 2025 site plan lists Candler Hills homes as fee simple, which means you own the land under your house.
Some other OTOW neighborhoods, including Longleaf Ridge, are sold as leasehold.
If you're comparing a Candler Hills home with one elsewhere in On Top of the World, ask about ownership type first. It affects what you're buying, how lenders and title companies handle the sale, and what you'll pay each month.
Monthly costs
Community fee and what it covers
Published fee figures; confirm the exact fees for the home. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
On Top of the World's 2026 fee sheet lists the Candler Hills community service fee at $366.10 a month, based on the budget year January 1 to December 31, 2026, with added fees for more than 2 occupants. Estate Vida's review of 70 Stellar MLS listings from 2026 lines up, with a median of $4,393 a year, about $366 a month.
The fee covers curbside trash, recycling and debris pickup, street maintenance, street and community lighting, fire hydrants, basic internet, golf cart paths, complimentary bus service to major shopping areas, the electronic, video-monitored gate system, and professional landscaping of the common areas, parks, clubhouse and pool. About 16% of the listings Estate Vida reviewed also report a CDD, at a median of $550 a year on the property tax bill.
Golf, catering, some classes and events, and the R/V and storage park cost extra.
Amenities
Two clubhouses, plus the whole OTOW network
Candler Hills has two gathering places of its own. The Candler Hills Community Center has a ballroom, a card room and a heated pool and spa.
The Lodge at Candler Hills adds another ballroom, card and meeting rooms, a catering kitchen, indoor lounges with fireplaces, an outdoor fire pit, a covered pavilion with grills, a beach-entry pool with lap lanes and the Candler Hills dog park.
Beyond the neighborhood, residents can use the rest of On Top of the World. The Arbor Fitness Center has 10 tennis courts (8 lighted), an indoor heated lap pool with a retractable roof and a group fitness studio.
The Recreation Center adds a fitness center, a heated pool, pickleball and racquetball courts and an 18-hole miniature golf course. There's also Veterans Park with an archery range and community garden, and lifelong learning classes through Master the Possibilities.
Amenities
Two clubhouses and a whole network
Candler Hills has its own pools and lodge, plus everything else at On Top of the World.
Candler Hills Golf Club
Semi-private par 72 with five sets of tees, a pro shop and a restaurant.
The Lodge at Candler Hills
Ballroom, fireplace lounges, a fire pit and a catering kitchen.
Pools & spa
A beach-entry pool with lap lanes, plus a heated pool and spa.
Arbor tennis center
10 tennis courts, 8 of them lighted.
Fitness centers
Arbor Fitness and the Recreation Center, with group classes.
Dog park
The Candler Hills dog park sits by the Lodge.
Golf, catering, some classes and the R/V park cost extra. Details from the sources listed below.
Is it right for you?
Pros and cons
Pros
- Fee simple ownership, unlike some leasehold OTOW neighborhoods
- Its own par 72 championship course, with optional membership
- Two clubhouses, plus every On Top of the World amenity
- Trash, internet, bus service and the gate are in the monthly fee
- New Estate Series homes of 2,145 to 2,907 sq ft still being built
Cons
- $366.10 a month in 2026, plus extra for more than 2 occupants
- About 16% of listings also report a CDD
- Golf costs extra, from $4,895 a year for a single resident
- Age-restricted, so it's 55+ only
- Want an acre-plus lot? Compare Country Club of Ocala
Golf
Golf at Candler Hills Golf Club
Candler Hills Golf Club is a semi-private, par 72 championship course designed by Gordon G. Lewis, with five sets of tees, long and short game practice areas, a pro shop and a restaurant.
It's open to residents, their guests and non-residents, and it hosts the Ocala Open, which On Top of the World says has raised $1,093,064 for local charities over 20 years.
Membership is optional. The club's 2026 rates list a resident annual membership at $4,895 single or $7,415 couple, with a cart lease of $1,125 single or $1,705 couple.
If you'd also like to play On Top of the World's two private courses, the World Golf Membership runs $6,235 single or $9,395 couple a year.
Homes
The homes
Candler Hills has single-family homes and attached villas, most built from the mid-2000s on, with open floor plans, two-car garages and lanais facing the course or a preserve. Colen Built is still building here: the October 2025 site plan lists the Estate Series at 2,145 to 2,907 square feet.
In Estate Vida's October 2026 snapshot of active listings, asking prices ran from $264,999 for a 1,705-square-foot home to $612,500 for a 2,659-square-foot home, with several new Estate Series homes in between. Golf frontage usually costs more, so weigh the view against privacy and the occasional stray ball.
Before you buy
Rules to know before you buy
On Top of the World operates as housing for older persons, and its governing documents set the occupancy and long-term guest rules. Read them before you fall for a specific home, along with the architectural guidelines that keep the streetscape consistent.
On a resale, check the roof age and the AC service history, and ask whether the home has impact windows or a generator, since both affect comfort and insurance.
Who it fits
Who Candler Hills fits
It's a strong fit if you're 55 or older, love golf or want to be close to it, and want a newer home with fee simple ownership and a deep amenity list without a private-club initiation fee. If you'd rather have a larger lot outside an age-restricted community, compare the Country Club of Ocala, or look at the rest of On Top of the World.
Is it right for you?
Pros and cons
Pros
- Fee simple ownership, unlike some leasehold OTOW neighborhoods
- Its own par 72 championship course, with optional membership
- Two clubhouses, plus every On Top of the World amenity
- Trash, internet, bus service and the gate are in the monthly fee
- New Estate Series homes of 2,145 to 2,907 sq ft still being built
Cons
- $366.10 a month in 2026, plus extra for more than 2 occupants
- About 16% of listings also report a CDD
- Golf costs extra, from $4,895 a year for a single resident
- Age-restricted, so it's 55+ only
- Want an acre-plus lot? Compare Country Club of Ocala
Location
Candler Hills on the map
Open in Google MapsDrag to pan; right-drag or two fingers to tilt and rotate. Imagery © Esri, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics; map © OpenFreeMap, © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Selling in Candler Hills
Thinking of selling in Candler Hills? Get your home value
Buyers here compare your home with brand-new Estate Series homes down the street, so pricing and presentation matter. I'll pull recent Candler Hills sales, show how your home stacks up against new construction, and have the fee, ownership and CDD details ready so buyers can say yes faster.
I'll pull recent Candler Hills sales and give you a realistic price range for your home, free and with no obligation.
Homes for Sale in Candler Hills
Live listings coming soon
I'm setting up live MLS search for Candler Hills. Until then, tell me what you're looking for and I'll send you every matching home as soon as it hits the market.
FAQ
Candler Hills FAQ
Is Candler Hills part of On Top of the World?
Yes. Candler Hills is a gated golf neighborhood within On Top of the World, the 55+ community on Ocala's southwest side, built by Colen Built Development. Source
Is Candler Hills a 55+ community?
Yes. On Top of the World is a 55+ community, and its governing documents set the specific occupancy and guest rules. Source
Are Candler Hills homes leasehold or fee simple?
Fee simple. On Top of the World's October 2025 site plan lists Candler Hills as fee simple, while some other OTOW neighborhoods, like Longleaf Ridge, are leasehold. Source
How much is the Candler Hills monthly fee?
$366.10 a month for 2026, according to On Top of the World's fee sheet. Added fees apply for more than 2 occupants. Source
What does the Candler Hills fee cover?
Curbside trash, recycling and debris pickup, street maintenance and lighting, basic internet, golf cart paths, bus service to major shopping areas, the video-monitored gate and landscaping of the common areas, clubhouse and pool. Source
Does Candler Hills have a CDD?
Some homes do. About 16% of 2026 listings with a known status report one, at a median of $550 a year on the property tax bill. Source
Is golf included in the Candler Hills fee?
No. Golf costs extra, and membership is optional. In 2026 a resident annual membership at Candler Hills Golf Club is $4,895 single or $7,415 couple. Source
Who designed the Candler Hills golf course?
Gordon G. Lewis. The semi-private, par 72 course opened in 2005. Source
Can non-residents play Candler Hills Golf Club?
Yes. It's a semi-private course open to On Top of the World residents, their guests and non-residents. Source
What amenities does Candler Hills have?
The Candler Hills Community Center and The Lodge at Candler Hills, with pools, ballrooms, card rooms, a fire pit and a dog park, plus access to On Top of the World's fitness centers, tennis center, pools and clubs. Source
Nearby communities
- Homes for sale in On Top of the World
- Homes for sale in Stone Creek
- Homes for sale in Oak Run
- Homes for sale in Marion Oaks
- Homes for sale in Silver Springs Shores
- Homes for sale in Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club
- Homes for sale in Horse Farm Country
- Homes for sale in Ocala Palms
- Homes for sale in Spruce Creek Golf & Country Club
- Homes for sale in Rainbow Springs Country Club
- Homes for sale in Ocala Preserve
- Homes for sale in Country Club of Ocala
- All Ocala neighborhoods
Sources
- Candler Hills community services and fee sheet, 2026 (On Top of the World)
- On Top of the World community site plan, October 2025
- Golf at On Top of the World
- Candler Hills Golf Club rates
- On Top of the World corporate history
- Candler Hills HOA and CDD fees (Estate Vida, Stellar MLS data)
- Candler Hills golf community review (Ocala Luxury Home Search)
Drew Bedford, REALTOR®, Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty, 1918 SE 17 St, Ocala, FL 34471. Florida license # SL3588936. Each Keller Williams office is independently owned and operated. Information on this page comes from the public sources listed above, was gathered in October 2026, and is believed reliable but not guaranteed. Equal Housing Opportunity.