Tuesday, March 15, 2011

The 2011 Ocala Open Golf Tournament Benefits Local Charities

Candler Hills Golf Club will be host to the 5th annual Ocala Open Golf Tournament on March 16 – 18, 2011. Candler Hills Golf Club is the prestigious golf course at On Top of the World Communities in Ocala, Florida. The three-day tournament will be played Wednesday through Friday with a Pro-Am scheduled for Tuesday.

On Top of the World Communities has established an outstanding reputation for leadership and community service in the greater Ocala and Marion County area. The Ocala Open Golf Tournament will benefit the local charities: Hospice of Marion County, Inc. and Interfaith Emergency Services. Hospice of Marion County, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is providing exemplary compassionate comfort care for the terminally ill and support services for the families/caregivers. Interfaith Emergency Services is a not-for-profit organization which provides food, shelter, clothing and emergency financial assistance to those in need in our local community.

The 2010 Ocala Open was a great success, drawing 74 golf professionals to the field. Hospice of Marion County, Inc. received $25,000 that was raised by the tournament. Local businesses embraced and supported the event with sponsorships and spectators. The 2011 Ocala Open is sure to be an even bigger success.

For more information on the 2011 Ocala Open Golf Tournament, click here.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Remodeling Division Changes Name, Adds Services

At the same time its list of home-improvement services has been expanded, COA Everywhere Inc., the construction arm of On Top of the World Communities, has changed the name of its home-improvement division to World Home Improvements, says Robert Colen, remodeling manager.

Previously, World Home Improvements had focused exclusively on expanding and remodeling homes using only ENERGY STAR®-qualified materials and techniques in this 12,972-acre active-adult community at 8445 SW 80th St. in Ocala. But the changing needs of On Top of the World residents – and those along the SR 200 Corridor in Marion County – made company officials reconsider what and where services would be offered.

As a result, World Home Improvements added the design and construction of handicap-accessible bathrooms, kitchens and other rooms to its comprehensive list of remodeling services that range from enclosing and air-conditioning lanais to adding a wing to an existing home.
Home-remodeling services were expanded a little more than a year ago and met with immediate and widespread success at On Top of the World Communities. That, in turn, provided the incentive to expand beyond the boundaries of this award-winning community into other areas of Marion County, and to expand its offerings as well.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Ocala Makes Top Ten List For Retirees!

According to Portfolio.com, an online business journal, Ocala has been recognized as the eighth most popular city in the country for retirees. Perfectly situated in Central Florida, Ocala is home to tranquil landscapes, sunny weather and a low cost of living. It is also close to tourist destinations including St. Augustine, Daytona Beach, Orlando and Tampa, making it easy to visit these popular get-aways. Read the article and see the entire list of cities here.

Monday, December 13, 2010

WTSP 10 News out of Tampa has a segment entitled "Why do they call it that?" They recently asked this question about the local municipality of Kenneth City. On Top of the World Communities' president, Kenneth Colen, sat down with WTSP 10 News to give the answer.

Monday, October 18, 2010

A whole lot of amenities and services for your dollar!


When you purchase a home at On Top of the World Communities, you’re not just buying a home, you’re getting a “world” of amenities, activities and services. Just take a look at the MANY things On Top of the World offers…all within the community! Just a golf cart ride away from your front door, you will find well over 250,000 square feet of fun:

Indoor and outdoor swimming pools, craft center, library, woodworking shop, golf courses, fitness centers with locker room facilities including showers, steam room, sauna, and whirlpool, full-time fitness director and cutting edge, age-specific fitness programming, conference rooms, over 200 resident clubs and organizations, full-time tennis pro, remote control flying field, auditorium/ballroom for resident dances and theatrical productions, ceramics studio, billiards room, card rooms, shuffle board, miniature golf, horseshoes, lighted tennis courts with Plexi-cushion surface, slow pitch softball, pickleball, indoor racquetball courts, open-air town square offering a farmer’s market, weekend entertainment and festivals, walking trails, dog parks, restaurants, community centers, full time social director organizing events throughout the year, cultural center presenting top name performers, life long education with over 700 classes each year, monthly community newspaper, home design studio with professional design consultants, meeting halls, recreation centers, world class day spa, AND MORE! Does the active adult community you are considering include all of this?

And that’s just the fun stuff! On Top of the World provides many services, too. Services offered include curbside trash pickup or central refuse disposal, recycling centers or curbside recycling pick-up, homeowner’s structural insurance (excluding contents and improvements), street maintenance, bus service to major shopping centers and malls, basic cable and internet connection, professional landscaping of community common areas, staffed or video-monitored gate operations, fire hydrants, street and community lighting, home exterior maintenance, lawn maintenance and more! Does the active adult community you are considering provide all of these services?

The level of amenities and services you receive at On Top of the World is based on the neighborhood in which you live. Two of our neighborhoods, Windsor and Renaissance Park, are considered “full-service” because they offer the largest number of services and amenities. Candler Hills and Indigo East each provide a different mix of services and amenities.
If you are moving to a community that offers amenities and services, chances are that you will be charged a monthly community service fee (CSF), or a homeowners’ association fee. The amount of this fee will be based on the level of services and amenities provided. When considering one active adult community over another, it is best to discover which amenities and services are included in the CSF of each community. Attached is a worksheet which you can use to compare communities as you “shop”. View it here! The worksheet lists the amenities and services provided at On Top of the World (by neighborhood) and provides space for comparing these amenities and services side by side with other communities you are considering.
The community service fee at On Top of the World is subject to annual adjustments based on increases in operational expenses only, not arbitrarily based on the rate of inflation. Can any of the other communities you visit say that?

No matter where you choose to spend your retirement, you are going to incur monthly expenses. It is wise to compare communities by reviewing which services are included in the CSF and which you will pay for separately. Just because a community offers a low CSF, does not mean that your monthly expenses will be low, especially if you have to go outside the community for the amenities and services you want. For instance, if your community does not include life long education but you take courses at a local college, what are the costs of those courses? Add that amount to your CSF amount. If your community does not have a full service fitness facility and you get a membership at a fitness center in town, what is the monthly cost? Add that amount to your CSF amount. Are basic cable and internet included in your CSF? If not, then add their cost to your CSF amount. Be sure to include ALL the costs in order to achieve an accurate comparison.

Thursday, September 30, 2010

On Top of the World News Gets a New Look

Welcome to the latest edition of On Top of the World News! Looks a bit different from what you've been used to. The new October 2010 edition has ushered in a new look for our free community newspaper. It's still loaded with tons of community information and relevant stories about current events, so enjoy! Get your copy here: World News - October 2010.

Monday, September 13, 2010

News for the Neighborhood eNewsletter - Sept/Oct 2010

The September/October 2010 edition of News from the Neighborhood - On Top of the World Communities' newsletter is now available! In the latest edition of our community eNewsletter you will find information about the incredible amenities at On Top of the World, great deals on move-in-now homes, Candler Hills Golf Club's Extreme Demo Day and an overview of activities at Circle Square Commons and throughout the community. Click here to learn more!