2025 WEC Effect Report Tracks Vacant Land Transactions Around the World Equestrian Center

The WEC Effect: A Year-Over-Year Look at Vacant Land Sales Near the World Equestrian Center

OCALA, FL, UNITED STATES, April 1, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- In Summary
Prices declined in 2025 for vacant, agriculturally zoned land 10 acres and larger.

The WEC: America’s Equestrian Hub
Ocala and Marion County are home to one of the largest concentrations of horse farms in the United States. The combination of picturesque horse farms, natural resources, and the warm, welcoming community makes it a special place for those who love horses and the great outdoors. Since opening in January 2021, the World Equestrian Center has hosted hundreds of competitions and events annually, drawing competitors, owners, and investors from across the country to the Ocala area.

The Data Speaks
The 2025 WEC Effect reveals another year of changing land valuations across three distance segments for vacant, agriculturally zoned land 10 acres and larger. These segments are measured by their distance from the Grand Outdoor Arena at the WEC: 0-6 miles, 6-9 miles and 9-18 miles, respectively.

Prices Declined in All Three Distance Segments in 2025
Following a market peak in 2024, all three distance segments saw a decline in their average values for 2025. The '0-6 Miles' segment led the decline with a -32.44% year over year change from $67,384 to $45,524/acre. The '6-9 Miles' segment declined -6.71% from $43,181 to $40,283/acre. The '9-18 Miles' segment experienced the smallest percentage decline of -1.85% from $24,355 to $23,905/acre.

Our Takeaway
The WEC has created unprecedented demand for agriculturally zoned vacant land in both Marion and Levy Counties.

As the SVN team interacted with new property owners in the Williston area and beyond, equestrian-minded land buyers considered eastern portions of Levy County close enough to access the WEC’s amenities and activities they desire. The team therefore extended the third distance segment to 18 miles from the Grand Outdoor Arena into portions of Levy County.

The Numbers
The WEC Effect identifies general market direction for vacant agriculturally zoned land 10 acres and larger, and its proximity to the Grand Outdoor Arena at the World Equestrian Center. Our analysis excludes a few sales that closed well outside typical market valuations. For example, one vacant 10-acre tract near WEC sold for $150,000 per acre in 2025, significantly higher than any comparable sale. In some cases, significant outliers were removed to ensure statistical averages accurately reflect normal market conditions in the area. Vacant land can fluctuate in value even compared to a neighboring tract, and many important factors can be attributed to the price per acre for a property.

Such factors are entitlements, uplands, wetlands, improved pasture, highway frontage, fencing, timber growth, soil content, and more. “No two acres are created equal”, explained McDonald, “Our goal with the annual WEC Effect is to present objective data for understanding vacant land values and their exact proximity to the World Equestrian Center.”

About SVN McDonald & Co.
SVN McDonald & Co. is a commercial real estate brokerage based in Ocala, Florida, specializing in land and commercial transactions across Marion, Levy, Lake, Alachua, and Sumter counties.

Contact:

Bartow McDonald IV
Managing Director
SVN McDonald & Company
www.svnmcdonald.com

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Bartow McDonald IV
SVN McDonald & Co.
+1 352-274-3800
bartow.mcdonald@svn.com
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