Homosassa Springs

Just 9 miles east of Homosassa Springs and 10 miles east of Crystal River is Lecanto, a community featuring single-family homes on spacious lots. “It’s for people who want to live on 1, 2, 3 acres,” says Nadeene Horak, a Realtor with Sail Home Realty with 18 years of experience selling in the area. Many houses don’t have HOA fees or deed restrictions—even those in subdivisions—which can be appealing to prospective homebuyers. Another draw is Lecanto’s inland location. “Most of Lecanto has no flood-designated area,” says Horak. “It’s a great option for someone not looking to pay flood insurance.” It’s also close to nature, abutting Withlacoochee State Forest, with opportunities for hiking, hunting and camping. Lecanto has a handful of subdivisions, including Timberlane Estates, featuring ranch-style homes built in the 1980s and ‘90s that sit on 1-acre lots. The subdivision is less than 2 miles from a new shopping center with grocery stores and big-box retailers, making it particularly convenient. Prices here range between $400,000 and $500,000. Other subdivisions like Crystal Glen, which has HOA fees, features homes in the $250,000 to $350,000 range. Houses found outside subdivisions are typically manufactured homes priced from $100,000 to $250,000 or ranch-style houses in the $350,000 to $500,000 range. Streets in Lecanto rarely have sidewalks, so cars are essential for getting around the area. Residents of Lecanto are assigned to Citrus County Schools. Starting in pre-Kindergarten, students attend Lecanto Primary School before moving on to Lecanto Middle for sixth through eighth grade. Both schools earned a B-minus grade from Niche. Lecanto High prepares students for higher education, backed up by its GreatSchools College Readiness score of 8 out of 10. Seven Rivers Christian School is in the neighborhood and serves Pre-K through 12th grade with a B grade from Niche. Lecanto is about 30 miles from Ocala and 75 to 80 miles from Tampa, Orlando and Gainesville. The closest major town with recreational options, restaurants and shopping is Crystal River, 10 miles away via U.S. Highway 44, which runs through the neighborhood. The closest major airport is Tampa International Airport, about 70 miles away. HCA Florida Citrus Hospital is 10 miles east of Lecanto. Most shopping and dining options close to Lecanto are clustered along Norvell Bryant Highway. Paige’s Root Beer serves burgers and fries inside a diner-inspired space and the upscale World Fusion offers classic and specialty sushi rolls. Glory Days Grill is a popular sports bar known for its glory sauce, which is similar to buffalo sauce and traditionally served on its wings. There’s also a new shopping center with a Starbucks, Aldi, Target, Panera and Texas Roadhouse. A Walmart Supercenter is also off Norvell Bryant Highway for grocery shopping. Lecanto Community Park has courts for pickup basketball and tennis courts for a friendly match with a friend. Dog owners head to the park for its trails. Hikers head just east of the neighborhood to the Withlacoochee State Forest, home of the Jeep Cave trail, a 6.6-mile loop-style path. Just north of Lecanto on the other side of Norvell Bryant Highway is the Citrus Memorial Health Foundation YMCA. The center provides youth sports, group exercise classes and swim programs. Lecanto is located in Citrus County, which hosts a number of county-wide events year-round. Throughout the year, the county hosts a Concert Series at the Citrus Springs Community Center, which has had performances from Tom Petty tribute bands to Journey tribute bands. The county also hosts a dive-in movie series at Bicentennial Park, where residents can swim during a film played on an inflatable screen. Mertailor’s Mermaid Aquarium Encounter is a family-run center that has 20 exhibits of sea creatures and mermaid shows that provide children with an interactive educational experience.