Last reviewed: October 2026.

McGriff-Williams Insurance is an independent insurance agency in Gainesville, in business since 1983 and licensed in Florida. We serve Ocala and Marion County clients by phone, email and video from our Gainesville office, about 40 minutes away. We also work with households in all three parts of The Villages, in Sumter, Lake and Marion counties, and elsewhere in Sumter County. We compare coverage from the insurance companies we work with for Marion County households and businesses, and we explain it in plain English so you know what you have and why. Where confidence grows is more than our tagline: we want you to understand your coverage and feel confident in it.

These pages cover what’s different about insuring in Marion County, in plain English and with sources. They’re general information. For your own policy, talk with a licensed agent.

Why shop your coverage now

Florida’s homeowners market has been softening. On Oct. 29, 2026, the Office of Insurance Regulation reported that more than 824,300 Florida homeowners would see rate decreases on new policies or renewals in October, with pending requests for November through January covering an additional 450,000 Floridians (Florida OIR, Oct. 29, 2026). Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, Florida’s state-created insurer, had 216,577 policies in force as of Oct. 23, 2026, down from about 1.4 million on Sept. 30, 2023 (Citizens). These figures describe the market as a whole and don’t predict what any one policy will cost. Auto rates are moving the same way: as of fall 2026, Florida’s five largest auto insurance groups were showing an indicated 12.6% rate decrease for 2026, a figure for those groups as a whole, not an approved rate (Florida OIR, Oct. 26, 2026). As an independent agency, we can review the options available to you.

What’s different about insuring in Marion County

  • Sinkholes. Large parts of the county sit on karst limestone that the Marion County Comprehensive Plan and county vulnerability assessments describe as “most vulnerable” to aquifer contamination and sinkhole formation (Ocala Gazette). Florida law treats catastrophic ground cover collapse and broader sinkhole coverage differently. See our sinkhole guide.
  • Fast growth. The county had about 447,170 residents as of April 1, 2026, up 71,262 since the 2020 Census (352today, citing UF/BEBR), and the Ocala metro area had the highest percentage population growth of any U.S. metro area from July 1, 2024 to July 1, 2025 (U.S. Census Bureau). New homes and new construction projects bring their own insurance questions.
  • Flood. Flood is excluded from standard homeowners policies in most cases. Check your address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and see our Florida flood insurance guides.

For individuals and families

For businesses

We focus on established, middle-market companies. In order of focus:

Beyond the policy, we offer help such as guidance on reading certificates of insurance (COIs) from vendors and subcontractors, safety training, access to live HR professionals and workers’ comp and general liability audit support. See also business insurance.

Guides

Common questions

Do you have an Ocala office?
No. We’re based in Gainesville, about 40 minutes from Ocala, and we serve Marion County clients by phone, email and video.

Do you work with clients in The Villages?
Yes, in all three parts of The Villages: Sumter, Lake and Marion counties. We work by phone, email and video from Gainesville. Some of the Marion County information on these pages, such as the county’s sinkhole rating, may not apply to a home outside Marion County. We’ll look at your own home and county.

Do I need sinkhole coverage?
Homeowners policies from admitted Florida insurers must cover catastrophic ground cover collapse, but broader sinkhole coverage is optional and costs extra. A surplus lines policy may not include either, so check its terms. Our sinkhole guide explains the difference.

Can you help with a high-value home?
We can review your current coverage and shop the markets available to us.

Talk with us

Live or do business in Ocala or Marion County? Call (352) 371-7977 or contact us.

Call (352) 371-7977
Contact us

Sources

General information, not legal or coverage advice. Coverage depends on the policy issued, its terms and underwriting. Requirements current as of October 2026; confirm with your agent, insurer or Citizens. McGriff-Williams Insurance is an independent insurance agency licensed in Florida. We are not affiliated with FEMA, the NFIP or Citizens Property Insurance Corporation. We are also not affiliated with The Villages, its developer or its community development districts. The Villages is a registered trademark of Holding Company of The Villages, Inc.