Nearly one in every 171 Florida homes are in foreclosure, and Marion County is one of the hardest-hit in the state. But the city of Ocala is trying reverse the trend. Recently the city bought 11 foreclosed or abandoned homes for 723 thousand dollars thanks to federal stimulus money from the Neighborhood Stabilization Program. However the city has no intention on become landlords because after the city fixes them up, they'll be donated to the Ocala Housing Authority to rent out to their pre-approved low income families. North Central Florida contractors will perform the renovations, which are scheduled to begin later this week with families moving in as soon as Thanksgiving.

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