Homes for Sale in Orlando

When most people think of Orlando, they think of Walt Disney World. In fact, to the rest of the world, Orlando is an afterthought–a sideshow to the Happiest Place on Earth.

However, Orlando has more to offer to homeowners than simply being close to Disney World or Universal Studios. In fact, people living here rarely venture to Lake Buena Vista, where the theme park is located, unless absolutely necessary.

If you are in the Central Business District in Orlando, it is sometimes best to walk or bike. You may get stuck in traffic if you don’t plan your commute properly. If you are living downtown, owning a vehicle can become costly or unnecessary, and finding a good parking spot can be challenging.

It’s generally a nice sunny day, except in June through September when you need to bring your umbrella with you for the afternoon drizzle. The winters are mild so you can generally wear a light jacket when you go to work.

A nice thing about Orlando is its Bike Share program, which saves you the trouble of owning and storing a bicycle.

While most visitors identify Orlando with its famous theme parks, there are actually a lot of nice local venues here. Among the destinations you can go to be entertained are the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Mad Cow Theater, Bob Carr Theater, and SAK Comedy Club. There’s always something going on in some of these places.

The average housing price in Orlando is around $235,000. Real estate prices here continue to rise every year. Most people opt to live in the suburbs, which offer more acreage for a cheaper price. What people find surprising is that it’s relatively affordable to live in Downtown Orlando compared to some areas in South Florida, and the taxes are quite reasonable. Lakefront property in downtown does come with a higher price tag, but the views are amazing.

When you are looking at properties in the Central Business District, it’s difficult to find a single-family house. You are more likely to find yourself in a taller building living in one of the condos that dot Orlando’s skies.

The best thing about living in the heart of it all is convenience. You can walk from your building’s front steps and find yourself in the middle of the action. Walk just five minutes anywhere and you will find restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, food trucks, sports venues, retail shopping, and the like. You will never run out of fun activities to do.

Neighborhoods in Downtown Orlando

Just walking distance from the Central Business District is South Eola, a neighborhood that has become the preferred destination of young professionals and couples looking to find a permanent home. There are also some retirees here who want to be closer to the action. And there’s plenty to do in the community. There are bars, restaurants, entertainment, shopping, and even a small lake with a fountain.

South Eola offers the sweet spot when you want to live close to the heart of the city, be right where the action is, and have a backup plan when you want to escape from it all. The average housing price in this neighborhood is around $380,000. That’s higher than the average in Orlando, but you will find that it’s well worth your investment. Orlando’s farmer’s market is held here every Sunday and you will find both residents and tourists alike converging here not just to buy produce, but also to catch up with friends.

Another very close neighborhood is Thornton Park, which is just four minutes away from the Central Business District. It’s just one block away from South Eola. You will find homes here that are built as far back as the 1900s but there are plenty of brownstones, as well. On Sundays, there’s a farmer’s market that displays fresh local produce and other items. Houses listed here are in the lower $400,000 range. As it is just walking distance from South Eola, you can just walk to the lake and the fountain. There are plenty of joggers and runners here if you are the type of person that likes to get outside and get some exercise.

Ivanhoe Village is considered as Orlando’s brash, independent, and rebellious daughter. You will find lining its streets the iconoclasts, artists, museums, antique dealers, watering holes, and hidden gems that you wouldn’t have thought possible in Orlando. Young people are drawn here like moths to fire.

If you want to live in a place that is more historic, you can choose homes in the Lake Cherokee Historic District. Some structures here date back to the 1870s, which isn’t that much older than when Orlando was founded, which was in 1838. You will find the Historic District nestled in the middle of Summerlin Avenue, Orange Avenue, East-West Expressway, and Gore Street. Still standing proudly today is the Peleg Peckham – Dr. Phillips shingle-style mansion that was built in 1893 by Col. Peleg Peckham. It was later remodeled by citrus magnate Dr. Phillips.

Despite its name, College Park actually is a family-centric community. It’s called College Park because its streets are named after famous campuses like Princeton, Yale, and Harvard. The community has retained its small-town feel even if it’s located in downtown. One location of note in College Park is the bungalow where Jack Kerouac (a famous author) stayed between 1957 and 1958.

However, if you find that living downtown is a little too crowded for you, you can opt for the surrounding neighborhoods. There are plenty of suburbs in Orlando that are very near downtown, but also provide you an escape when the urban jungle seems too much. Consistently ranking in the list of best Orlando neighborhoods are Dr. Phillips, Winter Park, Windermere, Horizon West, Heathrow, Oviedo, Wekiwa Springs, and Gotha.