Lauren Leetun
A visit to Lake County, just to the north of Orlando’s city center, was vastly different 20 years ago. Back then, children who hadn’t traveled outside Central Florida often referred to it as the “mountainous region,” home to some of the larger hills in the state. Two decades ago, though, Lake County’s claim to fame was primarily a 220+ foot-tall citrus tower and several large lakes on which residents could boat and fish. Today, Lake County is growing by leaps and bounds, ranked among the top five fastest-growing counties in Florida by U.S. Census Bureau data.
According to the Lake County Agency for Economic Prosperity, “as the Orlando urban core continues to approach build-out, Lake County is expected to experience significant population growth over the coming decades. Forecasts predict Lake County’s population to grow more than 427,000 by 2030 and more than 484,000 by 2040.”
The county’s leaders have been careful to ensure growth in the region is intentional, staying in line with the area’s distinct small-town charm. A new brewery or organic grocery store may have cropped up, but developers of these projects would have worked closely with residents and local officials to ensure they would be well-received by locals. Perhaps one of the most prominent development strategies in Lake County over the past two decades has been the positioning of Lake County as a hub for international sports training and rehabilitation. The National Training Center, in concert with one of the area’s major hospitals – Orlando Health, is a state-of-the-art sports and fitness facility that serves as the training destination for hundreds of high school, collegiate, professional, and amateur athletes from around the globe. Just last year, Clermont’s City Council unanimously approved Olympus, an innovative 243-acre master planned community that will combine sports, wellness, entertainment, and residential development. Olympus will be the centerpiece of Lake County’s “Wellness Way,” a 15,000+ acre growth and innovation corridor that is estimated to create over 5,000 jobs and generate more than $1.4 billion in local economic impact during a 10-year period. Combined with development underway for a new E-STEM K-8 school and a proposed 30,000-square-foot Victory Coast Event Center adjacent to downtown Clermont’s new and innovative Victory Park, it’s clear that Lake County has seen the need for smart growth and has risen to meet the challenge.
Long considered a sleepy community of quiet retirees, more and more young families are moving to the area attracted by a wide range of activities as well as a growing focus on state-of-the-art education. Many of the region’s hospitality and theme park employees are choosing Lake County due to a quick and direct work commute, as well as the ability to get more home for their money outside Orlando’s urban core. Opendoor, the company that pioneered the concept of iBuying, has several homes currently for sale in Lake County, offering buyers who seek a lifestyle bolstered by innovation and wellness a revolutionary and simple way of buying and selling homes that takes the stress and hassle out of the process.
Take, for example, this five-bedroom, four-bathroom Clermont home listed for $335,500. Nestled between two of the region’s largest and best-known lakes – Lake Minnehaha and Lake Louisa, this 3,887 square-foot two-story home offers a loft, den, a spacious patio, as well as garage parking for up to three cars.
This five-bedroom, four-bathroom home in Clermont boasts more than 3,800 square feet of living space on a 9,000 square-foot lot. Visit Opendoor.com for more details. (Located at 12835 Fish Lane, Clermont, FL, 34711)
An open kitchen design features tiled backsplash, granite countertops, and a convenient island, making food prep a breeze. Visit Opendoor.com for more details. (Located at 12835 Fish Lane, Clermont, FL, 34711)
Built in 2007, this Clermont home’s kitchen overlooks an expansive living space, featuring two-story ceilings. Visit Opendoor.com for more details. (Located at 12835 Fish Lane, Clermont, FL, 34711)
The master bathroom of this Lake County home showcases his-and-her vanities, a walk-in shower, and a soaking tub with a nearby large master bedroom walk-in closet. Visit Opendoor.com for more details. (Located at 12835 Fish Lane, Clermont, FL, 34711)
Located near the Crooked River Preserve and the Palatlakaha River Park & Boat Ramp, this home allows residents to take advantage of year-round beautiful weather out among the community’s many trails and lakes, or at home in this spacious covered patio. Visit Opendoor.com for more details. (Located at 12835 Fish Lane, Clermont, FL, 34711)
Located in Groveland, long-known as a quiet and family-friendly city, this Lake County home features vaulted ceilings, a spacious pantry, a kitchen island, a master bath with a separate tub and shower, and a two-car garage. At 1,614 square feet, this single-family home has three bedrooms and two bathrooms and was built in 2005.
Neutral paint colors and an inviting walkway make this charming Groveland home a must-see for buyers on the hunt in Lake County. Visit Opendoor.com for more details. (Located at 1047 Bluegrass Drive, Groveland, FL, 34736)
The master bathroom of this single-family home – listed for $212,000 – features a separate tub and walk-in shower, as well as dual vanities. The master suite also includes a walk-in closet. Visit Opendoor.com for more details. (Located at 1047 Bluegrass Drive, Groveland, FL, 34736)
Upon entering the home, buyers are greeted with a large and pristine living space, which opens to an expansive backyard. Visit Opendoor.com for more details. (Located at 1047 Bluegrass Drive, Groveland, FL, 34736)
Known for wide open spaces, many homes in Lake County have intentionally kept large yards to enjoy the Florida weather and wildlife. This particular home boasts a 6,285 square-foot lot. Visit Opendoor.com for more details. (Located at 1047 Bluegrass Drive, Groveland, FL, 34736)
Located less than a mile from Clermont’s Waterfront Park along Lake Minnehaha, this three-bedroom two-bathroom townhome features 2,838 square feet and is listed for $251,500. Built in 2001, the home also offers a garage and parking for up to three cars, and gated security is part of the HOA. This property is also just two miles from Lake County’s famed Citrus Tower, which is a 226-foot-tall structure built in 1956 to give area visitors a panoramic view of the area’s surrounding orange groves.
This Clermont townhome is located just south of the city of Minneola near Waterfront Park, a lakefront park offering a fishing pier, a paved walking trail, a playground, and seasonal swimming. Visit Opendoor.com for more details. (Located at 160 Harbour Cove Way, Clermont, FL, 34711)
This townhome features a light and airy downstairs living area, decorated in neutral colors to ensure this home is move-in ready. The home is also located within two miles of Clermont’s renowned Citrus Tower. Visit Opendoor.com for more details. (Located at 160 Harbour Cove Way, Clermont, FL, 34711)
The master bathroom of this Clermont townhome offers a sitting vanity, dual sinks, as well as a separate tub and shower with a nearby walk-in closet. Visit Opendoor.com for more details. (Located at 160 Harbour Cove Way, Clermont, FL, 34711)
The next residents of this home – which sits on a 3,527-square-foot lot – will be able to enjoy quiet mornings with a cup of coffee and the newspaper on their private patio. Visit Opendoor.com for more details. (Located at 160 Harbour Cove Way, Clermont, FL, 34711)
Built in 2010, this 2,577 square-foot single-family home in Minneola is perfect for a family with active children. Located less than one mile from the Minneola Athletic Complex and the South Lake Youth Sports baseball complex, this four-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bathroom home sits on a 7,560 square-foot corner lot. Additionally, the Reserve at Minneola subdivision, of which this home is a part, offers residents exclusive access to its community pool.
Located on a corner lot in the Reserve at Minneola community, this single-family home is listed for $310,000 and features two parking spaces in an attached garage. In addition, the home offers convenient access to Florida’s Turnpike. Visit Opendoor.com for more details. (Located at 1422 Jorhagen Drive, Minneola, FL, 34715)
This Minneola home’s kitchen – featuring a breakfast bar for those busy mornings – looks out into a large living area. Visit Opendoor.com for more details. (Located at 1422 Jorhagen Drive, Minneola, FL, 34715)
A large living area sits at the center of the home to serve as the hub of activity for the next residents of this Lake County home. Filled with warm wood undertones, this area leads out to a covered patio. Visit Opendoor.com for more details. (Located at 1422 Jorhagen Drive, Minneola, FL, 34715)
Upstairs, the home’s master suite features a walk-in closet, a soaking tub, a step-in shower, and dual vanities. There’s also a loft bonus room on the second level. Visit Opendoor.com for more details. (Located at 1422 Jorhagen Drive, Minneola, FL, 34715)
It’s no secret that wellness and activity are among the key contributors to living a happy and healthy life. The forward-thinking planners and government officials who have identified Lake County as a community that emphasizes wellness among residents have made the region attractive to buyers throughout the world. In fact, when the Olympus master-planned community was announced last year, the developers indicated that Clermont was chosen after a global search due to its sense of community. Now is the perfect time to start looking for your next home in Lake County with Opendoor. New homes are being added to the Opendoor website all the time – in Lake County and beyond – so potential homebuyers are encouraged to check back often at https://www.opendoor.com/homes/orlando. Buyers in the market for a new home are also encouraged to download the Opendoor mobile app (Android, iOS) to easily access details on available homes, and to use the app as a digital key to unlock homes for their own personal open-house tours on their schedule.
Opendoor is represented by Opendoor Brokerage LLC, a licensed real estate brokerage in Florida.
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