If there’s one thing we’re well stocked with in the Orlando area, it’s world-class hotels and resorts. And if you think that’s not exciting for locals, you obviously haven’t taken advantage of any of them for an amazing staycation yet. And they have another major perk that doesn’t even require booking a room: many have… Continue reading 10 Luxury Full-Service Day Spas in Orlando
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Creating a Home Buyer’s Wants and Needs Checklist
Buying a new home is an exciting process, but it can certainly seem overwhelming at times. The key to keeping it manageable is having a clear understanding of your home buyer’s wants and needs, and realistically differentiating between the two for your family. The things you need are non-negotiable, which means they’re deal-breakers if a… Continue reading Creating a Home Buyer’s Wants and Needs Checklist
7 Great Indoor and Outdoor Malls in Orlando
If your family is considering a move to Windermere, Winter Garden, or Dr. Phillips, you’re probably curious about the local shopping situation. Whether you love malls or can’t stand them, you’re bound to end up at them at least every once in a while. Either way, the good news is that there are lots of… Continue reading 7 Great Indoor and Outdoor Malls in Orlando
15 Important Questions to Ask Before Buying a Home
Every home buyer has unique priorities and deal-breakers. Your own needs and wish list will of course determine a lot of the preliminary questions you ask about a home before you consider making an offer on it. But then there are plenty of standard questions to ask before buying a home that everyone should get… Continue reading 15 Important Questions to Ask Before Buying a Home
Orlando Museums and Theaters at Loch Haven Park
The six Orlando museums and theaters clustered in Loch Haven Park make up the city’s cultural center. Loch Haven Park is a beautiful 45-acre park that sits between Lake Estelle, Lake Rowena, and Lake Formosa. It’s at the north end of Orlando, adjoining Ivanhoe Village and the Mills50 district, just about a half-hour’s drive from… Continue reading Orlando Museums and Theaters at Loch Haven Park
30 Reliable Ways to Increase Your Home Value
Making improvements to your property is usually first and foremost about enhancing your family’s enjoyment of your home. But savvy homeowners and those with selling on their minds also pay attention to the effects their changes may have on resale price. There are plenty of effective ways to increase your home value. Below, we offer… Continue reading 30 Reliable Ways to Increase Your Home Value
10 of the Best Sushi Restaurants in Orlando
Orlando has truly become a rising star in the food world over the last several years. In fact, Wallet Hub named Orlando the number 1 best city for foodies in late 2016. There’s long been an amazing assortment of authentic global cuisines available, while the theme parks and world-class resorts have proven a big draw… Continue reading 10 of the Best Sushi Restaurants in Orlando
The Orlando Metro Area Is a Home-Buying Hot Spot for Millennials
A newly released Realtor.com report identifies the US cities attracting the most buyers from the older Millennial demographic—those 25 to 34 years old. The Orlando metro came in third place! That’s right; the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL metropolitan area is the third hottest housing market in the entire country for older Millennials. It was just ever so… Continue reading The Orlando Metro Area Is a Home-Buying Hot Spot for Millennials
Capital Gains Tax Exemptions on Home Sales
Selling your home presents an opportunity to make up to $250,000 (or $500,000 for married couples) in tax-exempt capital gains income. If you sell a home and meet the specific criteria outlined below, you’re usually eligible for this major tax break. What Does “Gain” Mean? Lots of people assume “gain” simply refers to profit. They… Continue reading Capital Gains Tax Exemptions on Home Sales
Sales Appeal: Your Home Showing Checklist
A lot goes into selling a home as quickly and at as high a price as possible, but arguably nothing is as important as hosting effective showings. Potential buyers come into the space to see if it meets their basic needs, how much of their wish list it covers, and whether they can envision themselves… Continue reading Sales Appeal: Your Home Showing Checklist
Take the Family to Disney Springs for the Day
Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando is made up of multiple properties. Of course, there are the four major theme parks—Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios—as well as the water parks Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. Then there’s ESPN Wide World of Sports, a number of hotels and resorts, and also free-entry areas… Continue reading Take the Family to Disney Springs for the Day
What Is a Short Sale on a Home?
A short sale is when when the proceeds from the sale of a home are less than what the sellers still owe on the property. In other words, the sale is “short” of enough money to release the homeowners from the existing mortgage debt. This has become a fairly common scenario in recent times. Short… Continue reading What Is a Short Sale on a Home?
10 Great Tea Rooms in the Orlando Area
Orange County, Florida residents who enjoy mellowing out over a cup of tea with friends or family have lots of options. Orlando and its immediate surroundings have a considerable supply of charming, quality teahouses and tea rooms. Below we’ve listed 10 of our favorites local spots for tea. Between them, they offer experiences that run… Continue reading 10 Great Tea Rooms in the Orlando Area
Take a Family Day Trip to Lakeland, FL
If you’re looking for somewhere convenient to your west Orange County home for a family day trip, consider Lakeland, FL. Located in nearby Polk County, this unique Florida city is right along the I-4 Corridor, just about an hour drive from the Winter Garden and Windermere areas. It’s the biggest city between Orlando and Tampa.… Continue reading Take a Family Day Trip to Lakeland, FL
10 Great Independent Coffee Shops in the Orlando Area
If planning out your life includes knowing where you’re buying one or more of the day’s cups of coffee, we understand. Whether you need a coffee shop close to home, on your commute route, near the office, or in proximity to somewhere you drop the kids, there’s a good chance we have you covered below.… Continue reading 10 Great Independent Coffee Shops in the Orlando Area
You’ll Love a Day Trip to Mount Dora, FL
A guest post by our friends at Florida Vacation Homes by Owner Central Florida’s an intriguing place. There’s the tourist-oriented stuff like theme parks, resorts, and International Drive. Then there are arts and cultural treasures, innovative dining, and other unique offerings in Orlando. We also have beautiful city and state parks teeming with wildlife, as… Continue reading You’ll Love a Day Trip to Mount Dora, FL
Gatorland: A Unique Nearby Family Attraction in Orlando
Few things are as emblematic of Florida as alligators. And few things are as emblematic of Orlando as theme parks. So, it should come as no surprise that Orlando has its very own alligator-themed theme park. It’s called Gatorland, and it’s been around since 1949. Gatorland covers 110 acres (including an expansive wildlife preserve) in… Continue reading Gatorland: A Unique Nearby Family Attraction in Orlando
The Best Hospitals and Medical Facilities in Orange County, FL
If you’re considering a move to Orlando, Windermere, Winter Garden, or elsewhere in Orange County, Florida, medical care options are unoubtedly high on your list of research topics. Much like schools, readily available high-quality healthcare is a priority for families when choosing a new home. Residents in the Orlando metro area enjoy easy access to… Continue reading The Best Hospitals and Medical Facilities in Orange County, FL
7 of the Best Orlando Golf Courses
Florida is rife with amazing, even world-renowned golf courses. This holds true from tip to tip and coast to coast across the state, but Central Florida can claim many leading places to play for enthusiasts of all skill levels. In fact, many of professional golf’s most famous players—for example, Tiger Woods and Arnold Palmer—have resided… Continue reading 7 of the Best Orlando Golf Courses
3 Great West Coast Beaches in Central Florida
Family life in Winter Garden, Windermere, or Dr. Phillips in western Orange County, FL come with lots of perks. Among them is easy access to some of Florida’s most renowned beaches on both the west and east coasts of the state. You can click over to this article to learn a little about three Central… Continue reading 3 Great West Coast Beaches in Central Florida
WonderWorks Orlando: Family Edutainment in Your Backyard!
International Drive may be regarded as a bit of a tourist trap by us Central Florida locals, but there’s no denying that there’s some great family fun to be had there. Having all its attractions and restaurants close at hand is definitely a perk of living in the area. And WonderWorks Orlando is one perfect… Continue reading WonderWorks Orlando: Family Edutainment in Your Backyard!
Dining Out on Restaurant Row in Dr. Phillips
Restaurant Row is a dining and shopping destination on Sand Lake Road in the Dr. Phillips neighborhood of southwest Orlando. It’s the 1.5-mile stretch of Sand Lake Road just west of I-4 that runs between Turkey Lake Road and S. Apopka-Vineland Road. All along Restaurant Row, you’ll find plenty of shopping, including Whole Foods, one… Continue reading Dining Out on Restaurant Row in Dr. Phillips
About the Dr. Phillips Neighborhood in Southwest Orlando, FL
Dr. Phillips is a neighborhood (technically, a “census-designated place”) in Southwest Orlando, Florida. It’s definitely suburban in nature, with numerous upscale residential subdivisions. However, there’s a centrally located strip along Sand Lake Road with so many restaurants, shopping destinations, and professional services that it also feels somewhat urban in its convenience and extensive options. This… Continue reading About the Dr. Phillips Neighborhood in Southwest Orlando, FL
3 Great East Coast Beaches in Central Florida
West Orange County may be about as far from the ocean as you can be in Florida, but that’s not saying much. If you live in Windermere, Winter Garden, or in the vicinity of these fabulous, family-friendly cities, you’re still just a short drive from some stunning beaches—east coast and west. But today’s topic is… Continue reading 3 Great East Coast Beaches in Central Florida
Eat, Drink, and Shop at Plant Street Market in Winter Garden
Historic downtown Winter Garden is arguably the coolest place to eat, drink, and shop in west Orange County, Florida—and beyond! It’s a great destination for adults or the whole family. One particularly appealing aspect is that downtown is all about local, independent small businesses. Spending money here directly supports your neighbors and community. Plant Street… Continue reading Eat, Drink, and Shop at Plant Street Market in Winter Garden
Don’t Miss Out on Orlando’s Discovery Cove Theme Park
Orlando is the theme park capital of the world. The big three—Disney, Universal, and SeaWorld—each operate multiple properties. Disney has four main parks, water parks, ESPN Wide World of Sports, Disney Springs, Disney’s BoardWalk, and more. Then, there’s Universal Studios Orlando, Universal’s Islands of Adventure, the under-development Volcano Bay water park, and so on. SeaWorld… Continue reading Don’t Miss Out on Orlando’s Discovery Cove Theme Park
Take Advantage of the Dr. P. Phillips Community Park
Residents of Windermere and Winter Garden enjoy easy access to one of Orange County’s greatest public parks: the Dr. P. Phillips Community Park. Located at 8249 Buenavista Woods Boulevard, Orlando, FL 32836 in the Dr. Phillips neighborhood of Orlando, it’s only about 8 miles from downtown Windermere and 16 miles from downtown Winter Garden. The… Continue reading Take Advantage of the Dr. P. Phillips Community Park
About the City of Winter Garden, Florida
Winter Garden, Florida is a family-oriented small city offering a perfect balance of serenity and activity. It’s just removed enough from Orlando to provide peace and quiet, while all the city’s excitement is just a quick trip away. The area has extensive shopping and dining, nature escapes, youth opportunities, and more for residents of all… Continue reading About the City of Winter Garden, Florida
About the Town of Windermere, Florida
Windermere, Florida is one of the most highly sought-after addresses in the state. It’s a family-friendly town and home to numerous professional athletes and other celebrities, CEOs and other executives, and amazing private communities. It offers an ideal balance of peaceful living, neighborliness and networking, youth opportunities, and proximity to all the excitement and conveniences of… Continue reading About the Town of Windermere, Florida
Orange County Public Schools for Windermere, Winter Garden, and Dr. Phillips
Residents of Windermere, Winter Garden, and Dr. Phillips in west Orange County, FL enjoy some of the state’s finest, most highly rated public schools. All are known not just for their academic excellence and great facilities, but also for their involved parents, teachers, administrators, and communities, as well as robust extracurricular offerings. It’s just one… Continue reading Orange County Public Schools for Windermere, Winter Garden, and Dr. Phillips