Florida Real Estate Q&A Discussion Forum
Market News & Data
General Info
Real Estate Strategies
Landlording & Rental Properties
Real Estate Professionals
Financial, Tax, & Legal
Real Estate Classifieds
Reviews & Feedback
Updated almost 2 years ago,
Lake Nona or Bella Collina?
I'm considering these two areas for my family of 4 (kids 8 and 6) to move into and we are planning to build a new house in the $1.5-2M range. Of all the areas around Orlando I visited recently, I liked Lake Nona and Bella Collina the most. Just wanted to get some more inputs on either areas from those that know these areas well.
Some of my considerations so far:
1. Location. Lake Nona is closer to everything, while Bella Collina is out there. But it seems like Clermont is getting a lot of new development and with the new Costco planned, might benefit that area in general. Neither of my wife and I are working from home, so no commute to consider. If we were doctors or nurses, Lake Nona would probably be the easy choice.
2. Schools. Kids are currently in public schools, but we'd send them to private if needed. I've heard good things about Lake Nona public schools but didn't really look into private options there. Montverde Academy would be an easy choice if we choose Bella Collina given the proximity.
3. Lifestyle. We are very used to the master-planned community concept and have lived in Irvine, CA before. Lake Nona has that same feel and is still growing. Bella Collina feels a lot more private/exclusive with the manned security and clubhouse amenities. Never lived at a country club type of property before, but it seems nice and the few residents I spoke to love the lifestyle.
4. Real estate. Lake Nona has these cookie cutter lots and houses back onto each other, but resale and rental markets are strong and many are moving into the area. Bella Collina has bigger homes and lots. For not much more money than Lake Nona, can build a home on an acre of land. But cost of ownership would be significantly higher in Bella Collina since owners have to pay mandatory memberships at the club. Might be a bit harder to rent out compared to Lake Nona if we decide to move again and turn it into a rental.
Any other factors that I should really take into consideration when deciding between these two options? Appreciate all the inputs.