Central Florida Real Estate and Community News

Over the past couple of weeks I’ve been having some fun helping you get to know Celebration, a Disney influenced, master-planned community with direct access to Walt Disney world and Disney Springs. In previous weeks I’ve introduced you to Downtown Celebration and also to North Village, which was the first community developed in Celebration.

On tap for today is West Village which, like North Village, is one of the original areas of this great town. Situated between South Village and Downtown Celebration, West Village abuts to the Celebration Golf Course, one of Orlando’s premier golf facilities. This 18-hole, public golf course was designed by Robert Trent Jones and it stretches and meanders through Celebration offering golfers an excellent view from every hole. Celebration Golf Club boasts a wonderful restaurant and is also hosts many special events, including weddings complete with a quaint gazebo in a beautiful pastoral setting.

One of the many endearing qualities about Celebration is the wide range of home types available. West Village is home to over 90 residences in a mix of size and unique styles, including adorable cottage homes and many luxury estate homes. Estate homes on Golfpark Drive enjoy front fairway views of the meticulous green.

If being close to the center of this quintessential town is important to you, then West Village would be your ideal place to call home. Residents of West Village enjoy being within walking distance to Celebration's K-8 School, downtown area shops and restaurants (and yes, there is a Starbucks…I know you were wondering), and the beautiful lake that serves as the focal point of downtown Celebration.

West Village architecture was inspired from all areas of the US – from regency style townhomes to southern style wrap around porch homes to estate homes and bungalows, you’ll find a style and size for every taste and budget.  If you're interested in a home in Celebration, give me a call at 407-922-9011, or visit my Celebration Real Estate page to see available homes.

Nest, a commonly known alternative for the word home, holds a lot of meaning. It’s where we settle together as families and take care of our young.  Our nests are very important places.

So, that’s the traditional meaning of the word.  But there’s more…

Remember when your child’s toy “Furbie” was all the rage.  The Furbie could learn how to be a smarter toy. Well a similar learning technology can be found in a much more  useful role in the world of climate control. Introducing the Nest thermostat. Teach it your lifestyle, then let it work for you and save you money. So what does the Nest thermostat do?

 Personalized for any system – Everyone’s home is unique and so is every Nest thermostat. As your Nest system learns about your home, it customizes its settings and features to best suit your personal lifestyle.

·         Eco Setting – Forget to turn your thermostat off before you walk out the door? No worries, Nest’s motion activated feature will detect that no one is home and adjust the temperature for you.

·         Remote Control – No, we don’t mean an old fashioned piece of plastic that requires AAA batteries, we mean smart phone remote control. Control your thermostat from home, work, or the train from your personal phone.

·         The Leaf – Not sure what is energy efficient and what isn’t? It can be hard to understand the science of your electric bill. When the nest thermostat displays a small green leaf on the screen this means you are officially saving energy.

·         Custom Scheduling – Setup your Nest to know you. Include specific times for different points of the day, and be able to override them if your schedule changes.

·         Detailed Energy History – Curious what you’ve been up to and how much you’ve saved? The Nest keeps track of your usage on a daily basis and provides you an easy to read report about your energy usage. Use these reports to see how Nest helps you save and find even more ways to save yourself with these handy reports.

·         Weather Aware – Using your wifi connection, Nest anticipates changes to your home climate based on changes in the outside climate.

·         Filter reminders – When was the last time you changed your a/c filter? Wait, did you even know you had one? Nest keeps track of maintenance of your system as well and reminds you when it’s time to clean and upgrade.

·         Pays for itself – Average savings with the Nest are up to 20% per month. Within a year the product could pay for itself in addition to making your life more convenient.

On top of all these great features, the Nest comes with easy installation, friendly customer service, and an online support community for you to share your stories and ask questions 24-hours a day.

Whether you are at home or away, let your mind rest and put Nest to work bringing you comfort and energy savings.

Stay tuned for Nest(ing) Part Two to learn about the Nest Protect Smoke Detector!

We recently shared the first in a series of posts about Celebration, FL.  We hope you enjoyed the information about the downtown area, which is truly amazing for residents and tourists alike.

Aside from the downtown area, Celebration is comprised of six uniquely beautiful villages. North Village was the first community (or neighborhood) to be built in Celebration and it was constructed shortly after the downtown area was completed. Construction of homes began in the late 1990’s and continued through the mid 2000’s.

Increasing in popularity is one of Orlando’s hottest communities, Lake Nona.  Contrary to its name, Lake Nona is a land of “yes.” With a state-of-the-art health care center, first class schools and education opportunities, healthy-sustainable living, and an abundance of parks and amenities Lake Nona is sure to have something for people in every walk of life.

Lake Nona Medical City is a 650-acre health and life sciences park and a landmark in Orlando.  This is a premium location for medical care, research and education.  Though the complex draws in patients and researchers from around the world, healthy living is central to residents of Lake Nona.  The community features 44 miles of trails offering a variety of exercise options, and community gardens as an option for fresh organic produce.

Protecting the environment has always been a strong focus in the planning and development of the community.  Lake Nona boasts over 1,000 acres of lakes and waterways, and an unheard of 40% of the development has been left as open green space. Additionally, homes are built with sustainability and conservation in mind - keeping both the earth and your wallet happy.

We would be remiss if we didn’t give mention to the Lake Nona Golf & Country Club where you’ll find the world-ranked, Tom Fazio-designed championship golf course that hosts numerous international tournaments, including the inaugural Solheim Cup and the Tavistock Cup.

Multiple neighborhoods within Lake Nona mean there is a variety of options for every lifestyle. Here are examples of some of the most popular.

Laureate Park – Homes in Laureate Park feature modern transitional architectural styles and are designed around its Village Center, complete with a 2-pool Aquatic Center, lakeside restaurant and café, and fitness facility.  

Lake Nona Golf & Country Club – In addition to hosting the renowned championship golf course and bath and racquet club, this neighborhood offers an array of luxury residences with unique lake and golf course views.

Waters Edge – This gated community within NorthLake Park offers the opportunity for true waterfront living on Lake Nona and features a boat dock, boat storage areas and a lakefront park. 

Northlake Park – Apartments, single-family and multi-family homes are all available in this 500-acre, neo-traditional community. The neighborhood amenities include an award-winning, A-rated elementary school and YMCA facility featuring parks, sports fields and an outdoor Olympic pool.

Village Walk – Waterfront homes in Village Park are connected by quaint bridges and center around a town center that provides a café, salon, post office, bank, gas station and fitness center. Additionally, VillageWalk offers 6-miles of walking trails, 2 swimming pools and multiple parks and fitness opportunities. 

Lake Nona Water Mark – This is not your typical apartment complex. This collection of 278 luxury apartments features six unique floor plans with one, two or three bedroom units in 16 buildings anchored by a 7,515 square-foot clubhouse featuring a cyber café and multi-purpose theatre room. The neighborhood is near Lake Nona Medical City and includes a resort-style saltwater swimming pool, auto spa and pet park to keep engines purring and tails wagging.

For more information and to view property listings visit our Lake Nona Community page!