FROM THE PUBLISHER

APPREHENSIVE? THIS IS 2007

After months, maybe even years of searching and making offer after offer, you’ve finally found it. The home of your dreams. It’s perfect — the size, the layout, the location and, most important, the price. But it’s at the top of your budget, which makes you hesitant.

Thoughts of 2007 keep running through your head — the nightmarish stories you heard about people buying at the top of the market and then losing their equity and even their homes during the crash.

But rest assured, this is not 2007 — not even close.

In the frenzy of the early 2000s, the subprime mortgage industry was making loans to anyone; income didn’t matter, creditworthiness was an afterthought. If you could “fog a mirror” you got a loan.

And not just any loan — you could get a low-interest, adjustable-rate loan for up to 125 percent of the home’s appraised value. Also, people were using their homes like ATMs — taking out equity lines rather than letting rising home values increase their wealth.

People flocked to real estate in droves, then the Federal Reserve came calling. They raised interest rates — people could no longer make note payments, and the market was flooded with distressed sellers dumping homes for whatever they could get.

The market imploded and the Great Recession entered our lives. Fast forward to 2022: The lending rules are more stringent and lenders have become more thorough in the underwriting process.

According to the Mortgage Bankers’ Association’s Mortgage Credit Availability Index, the amount of mortgage credit is still at a safe, normal level. Many experts are saying this market, in particular, even has room for continued appreciation.

At a time when demand is outpacing availability and you’ve found your forever home, it’s time to enjoy and start living happily ever after.

THERESA SWANSON Group Publisher theresa@thefloridahomebuyer.com

CONTENTS | WINTER 2022

DEPARTMENTS

2 FROM THE PUBLISHER 4 FEATURED BUILDER Hal George proves that nice guys do, indeed, finish first. By Michael Candelaria

6 FEATURED COMMUNITY Del Webb Sunbridge shines for 55-plus buyers near Lake Nona. By Michael Candelaria

8 FEATURED FLOORPLAN Quaint College Park gets a modern look with Urban Green 12. By Michael Candelaria

FEATURES

14 WHERE LIFE BEGINS AT 55 The region’s active-adult communities offer styles of life in many shapes, sizes and amenities. By Michael Candelaria

24 OUR TOWN There’s something for everyone in Central Florida. Let’s take a tour and you can see for yourself. By Michael Candelaria

RESOURCES

53 PUBLIC SCHOOLS 60 COMMUNITIES

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IS THE WEST SIDE THE BEST SIDE?

GROWTH IS HEALTHY ALONG BURGEONING WELLNESS WAY

Custom home by Dave Brewer Inc.

REGIONAL RELOCATION GUIDE • ACTIVE ADULT COMMUNITIES • School Guide

Custom home by J. Richard Watson Construction Company

REGIONAL RELOCATION GUIDE • ACTIVE ADULT COMMUNITIES • School Guide

HARVEY SMITH PHOTOGRAPHYHARVEY SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY

Custom home by The Einheit Company

NEW HOMES YOU CAN BUY NOW • CHECK OUT NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS REGIONAL RELOCATION GUIDE • ACTIVE ADULT COMMUNITIES • School Guide

ON THE COVER Readers of this issue of Homebuyer: Central Florida Edition may see one of three covers: one is a custom home by Dave Brewer Inc.; one is a custom home by J. Richard Watson Construction Company; and one is a custom home by The Einheit Company. THERESA SWANSON Group Publisher/Director of Sales RANDY NOLES Editor and Publisher PHYLLIS M. MILLER Director of Administration TINA ROBERS Art Director MYRON CARDEN Distribution Manager MICHAEL CANDELARIA, MARY SHANKLIN Contributing Writers HARRY WESSEL Contributing Editor MICHAEL LOWRY PHOTOGRAPHY, GREENLANDO CONSULTING Contributing Photographers

Winter Park Publishing Company LLC RANDY NOLES Chief Executive Officer ALLAN E. KEEN Co-Chairman, Board of Managers JANE HAMES Co-Chairman, Board of Managers THERESA SWANSON Vice Chairman, Board of Managers MICHAEL OKATY, ESQ. General Counsel, Foley & Lardner LLP

Community Partners Larry and Joanne Adams; The Albertson Company, Ltd.; Richard O. Baldwin Jr.; Jim and Diana Barnes; Brad Blum; Ken and Ruth Bradley; John and Dede Caron; Bruce Douglas; Steve Goldman; Hal George; Michael Gonick; Micky Grindstaff; Sharon and Marc Hagle; Larry and Jane Hames; Eric and Diane Holm; Garry and Isis Jones; Allan E. and Linda S. Keen; Knob Hill Group (Rick and Trish Walsh, Jim and Beth DeSimone, Chris Schmidt); FAN Fund; Kevin and Jacqueline Maddron; Drew and Paula Madsen; Kenneth J. Meister; Ann Hicks Murrah; Jack Myers; Michael P. O’Donnell; Nicole and Mike Okaty; Bill and Jody Orosz; Martin and Ellen Prague; Serge and Kerri Rivera; Jon C. and Theresa Swanson; Sam and Heather Stark; Randall B. Robertson; George Sprinkel; Philip Tiedtke; Roger K. Thompson; Ed Timberlake; Harold and Libby Ward; Warren “Chip” Weston; Tom and Penny Yochum; and Victor and Jackie A. Zollo.

Members Of

Contact Us Homebuyer: Central Florida Edition 201 West Canton Avenue, Suite 125B Winter Park, Florida 32789 Phone: 407-647-0225 thefloridahomebuyer.com

Homebuyer: Central Florida Edition Winter 2022 is published quarterly by Winter Park Publishing Company LLC, 201 West Canton Avenue, Suite 125B, Winter Park, Florida 32789. Copyright 2022 by Winter Park Publishing Company LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Send all correspondence to Homebuyer: Central Florida Edition, 201 West Canton Avenue, Suite 125B, Winter Park, Florida 32789. Unsolicited manuscripts without return postage will not be returned. DISCLAIMER: Advertisements in this publication do not constitute an offer for sale in any state or country where prohibited or restricted by law.