Orlando Real Estate Agents, Orlando Homes for Sale, Orlando Condos, Florida, FL

Orlando Real Estate Overview

The city of Orlando is the county seat of Orange County, Florida. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 185,951 (metropolitan area 1,644,561). A 2004 U.S. Census Estimates population count gave the city had a total population of 205,648 (metropolitan area nearly 1.8 million). It is the sixth-largest city in Florida, and its largest inland city. It is also at the head of the state's third-largest metropolitan area, behind Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach and Tampa-St. Petersburg. Additionally, Orlando is home to the second largest university in Florida, the University of Central Florida.

The city is best known for the tourist attractions in the area, particularly the nearby Walt Disney World Resort, which is in the Reedy Creek Improvement District . Other area attractions include SeaWorld, Universal Orlando Resort and also the World's Largest McDonald's. Despite being far from the main tourist attractions, downtown Orlando has recently seen much redevelopment, with many more projects currently under construction or planned. One of the oldest attractions in this area is Gatorland. Orlando sees an estimated 52 million tourists a year.

The city's nickname is "The City Beautiful", though plans are underway to change this title through a local contest. Its symbol is the fountain of Lake Eola. The current mayor is Buddy Dyer. (See a complete listing of the Mayors of Orlando.)

Orlando Geography

Orlando is rivaled only by the Twin Cities in the number of natural lakes to be found in its metropolitan area. The region Orlando occupies is generally low-lying, the only exception being minor sand hills formed by wave action in earlier geological eras when sea level was higher. These are found primarily in the western sections of the metropolitan area, especially in Lake County. The Orlando area is home to 100+ lakes, the largest of which are Lake Apopka, Eustis, Griffin, Harney, Harris, Jesup, Monroe, Sand Lake, Conway, and Tohopekaliga. The area is also very prone to sink-holes due to the large number of underground limestone caverns that are located in the area. Many of the lakes started as sink holes in recent geologic history.

Orlando Neighborhoods

The city of Orlando has 115 neighborhoods in the city limits, some of which are:

Airport North, Avalon Park, Azalea Park, Baldwin Park, Callahan, Central Business District, College Park, Colonialtown North, Colonialtown South, Conway, Crescent Park, Delaney Park, EastWood, Greenwood, Lake Davis, Lake Eola Heights, Metro North, Metrowest, Millenia, North Orange, Park Central, Park Lake Highland, Richmond Heights, Roosevelt Park, Southwest, Stoneybrook, Thornton Park, Waterford Lakes, West Colonial, more...

Orlando Metropolitan Area

In the Orlando area, like most metropolitan areas in Florida, the majority of the population lives outside the city proper. Orlando is the center of the Orlando - Daytona Beach - Melbourne metropolitan area. Nearby suburbs extend into the surrounding counties. Oviedo, in Seminole County, has been listed as one of the fastest growing cities in the United States. Clermont (Lake County) and Poinciana (Osceola) have also seen explosive growth. Deltona, in Volusia County, has grown so fast that, between 1990 and 2000, it became the largest city in that county. Cities such as Melbourne and Palm Bay on the Space Coast have also seen tremendous growth.

Orlando Economy

To no surprise, a large part of the Orlando area economy is involved in the tourist industry. Tourism surrounding Orlando is worth billions of dollars to the area's economy. Over 48 million visitors came to the Orlando region in 2004. The convention industry is also critical to the region's economy, due partly to the multitude of attractions available for all age ranges in the area. The Orange County Convention Center, expanded in 2004 to over two million square feet (200,000 m²) of exhibition space, is now the second-largest convention complex in the United States. The Orlando International Airport is a world-class facility, and one of the most heavily traveled airports in the world.

The area's economy also has other industries apart from tourism, such as the presence of manufacturing in the region. Lockheed-Martin has a large manufacturing facility for aeronautical crafts and related high tech research due to Orlando's proximity to the NASA Kennedy Space Center. The area is also home to many computer software and hardware firms that located here in the 1970's and 1980's such as IBM. Another sector that is developing is the film, television, and electronic gaming industries, aided by the presence of Universal Studios, Disney-MGM Studios, Electronic Arts, Full Sail School, and other entertainment companies and schools. Numerous office complexes for large corporations have popped up along the Interstate 4 corridor north of Orlando, especially in Maitland, Lake Mary and Heathrow. The U.S. modeling, simulation, and training (MST) industry is centered around the Orlando region as well, with a particularly strong presence in the UCF Research Park.

The diversifying economy has led to an incredibly low unemployment rate in Greater Orlando of 3.4% as of September 2005. (Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, August 2005) The result is explosive growth that has led to urban sprawl in the surrounding area and skyrocketing housing prices. Housing prices in Greater Orlando have gone up 34% in one year, from an average of $182,000 in August 2004 to $245,000 in August 2005. (Source: Orlando Regional Realtor Association)

Orlando Transportation

Air

Orlando is served primarily by Orlando International Airport, though nearby Orlando Sanford International Airport also serves the area. Orlando Executive Airport is used for charter flights and General Aviation.

Roads

Its major freeway is Interstate 4, which crosses Florida's Turnpike southwest of Downtown Orlando. It is also served by the toll roads of the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority, particularly the East-West Expressway (SR 408), which crosses I-4 downtown.

The East West Expressway (SR 408) is undergoing major construction with the addition of lanes, concrete barrier walls, sound walls, and a better scenic view. This project begun in 2005 and is not yet complete.

Rail

The Orlando area is served by one through railroad, CSX's A line (formerly the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad's main line), and some spurs, mostly operated by the Florida Central Railroad. Amtrak passenger service runs along the CSX A line. See also a map of these railroads. In 2005 Federal and state funding was granted for the establishment of the Central Florida Commuter Rail service to operate on the CSX A line tracks between Deltona and Poinciana, passing through the downtown area and surrounding urban neighborhoods along the way. The service is expected to substantially reduce traffic congestion along the I-4 corridor, especially between downtown Orlando and the suburban communities in Seminole and Volusia Counties. The Federal and state funds would cover approximately 80% of the estimated $400 million cost for track modifications and construction of stations along the route. Pending approval by the county governments (Volusia, Seminole, Orange and Osceola) involved and the set aside of matching funds, the line is projected to begin operations in 2009.

The following major railroad stations have existed in Orlando:

• Amtrak Orlando station (originally built by ACL to replace Church Street Station, the only one still in use
• Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Orlando station (now Church Street Station, a tourist attraction)
• Seaboard Air Line Railroad Orlando station (Central Avenue Station)

Buses

Orlando is served by Lynx, which runs bus service in the tri-county area (Osceola-Orange-Seminole).

 

Orlando Education

Public Education is handled by Orange County Public Schools. Some of the larger private schools include Trinity Preparatory School, Lake Highland Preparatory School, Bishop Moore High School, New School of Orlando, Orlando Christian Academy, and Forest Lake Academy.

Area institutions of higher education:

Barry University's law school, Brevard Community College (in nearby Brevard County), DeVry University, Orlando campus, Florida A&M University's law school, Florida Institute of Technology, Orlando campus, Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences, Florida Metropolitan University, Orlando campus, Full Sail Real World Education (in Winter Park), International Academy of Design and Technology, Nova Southeastern University, Orlando campus, Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando campus, Rollins College (in Winter Park), Seminole Community College (in Sanford), Stetson University (in Deland), University of Central Florida, University of Phoenix, Orlando campus, Valencia Community College.

The Orlando real estate links at the top of the page will help you find Orlando homes for sale, Orlando real estate agents and Orlando home values. Get access to Orlando real estate listings and Orlando home listings, including the Orlando MLS, Orlando REALTORS, Orlando new homes, Orlando condos, Orlando condominiums, Orlando property, Orlando land, Orlando acreage and Orlando foreclosures. These free real estate services feature all Orlando cities, Orlando towns, Orlando suburbs and Orlando neighborhoods. The websites linked above also contain information on Orlando home selling, Orlando home buying, Orlando mortgages, Orlando insurance, Orlando movers and other Orlando realty services for anyone looking to sell a home or buy a home in Orlando, Florida, FL.

Also: Orlando, Florida Official Website