Alafaya

Cypress Springs is a relaxed collection of subdivisions with homeowner associations featuring private amenities, woodlands and ponds among suburban streets. "Proximity to parks, shopping, schools and doctors is the main reason people choose to live in Cypress Springs," says Franc Marrero, a Military Relocation Professional and Realtor with Freedom Property Agent LLC. Marrero has decades of experience in the real estate industry. The neighborhood sits in the Alafaya area of East Orlando. Nearby thoroughfares connect locals to the rest of the region. "Cypress Springs has a lot of diversity with regard to work and cultural backgrounds. There's a good mix of veterans, retired people and families," Marrero says. Many residents have access to private community pools and playgrounds within subdivisions. Beyond the planned residential streets await public green spaces. For some, Young Pine Community Park is within walking distance for kayaking, hiking along the trails or fishing on the small dock. Others stay active on the soccer fields and sand volleyball courts. The Little Econ Greenway is a 7-mile trail that connects to other parks and canoe trails. Rio Pinar Golf and Country Club, less than 5 miles away, has exclusive amenities, including an 18-hole course, digital driving range and tennis courts. Planned subdivisions strike a balance between seclusion from downtown and connection within the community. "I absolutely love this part of Orlando," says George Mercado, a Cypress Springs resident who also owns Professional Lawncare and Maintenance LLC. "During the cooler seasons, people walk their dogs, and you'll see kids on bikes and scooters. This is an established neighborhood that feels very safe and family-oriented," Mercado says. Housing styles include mostly midsized ranches and new traditional properties with front yards. These homes span in age from the mid-1980s to recently constructed dwellings from the last three years. Most association fees include access to community pools and recreational spaces like basketball and volleyball courts. Buyers choose gated developments, like Cypress Knee Circle and Woodland Lakes Preserve, for more privacy. Some of the newest houses are in the Heritage Oaks and Pinewood Reserve subdivisions. Properties generally come off the market in less time than the national average of 44 days. "For the past 3 years, I noticed that once a house is listed, there's also five to six different offers," Marrero says. "Homes tend to sell really quick, and either at asking price or close to it." Most single-family homes in Cypress Springs cost between $375,000 and $675,000. Condos and townhomes built over the last five years range in price from $250,000 to $450,000. Homes in the area have a mild risk of flooding. Orlando was recently awarded federal funding to help reduce the risk of flooding on the city's east side. Hungry patrons sample the eclectic flavors of Orlando right from Cypress Springs. "The area really caters to a diverse population through the food. We love to eat at Ferrara Pizza & Pasta, Ahmed Indian Restaurant, and countless Latin-inspired places nearby," Mercado says. Guacamole Mexican Grill is known for their oversized avocado margaritas and self-titled "sweet delights," like fried ice cream and burrito cheesecake. Following Curry Ford Road leads to Publix and ALDI supermarkets. Many shop at Waterford Lakes Town Center, an open-air retail and entertainment destination. The complex has nearly 100 stores, over a dozen dining options, and a 20-screen cinema. Cypress Springs Elementary ranks among the top 10 Standout Elementary Schools in the Orlando Area, with an A-minus grade from Niche. Legacy Middle, with a B-minus grade, offers engineering and design courses that prepare students to earn Autodesk certifications. Teenagers are zoned to attend University High, which has an A-minus and ranks No. 4 among Niche Standout High Schools in the Orlando Area. Students can take International Baccalaureate pathways or audition for the Performing Fine Arts magnet program. Dedicated students may also participate in dual enrollment through Valencia College. The college's East Campus is just five miles away, while the University of Central Florida is less than 10 miles north. Cypress Springs is planted at the intersection of Route 408 Expressway and SR 417, also known as the Central Florida GreeneWay. The area contains minimal public transportation options, and locals must drive about 20 miles before reaching Interstate 4. Orlando International Airport is approximately 10 miles south. Those seeking medical care can head to AdventHealth East Orlando or Centra Care hospitals. Downtown Orlando is less than 15 miles away.

Ray Lopez hears it over and over when he sells homes in Waterford Lakes: there’s so much to do inside the neighborhood. Home to one of Orlando’s largest open-air shopping centers, Waterford Lakes makes up for its location 13 miles from Orlando’s central business district. “You pretty much have everything in one spot,” says Lopez, owner and operator of the Keller Williams Orlando Waterford office, as well as a resident since 2001. “You don’t really need to leave Waterford Lakes for anything.” The master-planned community features more than 100 businesses and 3,300 homes within 5 miles of the University of Central Florida campus and Central Florida Research Park, a local hub for high-tech jobs. Residents may do their shopping or knock out errands at Waterford Lakes Town Center, home to 105 stores and restaurants. Stores include big box stores such as Target and The Home Depot. Meanwhile, diners have options such as upscale chain Cooper’s Hawk and Kura Revolving Sushi Bar, which opened in 2024 to a line of customers out the door. Orlando’s theme parks are more than 20 miles away, but Waterford Lakes has its share of entertainment. Golfer Tiger Woods is a partner in PopStroke, an 18-hole miniature golf course that incorporates rolling terrain, bunkers and fairways. “When I have friends come in from out of town, they’ve never seen anything like it,” Lopez says. Visitors to Launch Entertainment Park can bowl, play laser tag and compete in rounds of axe throwing. The town center even hosts an AdventHealth Primary Care clinic. The East Orlando Farmers Market comes to Waterford Lakes Town Center on Sundays. Vendors sell raw Florida honey, tropical fruit and fluffy crocheted animals. The town center also hosts events during each month, such as outdoor movie screenings. Most residents rent from the plentiful apartment complexes, but there are also thousands of houses and condos. Homes are often low-slung bungalow styles or larger Colonial Revivals situated on tight lots. Many houses back up to small lakes and ponds. Condo complexes stand near the commercial areas of Waterford Lakes Town Center. Buyers may find one-bedroom condos priced as low as $200,000, while two-bedroom homes start around $300,000. Four-bedroom homes with pools sell for as much as $575,000. “When we look at housing in general, people want a pool,” Lopez says. “Homes with pools are getting people top dollar.” Children getting a public education are zoned to Orange County Public Schools, starting with Waterford Elementary School. Located in the neighborhood, Waterford Elementary gets an A-minus from Niche. Students can progress to Discovery Middle School, graded a B-plus, and Timber Creek High School, which receives an A-plus. Teens at Timber Creek High can take dual enrollment courses at one of three higher learning institutions: the University of Central Florida, Valencia College or Orange Technical College. East Orange Neighborhood Park provides a break in the residential and commercial development sprawling across the neighborhood. Children can play on the playground, shaded from the Florida sun by canopies. Others can organize games on the dirt baseball diamond. A small creek provides a home for ducks and other birds. To explore more green space, locals can hike 3 miles of trails near the Econlockhatchee River at the Econlockhatchee Sandhills Conservation Area 5 miles away. Waterford Lakes is bisected by State Road 408, a toll road that leads to downtown Orlando. While 408 runs east and west, it intersects with State Road 417, a north-to-south toll road. You can go to anywhere in the city within 45 minutes,” Lopez explains. The regional Lynx bus system has a stop at the intersection of East Colonial Drive and Alafaya Trail; the bus reaches the University of Central Florida in less than 10 minutes and arrives downtown within an hour. Orlando International Airport is 17 miles away.