Sylvan Shores
Homes replace citrus farms
Like many communities on the outskirts of Sebring and Lake Placid, properties that were once citrus farms have now been replaced by new builds and empty land. “Our citrus industry isn’t what it once was,” says Will Dibble, a Sebring resident and Broker with RE/MAX Realty Plus. “Developers are now buying up the orange groves to build a bunch of new houses here.” Some properties still have a few fruit trees and cabbage palms. A large number of homes are vacation homes or used by retired snowbirds. Compared to its master-planned neighbors, there is no homeowners association fee. Most contemporary ranch homes were built between the late 1970s and the 1990s and sit on half-acre to one-acre lots, priced between $200,000 to $400,000. Properties measuring 1,200 to 3,000 square feet sit along Lake Clay Drive and range from $400,000 and $600,000. These homes offer scenic lakefront views, along with direct access to the water via ramps and docks. A few vacant lots are available, and prices range from $20,000 to roughly $65,000, depending on acreage and proximity to Lake Clay.
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School district offers virtual program
Students in Highlands County Schools can attend Lake Country Elementary School, which earns a B-minus on Niche and serves pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. Lake Placid Middle and Lake Placid High Schools earn a C-plus and B Niche score, respectively, and are located closer to downtown Lake Placid. For a private school option that’s closer to home, Lakeview Christian School serves kindergarten through eighth grade and is less than 3 miles away. Highlands County also offers a virtual school program for students interested in earning a diploma outside the classroom.
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Parks, lakes and golfing
Lake Clay, a 353-acre freshwater lake with a sandy ridge bottom, has two public access boat ramps for those fishing or seeking waterfront sunset views. In neighboring Highlands Park Estates is Lake Istokpoga, one of the largest in the state and known to have some of the best bass fishing in Central Florida. Sebring and Lake Placid are a golf lover's dream. The area boasts several scenic fairways, from Lake June West Golf Course to the sprawling Placid Lakes Golf Course. The Lake Placid Local Sugar Express Train offers two- to six-hour rides from Lake Placid to Lake Okeechobee. These rides are especially popular during seasonal events and festivals in Lake Placid, Sebring and Clewiston. Small parks are also tucked into Downtown, including Devane Park near its center. Other well-known parks include Lake June-in-Winter Scrub Preserve and Highlands Hammock State Parks. Highlands Hammock opened four years before the Florida state park system and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. The 9,000-acre state park has some of the largest oak trees in the state, believed to be over a thousand years old.
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Retail and restaurants, but more are needed
Most of the retail and restaurant scene near Sylvan Shores is located along U.S. Highway 27 and on Main Street in Downtown Lake Placid. The highway offers fast-food and chain restaurants such as GC Grill House by Golden Corral. South Highlands Shopping Center contains a few well-known retailers and grocery stores like Publix Super Market. Lake Placid’s Main Street is home to eateries, Saturday morning farmers markets, and boutique clothing and décor stores like The Blueberry Patch. Local eateries include Jaxson's, home of the Hookiemelt: an interesting appetizer of gator or chicken covered in sour cream and wing sauce. For those who enjoy a wide selection of beers, ciders and seltzers, Wet Dogs Brewing is around the corner. Live music and open-mic nights make it a hopping spot on the weekends. However, Lake Placid’s downtown desperately needs more brand-name retail options. Most businesses within Lakeshore Mall, the closest department store hub, have closed since COVID-19. Residents drive to Eagle Ridge Mall in Lake Wales, 51 miles north, for stores like Dillard's.
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Caladium Festival brings art and vintage cars
The three-day Caladium Festival is arguably Lake Placid's most well-known event. When July rolls around, the streets of downtown are filled with art, vintage cars, floral arrangements and festival food. Lake Placid is also home to the American Clown Museum and School and the Lake Placid Historical Society & Depot Museum. Other major attractions close to Sylvan Shores include the Sebring International Raceway, which has hosted the annual 12 Hours of Sebring WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race since 1952. USA Today voted it North America's Number 1 Motorsports event, and it attracts visitors from all over the globe.
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Access to major roadways and Amtrak service
Sylvan Shores residents are car-dependent and farther from the condensed streets of downtown Lake Placid. Major roadways include U.S. Highway 27, which allows access to the rest of the state. Residents must drive 140 miles to Orlando, 110 miles to Tampa or 76 miles to Fort Myers to reach an airport. Immediate healthcare needs are within a 2-mile radius at AdventHealth Lake Placid. The closest Amtrak service is through Sebring Station in the Sebring Downtown Historic District, taking passengers south to Miami or north to Orlando, Tampa and New York City.Important things to know
While Lake Placid is not immune from Florida's hurricane season, its location in the middle of the state means it might not be hit as hard as cities on the coast, like Tampa or Fort Myers. Highlands County is considered Flood Zone A and Flood Zone AE. Certain mortgage companies may require homeowners to acquire flood insurance. Caladium, citrus and sugar cane have been some of the area’s most prominent agricultural industries. However, environmental factors like hurricanes and greening, along with increasingly high labor costs, have severely impacted production over the last decade.
Written By
Corrine Fizer
Photography Contributed By
Jay Welker
Video By
Gabriel Miller
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Lisa Kneram PA
Lisa Kneram PA
Responds QuicklyRE/MAX REALTY PLUS
(863) 591-6284
69 Total Sales
1 in Sylvan Shores
$245,000 Price
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Steven Anderson
Steven Anderson
PRESTIGE REALTY OF FLORIDA, LL
(863) 593-8968
75 Total Sales
2 in Sylvan Shores
$170K - $259K Price Range
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Melissa Debono
Melissa Debono
All About Realty of Lake Placid INC
(863) 434-8615
147 Total Sales
4 in Sylvan Shores
$7K - $420K Price Range
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Elsa Jane Miller
Elsa Jane Miller
ADVANCED ALL SERVICE/ SEBRING
(863) 593-8430
54 Total Sales
2 in Sylvan Shores
$10K - $11K Price Range
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Gerald Meisenheimer
Gerald Meisenheimer
All About Realty of Lake Placid INC
(863) 592-8068
160 Total Sales
5 in Sylvan Shores
$11K - $255K Price Range
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Melissa Lorenzo
Melissa Lorenzo
Lexan Real Estate, LLC
(786) 723-8321
78 Total Sales
2 in Sylvan Shores
$12K - $13K Price Range
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
- Pre-K to 12th
- Public
- 6th to 8th
- Public
- Pre-K to 5th
- Public
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Parks in this Area
Stuart Park
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Sylvan Shores | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 2 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 3 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 3 | 4 |
| Robbery | 2 | 4 |
| Burglary | 4 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 3 | 4 |
| Larceny | 3 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 3 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Sylvan Shores Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Sylvan Shores, Lake Placid sell after 130 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Sylvan Shores, Lake Placid over the last 12 months is $546,000, up 12% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$327,000
Median Sale Price
$546,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$327,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
0%
Last 12 months Home Sales
5
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
12%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$415
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
770
Number of Homes for Sale
1
Median Year Built
1984
Months of Supply
2.40
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,445
Significantly below the national average
1,924
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
11,325
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
1,434
Median Age
55
Population under 18
17.1%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
37%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$44,853
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$65,263
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
90%
College Graduates
21.1%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
9%
% Population in Labor Force
52.9%
Below the national average
65.1%
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
26
/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
1
/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Highlands Park Estates
An expanding rural community along Lake Istokpoga’s leafy shores
Sun Lakes
Unincorporated community in Highlands County on the shore of Grassy Lake.
Leisure Lakes
A rural neighborhood in Florida's countryside in proximity to lakes and downtown
Spring Lake Village
Residential area near the Sebring International Raceway and airport
Maranatha Village
Faith-based master-planned community 2 miles from downtown Sebring
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