Pine Hills

One of Orlando’s biggest employers is Universal Studios, which includes three theme parks and eight resorts. While employees can opt to live in the dense condo complexes just outside of Universal, those looking for something more suburban gravitate to West Oaks, located about 13 miles north of the bustling tourist destination. “A lot of the employees who work for Universal live in the neighborhood,” says Betsy Brenton-Garcia, a Realtor with Keller Williams Winter Park who grew up in the neighborhood. West Oaks is also close to major shopping destinations like The Mall at Millenia, the emerald springs at Wekiwa State Park and the bustling nightlife scene along International Drive. “You’re close to where all the fun is happening,” Breton-Garcia says. “I miss that, being so close to all of it.” West Oaks is primarily a bedroom community, with pockets of walkable residential streets surrounding big lakes and retailers along West Colonial Drive. Architectural styles include ranch-style and contemporary, with smaller homes featuring three bedrooms and larger homes offering four and five bedrooms. They sit on landscaped lawns dotted by trees, shrubs and flowers. Trees line backyards, too, offering privacy and shade. Prices range from $270,000 to $600,000. Buyers looking for a DIY project can find fixer-uppers ranging from $110,00 to $200,000. Condos and townhouses are also available, ranging from $110,000 for a two-bedroom unit to $340,000 for a three-bedroom unit. Regarding crime, West Oaks scores a 6 out of 10 on the CAP Index, two points higher than the national average. While still operating, West Oaks Mall has started to see less activity over the last few years, but residents have easy access to Orlando’s other major shopping destinations. Both The Mall at Millenia, which offers a mix of luxury and traditional mall brands, and the Orlando International Premium Outlets, which offers bargains on popular brands like J. Crew and Michael Kors, are about 13 miles away, and The Florida Mall is about 17 miles away. Closer to home, Good Homes Plaza shopping center offers Publix for groceries and clothing stores like Bealls, Clothes Mentor and Plato’s Closet. Residents have many options for dining out, from the hotspots along International Drive to the familiar favorites at Universal CityWalk like Hard Rock Café and Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville. They can also stay close to home and visit Inay’s Kitchen, a casual spot that serves authentic Filipino dishes; La Hacienda, another laid-back spot that serves Mexican favorites; and Seana's Caribbean Soul Food, which has a large menu that includes vegetarian dishes and options for kids. The area is served by Orange County Public Schools, which rates an A-minus on Niche. Students often start school at Citrus Elementary, then move on to Ocoee Middle School and Ocoee High School. Citrus Elementary and Ocoee Middle School each have a B-minus rating on Niche, and Ocoee High has a B rating. Ocoee High School serves about 2,500 students and has a student-teacher ratio of 25-to-1. Its active marching band has performed at the Cotton Bowl Music Festival, in the Florida Citrus Parade and multiple Macy's Christmas Day Parades at Universal Studios Florida. Many faith-based schools also serve the area for families opting for private education for their kids. For fresh air and exercise, residents head to Parkside Coventry Park. This green space offers a basketball and tennis court where friends challenge each other to games and a playground that buzzes with activity on weekends. The popular Wekiwa State Park is just 13 miles north of the neighborhood and offers swimming in its natural springs. Route 408 is just south of the neighborhood, and offers access to downtown Orlando, about 8 miles away. Route 429 is also conveniently close, for getting around Central Florida. Those taking public transportation can pick up the Lynx bus at stops along Silver Star Road.