The hard-working, family-oriented community of Sky Lake
The small community of Sky Lake, located about 7 miles south of downtown Orlando, features single-family homes, condos and plenty of shops and restaurants. Realtor Marcia Castro with Castro Realty Group, who grew up in the community and now buys and renovates homes there, says its lack of an HOA attracts buyers, allowing them to renovate as they please and do things like keep work vehicles on their properties. “It’s very much a working-class neighborhood,” she says. “People here work hard, and they like to take care of their homes. They’re very family oriented. The main things that they like to do is getting together, having family over on the weekend, and doing barbecues. That’s something I have noticed with all of my tenants. It’s very much an area where people like to enjoy their homes.”
Single-family homes and condos with no HOA
Single-family homes and condos are available in Sky Lake. Single-family homes feature ranch-style architecture and typically range in price from $250,000 to $400,000. Most condos sell for between $40,000 and $260,000. Castro says the homes are mostly solid block construction, and since it’s an older neighborhood, the lots are larger than many of those available today.
“You can’t really over-improve them,” she says. “Anything that you want to do - if you want to change out all the cabinets - the value’s there for you to do that. Those kinds of things will definitely get the money back for you, and that’s not true everywhere.” She even adds the insider tip: “Back when these homes were built in the ‘60s and ’70s, they put in terrazzo flooring,” she says. “Over time, people have covered them with carpet, laminate and LVP, but sometimes you can still take it up, and as long as they didn’t damage it, you can still bust it up and shine it, and it really looks nice.”
Students can attend Orange County Public Schools
Orange County Public Schools gets a B-plus from Niche. Lancaster Elementary receives a C, Judson B. Walker Middle School gets a C-plus, and Oak Ridge High School gets a B-minus. Oak Ridge High School students can take dual enrollment classes through Orange Technical College, Valencia College and Barry University. Sky Lake is also home to Chancery High School, a charter school with self-paced coursework and a D-plus grade from Niche.
Community parks, gyms and a bowling alley
One mile away, Lake Ellenor Community Park is a 20-acre outdoor space with a multipurpose field and lake views. Less than 2 miles away, Padgett Park is a simple 3-acre space with benches. Fitness opportunities are available in the community at the South Orlando YMCA Family Center and Power Strength Gym, a bodybuilding gym just a mile outside Sky Lake. For indoor fun, Sky Lake is home to AMF Sky Lanes, a family-friendly bowling alley.
Retail and restaurants in the community, plus The Florida Mall
Skyview Plaza is home to retailers like Marshalls, Ross Dress for Less and Elegant Beauty Supplies, as well as Presidente Supermarket for groceries. Other grocery stores in Sky Lake include Plaza Tropical Supermarket, Home of Spices and ALDI. Sky Lake features many restaurants, including El Palacio Buffet, a Latin American and Chinese buffet, and Bombay Street Kitchen, which serves street food dishes from all over India. Less than two miles away, The Florida Mall is Central Florida’s largest shopping center, complete with major retailers, a food court and entertainment options like Crayola Experience, Build-A-Bear Workshop and American Girl.
Getting around Orlando
U.S. Route 441 and Florida State Road 482 border Sky Lake, connecting it to the rest of the Orlando area. The LYNX bus stops in the community and offers rides around Orlando. Nearby medical centers include Select Specialty Hospital Orlando South, a critical illness recovery facility, and HCA Florida Millenia Emergency, an emergency room. When residents want to travel out of town, the Orlando International Airport is just 6 miles away.
