Conveniently located country living in Sorrento
Sorrento is an unincorporated rural community between Mount Dora and Sanford. The quiet neighborhood is primarily residential with a small-town feel. Local Rena MacPhee, a Realtor with Arrowhead Realty and Investments, says there isn’t a whole lot going, but that’s what residents like about it. “It’s country, lots of acreage out there, but it is in close proximity to shopping and restaurants. Everything is getting built up around it.” Sorrento has also seen some growth in recent years. A new restaurant, Sorrento Country Kitchen, opened in 2023, the same year developers broke ground on a new subdivision, Sorrento Pines. “They’re [starting] to build it up, but the people that live there don’t love that,” MacPhee says. “Still, it’s a more country setting. My friend who lives out there likes it because her yard overlooks acres of land.”
A broad range of prices for a variety of homes on “high and dry land”
While sales data in Sorrento is limited, the neighborhood has a broad range of prices thanks to its wide variety of homes. Prices begin with small vintage bungalows and cottages built in the 1920s and manufactured homes, roughly costing between $80,000 to the low $100,000s with fixer-uppers on the low end. Updated houses built after the 1950s and new construction properties range from around $300,000 to almost $600,000. Large, custom-built properties on multiple acres have been listed for up to $1.2 million. Sorrento is mainly on “high and dry land,” MacPhee says; however, a smattering of lakeside properties are in special flood zones, requiring flood insurance for federal mortgages. Hurricane season in Central Florida ranges from June to November.
An elementary school in the neighborhood, middle and high schools in Mt. Dora
The neighborhood is served by Lake County Schools. Sorrento Elementary earns a B on Niche, right in the neighborhood on Wolf Branch Road. For middle and high school, students head to Mount Dora, just over 5 miles away. Mount Dora Middle is graded B-minus, and Mount Dora High earns a B and ranks fifth on Niche’s list of Lake County’s best public high schools. The high school offers a dual enrollment program with Lake Sumter State College for students interested in law enforcement.
A neighborhood park and nearby sports complex
Sorrento Park is in the heart of the neighborhood, tucked between mature live oaks draped in Spanish moss. The scenic park is at the end of a cul-de-sac, so residents can easily walk over to the basketball court, playgrounds and picnic areas there. More amenities are nearby at East Lake Sports & Community Complex. Just under 80 acres, the manicured recreational space has five ballfields, three multipurpose fields, two basketball courts, a small community library and a concession stand.
Necessities along Sorrento Drive and more options nearby in Mt. Dora
The commercial scene in Sorrento is small, with some essentials on Sorrento Drive, including a family practice, a bank, a gas station, and two dollar stores. A couple of neighborhood bars – Oasis Saloon and JJ’s Lounge and Package – offer a locals-only vibe, completed by pool tables and live music on weekends. As for local cuisine, Restaurante El Paso serves authentic Mexican fare and sells Mexican products at its market. The closest supermarkets are Mt. Plymouth IGA Fresh Market, just a mile down the road, and the Publix in Mount Dora.
Two main roads, plus proximity to emergency care and a major airport
East-west thoroughfares Wolf Branch Road and Sorrento Avenue are the main routes to and from Sorrento. The latter has a ramp onto Wekiva Parkway, about 3 miles east, and an entrance to U.S. Highway 441, roughly 4 miles west. The closest emergency care center is just over 5 miles away in Mount Dora, and the nearest major airport is Orlando Sanford International Airport, around 20 miles west.
Written By
Micaela Willoughby
