Space and New Development Draw Buyers to Central Florida's Overlooked Markets

Written by:

Alejandra Rodriguez

Date:

19 Jun 2026

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Tucked northwest of Orlando, Apopka has long been passed over in favor of its more prominent neighbors. But a combination of available land, relative affordability, and a wave of incoming development is drawing attention to what may be one of Central Florida’s most underrated housing markets. With a $20 million golf course redevelopment breaking ground and buyers arriving from across the region in search of more space for less money, the city’s trajectory is becoming harder to ignore.

Michelle Chase, Team Leader at The Michelle Chase Team with Home Wise Realty Group, has been working in this market for over a decade. As the top listing agent in Apopka for 11 consecutive years on both the listing and selling sides, she has a read on the local market that carries weight. Right now, her outlook is notably optimistic.

A Market Built on Space

Apopka’s most consistent selling point is straightforward: land. Buyers can still find third-to-half-acre lots relatively easily – a rarity in Central Florida’s increasingly dense suburban landscape. Even new construction in the area offers larger yards than comparable developments in nearby cities.

That distinction matters in a market where buyers increasingly prioritize outdoor space, home offices, and room to spread out. Chase notes that buyers are arriving from Winter Garden, Windermere, Tampa, and Miami, often motivated by the same calculation: more house and more land for the money.

“Since COVID happened, people want to upsize because they’re working from home more,” she says. “You could get more house and yard for the money here still. In 10 years, that’s probably going to be a different story.”

That window, in her view, remains open but is narrowing as development accelerates.

The Golf Course Effect

The most significant near-term development is the reopening of a 320-acre championship golf course within the Rock Springs Ridge community. After an extended community effort, the Rock Springs Ridge HOA acquired the former course and reached an agreement with Tamarack Golf Management to redevelop it into a 27-hole championship facility. Groundbreaking is expected within weeks, with an estimated investment of nearly $20 million.

When the course was previously open, it ranked fifth statewide – just behind Bay Hill. Chase expects the reopening to produce a meaningful lift in property values, particularly within Rock Springs Ridge, and to attract golf-oriented buyers who have not yet looked seriously at the area.

“This course is going to put Apopka on the map,” Chase says. “We’re going to have regional prominence.”

More broadly, she sees the development as reinforcing Apopka’s identity as an outdoor recreation destination, adding a high-profile amenity to a city already known for its parks and trail systems.

Buyer Behavior in Mid-2026

Buyers are engaging seriously with the market but negotiating more cautiously – requesting closing cost assistance and submitting lower initial offers more often than a year ago. Chase describes a market where buyers have more choices than a year ago and are more likely to request closing cost assistance or submit lower initial offers. Still, well-priced, well-presented homes continue to move quickly.

“The good houses are still selling for top dollar,” she says. “Pool homes in Florida are still selling in under two weeks. If a house is appropriately priced, they’re going quickly, and they’re still getting multiple offers.”

Interest rates, while still elevated, appear to have lost some of their deterrent effect. Chase observes that buyers have adjusted to rates in the six to six-and-a-half percent range after several years of elevated borrowing costs.

Where the market has visibly softened, she attributes the slowdown less to demand and more to poor pricing discipline. Homes with aging roofs, deferred maintenance, or list prices anchored to 2022 peak conditions are sitting. “You’ve got an industry where a seller can price a house $50,000 over what an agent recommends, and maybe the agent will take that listing,” she says. “That’s probably the downside of real estate.”

Pricing as a Practice

Chase’s approach to pricing is deliberate and rarely results in reductions. She walks sellers through comparable sales in detail, examining not just the numbers but why each property sold or failed to sell. If a seller insists on listing significantly above her recommendation, she declines the listing.

“My goal is to make comps,” she explains. “How is the market going to get better if somebody doesn’t make houses worth more?”

That mindset extends to appraisal disputes. She describes successfully challenging two appraisals this year through the reconsideration-of-value process, both of which resulted in upward adjustments – outcomes she attributes directly to deep local expertise. It is also why she declines buyer inquiries for properties outside her core market. “If a buyer calls me and they want me to help them buy a house an hour away, I’m declining. I cannot do the best job for them,” she says. “Knowing those pockets matters.”

Staging as a Sales Tool

Chase’s listing approach includes hands-on staging for every property, drawing on a background in corporate retail management within the home decor sector. She brings in her own items and works alongside her sister on larger projects, offering the service at no additional charge.

The results show up in her numbers. Across more than 400 transactions over a decade, her average days on market sit at approximately 19 days, spanning both fast and slow cycles.

“I’m 100% sure that staging a house, even if it’s simple decluttering, makes a difference,” she says. “A lot of people can’t decorate, and when you see pictures, you see what you see. If you see unattractive furniture or a cluttered house, people can’t see the features.”

She recalls one listing where a buyer contacted her before an open house after viewing staged photos online, flew in to confirm the property matched, and moved immediately to secure it.

What Outsiders Get Wrong

For buyers unfamiliar with Apopka, Chase acknowledges a common perception gap. The city lacks the retail density and national chain restaurants associated with larger Orlando suburbs, which can read as a drawback.

Apopka is the second-largest city in Central Florida by land area, covering roughly 35 square miles. Its restaurant scene skews toward independent operators, including a steakhouse recently featured on the Travel Channel. Its parks system includes a 180-acre family recreation complex with free weekend concerts, and natural springs add to a quality-of-life profile that distinguishes it from cookie-cutter suburbs.

“If you want quality of life, we have it,” she says. “We just don’t have it as big cities have. But it’s coming.”

The Investment Case

For investors considering where to deploy capital in the Orlando metro, the 32712 zip code – anchored by the Kelly Park corridor – stands out as one of the more active growth areas in the city. New construction continues to offer larger lots than comparable developments elsewhere in the region. With the golf course redevelopment adding a major amenity anchor, Chase sees a near-term window for buyers and investors that may not remain open as the area gains wider recognition.

For a city that has spent years building quietly in the background, the combination of space, affordability, and new investment suggests a market entering a more visible phase – one where early movers may benefit most.

About the Expert: Michelle Chase is a Team Leader at The Michelle Chase Team with Home Wise Realty Group, serving the Apopka market in Central Florida for over a decade. She has been the top listing agent in Apopka for 11 consecutive years on both the listing and selling sides.

This article is based on information provided by the expert source cited above. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or real estate advice. Readers should conduct their own research and consult qualified professionals before making any real estate or financial decisions.