Identity
Tavares markets itself as America's Seaplane City, and the waterfront reflects a deliberate public investment: a splash park, boardwalk, marina and restaurants where a courthouse town used to end at the water.
Lake County
Tavares
Greater OrlandoFlorida
The Lake County seat on Lake Dora, which built its identity around a seaplane base and a redeveloped waterfront.
Talk to DaniLocation and access
Lake County on the Harris Chain, between Mount Dora and Leesburg on US-441.
Everyday life
Day to day, this is what you can expect: waterfront-centred, with county offices and everyday retail along the highway.
- Wooton Park and the seaplane base.
- The lakefront boardwalk and marina.
- Access to the full Harris Chain of Lakes.
Housing
- Established homes near the centre.
- Newer and active-adult communities on the edges.
- Waterfront and canal properties.
New construction
steady on the outskirts, with the waterfront developing through public and mixed-use projects.
Getting around
car-based, with US-441 and SR-19 as the main routes.
The area
A seaplane-base lakefront linking the Harris Chain to a small-town main street.
Real life here
What an ordinary week looks like.
The redeveloped waterfront on Lake Dora sets the tone: a splash park, boardwalk and marina where the county seat's business ends at the water, with seaplanes taking off and landing as part of the everyday view. County offices and highway retail cover the rest of the routine.
Routines that fit
- Wanting a redeveloped, event-driven waterfront within walking distance.
- Boating on the full Harris Chain of Lakes rather than a single lake.
- Working with or near the county government offices based in Tavares.
Outdoors and leisure
- Wooton Park and the seaplane base on Lake Dora.
- The lakefront boardwalk, splash park and marina downtown.
- Boat access to the full Harris Chain of Lakes, including the Dora Canal.
Eating and shopping
The waterfront district carries most of the restaurants, built around the marina and boardwalk; everyday retail and chain dining run along US-441 through the rest of the city.
County government offices, banks, pharmacies and clinics are based in and around downtown, with hospitals in nearby Leesburg and Mount Dora.
Seasons
Seaplane operations and waterfront events bring noise and activity that vary by season and by proximity to the water; boating season runs spring through early fall.
Around here
Schools nearby
Real institutions inside this area's radius, ordered by distance. No ratings: assignment depends on the exact address, and a star average does not measure a school.
Source: Google Places. Names, addresses, photos and ratings are published by Google and can change.
Around here
Restaurants around
Real addresses nearby, with public Google ratings where they exist.
BTW - BURGERS TACOS WAFFLES
A seasonal menu of American snacks served up in a casual eatery with hip decor & outdoor seats.
115 E Main St, Tavares, FL 32778, USA
4.5 · 1079 reviews$$
WebsiteLuigi's | Italian Restaurant
Casual Italian eatery serving a traditional menu in an airy simple space with booths & tables.
2814 David Walker Dr, Eustis, FL 32726, USA
4.5 · 983 reviews$$
WebsiteRed Crab - Juicy Seafood (Eustis)
Seafood restaurant
2884 David Walker Dr, Eustis, FL 32726, USA
4.5 · 649 reviews$$
WebsiteTiki West Raw Bar and Grill
Upbeat cafe with a cozy patio offering comfort eats, a raw bar & craft beers in a colorful setting.
118 W Ruby St, Tavares, FL 32778, USA
4.4 · 1831 reviews$$
WebsiteOakwood Smokehouse & Grill
Local BBQ chain serving ribs, steakburgers, seafood & Southern sides in a relaxed atmosphere.
2911 David Walker Dr, Eustis, FL 32726, USA
4.6 · 2061 reviews
WebsiteHurricane Dockside Grill-Tavares
Tropical-themed chain offering spiced-to-order wings with an array of sauces, pub grub & a full bar.
3351 W Burleigh Blvd, Tavares, FL 32778, USA
4.3 · 4005 reviews$$
WebsiteFish Camp Lake Eustis
Seafood, sandwiches & other American fare, offered with full bar in a casual, lakefront space.
901 Lakeshore Blvd, Tavares, FL 32778, USA
4.3 · 2918 reviews$$
WebsiteKalua Beach Bar
Lakeside bar & American eatery with a chill vibe, live music & patio tables overlooking the water.
181 S Joanna Ave, Tavares, FL 32778, USA
4.2 · 1484 reviews$$
WebsiteSource: Google Places. Names, addresses, photos and ratings are published by Google and can change.
Around here
Parks and green space
Public parks inside this area's radius.
Wooton Park
Lakeside park featuring a play structure, a seaplane-themed splash pad (fee) & picnic areas.
100 E Ruby St, Tavares, FL 32778, USA
WebsiteSource: Google Places. Names, addresses, photos and ratings are published by Google and can change.
Around here
Things to do here
Cinema, bowling, activities for the children, culture and sport around here, without repeating the parks. I list what actually exists, with the public Google rating where there is one.
Jones Brothers Air & Seaplane Adventures
Tourist attraction
210 E Ruby St, Tavares, FL 32778, USA
4.9 · 329 reviews
WebsiteDora Queen
Event venue
375 S. Sinclair Avenue City Of Tavares Marina, 181 S Joanna Ave, Tavares, FL 32778, USA
4.9 · 291 reviews
WebsiteGolden Triangle YMCA Family Center
Gym
1465 David Walker Dr, Tavares, FL 32778, USA
4.5 · 510 reviews
WebsiteLake County Museum of Art
Local art museum & community center offering a range of works & exhibits, plus educational classes.
213 W Ruby St, Tavares, FL 32778, USA
4.6 · 48 reviews
WebsiteSource: Google Places. Names, addresses, photos and ratings are published by Google and can change.
Real indicators
Market in Lake County, with sources.
These numbers are published per county, not per neighbourhood or community. They show the direction of the market around this area, they do not estimate the price of a specific home.
Median listing price (county)
The midpoint asking price of homes listed across the whole county that month. It is what sellers ask, not what buyers pay, and a county is far larger than a single community, a specific neighbourhood can sit well above or below it.
$400,000
median asking price (USD)
−1.3% vs. a year earlier
August 2026 · monthly series
Median listing price (county): from $367,906 in August 2021 to $400,000 in August 2026, higher over the period. Low of $367,906 in August 2021 and high of $449,400 in June 2022. 61 real observations.
August 2021, August 2026 · 61 observations
Realtor.com via FRED · St. Louis FedView data table
Showing 1 in every 2 real observations from the selected period.
| Period | Median listing price |
|---|---|
| August 2021 | $367,906 |
| October 2021 | $380,430 |
| December 2021 | $382,665 |
| February 2022 | $382,823 |
| April 2022 | $409,500 |
| June 2022 | $449,400 |
| August 2022 | $419,950 |
| October 2022 | $409,000 |
| December 2022 | $399,900 |
| February 2023 | $399,950 |
| April 2023 | $400,000 |
| June 2023 | $418,825 |
| August 2023 | $429,175 |
| October 2023 | $412,400 |
| December 2023 | $411,000 |
| February 2024 | $414,950 |
| April 2024 | $425,000 |
| June 2024 | $425,000 |
| August 2024 | $415,683 |
| October 2024 | $412,475 |
| December 2024 | $403,368 |
| February 2025 | $405,000 |
| April 2025 | $419,450 |
| June 2025 | $415,000 |
| August 2025 | $405,450 |
| October 2025 | $400,000 |
| December 2025 | $399,000 |
| February 2026 | $399,000 |
| April 2026 | $399,923 |
| June 2026 | $402,195 |
| August 2026 | $400,000 |
Realtor.com via FRED · St. Louis Fed · Housing Inventory: Median Listing Price in Lake County, FL
Median listing price per square foot (county)
Asking price divided by interior area, at the county midpoint. It travels better between areas than a total price because it partly removes house size from the comparison, but it still ignores lot, age, finish level and view.
$213
USD per square foot
−0.9% vs. a year earlier
August 2026 · monthly series
Median listing price per square foot (county): from $183 in August 2021 to $213 in August 2026, higher over the period. Low of $183 in August 2021 and high of $220 in May 2022. 61 real observations.
August 2021, August 2026 · 61 observations
Realtor.com via FRED · St. Louis FedView data table
Showing 1 in every 2 real observations from the selected period.
| Period | Price per sq ft |
|---|---|
| August 2021 | $183 |
| October 2021 | $189 |
| December 2021 | $194 |
| February 2022 | $199 |
| April 2022 | $215 |
| June 2022 | $220 |
| August 2022 | $214 |
| October 2022 | $212 |
| December 2022 | $209 |
| February 2023 | $208 |
| April 2023 | $207 |
| June 2023 | $216 |
| August 2023 | $218 |
| October 2023 | $219 |
| December 2023 | $218 |
| February 2024 | $218 |
| April 2024 | $219 |
| June 2024 | $219 |
| August 2024 | $219 |
| October 2024 | $218 |
| December 2024 | $217 |
| February 2025 | $216 |
| April 2025 | $217 |
| June 2025 | $216 |
| August 2025 | $215 |
| October 2025 | $214 |
| December 2025 | $213 |
| February 2026 | $213 |
| April 2026 | $211 |
| June 2026 | $212 |
| August 2026 | $213 |
Realtor.com via FRED · St. Louis Fed · Housing Inventory: Median Listing Price per Square Feet in Lake County, FL
Active listings (county)
How many homes were actively listed for sale in the county during the month: a snapshot of available supply. It says nothing about how many sold and excludes homes already under contract.
2,520
active listings
+1.8% vs. a year earlier
August 2026 · monthly series
Active listings (county): from 716 in August 2021 to 2,520 in August 2026, higher over the period. Low of 480 in March 2022 and high of 2,520 in August 2026. 61 real observations.
August 2021, August 2026 · 61 observations
Realtor.com via FRED · St. Louis FedView data table
Showing 1 in every 2 real observations from the selected period.
| Period | Active listings |
|---|---|
| August 2021 | 716 |
| October 2021 | 709 |
| December 2021 | 637 |
| February 2022 | 500 |
| April 2022 | 518 |
| June 2022 | 845 |
| August 2022 | 1,220 |
| October 2022 | 1,277 |
| December 2022 | 1,365 |
| February 2023 | 1,231 |
| April 2023 | 1,177 |
| June 2023 | 1,089 |
| August 2023 | 1,209 |
| October 2023 | 1,397 |
| December 2023 | 1,525 |
| February 2024 | 1,527 |
| April 2024 | 1,593 |
| June 2024 | 1,824 |
| August 2024 | 1,972 |
| October 2024 | 2,169 |
| December 2024 | 2,195 |
| February 2025 | 2,278 |
| April 2025 | 2,401 |
| June 2025 | 2,480 |
| August 2025 | 2,475 |
| October 2025 | 2,427 |
| December 2025 | 2,324 |
| February 2026 | 2,394 |
| April 2026 | 2,459 |
| June 2026 | 2,498 |
| August 2026 | 2,520 |
Realtor.com via FRED · St. Louis Fed · Housing Inventory: Active Listing Count in Lake County, FL
New listings (county)
Homes that entered the county market for the first time that month. It measures how much new supply arrived, which is what usually changes negotiating room from one season to the next.
720
new listings in the month
−2.2% vs. a year earlier
August 2026 · monthly series
New listings (county): from 800 in August 2021 to 720 in August 2026, lower over the period. Low of 472 in December 2022 and high of 918 in April 2025. 61 real observations.
August 2021, August 2026 · 61 observations
Realtor.com via FRED · St. Louis FedView data table
Showing 1 in every 2 real observations from the selected period.
| Period | New listings |
|---|---|
| August 2021 | 800 |
| October 2021 | 688 |
| December 2021 | 596 |
| February 2022 | 724 |
| April 2022 | 840 |
| June 2022 | 870 |
| August 2022 | 744 |
| October 2022 | 568 |
| December 2022 | 472 |
| February 2023 | 626 |
| April 2023 | 636 |
| June 2023 | 648 |
| August 2023 | 686 |
| October 2023 | 576 |
| December 2023 | 516 |
| February 2024 | 630 |
| April 2024 | 774 |
| June 2024 | 780 |
| August 2024 | 736 |
| October 2024 | 726 |
| December 2024 | 526 |
| February 2025 | 830 |
| April 2025 | 918 |
| June 2025 | 742 |
| August 2025 | 736 |
| October 2025 | 676 |
| December 2025 | 518 |
| February 2026 | 822 |
| April 2026 | 738 |
| June 2026 | 812 |
| August 2026 | 720 |
Realtor.com via FRED · St. Louis Fed · Housing Inventory: New Listing Count in Lake County, FL
Median days on market (county)
The midpoint of how long county listings stayed on the market that month: half were listed for less, half for more. It measures pace, not price.
73
days on market
−5.2% vs. a year earlier
August 2026 · monthly series
Median days on market (county): from 32 in August 2021 to 73 in August 2026, higher over the period. Low of 28 in May 2022 and high of 82 in January 2026. 61 real observations.
August 2021, August 2026 · 61 observations
Realtor.com via FRED · St. Louis FedView data table
Showing 1 in every 2 real observations from the selected period.
| Period | Days on market |
|---|---|
| August 2021 | 32 |
| October 2021 | 40 |
| December 2021 | 52 |
| February 2022 | 38 |
| April 2022 | 31 |
| June 2022 | 30 |
| August 2022 | 43 |
| October 2022 | 56 |
| December 2022 | 67 |
| February 2023 | 64 |
| April 2023 | 51 |
| June 2023 | 50 |
| August 2023 | 48 |
| October 2023 | 52 |
| December 2023 | 59 |
| February 2024 | 66 |
| April 2024 | 51 |
| June 2024 | 52 |
| August 2024 | 61 |
| October 2024 | 64 |
| December 2024 | 79 |
| February 2025 | 74 |
| April 2025 | 59 |
| June 2025 | 71 |
| August 2025 | 77 |
| October 2025 | 79 |
| December 2025 | 81 |
| February 2026 | 77 |
| April 2026 | 68 |
| June 2026 | 72 |
| August 2026 | 73 |
Realtor.com via FRED · St. Louis Fed · Housing Inventory: Median Days on Market in Lake County, FL
Metro and statewide context
Median listing price
$415,000
median asking price (USD)
−1.9% vs. a year earlier
August 2026 · monthly series
Florida house price index
825.7
index · base 1980:Q1 = 100
+1.4% vs. a year earlier
Q2 2026 · quarterly series
30-year fixed mortgage rate
6.76%
annual rate
+0.41 percentage points vs. a year earlier
Week ending Sep 10, 2026 · weekly average
Honest trade-offs
What you accept when you choose this area.
Trade-offs
- Seaplane and event activity means noise near the waterfront.
- Distance from Orlando is significant for daily commuting.
- Flood and elevation vary along the shoreline.
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