REAL ESTATE: Lakefront Living

By Catherine Kerr
| 11:47 a.m. October 15, 2015

West Orange Times & Observer
News

WINTER GARDEN It seems Meritage Homes has a hit on its hands. Since opening pre-sales for its newest Winter Garden community, Twinwaters, in August, the homebuilder already has sold 13 homes averaging $500,000 each. Nine of those were in the first week alone.

That’s $6.5 million in sales in just two months — and without a model home on-site.

Company officials believe the red-hot West Orange real-estate market, coupled with the new community’s idyllic location on the southern shores of Johns Lake off Marsh Road, has contributed to its early success.

“Twinwaters offers the best of both outdoor recreation and city convenience,” said Polly Heard, Orlando marketing manager for Meritage.

There is easy access to fishing and boating on Johns Lake, and for shopping and dining, Winter Garden Village is just three miles down the road.

At buildout, Twinwaters will feature 140 oversized lots (18 lakefront), and homebuyers can choose from 10 different floor plans. The community also will have amenities such as a park, playground and community pool. Every home will have Energy Star appliances and other features to save energy and utility costs.

“Every home we build helps showcase our commitment to providing incredible energy-efficient homes that let you spend your money on better things than utility bills,” Heard said.

Students living in Twinwaters will attend Whispering Oak Elementary, SunRidge Middle and West Orange High schools.

Meritage has broken ground on a single-story Palermo model home in Twinwaters that is expected to be furnished and open for viewing by the end of November. Two additional models will be built later in the fall.

Homes in Twinwaters are available for pre-sale at John’s Lake Pointe, 564 Egret Place, Winter Garden. Hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday and Monday.

Twinwaters is Meritage’s seventh project in West Orange County. The company also is offering homes in Enclave at John’s Lake Pointe (Winter Garden), Verde Park (Winter Garden), Watermark (Horizon West) Windermere Landing (Horizon West), Windermere Trails (Horizon West) and Parkside (Dr. Phillips).