Winter Park is Central Florida’s priciest address

A survey shows that Winter Park has the biggest share of the most valuable homes in Central Florida, ahead of Windermere, which has the second-biggest share.

The third annual survey by Potomac Land Co. for the Orlando Sentinel shows that Winter Park surpassed Windermere as the community with the largest share of the 100 most valuable homes in Central Florida, based on appraisals for property tax purposes.

In years past, wealthy newcomers to Central Florida tended to prefer the gated communities of Windermere to the lakefront residences of Winter Park.

But now, “we see more equilibrium between Windermere and Winter Park,” said Bill Sullivan, division president of Potomac Land Co., told the Orlando Sentinel.

Orlando Magic basketball player Vince Carter owns the most valuable home in Central Florida, a 20,000-square-foot residence at  the Isleworth Golf & Country Club in Windermere appraised at $9.92 million.

Joyce Potts, an appraiser in Orlando, said other sports stars including Shaquille O’Neal and Ken Griffey Jr. own homes in Windermere, where proximity to theme parks is one of the attractions.

But the Potomac Land Co. found that the oak-tree-lined brick streets of Winter Park are home to the largest share of the 100 most valuable Central Florida homes.

Real estate developer Jerome Henin owns a Winter Park residence appraised at $4.1 million, making it one of the most valuable homes in Central Florida.

Henin, a native of France, told the Sentinel that his Winter Park address near Palmer Avenue along Lake Osceola is Central Florida’s  best location for strolls to restaurants and chance encounters with friends and acquaintances. “I walk two blocks,” he said, “and I’m eating whatever I want.” [Orlando Sentinel] — Mike Seemuth