The short answer: Clermont is one of the few places in Florida with real rolling hills, it has lakes, and it is growing fast. New construction with builder incentives, new shopping and commercial development, and downtown Orlando roughly 30 minutes away. What to watch for is the same thing as everywhere else here: HOA and CDD fees, and how your commute actually looks at your hours.
Where Clermont Is
Clermont sits in Lake County, directly west of Orlando and just south of Lake Apopka. Winter Garden is its neighbor to the east, and it is northwest of St. Cloud.
Clermont and Winter Garden have a lot in common: newer communities, farmers markets, and an outdoor lifestyle. They are genuinely different towns, but buyers looking at one should usually look at the other. See our guide: Buying a Home in Winter Garden.
Yes, Actual Hills
You read that right. Clermont has rolling hills, which is close to unheard of in Florida.
It sounds like a small thing until you drive it. For buyers coming from out of state who assumed all of Florida is flat, it is often the thing that sells them on the area. Combine it with the lakes and you get an outdoor lifestyle that does not look like the rest of the state.
Who Buys in Clermont
Two groups, mostly.
Central Floridians moving up. People already in the area who want a newer home in a newer community with more space.
Out-of-state families. They come for the hills, the sunshine, the new shopping and amenities, and the sense of a town that is being built rather than one that is finished.
Pricing generally starts around $375,000 and climbs from there depending on the community, the home, and whether you want lake access. Pricing moves, so confirm current numbers for the specific neighborhood.
Follow the Dirt
Here is how I look at a growing market. You don't follow the money. You follow the dirt.
Where dirt is being moved and concrete is being poured, that is where the growth is going. Clermont has a lot of both right now: new home construction, new commercial development, shopping, sports complexes, and entertainment.
There is also a national training center in the area that draws elite and Olympic-level athletes, which brings its own activity and attention to the region.
For a buyer, that growth cuts two ways. More amenities, more services, and an area still building out. It also means more traffic and more construction while it happens. That is the trade.
Where to Look Within Clermont
West of Highway 27. This is the side to look at if lake access matters to you. Established Clermont, closer to the water.
East of Highway 27. This is where the newer builder communities are concentrated. If you want new construction with builder incentives, start here.
Buying new? Read this first: New Construction vs. Resale in Central Florida. Builder incentives can be worth a lot, and they usually come with conditions.
HOA and CDD Fees
Clermont has both, particularly in the newer developments. Two homes at the same list price can have very different monthly payments once the fees are included.
Always ask for the yearly CDD amount, when the debt portion ends, the HOA fee, and what the HOA rules allow. See our guide: HOA vs. CDD Fees in Central Florida.
The Commute
Downtown Orlando is roughly 30 minutes from much of Clermont. That number is a starting point, not a promise. With this much growth, roads in the area are under construction and traffic patterns change.
Drive your actual route at the hour you would actually drive it before you commit to a neighborhood.
Schools
Clermont is in Lake County, so school zoning runs through Lake County Schools rather than Orange or Osceola. Zones change as the area grows, so confirm the zone for the exact address you are considering.
Check the Lake County Schools website for current zoning and the Florida Department of Education for school grades. Those are the official sources.
What to Check Before You Buy in Clermont
- The yearly CDD amount and when the debt portion ends
- The HOA fee and what the rules allow
- Your real commute, driven at your real commute time
- What is approved to be built near the home
- Lake access rights if that is why you are buying there
- The full monthly payment: principal, interest, taxes, insurance, HOA, and CDD
The Bottom Line
Clermont gives you something most of Florida cannot: hills, lakes, and a town in the middle of real growth, with Orlando close enough to work in. The things to get right are the fees and the commute, and both are knowable before you make an offer.
Looking at a home in Clermont? Text me the address at (321) 320-7129. I will tell you the fees, what is being built nearby, and what your real payment looks like.
Moving from out of state? Start here: Moving to Central Florida.
Not sure where to start? Take my 90-second quiz. No credit pull. Not a loan application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Clermont, Florida?
Clermont is in Lake County, directly west of Orlando and south of Lake Apopka. Winter Garden is its neighbor to the east, and it sits northwest of St. Cloud. Downtown Orlando is roughly 30 minutes away depending on traffic.
Does Clermont really have hills?
Yes. Clermont is one of the few places in Florida with genuine rolling hills, and it is a large part of why buyers coming from out of state are drawn to it.
Do homes in Clermont have HOA and CDD fees?
Many do, particularly in the newer developments. Check both for any specific home, because two homes at the same price can have very different monthly payments.
How much do homes cost in Clermont?
Pricing in the Clermont area generally starts around $375,000 and goes up from there depending on the community, the home, and whether you want lake access. Confirm current pricing for the specific neighborhood.
Is Clermont a good place to buy right now?
It is one of the faster growing parts of Central Florida, with heavy new home construction, new shopping and commercial development, and sports and entertainment facilities. That growth is visible on the ground, which is usually a good sign for an area, though it also means more traffic and construction.
Cliff Clover, REALTOR | The Clover Group at eXp Realty | (321) 320-7129 | Serving Central Florida since 2001, with 1,800+ transactions.
This page is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Confirm fees, zoning, school zones, and flood zone for any specific property.