The Latest Openings and Upcoming Developments in Windermere, Dr. Phillips, Winter Garden & Clermont

Blog Author: Jen Durben | The Funk Collection, Brokered by eXP Realty

If you've been asking what's new in Southwest Orlando in 2026, this post covers the latest restaurant openings, business arrivals, and development projects across Windermere, Dr. Phillips, Winter Garden, Horizon West, and Clermont.

From new restaurants and coffee shops to beloved re-openings and major mixed-use developments and lifestyle additions, Southwest Orlando continues to evolve in ways that make communities like Windermere, Dr. Phillips, Winter Garden, and Clermont some of the most talked-about cities in Central Florida real estate.

Whether you're already a local…

562 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

What started as a first date at Walt Disney World...

Blog Author: Renee Funk | Co-Founder The Funk Collection, Speaker, Trainer

Getting to know Jeffrey & Renee Funk, Co-Founders of The Funk Collection Real Estate Team, Windermere Residents & Local Business Owners

Who is Jeffrey G. Funk, P.A.?

~Dad of two boys, Husband Who is Jeffrey Funk eXp Realty?
~Orlando Resident since 1999
~27 Year Real Estate Professional
~Team Leader & Coach
~Co-Founder of The Funk Collection
~Is Proud to help buyers & sellers find their love of HOME, in Central Florida.
~Fan of Peloton
~The Negotiator you want in your corner
~Board Member on Edgewood Children's Ranch
~Hyper-Local Data Driven
~Founder of RealtyInOrlando.com (Founded 2006)
~Graduated from Arizona State, Go Sun Devils!
~Has decades of…

209 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

The Real Story Behind Celebrity Homes & Disney Executives Living in Orlando

Blog Author: Renee Funk | Co-Founder The Funk Collection, Speaker, Trainer

A frequently asked question when researching the Orlando area is: Do celebrities live in Windermere? The short answer is yes. Over the years, professional athletes, musicians, and public figures have owned homes in Windermere, Dr. Phillips, and the surrounding communities around the Butler Chain of Lakes.

But that answer only tells part of the story.

To really understand why high-profile residents are drawn to the area, you have to look back several decades to the development of Walt Disney World. Long before celebrity homeowners arrived, the Southwest Orlando area was quietly attracting…

2908 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

What is the Difference between the Town of Windermere vs. The Windermere 34786 Zip Code?

Blog Author: Renee Funk | Co-Founder The Funk Collection, Speaker, Trainer

When considering a move to Windermere, Florida, buyers may not realize there are actually two distinct governance structures within the 34786 ZIP code. The Town of Windermere is an incorporated municipality with its own local town government. The remaining areas within 34786, while still considered Windermere by mailing address, are unincorporated Orange County and governed at the county level.

Both share the same ZIP code. Both share the Windermere name. But they operate differently. Here is what residents and future buyers should understand:

What Is the Town of Windermere?

…

638 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Experience Art In The Heart Of Downtown Windermere

Blog Author: Jen Durben | The Funk Collection, Brokered by eXP Realty

If you're searching for art in Windermere Florida or researching Windermere events in 2026, the Annual Windermere Fine Art Show belongs on your calendar. Celebrating 11 years of art, this yearly event brings the community together for live art, music, and interactive experiences in historic downtown Windermere, with FREE admission.

2026 Windermere Fine Art Show Must-Know Info

This year's event will be held on Saturday, February 28, from 11 am - 5 pm and on Sunday, March 1, from 10 am - 5 pm in downtown Windermere at Town Hall (520 Main Street). Outdoor art vendors will line Main Street along with local food vendors.…

473 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

From Windermere To Ocoee for Doughnuts?

Blog Author: Jen Durben | The Funk Collection, Brokered by eXP Realty

Downtown Ocoee DG DoughnutsNot to discount any of the local bakeries in Windermere, there are some fantstic places to get a sweet treat, but there is a small shop in downtown Ocoee that makes the short drive worth it every time.

DG Doughnuts sits on McKey Street in downtown Ocoee, just 5.5 miles from downtown Windermere. What started in a home kitchen and later inside a gas station in Oakland has grown into a downtown staple.

DG Doughnuts built a following for its variety of specialty yeast doughnuts, known for rotating flavors that shift with the seasons and holidays. As demand grew, the show expanded into a larger space in downtown Ocoee, complete with…

217 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Update On Newly Approved Routes & Included Communities

Blog Author: Jeffrey Funk | Co-Founder, The Funk Collection, Brokered by eXP Realty | ICON Agent

Winter Garden Golf Cart DistrictGetting around Winter Garden by golf cart has just become more accessible with the recent approval by the Winter Garden City Commission to expand the city's Golf Cart District. The expansion extends existing routes south Downtown Winter Garden and spans to the east and north of downtown. As part of the process, speed limits on several roads were lowered in November ahead of the vote, a key factor in allowing additional streets to qualify for golf cart use. The expansion adds several new communities to the district as well, adding more accessibility for area residents.

Winter Garden…

888 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

When Living Near The Magic Turns Fandom Into Something Lived, Not Just Visited.

Blog Author: Renee Funk | Co-Founder The Funk Collection, Speaker, Trainer

Funk Family at Magic KingdomThere is a difference between visiting a place and living inside a lifestyle. For us, living in Windermere means waking up in a town where community still matters, where schools are not just buildings but relationships, and where daily life includes something a little bit magical just down the road.

It also means we get to be fans. Not in the surface-level, tourist way. In the deeply woven, we get to include WDW into the family lifestyle.

Fans of living in Windermere.
Fans of raising the family in Windermere.
Fans of the memories made in and around Southwest Orlando.
Fans of building a…

186 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

What Central Florida Homeowners Need to Know Before the March Deadline

Blog Author: Jeffrey Funk | Co-Founder, The Funk Collection, Brokered by eXP Realty | ICON Agent

Homestead Exemption Florida

If your home in Florida is used as a primary residence, Homestead Exemption can help lower property taxes. It reduces the home's taxable value and limits how much that value can increase each year.

For Central Florida homeowners, the 2026 filing deadline is coming up soon. Applying on time matters. Missing the deadline usually means waiting another year to receive the benefit.

This guide explains how Homestead Exemption works, who qualifies, what has changed for 2026, and where to apply by county.

How the $50,000 Homestead Exemption Works

Homestead Exemption is…

7827 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

The history behind Windermere’s parks, paths, and lake access

Blog Author: Jeffrey Funk | Co-Founder, The Funk Collection, Brokered by eXP Realty | ICON Agent

Windermere, Florida, is often described as a small lake town in Central Florida. That part is true. Much of daily life here quietly revolves around parks, paths, courts, and water access, and that has been the case for a long time

Long before Windermere became a place people actively searched for when planning a move, parks and recreation were already part of the town’s thinking. Not as extras. Not as leftover land. As part of how the town worked.

Parks Showed Up Early, Not After Growth

Fernwood Park was formally designated in 1920, when Windermere was still very small. By the…

233 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post