At a glance
| Typical home value | $682,800 (−0.2% in a year, Zillow, Aug 2026) |
|---|---|
| County | Lake County |
| Population | 1,655 (2020 census); town site says about 1,800 |
| Incorporated | 18 May 1925 |
| Area | About 1.9 square miles |
| Zillow typical value | $682,850 (August 2026, down 0.2%) |
| ZIP | 34756 |
Montverde at a glance
Montverde was incorporated on 18 May 1925 and covers about 1.9 square miles on the southwest shore of Lake Apopka, roughly 24 miles northwest of Orlando. Its name comes from the Spanish for green mountain, after the rolling hills. Montverde Academy, a private preparatory school that opened in 1912, is a central feature of the town. The town recently marked its 100th anniversary.
The earliest record of American settlement dates from 1865, when the area was called West Lake Apopka. The town is about 18 miles south of Tavares, the Lake County seat, and uses ZIP 34756.
Is Montverde a good place to live?
For buyers who want a small town with larger lots, lake and golf properties and a quiet setting, it can be. Montverde has about 1,800 residents by the town's own count, its own water and sewer utility and library, and a private academy at its center. The trade-offs are higher prices, fewer shops and a longer drive for errands and most jobs.
Small-town government
The Town of Montverde has its own council, a Planning and Zoning Board and a permitted land use map. Council meetings are open to the public, and the town posts agendas, ordinances and budget reports online. With so few residents, a single land-use decision can change a neighborhood, so read recent agendas.
Price level
Zillow's typical value of $682,850 in August 2026 was about $254,000 above Clermont's, which reflects the mix of lake, golf and estate properties.
Moving in
The town website has a new-resident page and lets you set up or stop water service, pay the water bill, look up your garbage day and apply for permits through an online portal. Start water service before closing so the account is in your name on move-in day.
Homes and prices
Zillow's typical home value for Montverde was $682,850 in August 2026, down 0.2% on the year. At a 7.03% rate with 20% down, principal and interest on that value is about $3,645 a month, before tax, insurance and fees. Because Montverde is small, a few large sales can move the average, so use closed sales of similar homes and lots rather than the town figure.
| Down payment | Loan amount | Principal and interest at 7.03% |
|---|---|---|
| 10% | $614,565 | About $4,101 a month |
| 20% | $546,280 | About $3,645 a month |
Neighborhoods and property types
Bella Collina
Bella Collina, a gated community of about 1,900 acres with a Nick Faldo-designed golf course, uses Montverde addresses. It is served by the Bella Collina CDD, whose FY2027 budget sets single-family assessments of $225 for operations plus bond debt assessments of $1,482 and $903 where they apply. See our Bella Collina guide. The club offers a spa, fitness center, tennis and pickleball, and two clubhouse restaurants, and sells golf and sports memberships that non-residents can also buy.
Siena condos at Bella Collina
Bella Collina's Siena building has two- and three-bedroom lakefront condos, which the community also books as vacation rentals. Condo owners pay CDD assessments of $84 for operations plus $339 in Series 2024 debt in FY2027. See our Clermont condo guide.
Homes on town streets
Homes inside town limits are served by the Town of Montverde's water, sewer and stormwater utility, pay town millage and follow town zoning. The town posts an irrigation schedule and annual water quality reports.
Lake Apopka and county parcels
Some Montverde-address homes are outside town limits in unincorporated Lake County, so ask whether a home is on town water and sewer or a private well and septic system, and budget for septic inspection if needed. Lakefront homes add shoreline, dock and flood-zone questions covered below.
Living in Montverde
The Town of Montverde runs water, sewer and stormwater service, with online bill pay, plus garbage and recycling collection. It maintains parks, the Helen Lehmann Library and a municipal cemetery, and its Planning and Zoning Board oversees land use. Town hall is at 17404 Sixth Street. Ask whether a specific home is on town water and sewer or a private well and septic system.
The town's current utility projects include lead service line replacement, a sewer project and a drinking water facilities plan. Ask whether a home's street is affected and whether any connection or project charges apply.
Montverde Academy, a private preparatory school that opened in 1912, is the town's best-known institution. Public school students are served by Lake County Schools; confirm zoning for the exact address.
Buying near Lake Apopka
Lake Apopka shaped the area's history. Its fishing industry drew visitors from the 1920s but collapsed by the 1960s because of heavy pollution, according to the history of neighboring Winter Garden. If a home fronts the lake, ask about current water conditions, shoreline rules, dock permits and the FEMA flood zone, and check how the lake is used today before you pay a premium for frontage.
Costs and taxes
Homes inside town limits pay Montverde's millage on top of Lake County and school rates. Homes in Bella Collina add CDD assessments and HOA dues. Apply for the Florida homestead exemption, worth up to $50,000 in taxable value, if the home will be your permanent residence. See our Lake County property tax guide.
If you sell later, documentary stamp tax on the deed is $0.70 per $100, or about $4,780 on the typical Montverde value. Lake County's sales tax is 7%.
Getting to Clermont and Orlando
Montverde is north of Clermont, on the Lake Apopka side of south Lake County. We do not publish drive times because they change with traffic. Test your commute at rush hour, especially if you work in Orlando.
Montverde is about 24 miles northwest of Orlando. Time the trips you make every week, such as groceries, pharmacy and doctors, not just the work commute.
Pros and cons of living in Montverde
Pro: space and setting
Rolling hills, Lake Apopka and larger lots are the main draw, and Bella Collina adds a gated golf option.
Pro: town services
Town water and sewer, garbage and recycling, a public library and parks, with most services handled online.
Con: price
The typical value of $682,850 is well above Clermont's $428,604.
Con: distance
Fewer shops and services in town, and a longer drive to Orlando-area jobs.
What to check before you buy
- Town or county jurisdiction on the Lake County Property Appraiser site.
- Water and sewer source: town utility, CDD utility, or well and septic.
- Lake Apopka frontage, access and FEMA flood zone for lakeside homes.
- Town zoning and permitted uses if you plan to build or add structures.
- Insurance quotes for the exact address.
Compare prices with nearby areas in our Clermont ZIP code guide and Winter Garden ZIP guide.
Common questions
Where is Montverde, FL?+
Montverde is a town in Lake County on the southwest shore of Lake Apopka, north of Clermont and about 24 miles northwest of Orlando. It was incorporated on 18 May 1925, covers about 1.9 square miles and uses ZIP code 34756.
Why are homes in Montverde expensive?+
Zillow's typical home value for Montverde was $682,850 in August 2026, well above Clermont's $428,604. The town is small, so its figure reflects a high share of larger lots, lake properties and homes in the gated Bella Collina golf community. Compare similar homes rather than relying on the town average.
Does Montverde have town water and sewer?+
The Town of Montverde operates water, sewer and stormwater services and offers online bill pay, according to its website. Not every property in the area is necessarily connected, and Bella Collina has its own CDD-run utility, so confirm the water and sewer source for the specific home.
Is Bella Collina in Montverde?+
Bella Collina uses Montverde addresses, including its club at 15920 County Road 455, Montverde 34756. Check the Lake County Property Appraiser record for a specific home to confirm whether it is inside town limits or in unincorporated Lake County, which affects millage.
Is Montverde, FL a good place to live?+
It suits buyers who want a small town with larger lots, lake and golf properties and town water and sewer, and who accept higher prices and a longer drive for errands and work. Zillow's typical value was $682,850 in August 2026. Montverde has about 1,800 residents, a public library and the private Montverde Academy.
What is Montverde Academy?+
Montverde Academy is a private preparatory school for primary and secondary students that opened in 1912 and is the central feature of the town. It is not a public school. Public school students in Montverde attend Lake County Schools, so confirm zoning for any address with the district.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Montverde, Florida
- Town of Montverde: official website
- Wikipedia: Winter Garden, Florida
- Zillow Research: Home value and market data (ZHVI), August 2026
- Bella Collina: official community website
- Bella Collina CDD: FY2027 adopted budget (PDF)
- Florida Department of Revenue: Property tax exemptions for homeowners
- Freddie Mac: Primary Mortgage Market Survey
- Florida Department of Revenue: Discretionary sales surtax rates (DR-15DSS)
- Florida Department of Revenue: Documentary stamp tax
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Antonio Roberts
Antonio Roberts has spent five years helping more than 500 Florida buyers and sellers choose the right real estate agent. He is not a real estate agent himself: he researches what matters in a Florida move and connects people with licensed local agents, free of charge.
Reviewed by a licensed Florida real estate agent. Before publication, this guide was checked for accuracy by a licensed Florida real estate agent on our team. It is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.
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