At a glance
| Location | Montverde, Lake County, north of Clermont |
|---|---|
| Size | About 1,900 acres (community); CDD covers about 1,805 acres |
| Golf | Championship course designed by Sir Nick Faldo |
| Access | Gated |
| CDD | Bella Collina CDD, established 14 June 2004 |
| Home types | Estate homes, golf homes, homesites and Siena condos |
Bella Collina at a glance
Bella Collina describes itself as a gated community spread across about 1,900 acres of rolling hills and lakes. The club, at 15920 County Road 455, Montverde, has a Nick Faldo-designed championship golf course, a resort-style pool, spa, fitness center, Har-Tru tennis courts, two clubhouse restaurants and walking trails. The club sells several membership types and says non-residents can also buy them. Ask whether any membership is required with a home purchase.
Is Bella Collina a good area?
For buyers who want a gated golf and lake community with resort amenities, it is one of the few options of its kind near Clermont. The trade-offs are cost and distance: homes and lots price well above the area, the CDD adds up to $2,610 a year for a single-family home paying all three lines, and shopping and services are a drive away.
Who it tends to suit
Buyers who will use the golf, spa, tennis and dining, and who want a custom or estate home on a larger lot.
Who may look elsewhere
Buyers focused on the lowest total monthly cost, or who want to walk to shops. Compare with Legends, a golf community inside Clermont.
What Bella Collina is known for
Bella Collina is best known for its Sir Nick Faldo-designed championship course, which the club describes as having dramatic elevation changes and undulating greens, and for its Italian-inspired clubhouse, which hosts weddings for about 50 to 180 guests on the Grand Lawn, the Ballroom Veranda or in the wine cellar. The community says it adjoins Lake Apopka, and it rents lakefront condos to visitors through Siena at Bella Collina.
Homes and prices
Lakefront estate homes
Custom estate homes on lakefront lots, designed with the community's architects and builders. Prices are not published online; the developer directs buyers to its real estate office.
Golf homes
Homes facing the Faldo course. Ask about ball-strike risk, course easements and whether the view is protected.
Homesites
Buildable lots for a custom home. Ask about architectural review, build deadlines and the CDD's $195 water and sewer standby fee, charged on 319 undeveloped lots in FY2027 until the home connects.
Siena condos
Two- and three-bedroom lakefront condos that can be used as vacation rentals. Review condo reserves, the rental program and the building's financing status. See our Clermont condo guide.
Zillow's typical home value for Montverde was $682,850 in August 2026, down 0.2% on the year, but Bella Collina's homes and lots vary far more than that average. Compare closed sales of similar lots, views and home sizes inside the gates. See our Montverde guide for the wider town.
Living in Bella Collina
Amenities inside the gates
A resort-style pool, full-service spa, fitness center, tennis and pickleball facility, walking trails and two clubhouse restaurants. The club sells golf and sports memberships for individuals, couples and families, and says non-residents can also join, so ask whether any membership is required with a home.
Nearby
Montverde's town services include the Helen Lehmann Library and town parks. For groceries and larger shopping, Clermont is the nearest city to the south; time the drive from the gate you would use.
Costs: CDD, HOA, taxes and water
The Bella Collina CDD was established on 14 June 2004 and is run by a five-member board of supervisors. Its assessments are collected on the Lake County tax bill. The FY2027 adopted budget sets these gross per-unit amounts:
| Assessment | Single-family | Condo |
|---|---|---|
| Operations and maintenance | $225 | $84 |
| Series 2004 bond debt | $1,482 | Not listed |
| Series 2024 bond debt | $903 (824 of 866 lots) | $339 |
| Water and sewer standby fee | $195 per undeveloped lot (319 lots) |
A single-family home carrying all three would pay $2,610 a year, before HOA dues and property tax. Some owners may have prepaid bond balances, so confirm the lines on the actual tax bill. The district also operates water and wastewater service and posts a homeowner's guide and rate study on its site.
In 2026 the district's website posted Phase III extreme water shortage restrictions due to drought. Ask the district for current irrigation rules, especially if you plan new landscaping or a pool.
Town or county
Montverde-address homes can be inside the Town of Montverde or in unincorporated Lake County, which changes the millage. File for homestead with the Lake County Property Appraiser by 1 March if the home is your permanent residence on 1 January. See our Lake County property tax guide.
Club costs
Price any golf or sports membership separately from HOA dues and the CDD, and ask whether dues or initiation fees are due at closing.
Pros and cons
Pro: amenities and setting
A championship course, spa, tennis, dining and rolling, lake-view land inside a gated community.
Pro: range of home types
From condos to custom estates, so buyers at different budgets can live inside the gates.
Con: layered costs
CDD lines of up to $2,610 a year for a single-family home, plus HOA dues and any club membership.
Con: drought rules and distance
The district posted Phase III water restrictions in 2026, and most shopping is a drive away.
What to check before you buy
- Look up the parcel on the Lake County Property Appraiser site and note the taxing district and any non-ad valorem assessments.
- Read the latest property tax bill for CDD lines.
- Ask for the HOA budget, dues, reserves and an estoppel certificate.
- Confirm school zoning with Lake County Schools for the exact address.
- Check the FEMA flood zone, especially for lake and low-lying lots.
- Get an insurance quote for the address before you make an offer.
- Ask for the HOA and club documents, and whether club membership is optional.
- For a homesite, ask about architectural review, build deadlines and the standby fee until you connect.
- For a Siena condo, review condo reserves and rental rules. See our Clermont condo guide.
See our Lake County property tax guide for the rest of the bill.
Common questions
Where is Bella Collina?+
Bella Collina is in Montverde, Lake County, north of Clermont. Its club is at 15920 County Road 455 and its real estate sales center is at 16690 Cavallo Drive, both with Montverde 34756 addresses. It is a gated community of about 1,900 acres with a Nick Faldo-designed golf course.
What are the CDD fees in Bella Collina?+
The Bella Collina CDD's FY2027 budget sets a single-family operations assessment of $225, plus debt assessments of $1,482 for the Series 2004 bonds and $903 for the Series 2024 bonds where they apply. That totals $2,610 for a home paying all three. Condos pay $84 for operations plus $339 in Series 2024 debt.
Is club membership required in Bella Collina?+
The club offers several membership types and says non-residents can buy memberships, but its website does not state whether membership is required for owners. Ask the sales office and read the HOA and club documents before you sign a contract, because membership costs can change your yearly budget.
How much do homes cost in Bella Collina?+
Bella Collina does not publish prices on its website. Zillow's typical home value for Montverde was $682,850 in August 2026, but estate homes, golf homes, homesites and condos inside Bella Collina vary widely. Compare closed sales of similar properties inside the community.
Is Bella Collina a gated community?+
Yes. Bella Collina describes itself as a private gated community of about 1,900 acres of rolling hills and lakes in Montverde, north of Clermont. Inside the gates are a Nick Faldo-designed golf course, a resort-style pool, spa, fitness center, tennis and pickleball, walking trails and two clubhouse restaurants.
Sources
- Bella Collina: official community website
- Bella Collina: Real estate
- Bella Collina Community Development District: home
- Bella Collina CDD: Public documents
- Bella Collina CDD: FY2027 adopted budget (PDF)
- Zillow Research: Home value and market data (ZHVI), August 2026
- Lake County Property Appraiser: Exemptions and homestead filing
- Florida Department of Revenue: Property tax exemptions for homeowners
- Town of Montverde: official website
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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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