Published October 11, 2026 in Market Update

West Orange County sales rose even with mortgage rates above 7%

By Andy Neal

Real estate, Primary market

Thank you for reading. I know the first thing on most sellers' minds right now is the rate. It's real, and it's high. Freddie Mac put the 30-year fixed mortgage at 7.40% as of October 8, 2026. That's a payment that gives buyers pause. I get it. But here's what the numbers actually show for our market.

The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 1,146 homes sold across West Orange County in the three months ending August 31, 2026. That's up 10.8% from the same three months a year ago. Buyers are still moving here, even at these rates. That matters if you're thinking about listing.

The rate picture, plainly stated

Nationally, the National Association of Realtors reported existing-home sales fell 2.0% month over month in August 2026. That's the country. Our market moved in a different direction. Sales here rose. That gap is worth understanding.

What sold, and where, in the three months ending August 31, 2026

West Orange County covers several distinct areas. They don't all read the same. Here's how each one looked in the three months ending August 31, 2026, according to the Real Estate Data Aggregator.

The story behind each area

Winter Garden and Horizon West, ZIP 34787, had the most activity. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 546 homes sold there, up 10.8% from a year ago. The median sale price was $606,000, up 3.6%. Homes went under contract in a median of 42 days. And 31% of homes went under contract within two weeks of listing, up 4.6 points from a year ago. That's a market where well-priced homes are still moving.

A note on that ZIP: many Horizon West residents use a Winter Garden mailing address. Both names are right. The key line here is State Road 50. South of 50 is where the newer, larger Horizon West communities sit. North of 50 is the older, established side of Winter Garden, closer to Plant Street downtown. They're different markets within the same ZIP code.

Ocoee, ZIP 34761, had 188 homes sold, up 18.2% from a year ago. The median sale price was $432,500, though that was down 4.9% from a year ago. Ocoee is its own market. It doesn't share Winter Garden's Plant Street downtown, and the two shouldn't be grouped together when you're pricing a home.

The Windermere mailing address area, ZIP 34786, had 192 homes sold, up 7.3%. The median sale price was $885,000, up 3.5%. Days on market were 51, which is 5 days longer than a year ago. One thing to keep in mind: a Windermere mailing address does not mean a home is inside the Town of Windermere. Many of those homes are in unincorporated Orange County. That's worth confirming for any specific address.

The Dr. Phillips area split in two directions. ZIP 32836 saw the median price climb 14% to $980,000, but homes sold fell 12.8% to 82. More supply, fewer closings. ZIP 32819 went the other way: 122 homes sold, up 29.8%, with a median of $522,500, up 2.9%. These are neighboring ZIPs but they read very differently right now.

The Gotha area, ZIP 34734, is the smallest piece of this market. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 16 homes sold, up 6.7%. The median sale price was $612,500, up 13.4%. Small sample sizes mean one or two sales can move the numbers a lot. Treat that price change with some caution.

How close to list price did homes sell?

Every area averaged above 96% of list price. That tells you buyers are not walking away from the table. They're negotiating, but they're still closing. Pricing close to market value is what keeps that ratio strong for a seller.

How quickly did homes go under contract?

Supply is up, but it's not overwhelming

The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 1,574 homes for sale across West Orange County in the three months ending August 31, 2026, up 6% from a year ago. More homes to choose from is good for buyers. For sellers, it means your home has more competition than it did a year ago. Pricing and condition matter more when there are more options on the market.

The National Association of Realtors reported national months' supply at 4.9 months, the highest in over ten years. Most of our ZIPs sit below that or right near it. Ocoee at 2.6 months is tighter than the national average. The Dr. Phillips ZIPs at 5.1 and 5.8 months are above it. Those are very different conversations for a seller.

What this means for you, plainly

Rates are high. Freddie Mac's 7.40% is real, and buyers feel it. But 1,146 homes still closed here in three months. Buyers who are moving are committed. They're not waiting for rates to drop. They're adjusting their budgets and making decisions.

For sellers, the market is still moving, but it's not forgiving on price. Homes that sold averaged 96% to 98.6% of list price depending on the area. That means overpricing by even a little costs you real money and days on market.

One more thing worth saying: these are ZIP code numbers. One street, one subdivision, or one price range inside a ZIP can read very differently from the whole. The Windermere area ZIP covers everything from modest homes to estates. The Winter Garden ZIP covers both sides of SR 50. Your specific address tells a more precise story than any ZIP code average.