Where Should You Live in East Orlando? 6 Areas Compared
Quick answer
As of October 2026, Jared Jones compares six East Orlando areas for buyers in roughly the $500,000 to $850,000 range: Waterford Lakes, Avalon Park, Stoneybrook East, Eastwood, Cypress Springs and the UCF and Research Park corridor. Two toll roads, SR 408 and SR 417, shape most commutes (CFX).
| Fact | Figure |
|---|---|
| Areas compared in the video | 6 |
| Price range discussed | About $500,000 to $850,000 |
| SR 408 (East-West Expressway) | 22-mile toll road from Ocoee to SR 50 east of Alafaya Trail (CFX) |
| SR 417 (Central Florida GreeneWay) | 33 miles in Orange County, operated by CFX |
| Central Florida Research Park | 1,027 acres, next to UCF |
| Stoneybrook East Golf Club | 18 holes, par 72, opened 1997 |
Sources: Central Florida Expressway Authority, SR 408 and SR 417 pages (checked Oct 23, 2026); University of Central Florida, Modeling and Simulation (checked Oct 23, 2026); Stoneybrook East Golf Club (checked Oct 23, 2026); Jared Jones – Orlando Living (YouTube), video description, premiere scheduled Oct 29, 2026.
What counts as East Orlando?
In this guide, East Orlando means the unincorporated and city areas east of downtown, roughly from the SR 436 corridor out past Alafaya Trail toward UCF and Avalon Park. It is not an official city or county boundary.
Two expressways tie the area together. SR 408, the Spessard L. Holland East-West Expressway, runs 22 miles from Florida’s Turnpike in Ocoee to SR 50 east of Alafaya Trail near UCF, according to the Central Florida Expressway Authority. SR 417, the Central Florida GreeneWay, runs north and south through east Orange County and connects toward Oviedo, Lake Nona and Orlando International Airport; CFX operates 33 miles of it in Orange County. Both are toll roads. In the video description, Jared says the 408 and 417 corridors are the key to understanding East Orlando, and that the area really splits into two kinds of suburbs. Before choosing a street, drive your likely commute on these roads at the hour you would actually travel.
How do Waterford Lakes and Avalon Park compare?
Both are large, planned suburban areas on the far east side, but they feel different: Waterford Lakes is built around a major shopping district along the 408 and Alafaya Trail, while Avalon Park is a master-planned community with its own town center farther east.
CFX lists the Waterford Lakes shopping district among the main destinations served by SR 408, which makes the area convenient for errands and expressway access. Much of the housing is in established single-family subdivisions, so buyers should look closely at roof age, HVAC age and insurance quotes. Avalon Park, east of Alafaya Trail, mixes homes with a walkable downtown-style center; our comparison of seven Orlando master-planned communities covers its fees and price range in more detail. For either area, check HOA documents and any CDD or special assessments on the exact property, since fees vary by subdivision.
What about Stoneybrook East, Eastwood and Cypress Springs?
These three are established subdivisions in the Alafaya Trail area, and two of them are built around golf courses. They tend to offer more mature landscaping and settled streets than the newest east-side construction.
Stoneybrook East is a gated community built around Stoneybrook East Golf Club, an 18-hole, par 72 course at 2900 Northampton Avenue that opened in 1997 and also takes public play. Eastwood surrounds Eastwood Golf Club, which shares an annual pass program with Stoneybrook East. Cypress Springs is another established east-side subdivision Jared covers in the video. Because these areas have HOAs, and some have gates and shared amenities, ask for current dues, rules, reserve information and any planned assessments before you write an offer. Golf-course frontage can also affect price and insurance, so compare similar lots rather than whole neighborhoods. Jared’s video describes the home styles in each community; details here are limited to what we could confirm from public sources.
Why does the UCF and Research Park corridor matter for buyers?
Because it is one of the biggest employment and activity centers on the east side, and it shapes traffic, rental demand and the mix of housing around Alafaya Trail and University Boulevard.
Central Florida Research Park is a 1,027-acre research community next to the University of Central Florida, and UCF says it is home to military simulation and training operations. That concentration of jobs pulls commuters into the area every weekday. The corridor includes a wide mix of housing, from apartments and townhomes to single-family neighborhoods, and the share of rental property can be higher close to campus. If you are buying here, look at HOA leasing rules, check traffic patterns during the academic calendar and on game days, and compare drive times to Research Park, downtown and the airport. We covered the area’s employment base in more detail in Where should you live if you move to Orlando in 2026?
How should you choose between East Orlando areas?
Start with commute, budget and home style, then compare total monthly cost on specific addresses. No single area is right for every buyer.
Map where you will drive most often, then test the route on SR 408, SR 417, Alafaya Trail or SR 50 at those hours. Set a price ceiling that includes insurance, property taxes and any HOA or CDD fees, because two homes at the same list price can carry very different monthly costs. Decide whether you want newer construction, an established subdivision, a golf-course community or a town-center setting. Then tour a few homes in more than one area on the same day so you can compare directly. The Jared Jones Team, Brokered by eXp Realty, can set up that kind of tour; call or text 407-706-5000.
Frequently asked questions
What neighborhoods does Jared Jones cover in East Orlando?
The video covers six areas: Waterford Lakes, Avalon Park, Stoneybrook East, Eastwood, Cypress Springs and the UCF and Research Park corridor. It focuses on buyers in roughly the $500,000 to $850,000 range and explains how the SR 408 and SR 417 corridors shape commutes, along with home prices, home styles and lifestyle in each area.
Which toll roads serve East Orlando?
SR 408, the East-West Expressway, runs 22 miles from Ocoee to SR 50 east of Alafaya Trail near UCF. SR 417, the Central Florida GreeneWay, runs north and south through east Orange County toward Oviedo, Lake Nona and the airport. Both are operated mainly by the Central Florida Expressway Authority and charge tolls.
Is Stoneybrook East a golf community?
Yes. Stoneybrook East is a gated community built around Stoneybrook East Golf Club, an 18-hole, par 72 course at 2900 Northampton Avenue in Orlando that opened in 1997. The club offers resident rates and also takes public play. Ask for current HOA dues, rules and any planned assessments before buying there.
What is the Central Florida Research Park?
Central Florida Research Park is a 1,027-acre research community next to the University of Central Florida in east Orlando. UCF says it is home to military simulation and training operations. It is a major weekday employment center, which affects traffic and housing demand along the Alafaya Trail and University Boulevard corridor.
Do East Orlando homes have HOA or CDD fees?
Many do, but it depends on the subdivision. Planned communities and gated golf communities usually have HOA dues, and some newer areas also carry CDD or other special assessments on the tax bill. Check the exact property’s HOA documents and tax bill rather than relying on neighborhood averages before you make an offer.
How do I compare East Orlando areas before buying?
Drive your likely commute on SR 408, SR 417, Alafaya Trail or SR 50 at the hours you would travel. Compare total monthly cost on specific homes, including insurance, property taxes and HOA or CDD fees. Decide which home style you prefer, then tour homes in several areas on the same day to compare them directly.
Sources
- Central Florida Expressway Authority: SR 408 (Spessard L. Holland East-West Expressway) (checked Oct 23, 2026)
- Central Florida Expressway Authority: SR 417 (Central Florida GreeneWay) (checked Oct 23, 2026)
- University of Central Florida: Modeling and Simulation (Central Florida Research Park acreage; checked Oct 23, 2026)
- Stoneybrook East Golf Club (course details; checked Oct 23, 2026)
- Jared Jones – Orlando Living (YouTube): Where Should You Live in East Orlando? (Watch This) (premiere scheduled Oct 29, 2026)