Overview
Bella Collina sits on roughly 1,900 acres of rolling hills in Montverde, Lake County — one of the only genuinely hilly luxury addresses in all of Florida, with 50+ feet of elevation change that lets homes sit on ridges overlooking Lake Apopka and Lake Siena. The community was designed in a Tuscan / Italianate idiom (the name means "beautiful hill" in Italian), with stone-clad gatehouses, terracotta roofs, and a cypress-lined main boulevard. The master plan calls for roughly 700 homesites at full build-out; current luxury inventory is concentrated along Pendio Drive, Arezo Court, and the lakeside sections adjacent to the clubhouse.
History & Ownership
Bella Collina was developed by Bobby Ginn and Lubert-Adler starting in 2004, with the Nick Faldo-designed golf course opening in 2006. Like many luxury developments, the 2008 housing crash stalled construction and triggered legal disputes between the developer and early buyers over assessments and HOA governance. In 2012, Dwight C. Schar — co-owner of the Washington Commanders and founding chairman of NVR Inc. — purchased the entire asset through DCS Investment Holdings and spent the following years stabilizing HOA governance, resolving delinquent assessments, and rebuilding buyer confidence. Under Schar's ownership since 2012, Bella Collina has emerged as a professionally managed ultra-luxury enclave. New-construction activity on Pendio Drive accelerated significantly in 2024–2026.
The Club at Bella Collina
The club is the community's centerpiece — a 75,000-square-foot Tuscan-style clubhouse with fine dining, spa, fitness, and a resort pool complex, anchored by an 18-hole Nick Faldo championship golf course that routes through the property's highest elevations. Member amenities include a tennis and pickleball complex, a wellness center, and a private marina on Lake Siena. Club membership is required for home ownership — expect an initiation fee and monthly dues on top of HOA.
Architecture & Lots
Homes average 5,000–11,000 square feet on 1- to 2-acre lots. The established architectural vocabulary is Tuscan / Spanish Mediterranean with stone and stucco exteriors, terracotta barrel-tile roofs, wrought-iron detailing, and deep covered loggias. Newer 2024–2026 builds (dominant along Pendio Drive) have moved toward Contemporary-Mediterranean and Traditional interpretations while keeping the community's material palette. Custom builders on the approved list include Element Home Builders, Stonebridge Homes, and ICI Homes.
Schools
Bella Collina is served by Lake County Public Schools. The closest charter option in the Montverde area is Imagine South Lake Charter (K-8). For families prioritizing private school, Montverde Academy (adjacent to the community, PK-12 boarding and day school) is one of Florida's most established: 1,317 students, 100% college acceptance rate, 18 national athletics championships, and 60+ professional athletes among its alumni. The Class of 2025 earned $15M+ in scholarships. Most Bella Collina families either use Montverde Academy or the local Lake County public schools as part of the privacy-and-seclusion trade-off. Verify all current school assignments and proficiency data with Lake County Schools and FDOE before relying on for a decision.
Location & Commute
Bella Collina is located 30 minutes northwest of downtown Orlando via SR-429, on the west shore of Lake Apopka in Montverde, Lake County. Commute times: ~30 minutes to downtown, ~40–45 minutes to MCO, ~25 minutes to Disney World, ~20 minutes to Winter Garden. The longer commute compared to Dr. Phillips (19 minutes to MCO) is a conscious trade-off: buyers here prioritize privacy, topography, and golf over daily-commute convenience. Most residents are retirees, multi-property owners, or executives with flexible schedules. Lake County property tax (~0.7%) is modestly lower than Orange County (~0.75%).
Dining & Shopping
Within Bella Collina, the 75,000-square-foot Tuscan clubhouse offers two private dining venues exclusive to members — a fine-dining room and a casual option. For daily grocery and errands, Publix and Winn-Dixie in Clermont are 10–15 minutes south; Winter Garden Village (Target, HomeGoods, Trader Joe's, and national retail) is 20 minutes southeast. Yellow Dog Eats in nearby Gotha — a 20-year institution in the historic 1910 Brockman House serving gourmet BBQ, creative sandwiches, and specials on a dog-friendly patio — is the nearest independent dining destination (10 minutes). For premium grocery and fine dining, the Marketplace at Dr. Phillips (Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Sprouts, three Publixes) and Restaurant Row's 24+ restaurants (Christini's, Eddie V's, Roy's, Fleming's, Ruth's Chris) are 25–30 minutes east. Bella Collina is a seclusion-first community — buyers here trade walkable convenience for privacy and topography.
Real Estate Market
Nine of the top 100 active luxury listings in Central Florida ($3.75M+) are currently in Bella Collina — one of the highest community concentrations in the region. Pricing runs $3.75M to $6M+ with a median around $4.5M on active inventory. New construction on Pendio Drive dominates the current wave; older 2006-era Arezo Court estates make up the second cohort. The past 180 days closed 4 homes at a median of $4.45M with a 190-day median DOM — the slowest-moving active luxury community in the region. Sold-to-list ratio held at 94.9%, indicating sellers who price correctly still close near asking, but expect a long listing runway. Price-per-square-foot on new builds clears $600–$780; lakefront homes on Arezo Court and the Lake Siena side command the largest premiums.