Lake County · Lake Harris · Mission Inn Resort
Sell Your Howey-in-the-Hills Home
Howey-in-the-Hills combines Mission Inn Resort, Lake Harris frontage, and small-town Florida character — find out what your home is worth.
Get Your Howey-in-the-Hills Home Value
What You'll Net From a $480,000 Howey-in-the-Hills Sale
Illustrative estimate. Actual proceeds depend on your sale price, mortgage payoff, and negotiated terms.
MaxLife Realty 1% listing commission vs traditional 2.5–3% saves sellers $7,200–$9,600 on a $480K sale.
How to Sell in Howey-in-the-Hills: What Works
Lead with Mission Inn Resort and the luxury resort lifestyle
Howey-in-the-Hills is home to Mission Inn Resort — a historic Florida resort with two championship golf courses (Las Colinas and El Campeon), waterfront dining, and a full-service resort hotel. For buyers who want to live adjacent to a quality resort with golf, dining, and Lake Harris access, this is the defining selling point. No neighboring Lake County community offers this combination.
Market Lake Harris and Harris Chain access explicitly
Howey-in-the-Hills sits directly on Lake Harris — the largest lake in the Harris Chain of Lakes at 13,000+ acres, fully motorized and navigable throughout the chain. Waterfront properties command significant premiums and attract buyers specifically seeking ski-lake access at Lake County prices. Even non-lakefront homes benefit from the community's lake culture and Mission Inn's marina access.
Understand the small-town buyer profile
Howey-in-the-Hills is one of Florida's smallest incorporated municipalities — fewer than 1,000 residents. This is deliberately small, quiet, and community-oriented. Buyers who choose Howey-in-the-Hills are specifically selecting against scale and suburban density. Market to buyers seeking an alternative to Orlando's sprawl: retirees, remote workers, and lake-lifestyle buyers who want a true small Florida town feel.
Price against the Harris Chain comparables
Howey-in-the-Hills comps are thin due to the small market. Price with reference to comparable lake chain communities: non-lakefront Howey vs Leesburg and Tavares; lakefront Howey against Lake Harris waterfront comps across all three sister cities. Mission Inn proximity and direct lake access both command premiums over inland Lake County communities.
Disclose well, septic, and historic deed restrictions
Many Howey-in-the-Hills properties use well water and septic — particularly older and lakefront properties. The community's historic character includes some deed restrictions from Howey's original development era. Review title for any deed restrictions specific to your property before listing, and disclose well/septic proactively with current inspection documentation.
Selling in Howey-in-the-Hills in 2026
Howey-in-the-Hills is Central Florida's most distinctive small-town real estate market. Founded in the 1920s by William John Howey as a citrus empire and resort destination, the community retains its resort character through Mission Inn — a 1,100-acre golf resort on the Lake Harris shore with a history stretching back to 1926. The El Campeon golf course is one of Florida's oldest, and the Las Colinas course provides championship-caliber golf for residents and guests.
Lake Harris — at the community's edge — is the Harris Chain's largest and most significant lake. At 13,000+ acres, it offers boating, water skiing, and bass fishing access that connects through the navigable chain to Eustis, Tavares, and Mount Dora. For waterfront sellers, the Harris Chain is the primary value driver: buyers come from across Central Florida specifically to purchase Harris Chain frontage at Lake County prices.
The buyer pool for Howey-in-the-Hills is narrow but specific: retirees and pre-retirees seeking a genuine small-town resort lifestyle, remote workers who want lake access and golf without the suburban sprawl of Orlando's communities, and second-home buyers from Tampa and Orlando who want a weekend retreat on Florida's interior lake system. Marketing that speaks directly to this buyer profile — emphasizing Mission Inn, Lake Harris, and small-town character — outperforms generic real estate marketing significantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Howey-in-the-Hills unique in Lake County?
Three things distinguish Howey-in-the-Hills from every other Lake County community: (1) Mission Inn Resort — a legitimate resort destination with two championship golf courses (Las Colinas and El Campeon, established 1926), lakefront dining, and hotel infrastructure, all within the small community. (2) Direct Lake Harris frontage — the Harris Chain's largest lake at the community's edge. (3) Scale — intentionally one of Florida's smallest incorporated towns, with under 1,000 residents, providing a genuinely village-scaled experience in a metro context. No other Lake County community combines these three.
What are home prices in Howey-in-the-Hills?
Howey-in-the-Hills prices in 2026 range from approximately $380,000–$600,000 for non-lakefront properties near Mission Inn or in established neighborhoods, to $650,000–$1.5M+ for direct Lake Harris waterfront properties. The Mission Inn Golf & Tennis Resort immediately adds value to nearby residential properties through access to resort amenities. This is a thin market by transaction volume — individual sale prices can vary significantly based on condition, lot, and lake access.
How far is Howey-in-the-Hills from Orlando?
Howey-in-the-Hills is approximately 45–55 minutes from downtown Orlando via FL-429 South or US-27 South. The commute is feasible for occasional Orlando trips but is real time for daily commuters. The community's appeal is primarily for lifestyle buyers — retirees, remote workers, and lake lifestyle buyers — who make the Orlando trip infrequently. Lake County's lower cost of living and property taxes relative to Orange County partially offsets the commute time trade-off.
Is Mission Inn Resort open to non-guests and non-members?
Mission Inn Resort and Club is a private club with membership options as well as hotel guests. Non-members and non-guests can access the resort's restaurants (El Conquistador, Mission Inn's lakefront dining) without membership. Golf access typically requires membership or tee-time booking as a guest. Many Howey-in-the-Hills residents join the club to access golf and other amenities on a regular basis. The resort's presence elevates the community's lifestyle regardless of whether residents are members.
Ready to sell your Howey-in-the-Hills home?
Ryan Solberg covers the Lake County lake markets including Howey-in-the-Hills, Eustis, and Tavares. 1% listing commission.
Call 321.373.3536