Tavares and Lake County: life on the Harris Chain
Tavares is the Lake County seat and calls itself America’s Seaplane City. It sits on the Harris Chain of Lakes, a connected system of lakes and canals where many homes come with a dock and a way to boat to downtown Tavares, Mount Dora and beyond.
What’s here
Downtown Tavares faces Lake Dora, with Wooton Park, a waterfront boardwalk, restaurants and the seaplane base. Mount Dora and Eustis are next door, and Orlando is about an hour southeast via SR 429 and the Wekiva Parkway.
Buying on the water
Canal and lakefront homes are the draw here. Before you buy, we look at the things that matter on the water: seawall and dock condition, boat-lift permits, water depth, bridge heights to the main lakes, and flood zone and insurance.
New construction
Lake County has plenty of new building, including Dream Finders Homes’ Seaport Village in Tavares. Bring us to your first visit so the builder registers us as your agent, and ask about our new construction cash back.
Selling? Full service, nothing upfront.
Every listing gets pricing, professional marketing, MLS exposure, negotiation and closing, with a real Florida agent who answers every message, if not right away, usually in under 90 minutes.
Buying? Cash back on every home purchase.
Resale or new construction, you get full representation and cash back at closing. Ask us how it works for the home you have in mind.
Our listings nearby
Questions we hear about Tavares
What is the Harris Chain of Lakes?
A system of connected lakes in Lake County, including Lakes Harris, Eustis, Dora, Griffin and others, joined by canals so you can boat between towns.
Do you list homes in Lake County?
Yes, on Stellar MLS and MyStateMLS.
What should I check on a canal home?
Seawall and dock condition, lift permits, water depth, fixed-bridge clearance, and flood insurance. We help you check all of it.
More local guides
Median price: Redfin, Lake County, FL, August 2026. Market figures change monthly and are shown for general information only.