Buying a Home at Storey Lake: The Complete Guide for 2026

Michael Chen PA, Realtor at La Rosa Realty Celebration Serving Orlando and Miami
Published on October 29, 2026

Buying a Home at Storey Lake: The Complete Guide for 2026

My team at FunStay Florida provides Storey Lake property management for over 100 properties at this Kissimmee resort community. I own multiple vacation rentals in the corridor. This guide covers what buyers and investors need to know before purchasing at Storey Lake Resort, based on real data from our managed portfolio.

I can pull revenue comps, carrying cost projections, and occupancy data for any Storey Lake listing.

Mike Chen’s Take on Storey Lake Vacation Rental Performance

Resort Section vs. Reflections: The First Thing Every Buyer Must Know

Storey Lake has two distinct sections with completely different rules. Buying in the wrong one is a costly mistake.

Verify which section a property is in before making an offer. The resort section and Reflections share the same Storey Lake branding, but they operate under separate HOAs with separate rules.

Property Types and Floor Plans

Storey Lake’s resort section offers three property types, all built by Lennar. New construction homesites are sold out; all current inventory is resale.

Condos (The Terraces, Phase 1)

Townhomes (Phases 1-3)

Single-Family Pool Homes (The Cove, Phases 2-3)

Price ranges reflect Q4 2026 active listings and recent closed sales. Browse Storey Lake listings for current inventory.

Amenities: Two Clubhouses, Two Lazy Rivers

Storey Lake has two full clubhouse complexes. Access to both is included in HOA dues.

Original · Phase 1

  • Heated resort pool with 2 water slides and lazy river
  • Kids’ splash zone with beach entry
  • Spa/hot tub
  • Fitness center overlooking the lake
  • Tiki bar with grilled food and drinks
  • Ice cream shop
  • 9-hole mini golf (~$5-$9/person)
  • Sand volleyball, basketball, soccer
  • Fishing pier, kayak/canoe rentals (~$15-$25)
  • Fire pit, grilling areas, private cabanas

Newer · Phase 3 · Opened 2023

  • Heated family pool with private cabanas
  • Lazy river with pirate ship playground
  • Bar and grill restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Multi-use sports court

What’s included: Pools, lazy rivers, slides, fitness centers, sports courts, and the shuttle between clubhouses. Pay-per-use: Mini golf, kayak rentals, food and drinks at the tiki bar and Bronson grill.

Pool hours: 9 AM to 9 PM daily. Pools heated when outdoor temp drops below 75F. The Terraces condo pool is not heated. See our resort amenities comparison for cost-per-booked-night data across Orlando communities.

Cost of Ownership

Monthly Fees

Storey Lake uses a two-part HOA structure: a Master Association fee plus a separate Hideaway/Bronson Club fee.

See our Orlando vacation rental HOA fees comparison for cross-community benchmarks.

Annual Costs

Florida homestead exemption excludes vacation and investment properties. CDD fees appear on your annual property tax bill. Verify current fee amounts directly with ICON Management (321-999-7646) before purchasing.

Revenue: What Storey Lake Properties Actually Earn

From our managed portfolio (trailing 12 months):

Storey Lake’s managed occupancy (77-83%) outperforms the broader Kissimmee market average (57-69%) by 10 to 15 points, driven by proximity to Disney and the amenity package.

Shoulder months: Sep-Nov, Jan-Feb. Factor this into cash flow projections. See our Storey Lake investment analysis and current market report for cap rates and risk analysis.

Short-Term Rental Rules

What’s Allowed (Resort Section)

  • Nightly rentals with no minimum stay
  • No limit on number of rentals per year
  • Guests must register through the property manager and receive wristbands for amenity access

Required Licenses

License Cost Renewal
Florida DBPR vacation rental license $230 $180/yr
Osceola County STR license $410 $150/yr
Local Business Tax Receipt $30 $30/yr
$1M liability insurance Varies Annual

For a step-by-step walkthrough, see our guide on how to apply for short-term rental licenses in Orlando.

Taxes on Rental Income

7.5% auto-collected by Airbnb/Vrbo
6% FL sales tax + 1.5% Osceola surtax

6% your responsibility
Osceola Tourist Development Tax, due monthly by the 20th

Missing the 6% TDT remittance is a common and expensive mistake for new investors. Late penalty starts at 10% ($50 minimum).

Universal’s newest park opened May 2025, about 14 miles from Storey Lake. Early data shows STR bookings up 9-14% in the Kissimmee corridor during the opening period, with guests adding 1-2 nights to their Orlando trips as they combine Disney and Universal parks. See our breakdown of the best vacation rental communities near Epic Universe.

Why Storey Lake Is One of the Best Orlando Resort Communities For…

77-83% occupancy. No minimum stay. No rental caps. Revenue from $31K to $123K/yr depending on property type.

4-5 miles from Disney World. 10-15 minute drive to the main gate. Closer than most competing resort communities.

Two clubhouses with heated pools, two lazy rivers, water slides, splash zone, mini golf, kayaking. All included in HOA.

Condos from $217K. Townhomes from $265K. Lower entry than ChampionsGate or Reunion, with comparable amenities.

How to Buy at Storey Lake

New Construction vs. Resale

Lennar’s homesites at Storey Lake are sold out. All purchases are now resale. This means no builder incentives, but also no construction timeline. You can close and start renting within 30 to 60 days. Here is what to expect during the first 60 days after buying an Orlando vacation rental.

Buyer Closing Costs

Florida buyers pay 2-5% of the purchase price in closing costs, including lender’s title insurance, appraisal, inspection, documentary stamp tax on the mortgage, and intangible tax. In Florida, the seller customarily pays for owner’s title insurance and deed stamps.

What to Verify Before Closing

Request 3 years of HOA financial statements and check the reserve fund. Confirm which section the property is in (resort vs. Reflections). Verify the current HOA and CDD amounts for the specific unit. For a full pre-purchase walkthrough, use our short-term rental due diligence checklist.

Financing

20-25% down
Rates 0.5-0.75% above primary

10-15% down, lower rate
Strict rules on rental use

30-40% down

Limited lender options

For a deeper comparison of loan types, see our guide to Orlando vacation rental financing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Storey Lake a good investment in 2026?

For managed properties, Storey Lake delivers 77-83% occupancy and $31,000 to $123,000 in annual revenue depending on property type. Prices are down ~11% from their peak. Run the numbers on a specific property before deciding. Current carrying costs run $19,000 to $27,000 per year.

Can you do short-term rentals at Storey Lake?

Yes, in the resort sections (The Terraces and The Cove). No minimum stay. No rental caps. Reflections does not allow short-term rentals.

What are the HOA fees at Storey Lake?

Storey Lake uses a two-part HOA structure. Combined fees run approximately $545 per month for townhomes and $564 per month for single-family homes, covering amenities, cable, internet, landscaping, and trash.

How far is Storey Lake from Disney World?

Approximately 4 to 5 miles from the main gate, or about a 10 to 15 minute drive.

What is the difference between Reflections and the resort section?

The resort section allows short-term rentals and prohibits primary residence use. Reflections prohibits short-term rentals and allows primary residence use. They have separate HOAs with separate rules and fee structures. Verify which section a property is in before purchasing.

What amenities does Storey Lake have?

Two clubhouse complexes (Hideaway Club and Bronson Club), each with a heated pool and lazy river. Plus 2 water slides, a splash zone, tiki bar, ice cream shop, mini golf, kayaking, fitness centers, sports courts, and a free intra-resort shuttle. All pool and fitness amenities are included in HOA dues.

Does Airbnb collect all the taxes for Storey Lake rentals?

No. Airbnb and Vrbo collect 7.5% (state sales tax + county surtax). You are responsible for collecting and remitting the 6% Osceola County Tourist Development Tax monthly.

What does it cost to buy at Storey Lake right now?

As of Q4 2026: condos start around $217,000, townhomes around $265,000, and single-family pool homes around $636,000. Median sold prices: condos $283,250, townhomes $445,000, single-family $670,000.

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