DeLand
is located between the Atlantic Ocean and the St. Johns River about 23 miles west of Daytona Beach. DeLand is often called the “Athens of Florida,” a city of culture, education and beauty, much like the Athens of ancient Greece. It’s home to Stetson University, which is Florida’s oldest private college and has been designated a National Historic District. In addition, the city has The DeLand Cultural Arts Center, several museums, theater and many other cultural offerings. Downtown Main Street in DeLand has a colorful mix of boutiques, gift shops, antique shops and restaurants. Bordered by the St. Johns River, an American Heritage River, so if you love the outdoors, DeLand is for you. Miles of unspoiled river and several nearby parks offer swimming, boating, canoeing, scuba diving, picnicking, camping, and even sky diving. Visit historical spots such as the DeLeon Springs Recreational Area and The Old Spanish Sugar Mill. For day trips, the excitement of Daytona Beach is a short 25-minute drive, and all of the Orlando attractions are about 40 minutes away.
Since 1992, the city has hosted the DeLand Fall Festival of the Arts, a two-day event in the historic downtown area. Downtown DeLand's main street has many notable 19th century buildings, known as the Downtown DeLand Historic District. The Garden District is a mixed-use neighborhood adjacent to downtown DeLand, which is officially known as Downtown DeLand's Historic Garden District. Shopping in the city can be found at the Brandywine Shopping Center, DeLand Plaza Shopping Center, Northgate Shopping Center, Woodland Plaza, West Volusia Regional Shopping Center and the DeLand Flea Market.
For real estate, as of 2014, DeLand has a median home value of $116,400, which is a 15 percent increase over the previous year. Real estate values are expected to increase 7 percent within the next year. The median list price per square foot is $88, which is lower than the Daytona Beach Metro average of $100. The median price of homes currently listed in Deland is $178,900 while the median price of homes that sold is $111,850.
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