ORLANDO—Next to the bustling tourist mecca of Orlando is Winter Park, a secondary market with a multifamily story that's commanding attention. Multifamily occupancy rates are high, rental rates are healthy, and assisted-living communities are a large part of the equation.

GlobeSt.com sat down with George Pjevach, director of Multifamily Services at Colliers International Central Florida, to get his thoughts on what's happening in this Orlando submarket in part one of this exclusive interview.

GlobeSt.com: With a 95% overall occupancy rate for multifamily properties in this submarket, why is Winter Park so attractive for renters?

Pjevach: Downtown Winter Park is one of the more desirable submarkets in the Orlando metro. Winter Park's median home value is $345,000, compared to $180,000 in Orlando, and the median household income is around $58,000, compared to $42,000 in Orlando.

The upscale shopping, restaurants, local live entertainment, wine tasting and microbreweries all contribute to a unique well-established environment sought by local residents. Charm and cleanliness, coupled with low crime and easy access to several main throughways and downtown Orlando, makes the area alluring to both multifamily tenants and homeowners.

GlobeSt.com: How do apartment rental rates in Winter Park compare to those of Central Florida overall?

Pjevach: Accommodating all income classes, Winter Park's multifamily properties can range from high-end to C class to affordable. Rents can vary by 45% or more within a 2.5-mile radius. For instance, the average rent for an A class one-bedroom unit is $1,312, while the average rent for a C class one-bedroom unit two miles away is $613.

Overall, the average rent in Winter Park is higher than the average for the overall Central Florida region. For example, the average rent for one-bedroom units in Central Florida is $861, while the average in Winter Park is $1,031.

Be sure to come back this afternoon for part two of this exclusive interview. Pjevach will talk about assisted living communities and offer multifamily predictions.