Ortega Forest
Homes for Sale in Jacksonville, FL
True comps, carrying-cost math, and listings before the portals.
Market Heat
Ortega Forest prices off the home, not the neighborhood story: median living area here runs 2,748 square feet, on a housing stock built anywhere from 1938 to 2024 with a median build year of 1958. That spread of eras and sizes is the real driver of the $615,000 median ($257.58/sqft) — a mid-century home on a large lot prices very differently than a newer build a few streets over, and with only 20 closings in the current window, a handful of outlier sales can move the median more than they would in a higher-volume market.
Right now posture is thin on both sides: a single active listing against 875 total homes in the neighborhood, with a market heat score of 48 — read as roughly balanced rather than tilted hard to either buyer or seller. Median days on market sits at 29, just under a month, which is normal pace for a well-priced home here. The median price is down 18% year over year, which in a 20-closing sample is as likely to reflect which specific homes sold as any real repricing — worth digging into the individual comps before reading it as a market call.
Ortega Forest right now
🟡 Balanced market. 1.1 months of supply and 50% of the inventory already under contract put buyers and sellers on roughly even footing.Why it matters: months of supply is how long today's inventory would last at today's sales pace; under-contract share is the portion of homes for sale that already have a buyer.Momentum Research analysis of realMLS records, as of August 23, 2026. Confidence: High (4 active and pending listings, 21 closed sales in 12 months).
🔴 Off the recent peak. The trailing-12-month median ($590K) is down 19.5% from the prior 12 months ($732K) and up 137% since 2012. With about 28 sales a year, a single closing can swing this number, so read the level and the decade, not one year's move.Momentum Research, record-level realMLS closed sales, 12-month windows ending August 23. Confidence: High (21 and 18 sales in the two windows).
Jump to: Price history & scorecard · Homes for sale · Schools · FAQ
Updated August 23, 2026 · Live data: realMLS, refreshed twice daily · MLS facts carry their source; interpretation lines are Momentum Research · Data sources & freshness
The 60-Second Overview
Ortega Forest market snapshot (as of August 23, 2026): the median sale price is about $590K ($255 per sq ft over the trailing 12 months of closed sales), a median 28 days on market for closed sales, and 1.1 months of supply, a balanced market. The trailing-12-month median is down 20% from the prior 12 months and up 137% since 2012, computed from record-level realMLS closed sales (21 closings in the current window).
Ortega Forest is a community of 280 homes in Jacksonville, Duval County, built between 1946 and 2019 (median 1958.0), with a median living area of about 2,978 square feet. 86% of parcels are homesteaded, the owner-occupancy proxy in the Florida DOR assessment roll (2025 roll, public records).
A 875-home pocket of Duval County with housing stock spanning nearly a century of construction (1938-2024, median year built 1958), which means lot size, square footage, and condition vary block to block far more than the median price alone suggests.
The setting & the homes.
Aerial and on-site photos of Ortega Forest. Swipe to explore the community.
Swipe or use the arrows → tap any photo to enlarge
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Ortega ForestPhotos from realMLS listings in Ortega Forest; content deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Who Ortega Forest is best for.
Best for
- Buyers who want a larger home (median 2,748 sqft) and are comfortable evaluating an older housing stock -- median year built 1958 -- on a case-by-case basis.
- Sellers holding a long-term, owner-occupied home who want a valuation grounded in the specific recent comps rather than a blended neighborhood average.
- Buyers with the patience to wait out thin inventory (currently one active listing) for the right home rather than needing several options to choose from today.
Probably not for
- Buyers who need to compare several active listings side by side before deciding -- there is currently only one home on the market.
- Buyers relying on an automated price estimate rather than a hand-prepared valuation, given how much the 20-closing sample can swing on which homes happened to sell.
- Buyers set on new construction -- the housing stock here has a median year built of 1958, with the newest homes reaching only as recent as 2024 at the top of the range.
Price History: What Homes Here Have Actually Sold For
Median sale price over the trailing 12 months ending August 23 of each year, from record-level realMLS closed sales. Same methodology as every appreciation figure on this page: the 2026 point ($590K) IS the median in the snapshot above, and the move from 2025 ($732K) IS the -19.5% one-year change.
Windows contain 18 to 41 sales each (21 in the current window); every figure carries its sample size, and thin markets swing on single closings. Source: Data provided by realMLS. Deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Ortega Forest Market Scorecard
Ortega Forest is currently a strong seller's market. About 2.4 months of supply, a median asking price of $632,000, and homes go under contract in about 18 days.
Go deeper: county scorecard · true cost calculator · affordability calculator.
Live data: realMLS, refreshed twice daily. Typical value: Zillow Research. Market metrics only; these describe homes for sale and recent sales, not residents.
Housing distress & ownership in Ortega Forest, Jacksonville
Who owns here, how much is not owner-occupied, and how much for-sale inventory is under distress.
Source: Momentum Realty Research. Ownership & parcels from the FL DOR 2025 tax roll; distress from MLS active-listing status/remarks; price from MLS closed sales. Source: Data provided by realMLS. Deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Homes For Sale Right Now in Ortega Forest
Live MLS inventory for Ortega Forest. Every active listing, what is under contract right now, and the last 12 months of closed sales, refreshed twice a day. Closed comps beat an algorithm's guess every time.
Active · 51 daysTop listing
Active · 74 days
Pending · 26 days
Pending · 48 daysActive and pending Ortega Forest listings as of 2026-08-23, priced high to low. Source: Data provided by realMLS. Tap any home to ask about it.
Ortega Forest on the map.
Every active, pending, and recently sold home, plotted. Toggle the layers and tap a home for the details.
Listing locations from realMLS. Map data © OpenStreetMap, tiles © CARTO.
Life at Ortega Forest
- Monitored neighborhood entrances · The Ortega Forest Association has installed Flock Safety security cameras at the neighborhood's three entrances (Longbow, Verona, and a third entrance), described by the association as providing high-quality imaging with cloud-based storage.
- Entrance landscaping/beautification · The association funds professional landscaping maintenance at the three neighborhood entrances using member contributions.
Sources: Ortega Forest Association. Amenity access and membership terms vary and can change; verify current details with the community.
How far is everything?
Everyday stops around Ortega Forest are close: the nearest dining is about 2 minutes away.
- Chipotle Mexican Grill · Dining2 min
- Stinson Park · Parks2 min
- Panera Bread · Coffee2 min
- Roosevelt Square · Shopping3 min
- Avondale Superette · Groceries6 min
- Grifols - Biomat USA · Health7 min
Approximate drive times via Mapbox Search + Directions, 2026-07-03. Verify for a specific address.
Schools
- Duval County Public Schools
- Verify the zoned schools by address
- Magnet and choice options may be available
- John Stockton Elementary SchoolFLDOE grade A · Public K-5
- Lake Shore Middle SchoolFLDOE grade C · Public 6-8
- Riverside High SchoolFLDOE grade C · Public 9-12
Grades are official Florida Department of Education school grades for 2025-26. Assignments are reported as of the 2025-26 year and can change; always confirm with Duval County Public Schools for a specific address.
Buying with schools in mind? We can confirm the exact zoned schools for any Ortega Forest address.
Recent Developments in Ortega Forest
Development, infrastructure, retail, and school activity affecting Ortega Forest, tracked by our team and summarized from public reporting and official sources, with links to the original coverage. Last updated August 2026.
- July 2026Development
JWB secures funding for 108 affordable housing units in Jacksonville
Jacksonville Today reported that JWB Real Estate Capital secured about $28.59 million in gap funding for 108 income-restricted units across three Westside sites on Tracy, Justina and Ricker roads. Plans include 38 townhome-style units and two sets of 35 efficiency units, priced at or below 60% of area median income for 50 years. Groundbreaking is expected by September 2026 with completion in 2027.
What it may mean for the marketAdds new income-restricted rental and townhome housing supply on the Westside, increasing the stock of long-term affordable units and drawing public and tax-credit investment into three infill sites. The site is about 3 miles southwest of Ortega Forest.
Source: Jacksonville Today - July 2026Development
Culinary Institute of America selects Jacksonville for Southeast campus
News4Jax reported that the Culinary Institute of America chose downtown Jacksonville for its Southeast hub, to be located at 330 E. Bay Street on the Northbank riverfront. The campus would anchor a $160.5 million hotel and convention center development. The city previously approved up to $35 million in incentives, and the Downtown Investment Authority is finalizing agreements on design and property details.
What it may mean for the marketAnchors a major downtown riverfront redevelopment that pairs an educational campus with hotel and convention space, adding institutional and commercial investment to the urban core alongside Riverfront Plaza and Pearl Square. The project is about 6 miles northeast of Ortega Forest, elsewhere in Duval County.
Source: News4Jax - June 2026Development
Hillwood contracts with the City of Jacksonville for 192 acres at AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center
Master developer Hillwood contracted with the City of Jacksonville for 192 acres at AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center on Jacksonville's Westside, continuing the buildout of the former Naval Air Station Cecil Field into an industrial and logistics park.
What it may mean for the marketContinued absorption of large industrial parcels at Cecil signals sustained employment growth on the Westside, which can support housing demand across nearby communities. The site is about 10 miles west of Ortega Forest.
Source: Jax Daily Record - June 2026Infrastructure
First Coast Expressway advances as an economic-development corridor across Clay and St. Johns
The First Coast Expressway (State Road 23), a tolled beltway looping around the west and south of the Jacksonville metro, continued to open land for development along its corridor, with the final St. Johns County phase from Interstate 95 to east of County Road 2209 in progress. FDOT held a St. Johns County open house on the final phase in January 2026.
What it may mean for the marketNew limited-access highway capacity shortens commutes and opens adjacent land, changes that have historically shaped where new communities and demand concentrate. The site is about 16 miles south of Ortega Forest.
Source: Jax Daily Record - April 2026Development
Southeast Toyota opens $170M vehicle-processing facility at JAXPORT's Blount Island, adding 400-plus jobs
Southeast Toyota Distributors dedicated a new vehicle processing facility at JAXPORT's Blount Island Marine Terminal in April 2026. The company put the investment at $170 million and said the facility created more than 400 full-time jobs, most of them hired locally.
What it may mean for the marketA large new employment center on Blount Island adds sustained local job demand, a factor that has historically supported nearby housing absorption. The project is about 15 miles northeast of Ortega Forest, elsewhere in Duval County.
Source: JAXPORT - April 2026Development
Hillwood seeks to mass-grade an AllianceFlorida site for a possible 1 million-square-foot building
Hillwood asked to mass grade a site at AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center to prepare for a possible 1 million-square-foot building, a step that typically precedes a large industrial or distribution user committing to the Westside park.
What it may mean for the marketA build-ready million-square-foot pad points to a potential large employer on the Westside, the kind of jobs anchor that can lift demand for nearby housing. The site is about 10 miles west of Ortega Forest.
Source: Jax Daily Record
Summaries reflect public reporting and official sources linked above as of the dates shown. Project details, timelines, and approvals can change. Commentary on potential market effects is general observation, not investment advice or a prediction for any specific property. For the freshest items across the whole region, see This Week in Northeast Florida.
The Ortega Forest buying strategy.
If we were buying in Ortega Forest today, this is the order of operations we would run for our clients.
Underwrite the condition first. Price the roof, HVAC, and systems honestly before judging any list price; condition swings value here more than square footage alone.
Match the home to real comps. Recent sales of similar condition and lot, not the asking price, tell you what a home is worth.
Move deliberately, not desperately. Neither side has a decisive edge, so a well-prepared, fairly-priced offer wins without overpaying.
Line up financing and inspection early. A pre-approval and an inspection plan let you act fast and negotiate from evidence.
Keep an agent in your corner. The listing agent works for the seller; we represent you and prepare a hand-built valuation before any offer in Ortega Forest.
Reading a Thin Market
Two numbers in this snapshot pull in opposite directions and both are true at once: median price is up 146% since 2012, but down 18% over the past year. The long-run gain reflects over a decade of market movement across many more transactions; the year-over-year figure is drawn from just 20 closings, a small enough sample that mix -- which specific homes happened to close -- matters as much as any shift in underlying value. Neither number should be read in isolation.
The current inventory picture reinforces that this is not a high-volume market to read casually: one active listing against 875 total homes. With homestead exemptions filed on 86.4% of the housing stock, most of this inventory is owner-occupied rather than held as investment or rental property, which is part of why so little comes to market at any given time. When something does list, it tends to move -- 29 median days on market -- but buyers and sellers alike are working with a small data set, not a deep, liquid pipeline of comparable sales.
The location and the amenities are priced into every listing in Ortega Forest. The deal is won or lost on condition, the comps, and the renovation math.
Momentum Buy Score.
Our proprietary 0 to 10 read across the factors that decide how a home in Ortega Forest buys, holds, and resells. Momentum Research; not an appraisal.
Momentum Intelligence Scores are our proprietary, qualitative assessment on a 0 to 10 scale, built from the record-level market data on this page. They are a framework for comparing communities, not a guarantee of future value and not advice on a specific home; unlike an automated value estimate they do not price your home, they grade the community on evidence you can inspect. Composite is the plain average of the 5 factors (6.9). Basis: Long-Term Appreciation +137% since 2012; Recent Direction -19.5% year-over-year; Liquidity & Demand 1.1 months of supply; Owner Commitment 86% owner-occupied; Pricing Power 95.8% sale-to-list. Refreshed with each data update.
Why work with Momentum here
With only 20 closings behind the current median and a single home active at any given time, this is not a neighborhood where a generic online estimate holds up -- the spread in home age (1938 to 2024) and living area around a 2,748 sqft median means two comparable-looking closings can price very differently. That is exactly the kind of market where a hand-prepared valuation, built off the specific home and the specific recent comps rather than a blended average, is worth the extra step before pricing a listing or writing an offer.
Ortega Forest in 15 seconds.
HOA, CDD & Fees
- No CDD
- Mandatory HOA. Confirm current dues
- Any club/amenity membership is billed separately
Confirm the current HOA dues, exactly what they cover, and any CDD bond or special assessment for a specific address before you offer.
Ortega Forest is served by the Ortega Forest Neighborhood Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with voluntary annual household contributions of $75, used to maintain and beautify the neighborhood's three entrances. This is a voluntary neighborhood association, not a mandatory HOA with deeded covenants shown on the site.
Page states no CDD.
Tools for a Ortega Forest buy.
Free calculators to pressure-test the real cost before you tour.
Selling here is won on condition and pricing to real comps, not an automated estimate. The right number comes from closed Ortega Forest sales matched to your home.
Price it to the comps and condition, not an automated estimate.
If you are thinking about selling in Ortega Forest, the right list price comes from recent comparable sales matched to your home's condition and location, not an automated estimate.
What is your Ortega Forest home worth?
Get a no-obligation home value based on real comparable sales in Ortega Forest, not an automated guess. Tell us about your home and we will personally prepare your numbers and a pricing strategy. No obligation, no spam.
See homes for sale in Ortega Forest on the map →
Price History: What Homes Here Have Actually Sold For
Median sale prices in Ortega Forest Jacksonville year by year since 2012, from closed MLS sales. Long-run history beats any single estimate: it shows what this community has actually done through rate cycles, not what a model guesses.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the median home price in Ortega Forest?
How long do homes in Ortega Forest take to sell?
Is Ortega Forest a buyer's or seller's market right now?
How many homes are in Ortega Forest?
What share of Ortega Forest is owner-occupied?
When were the homes in Ortega Forest built?
Have Ortega Forest home prices gone up?
What schools serve Ortega Forest?
Who is the best real estate agent for Ortega Forest?
How do I find a top Jacksonville real estate agent who knows Ortega Forest?
Can Momentum Realty connect me with an agent for Ortega Forest?
Should you buy in Ortega Forest?
An honest fit check. We will tell you when it is not your community.
Nearby Communities
Explore more neighborhoods near Ortega Forest with Momentum Realty’s local guides.
Data sources & freshness
| Live listings | realMLS, refreshed twice daily (last: August 23, 2026) |
| Community market stats | realMLS closed sales, 12-month windows ending August 23, 2026 |
| Housing stock & ownership | Florida DOR 2025 assessment roll (street-list match (4 streets, ZIP 32210)) |
| Under-contract shares | realMLS records, as of 2026-08-18 |
| Schools | 2025-26 district assignments + FLDOE school grades; verify with the district |
| Historical depth | Closed-sale records back to 2001 (652 transactions analyzed) |
Verify the primary sources yourself: Florida DOR · U.S. Census · FEMA flood maps · Citizens Property Insurance.
Momentum Research figures are our own analysis of realMLS records; MLS data is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Methodology: how Momentum market scores are computed. Market metrics describe homes for sale and recent sales, not residents.
Own a home here?
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The numbers on this page move markets in the aggregate. The number that matters to you is what a buyer pays for your address. Momentum sells for 1.25% above the realMLS member average and 8 days faster, and we’ll price yours against live your area comps.
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See how Ortega Forest fits the bigger picture — live prices, inventory, and Momentum Scores: