We have visited another 55 community called Seasons at Lake Lanier near Gainesville, GA.  These homes are being built by Levitt and Sons.  The model homes are built and open for tours.  However, the club house has not been built yet.  Although they offer a video for viewing of the proposed club house, we were disappointed not to be able to view the proposed amenities.  They offer two and three bedroom homes.  Most of the homes are built with add-ons so you get to see first hand what options are available.  So, many of these features are not included in the base price quote.  We found the three bedroom homes to be quite spacious.  They do have completed and furnished basements which is an option in their home designs.  Their interior design team has done an outstanding job in furnishing these homes giving you insight into how your basement could be utilized.  Some are set up as game rooms with full bars, media rooms, or additional living space.  They do offer the option of completly finishing the basement space.  This 55+ community is located off the main road close to a very busy section filled with restaurants, grocery stores, automobile dealerships, etc. before reaching downtown Gainesville.  Upon entering the subdivision, I didn’t get the feeling of being in a resort community as I have with other retirement communities we have visited because of the proximity to the busy road.  However, this community will have fewer built homes (approximately 745) which could be appealing.

Looking forward to going down to Del Webb’s Lifestyle Seminar for their new 55+ active adult community on Lake Oconee.  I signed up on their web site, and got an invitation for Friday August 3rd. The meeting is going to be at the Ritz Carlton Lodge at Reynolds Plantation, so that will also give me a chance to visit that property that I have heard so much about.

This will be my first trip to Lake Oconee. I recently visited Lake Sinclair down hwy 441 at Milledgeville. They told me both Lake Oconee and Lake Sinclair have pretty constant lake levels which at mainted by Georgia Power. So the lake does not go way down in Winter or even a draught, like some other Georgia lakes. One of my friends is almost a professional fisherman entering fishing contests all over the country, and he says the fishing is great. Well I haven’t fished too much since I was a kid, but it would be fun to do again.

I wonder if the Lake Oconee Del Webb community will have a 35,000 square foot club-recreation-activities center with a lifestyle director like their property at the Village at Deaton Creek up by Chateau Elan NE of Atlanta?  I will find out.

Will be interesting also to see how the dock and association owned boats will work. Do you just pay a fee to use them?  If so, that may not be a bad idea.  As a former boat owner $$, I think I would rather rent.

Is it true they may be building their own town with this 55+ community?  That would be nice.  I am sure there must be already a good many stores and restaurants with all the other lake property homes and communities there at Reynolds Plantation.  As far as I know this will be the first Active Adult Community at Lake Oconee.

I hope they have some of the same model home plans that I saw at Deaton Creek. They had eveything we always dreamed of. My wife really like the cabinets in the kitchen and master bath.

I will take plenty of pictures and make a report when I return. In the meantime, I will try to find out more about the Lake Oconee community.

My husband and I recently became interested in checking out the 55+ communities.  I had seen advertisements about such communities in Florida and was excited to see these communities being developed in the State of Georgia.  We have now visited several communities by different developers and have increased our knowledge of active adult communities. Our lastest visit was to Deaton Creek near Chateau Elan, just north of Atlanta.  This development is built by Pulte/Del Webb and it is quite impressive.  These homes offer many features that are standard while considered an upgrade by other developers.  We were quite impressed with the cabinetry in the kitchens and baths.  Granite counter tops, lots of storage drawers and cabinets in both the kitchen and baths.  I was most excited about the size of the kitchens in several of the models.  Work areas were spacious and designed for those of us who still enjoy cooking and entertaining families and friends. The floor plans varied in size and offered either two or three bedrooms.  The largest three bedroom plan offers three full baths and one half bath.  We also toured the club house which was recently opened to the residents.  WOW.  From exercising, swimming, to cooking classes, this club house will offer most any activity you can imagine.  They even have a dog park and a park for your grandkids when they visit.   I would highly recommend you visit this community as you continue your search for retirement living.  We look forward to visiting additional  Georgia communities and adding comments about these visits. 

Georgia Active Adult Communities

Mary Ann and I visited the Del Webb active adult community The Village at Deaton Creek this week and were very impressed with the new activity center which opened last week and the model homes. The Village at Deanton Creek is located north east of Atlanta. For locals it is up I-85 on the exit for Chateau Elan and Road Atlanta.  This whole area has become a great area for active adults.

The activity center is a good name because club house does not do justice to this 35,000 square foot building.  It is the largest of its kind in Georgia. All the features and activities reminded us of being on a cruise. The lifestyle director gave us a tour.  We were not ready or expecting such a wonderful facility. It has everything.  The communities marketing material has this say: This active adult oasis, known as “The Club at Deaton Creek,” has been specifically designed to enhance and expand the active lifestyle for our current and future residents.” They are not exaggerating.

The entrance is grand and has a registration/service desk and lounging area like a lodge you would see out West maybe in Yellowstone or Montana. Soaring ceilings and wall of glass to the back overlooking the terrace and the river.

The Grand Ballroom is huge and could be separated by rooms but I could see a community gathering for a dance or party taking place here. At one end a group of about 30 residents were playing bridge when we attended. At the other end of this large ballroom was a professional cooking demo room, like you would see at Whole Foods.

The crafts room was actually two colorful rooms and had facilities for ceramic making including a kiln. Also a library/Wall Street Room with wireless Internet access.

The fitness area was huge, again set up like on a cruise ship only much bigger.  Nautilus equipment arranged to look out through the walls of glass. Flat screen TVs and plug ins for music and video.  At the end of the building was a Junior Olympics size indoor heated pool.  Adjoining locker and changing rooms were beautiful.

Outdoors there are upper and lower terraces just outside and part of the activity center overlooking the natural area and river.  Seating groups of wicker were arranged. Good place to sit with friends or by yourself to read a book. This area reminded us of a lodge we stayed at last year in Alaska. Oh, at the end is a huge outdoor swimming pool.

We did a home made video if you would like to take a look. This is our first video so please overlook the technical part but I think it will give you a good feel for the activity center.  For more information on The Village at Deaton Creek visit their website. For more reviews of active adult communities in Georgia.

With this community, you get both the advantages of a an active adult community and also small town living, even though it is part of metro Atlanta GA.

Robert and Mary Ann
SmallTownRetirement.com

I toured the brand new 35,000 activity center at the Village at Deaton Creek. This is a new Del Webb 55 and better community located near Chateau Elan, northeast of Atlanta, GA. 

 This activity center is wonderful  Take a look at the live video I taped this week.
Village at Deaton Creek Activity Center.   I promise you have never seen anything like this. It is the largest of it’s type in Georgia. There are walking trails, tennis complex, mini-parks and a lifestyle director who will coordinate social activities in the community. The bridge club was meeting in part of the ball room when I was there. The Junior Olymic indoor pool looks great. Out pool has plenty of decking and chairs. 

Robert, SmallTownRetirement.com

In a 100 mile radius around Atlanta GA, Boomers and Seniors will have their choice of several new 55+ retirement communities that are under construction right now. Georgia is one of the best states to retire to if the number of new retirement communities and the high number of Internet search inquiries are considered.  Many people who relocated to Florida are now coming back up to Georgia because they are just getting hammered on the high costs of property taxes and home insurance.  Atlanta metro area is now home to over 5 million people and as is the case nationwide, people like to retire to a community close by.  Parents are retiring to Georgia to be close to their adult children who found jobs there as the econony grew over the last few years.

Del Webb/Plute has three very nice communities under way and Levitt and Sons also have three active adult communities in progress. These offer numerous amenities, modern recreational facilities, breathtaking surroundings and livable home designs that make active adult communities a great place to live and relax.

One exciting community is Del Webb on Lake Oconee.  This community will offer great access to Lake Oconee where I understand fishing is wonderful on this large relatively shallow GA lake  Del Webb at Lake Oconee will offer more than 850 homes located across 400 acres bordering Lake Oconee and adjacent to award-winning Reynolds Plantation. 55 Plus Lake Property Retirement Communities are hard to find. Look for this community to be available in late Summer but you can get more info at the link above as well as get on their email list for announcements and invitations to visit. Lake Oconee is situated 75 miles east of Atlanta on Lake Oconee in Greensboro, Georgia.

Sun City Peachtree Pulte/Del Webb’s Vikek is directing the development of Georgia’s first Sun City Retirement Community in Spalding County on the south side of Atlanta Georgia. It will be a 3,400 homesite community and will include a 38,000 square foot amenity center, a championship gold course and a softball field.

Levitt and Sons has active adult communities in these locations, all within close proximity to metro Atlanta:

Seasons at Laurel Canyon (Cherokee County) by Levitt & Sons is located in Canton GA and has 766 home sites on 350 acres. The prices are $200,000 to $400, 000 based the floor plans and lots. It features a large clubhouse that will be the center of social and physical activities.

Seasons at Lake Lanier (Hall County) by Levitt & Sons is located in Gainesville GA. There are 744 homesites on 410 acres. This is an Active Adult 55 Plus community located on Lake Lanier. Prices are $200,000 to $400,000 and up. The model homes are now available for touring. If you get a chance take a visit and I think you will be impressive with the location and the wonderful livable floor plans and designs. Again, lake property retirement communities are hard to find.

Seasons at Seven Hills (Paulding County) by Levitt & Sons is located in Dallas Georgia on the Western edges of metro Atlanta. There are 724 homesites. Prices range from $200,000 to $400,000.

In addition many local builders are developing communities of the 55+ type or offer nearly the same amenities like ranch style or master on main, walking trails, swim/tennis with clubhouse. On such community is Mountain View located off Hwy 140 East of Canton. Several builders in this community. Price ranges in the low $200s to $300,000. RL Glosson Homes 678-493-0696 is one of the builders. There are two sections,  Autumn Ridge at the top with wonderful mountain views and Creekside. Mountain View is located on the top of a high ridge with wonderful mountain vistas. Mountain property in the metro area - nice!

Make a weekend visit to tour these communities and take a look at the model homes, clubhouse and other amenities.  I think you will be impressed.

For more information visit  Active Adults communities in Georgia
For information about retirement communities inside the Perimeter in the City of Atlanta 

Robert Fowler
55 Plus Communities

I recently tour the 10 model homes set up in the  Levitt & Sons new Active Adults 55 Plus communities on Lake Lanier in Northeast Georgia.  A number of features were impressive and nice to see all in each home. Each was decorated with dazzling style, even flamboyance. 

Besides the furnishing, they were build with the livable designs in mind, those things that make a home more livable, that is more comfortable, easier and safer for independent living. These were nice!

Most were ranch style homes (one level) with no steps.  A deck or screened porch is also a nice feature when you are spending a lot of time at home. This gives up a place to go outside the normal living space to breathe some fresh air and get a change of pace.

Several have finished basements suites to die for!  One had a large bar, pool table, game table, and full bath and bedroom for guests. Some had a full media room complete with stadium chairs. These terrace levels didn’t look like a basement at all. They had nice Berber carpet, recessed lightening, and colorful walls trimmed expertly. Bay and other windows gave plenty of lights and visuals to the outside.

The back yards had fireplace, sitting groups, gazebo and professional landscaping.

Interior floor plans include the open kitchen, an extra room or two that could be used as a den family room, or office.

These active adult communities really are offering up some attractive features that us baby boomers will appreciate.

Robert Fowler
SmallTownRetirement.com

Just returned from a trip to Lake Hartwell Georgia.  Beautiful day on the lake.  Saw many lake homes and cabins along the shoreline as well as many undeveloped areas.  The couple we visited has had their lake front cabins for years.  They are retiring but do not plan to live their full time but just make more visits during the week from their home in Hamilton Mill near Atlanta.

The good part about being retired is that you can visit the lake during the week when it is much less crowded and the party makers have long gone.  So they are just going to “Retire” to the lake during the week.  They say they may entertain more at the lake house as they have more time to do so.  The 24 foot pontoon boat was a blast.

So I learned that a retirement home does not only have to be full time. They are enjoying theirs whenever they want to.

Located 30 miles North of Atlanta up GA 400, Dahlonega is at the base of the North Georgia Mountain.  For anyone moving from Metro Atlanta Dahlonega is worth a visit and consideration of a place to move to.   It is far enough away from the hustle and bustle of the city, yet your could meet your Atlanta friends for lunch. With the way the growth is heading north, you should be right at home sooner than you like.

When it comes time to retire in Georgia, many people just look North to the Georgia Mountains, a short distance from Atlanta.  You are still in your home state and can easily visit the metro Atlanta area to visit friends or attractions.  Also you can get to know the new area where you will be living full time even before your move by making frequent visits to get to know the area. 

 My friends Jim and Jean did just that.  Knowing they would like to move to the North part of the state, Jim got a transfer to the Gainesville office a few years before his retirement date.  This put them in a perfect situation to go ahead and move up to Banks County Georgia, where they build a perfect retirement home with screen porch overlooking a stream on five areas.  This worked out so good Jim even delayed his retirement since he almost felt he was retired.   This transition to a new area by relocating his job worked out for the best. 

Jim and Jean visit us in Alpharetta or we just meet in Gainesville dinner,  half way for each for us.  Really it is not harder to get together with them now than it was when they lived in DeKalb County. 

They both live living in the North GA mountains even thought there are some inconveniences.  Jean says the water supply line has broken many times to their home and the major just keeping making repairs rather than run new lines that are needed.  She says he has a “small town mind” about things and just looks as people like them as complaining “wealthy people from Atlanta”, which she says they are not.  However building a barn and getting a horse, chopping your own firewood from your property and just listening to the crickets perform a symphony from your swing on your screened in porch makes in all worth it.

Jim and Jean knew what they wanted and went for it.  I know I and others who envy them.

Georgia has many interesting small towns and places to live away from the city.  North Georgia mountains especially have appeal for many people.  If you are familiar with any of the towns in North Georgia, please leave give us your assessment of the area.