Market Report - Lake Oconee Georgia
It’s one thing to drive around in a car exploring golf resorts near Atlanta and quite another to get out on a lake, to see what all the fuss is about living on one of Georgia’s best lakes. Our travels this time took us to Central Georgia. After we arrived in Greensboro with camera in hand, we didn’t waste anytime launching our kayaks to catch a boater’s perspective of warm Lake Oconee. The lake is huge spreading across 19,000 acres. Waterskiers and wave boarders playfully skirted around us, with big smiles on their faces. The majority of the shoreline is forested or bordered by golf courses, boat houses, lakefront homes and the famous Ritz-Carlton Lodge at Reynolds Plantation.
It’s no wonder Atlantan's who own Lake Oconee real estate beeline to the lake on the weekends. The laid back lifestyle is definitely relaxing. While the long summer days can reach 90 degrees, folks who enjoy a true lake lifestyle in the water wouldn’t want it any other way. There are 13 Lake Oconee golf courses on the lake which can be played year round. Quality medical care, excellent restaurants and extraordinary golf surround the lake. A new St. Mary's Hospital broke ground in August, less than five minutes from Reynolds and the Harbor Club. Lake Oconee Village is a 600 acre pedestrian friendly retail complex with a Publix, delicious restaurants, banks, doctors, boutiques and a movie theater.
Buyers searching golf resorts near Atlanta will find these lake communities of interest:
REYNOLDS PLANTATION
We've had our eye on Reynolds Plantation for years. To us, we consider the lake community to be the benchmark of large master planned communities. For about $700 a month, look at the amenities you have access to as a club member. You play six championship golf courses, access six resort-style swimming pools, five clubhouses with restaurants, 16 tennis courts with a stadium, work out at their state of the art wellness center, boat of the lake from four full service marinas, enjoy the Ritz-Carlton Lodge and participate in dozens of self-organized social clubs. To me, this resort-style lake community is a bargain. Let’s compare it to where we live in Florida. We live in a condominium on the beach and our monthly dues and HOA fees are $508. What amenities do we have? A heated resort-style swimming pool, small clubhouse and beach access. As much as we love the beach, the country club lifestyle communities like Reynolds offers is a topic of debate between my husband and I as we consider where to retire.
Consolidation, downsizing and restructuring are words Baby Boomers like me have heard enough of this decade. Reynolds Plantation was not immune and endured its own financial restructuring. During the frozen credit market in 2010, Reynolds was denied renewal financing from a number of banks despite their stellar credit rating leaving the community vulnerable. In August, bargain hunter MetLife announced it had acquired Reynolds Plantation golf clubs and amenities. This is a long term win for the community.
Reynolds Plantation reports almost 100 sales in 2012 as smart buyers gobbled up undervalued Lake Oconee homes during the restructuring period. Prior to the acquisition, property owners were worried membership and HOA fees would increase drastically. During our visit, there was a sense of joy and peace among the employees about MetLife’s new presence at Reynolds. The community looked fantastic and is well maintained. Although Georgian’s account for more than 1/2 the purchases at Reynolds, a large number of Floridian’s dodging coastal hurricanes are drawn to this Georgia lake community along with folks from high cost of living states.
You can find a variety of home styles and price points at Reynolds. Ask us to introduce you to our trusted colleague who has lived at Reynolds for decades and can arrange accommodations for you. When you get there, don’t just drive around looking at homes. Be sure to get out on Lake Oconee by boat, jet ski or kayak. We submit the perspective from the water will make you appreciate this gorgeous Georgia lake.
CUSCOWILLA ON LAKE OCONEE
After visiting hundreds of the best master planned communities, our eye brows raise whenever we discover somewhere truly unique. Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee has got style, Italian style that is. Tuscany architecture accents two fascinating restaurants jumping off the pages of a travel magazine. Both Waterside Restaurant & Veranda Cafe overlook Lake Oconee. Equally as interesting is the contemporary golf clubhouse and Golf House Grill. The second floor of this round building has floor to ceiling panorama windows. Sitting here is a hypnotizing place to enjoy views of the outdoors while sipping a glass of wine or having dinner. Additional amenities include two lakeside resort-style swimming pools, Typhoon Tommy’s kids club and two tennis courts.
While the lake is no doubt the major attraction, Cuscowilla’s golf course has been repeatedly recognized as one of the best Georgia golf courses.This walkable golf course weaves through fragrant pine trees, tall natural grasses and rolling meadows. Challenging red clay bunkers are impressive immediately intimidating even the best golfers. This debt free gated community also caters to vacation travelers, attracting avid golfers and brides seeking unique venues on Lake Oconee. Buyer’s looking for Lake Oconee real estate in a charming Georgia lake community will find golf cottages in the mid $200k’s, lakeside villas and single family homes on Lake Oconee. Ask about being our guest at one of the most unusual golf resorts near Atlanta.
HARBOR CLUB AT LAKE OCONEE
At first, we suspected this Georgia lake community was an equestrian community identified by the polo style logo painted on a water tower dotting the sky. The Carriage House beyond the community’s gated entrance was an equestrian stable for the developer years prior. Today, the Carriage House is a social venue for weddings and community events. Golf and lake amenities best define Harbor Club at Lake Oconee along with affordable homes. Members of the golf club have reciprocal privileges at a dozen Affiniti Golf Partner courses.
This debt free gated community is well established and the majority of the residents live here year round keeping everyone closely connected. This year marks Harbor Club’s 20th anniversary. Community amenities include an award winning golf course, clubhouse and restaurant, swimming pool, tennis courts and marina nearby. Plans are on the drawing board to build a new community pavilion overlooking Lake Oconee offering kayaks, canoes and paddleboards converting the existing marina into dry dock storage. The community’s social calendar is filled with family events and seasonal activities. Home styles range from low maintenance townhomes to luxury estate lakefront homes. Believe it or not, townhomes can be found in the low $100k’s. Ask us for Discovery Package information.
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