By Lindsay Field Penticuff

From plentiful bocce ball and pickleball courts to beautifully designed homes and unmatched amenities surrounding neighborhoods, there’s a number of reasons to love the many 55+ communities popping up all across metro Atlanta. But don’t take our word for it—check out what onsite community agents and local active adult homeowners have to say about the communities in which they live, work and thrive each and every day.

Hickory Bluffs by Lennar
Canton, Cherokee County

Onsite Agents: Shelley Call and Kelly Forman

What is your favorite part of serving this community as an onsite agent?

We are honored to be able to work with so many interesting and funny homeowners. They have amazing life stories, and we love hearing each and every one of them. It touches our hearts that they have chosen us to assist them in making their decision to live at Hickory Bluffs.

How do you describe the residences available in the neighborhood?

We offer one-level, well-thought-out ranch homes with an open concept for ease of mobility and stunning finishes. We also offer the option for a loft/bed/bath upstairs for visiting guests, family or grandchildren.

What are some of the home features that really stand out for buyers?

It’s so easy and effortless to buy a home here. We include all the finishes. From quartz, granite, luxury vinyl plank flooring and tile in all the bathrooms to stainless steel appliances, crown molding, beautiful baseboards, trey ceilings, fans, covered porches, zero-entry garages and connected home products by Ring, our homebuyers just have to choose which home is the best for them. We also add zero-entry showers and blinds as options. And they know what their price is on their first visit, as opposed to going to a lengthy, draining and potentially expensive design center appointment.

What are some of the community amenities that residents are excited about?

The clubhouse is absolutely stunning and features a zero-entry lap pool, fitness center, two kitchens, reading room, tech room, movie room, game room, main common social areas, elevator, offices, conference room, covered decks with rocking chairs and outdoor furniture. We feature three pickleball courts and four lighted tennis courts, as well as sidewalks on both sides of the streets, and we will have gated entrances. Our community will also feature lawn service, including mowing, weed control, trimming of bushes, edging and pine straw on a regular basis.

How do you describe the surrounding community in which the neighborhood resides? What kinds of resources are available nearby for homeowners?

Everything! Lennar was very selective to have this property as an active adult community due to all the necessary resources our homeowners want and need. The grocery store, U.S. Post Office, Home Depot, shopping, banks, drugstores, veterinarians and more than 65 restaurants are all within minutes of our community. Northside Hospital Cherokee is also located one exit up at Canton Marketplace behind Target, Lowes, Bed Bath & Beyond, Kirkland’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods and so much more. We are located in Cherokee County, where there are tax benefits for seniors.

What do you want people to know most about the community?

It’s about lifestyle and relaxation. Our homeowners have worked hard their entire lives, and now it’s about enjoying their time with their families, relaxing, socializing and traveling worry-free thanks to access to extensive yard maintenance.

What is on tap for the future of the community?

We are currently developing our future phases and anticipate releasing them this year.

Echols Farm by Windsong Properties
Hiram, Paulding County

Onsite Agent: Joyce Schell

What is your favorite part of serving this community as an onsite agent?

The part of serving in this community that I really love is helping the active adult buyer live the lifestyle of their dreams as they enter a new chapter of their life.

How do you describe the residences available in the neighborhood?

Echols Farm currently offers a choice of six beautiful floor plans. We build ranch homes with plenty of main-level living. If you need more square footage, we offer the possibility of adding additional living space with a second floor bonus room and bath.

What are some of the home features that really stand out for buyers?

When walking through a Windsong Properties home, the feature that I think buyers notice first is the amount of natural light brought into our homes by the use and placement of wonderfully sized windows. Our homes feel very welcoming and open. Another feature active adults love is our walk-in shower, complete with a bench seat. Wide doorways also make our homes accessible, and our attic space is accessed by a permanent stairway.

What are some of the community amenities that residents are excited about?

Echols Farm is rich in amenities. We have a two-story farm-style clubhouse sitting on a lovely pond with a water fountain and sidewalks circling the pond. Coming later this year is an event barn, which is a replica of the original farmhouse that today will be used as a makerspace, as well as two bocce ball and three pickleball courts.

How do you describe the surrounding community in which the neighborhood resides? What kinds of resources are available nearby for homeowners?

Our community is conveniently located close to a hospital and many medical offices. There are various grocery stores in proximity, plus big box stores and a lovely outdoor boutique area. Outdoor activities are nearby at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park and on the Silver Comet Trail, as well as on Allatoona Lake.

What do you want people to know most about the community?

Echols Farm is a welcoming community, where homeowners connect through the activities and common threads they share. It is a place you can take a deep breath and feel like they are taking a step into the past when people sat on the front porch and visited.

What is on tap for the future of the community?

The future is exciting with such enthusiasm from our buyers at Echols Farm. We are about halfway through building out our community of 250 homes. We have recently opened phase three of our four phases, and we have released our final lots on the pond.

Lake Arrowhead
Waleska, Cherokee County

Homeowners: Donna and Craig Lownes

What drew you to this community?

There were several factors. We wanted to be closer to the mountains yet still be close to conveniences. We had been to the area several times and really enjoyed our time here. And we were looking for a slower pace of life.

How would you describe your residence?

We found a floor plan and a builder that fit our goals for a new home. We wanted lots of natural light and space, but not too big of a home. We also wanted an outdoor area that took advantage of the trees that are around us.

What are some of the features in your home that really stand out to you?

The back of our house is filled with windows, so our home is filled with sunlight. Our kitchen has a wonderful island and bank of cabinets with tons of storage. The fireplace with the rough beam mantle makes a great focal point in the family area, and we can’t wait to sit on our screened porch and have the fireplace going.

What are some of the community amenities that you enjoy most?

While we were building our home, we ate at Highlands Grill and were impressed! We love the great festival area and options of the different hiking trails in the community. We are looking forward to using the lake. We met our neighbors while building our home, and they have been so welcoming and friendly. We can’t wait to meet more of the community.

How do you describe the surrounding community in which the neighborhood resides? What kinds of resources are available to you nearby?

We have yet to find a meal that disagrees with us. Canton has some of the best restaurants around. We have also gone to several of the performances offered at Reinhardt University and really enjoyed them. The town of Canton seems to have a lot of great activities going on year-round. We seem to find something new to try each week.

How do you describe your lifestyle now that you have selected Lake Arrowhead?

It’s less stressful with a slower pace and more spontaneity. We are thoroughly enjoying our new home, and our friends and family say that we seem so content. We looked a long time for a new place to call home. On a lark one day, we ended up in the Canton area and found Lake Arrowhead, and it seemed like home as soon as we came through the gate.

Soleil Belmont Park by Patrick Malloy Communities
Canton, Cherokee County

Homeowners: Rich and Terri Miramonti

What drew you to this community?

We were looking for an active adult community without the “cookie cutter” feel of tiny little homes on tiny little lots. We knew we wanted it to provide top-notch amenities so we could prioritize fitness and fun as a part of making new friends.

How do you describe your residence?

It is a stepless ranch with Craftsman influences.

What are some of the features in your home that really stand out to you?

The plan is so open and airy and perfect for entertaining. We don’t feel we have downsized our living areas. We love the tall ceilings, our covered porches and some high-end options that you usually don’t see in 55+ communities. Our dogs love the large, level backyard, too!

What are some of the community amenities that you enjoy most?

We are anxiously awaiting the construction of our five-acre amenities complex, including the large clubhouse, a pool with cabanas, tennis and pickleball courts and other gathering areas.

How do you describe the surrounding community in which the neighborhood resides? What kinds of resources are available to you nearby?

We love the location! We can easily access nearby towns like Canton, Alpharetta, Ball Ground and Cumming, and shopping, parks and restaurants are only a few miles away.

How do you describe your lifestyle now that you have selected Soleil Belmont Park?

We no longer spend our weekends doing things like yardwork and home maintenance. We can prioritize spending time with family and neighbors in a beautifully planned and maintained community with all sorts of options to be entertained without leaving the neighborhood.

New 55+ Communities Abound in Metro Atlanta

Are you an active adult who’s ready to find your dream home in metro Atlanta? Check out these fantastic new home communities as you begin your search:

Soleil Belmont Park and Soleil Summit Chase

Patrick Malloy Communities offers low-maintenance well-designed homes and resort-style amenities at two 55+ communities: Soleil Belmont Park in Canton (from the $500s) and Soleil Summit Chase in Snellville (from the $400s).  Each community offers a clubhouse with a coffee bar, health and fitness center, catering kitchen, arts and crafts studio, club/card room and a community post office. Homeowners enjoy a resort-style pool, pickleball courts, bocce ball, a community garden and walking trails.

Lakeside at River Green

Lakeside at River Green is the newest development from John Wieland and his experienced team at the JW Collection. Located in Canton’s best master-planned community of River Green, Lakeside at River Green is a gated active adult community featuring luxury single-family homes from the $500s to the $700s. Homeowners will enjoy River Green’s wide array of resort-style amenities and exclusive access to Evermore, a new members-only, age-qualified clubhouse.

The Artisan at Victory

Homes are available now at this intimate, gated active adult neighborhood in Acworth, The Artisan at Victory, offering home plans designed for main-level living. This charming neighborhood features sidewalk-lined streets with lake cottage-inspired ranch homes and offers a community garden, a gathering pavilion, a scenic walking trail around a small lake and bocce ball courts. Homes are available from the high $400s.

The Gardens at Arbor Springs

This award-winning community was honored by the Greater Atlanta Homebuilders Association as the 2021 55+ Community of the Year. The Gardens at Arbor Springs features European courtyard homes built by award-winning McKinney Builders. Priced from the high $700s, buyers can downsize without downgrading in homes that include high-end features such as Geothermal heating and cooling and Pella Windows.

The Lake Society

Coming soon is The Lake Society, the first-of-its-kind active adult community located on the shores of Lake Lanier in Gainesville. This 211-acre development will feature 373 single-family homes and a marina with 130 boat slips. The proposed 12,000-square-foot amenity package includes a state-of-the-art clubhouse with an indoor pool, crafts room, catering kitchen, boardroom, movement studio and cardio and strength training center. Outdoors, homeowners will enjoy a zero-entry pool, a lazy river, tennis courts, pickleball, bocce ball, an event lawn and onsite RV storage—all on the shores of Lake Lanier.

Sales and Marketing by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties New Homes Division BHHSgaNewHomes.com