Metro Atlanta’s Active Adult Communities Bring Health and Wellness Home
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Adam Cornett, Atlanta Division vice president for David Weekley Homes, knows exactly what home buyers over the age of 55 want for themselves in the coming year. “Today’s active adults are looking for new beginnings,” he says. “They want opportunities to socialize with their neighbors, beautiful homes where they can make memories of this great chapter of their lives and surrounding communities where they can explore.” If this sounds like you, then you are in luck, as metro Atlanta has become one of the hottest markets when it comes to active adult real estate. Communities for those 55 and older are popping up seemingly everywhere, as local homebuilders recognize the specific needs of home buyers in this purchasing segment and strive to accommodate them. And each new community offers its own unique take on the active adult lifestyle. All you have to do is find one that’s the right fit. To help you get your search underway, check out the following builders and developments and how they can help make 2022 the year of you.
David Weekley Homes
“If we’ve learned anything from 2020 and 2021, it’s the value of thoughtfully crafted homes in well-rounded communities,” Cornett notes. And to serve the 55+ market in particular, David Weekley Homes has a dedicated adult division: Encore by David Weekley Homes. This division of the 45-year-old company strives to create active adult communities that offer a vibrant lifestyle paired with low-maintenance living. Currently, the company is building three 55+ communities in metro Atlanta; they are Heritage at Towne Lake and Glenhaven at Ridgewalk in Woodstock and The Retreat at Sterling Lake in Flowery Branch.
“Buyers have been exceedingly pleased with the way we address one-level living so intentionally, including our focus on entertainment-friendly open floor plans, outdoor living spaces, gourmet kitchens, walk-in super showers, zero-entry doorways and the option to add an upstairs bonus room or additional bedrooms to accommodate overnight guests like grandkids,” Cornett states. When you work with the company during the building process, you have the opportunity to collaborate with a professional interior designer to pick the fixtures and finishes that will make your space unique to you and your tastes.
What’s more, each of David Weekley Homes’ active adult communities offers an array of community amenities, from bocce ball and pickleball courts to fitness centers, pools, community gardens and clubhouses with dedicated lifestyle directors. Additionally, every neighborhood is conveniently located close to shopping, dining, entertainment, recreation and medical facilities in the surrounding area, which speaks to the exclusive needs of mature adults.
“David Weekley Homes is continually striving to improve for the benefit of our home buyers and homeowners,” Cornett concludes. “We’re extremely proud of the three active adult communities we have in place, but we’re also eager to see what the future holds for our 55+ home buyers. Because this is such a rapidly growing segment for us, there will likely be more 55+ communities for Atlanta home buyers from David Weekley Homes in the near future.”
Lake Arrowhead
“The great news about downsizing is that every year is a great year to consider active adult communities, as they are not retirement homes, but populated with residents who love life, value their independence and wish to remain as active as they can possibly be,” says Judie Woodall, a managing member of Strategic Real Estate Advisors. “It’s a new journey, new friendships, new beginnings and plenty of options to remain active—physically, mentally and socially—which could lead to a longer, healthier and more fulfilling quality of life.”
Lake Arrowhead, a gated mountain, lake and golf master-planned community located just outside of Canton, has become one of the area’s most popular destinations for home buyers 55 and older, as the ever-growing development offers an unparalleled suite of 55+ homes. According to Woodall, there are exciting new plans and neighborhoods slated to be released in Lake Arrowhead in 2022, all of which would be ideal for a primary residence, second home, weekend getaway or rental opportunity. The options will include lakeview homes, modern mountain cottages, lakeview ranch homes, estate homesites with acreage, expansive mountain and golf view homes and golf villas. Within the homes, you’ll find such features as larger walk-in showers, hands-free faucets, larger pantry space for expanded storage and more. Additionally, outdoor living features like fireplaces, kitchens and large sliding glass doors create a warm and welcoming environment that can have a huge impact on mood, health and overall happiness.
Lake Arrowhead features a 540-acre lake with over 21 miles of shoreline, a marina, lakeside park, hiking trails and more. In addition to the peaceful setting, the community has everything 55+ residents could possibly wish for in a lakeside resort-style community, including a full-time lifestyle director who works onsite to maintain a bustling social calendar. Outdoor and boutique fitness options like Tai Chi, yoga and walking clubs are popular, and Lake Arrowhead offers easy access to the championship Highlands Course, which is considered one of the best golf courses in Georgia.
“We are in the business of delivering dream homes at an affordable price,” Woodall says. “We are driven to create an environment where our property owners love where they live.”
Traton Homes
“2022 will be a great year to consider active adult living because of the wonderful variety of communities in metro Atlanta’s most desirable locations,” says Kimberly Garwood, director of marketing for Traton Homes. “And in 2022, many active adult buyers will move in order to be closer to their children and grandchildren. They also will seek the sense of community that comes from having neighbors that are in a similar stage of life. It’s like college without all of the school work!”
While Traton Homes has been building in the Atlanta market since 1971, the company entered the active adult market in 2018. Today, the company boasts three active adult communities: Courtyards of Camden in West Cobb, Kirk Ridge in Marietta and Courtyards at Ebenezer in East Cobb. And Traton plans to begin building several more 55+ communities in 2022, including Courtyards at Hickory Flat in Canton in Cherokee County and Courtyards at Traditions off of Majors Road in Forsyth County. Each active adult community features its own unique style and fantastic amenities package, including such features as clubhouses, pickleball courts, dog parks and community gathering areas. And the beautifully crafted and well-appointed ranch homes are a study in outstanding active adult living, with open floor plans and spectacular indoor and outdoor living space.
“At Traton, we try to instill the comforts that active adult buyers enjoy in their current home and pair those with the easy living lifestyle and functionality of a new home designed with their needs in mind,” Garwood notes. “For example, our homes feature an owner’s suite, as well as an additional guest bedroom or two, all on the main level. We also maintain landscaping, which means home buyers can leave their lawnmowers behind and enjoy the freedom of a lock-and-leave lifestyle.”
Fifty years of homebuilding experience coupled with a recently defined focus on the active adult market has allowed Traton Homes to become a standout on 55+ real estate scene. Garwood concludes, “From fantastic local amenities such as proximity to great shopping, dining and healthcare to exciting in-community amenities, there is an active adult community to suit every need.”
