Kolter Planned Communities for Retirees

In researching appealing retirement communities around the United States, I have discovered that there are relatively few builders who are involved in this niche market.  As a result, I thought it would be helpful to my readers to do a series of reports on some of the specific developers you may encounter while you are shopping for a retirement home.

When I posted about Cresswind at Lake Lanier recently, I discovered that the developer, Kolter, has also built several other very appealing communities in the Southeastern United States.  Here's a little information about Kolter and the various neighborhoods that they have built.  Not all of these communities are age restricted.  However, they all offer a variety of amenities such as clubhouses, pools and recreational facilities.  In addition, I recognize that some retirees may prefer to live in a neighborhood that is not age restricted ... for example, if they want to share a home with their adult children or they like to live in a more diverse community.

The Kolter Group

Kolter is a real estate development and investment firm that is headquartered in Palm Beach County, Florida.  It has built over 3,400 homes in the Southeast and, when their currrent projects are completed, they will have built about 13,000 residences.

Since I have never personally dealt with this home builder, I thought it would be smart to check the company's Better Business Report.  As of early September, 2013, the BBB rated Kolter Signature Homes, LLC  as A+.  The report said that they received that score based on 16 factors, including the length of time they have been in business (since 1996), general background information, and the fact that there has been no complaints filed with the BBB.  Specifically, there were no complaints regarding advertising and sales, problems with the product, delivery, or their warranty.  There have also been no significant government actions involving Kolter Signature Homes.

In addition to building the homes and developing these master planned communities, Kolter also has a financial services branch that can help you arrange for your mortgage.  However, as a former Realtor, I always recommend that people also meet with their own banker, as well as an independent mortgage broker, before making a final mortgage decision.  While nothing is wrong with using your builder's mortgage company, it is still a good idea to shop around.

Kolter Communities

Cresswind at Victoria Gardens in DeLand, Florida
This is a 55+ age restricted community.  Visit this community and check out the five decorated model homes.  It is also conveniently located near a medical park.

Fairway Cove at Verandah in Fort Myers, Florida
This master planned development includes golf, nature trails, and convenient facilities for fishing and kayaking.  Homes priced from the mid-200,000's.

Cresswind Myrtle Beach in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Live in a Master Planned active adult golf course community that is within an easy bike ride to the ocean.  (The photo of the live oak tree used with this article was taken in the lovely Myrtle Beach area of South Carolina.)

PGA Village Verano in Port St. Lucie, Florida
Do you love the play golf?  This the the ultimate resort style community with 54 holes of PGA championship golf.

Cresswind at Lake Lanier in Gainesville, Georgia
This age restricted over-55 community, which has been previewed separately in this blog, has won more awards than any other adult community near Atlanta, Georgia.  Located on beautiful Lake Lanier, it features both a gorgeous clubhouse as well as a private marina.  Perfect if you want to take your boat with you when you retire!  The homes here start in the low $200,000's.  You can read my separate article on Cresswind at Lake Lanier here.  That article will give you information that applies to the other developments, as well.

You can get more information about these communities through these sources:
http://thekoltergroup.com/kolter-homes/
http://www.cresswind.com/

If you are looking for a place to live after retirement, you may also be interested in checking out the index articles below:

Gifts, Travel and Family Relationships

Great Places for Boomers to Retire Overseas

Great Places to Retire in the United States

Health and Medical Topics for Baby Boomers

Money and Financial Planning for Retirement


You are reading from the blog:  http://baby-boomer-retirement.blogspot.com

Photo of South Carolina live oak tree is courtesy of www.morguefile.com

Cresswind at Lake Lanier Active Adult Community

A few years ago, a Baby Boomer couple we know moved from Southern California to Georgia, just outside of Atlanta.  They were attracted there because of the affordable home prices and the fact that their grown children both live on the East Coast.  The longer they have lived in the Atlanta area, the happier our friends have become with their new home and the Georgia lifestyle ... despite the fact that they have had to grow accustomed to periodic thunderstorms, occasional snow and an abundance of mosquitoes!  They feel that the beauty of the area and the relaxed lifestyle more than compensates for those minor hardships.

Although our friends did not move into an over-55 community, it would have been an easy option for them.  One popular retirement community that is located about an hour's drive northeast of Atlanta is Cresswind on Lake Lanier.   Lake Lanier is nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and is considered one of America's favorite lakes, with several million visitors a year.  The lake has 38,000 surface acres of water and 540 miles of shoreline.  There are numerous golf courses, resorts, restaurants and other recreational facilities located around it.  Being able to retire along the shores of this gorgeous lake is a dream come true for many Baby Boomers.

Amenities at Cresswind

To many retirees, it is not enough to simply have a lake house on the shores of Lake Lanier.  Boomers are also looking forward to an active retirement with a variety of ways to stay busy.  That's exactly what you will find at Cresswind.

Here are some of the features that are making this community especially attractive to active retirees:

Security gated entrance with a stunning waterfall
214 acres of maintained greenspace
Private marina with boat slips for residents
40,000 sq. foot clubhouse
Ballroom
Demonstration kitchen with gourmet cooking classes
Rooftop bar overlooking the lake
Aerobics room
Hobby workshop
Arts and crafts facilities
Learning center
Indoor and outdoor pools
Tennis courts
Walking paths
Billiards
Horseshoe pits
Bocce and pickleball courts
Outdoor movie theatre
Approximately 100 clubs run by homeowners

It is important to note that there is no golf course inside the community of Cresswind, an amenity that many retirees have come to expect.  However, within a short drive there are several gorgeous golf courses that are open to the public.

Home Prices and Features at Cresswind

Home prices range from the low $200,000's to the upper $300,000's for single family homes, which makes this community affordable to many retirees.

Floorplans are available in both two and three bedroom models, some with basements.  Among the features you can expect in your home are:

Granite counters in kitchen
Recessed can lighting
GE appliances
Aritokraft birch cabinetry
Oversized showers
Cultured marble tops in bathrooms
EMC security systems with monitoring included
Shaw Danner hardwood flooring in foyer, kitchen and breakfast rooms
Two car finished garages with LiftMaster garage door openers
Exterior flood lights
3-zone irrigation system             and much, much more!


Because there is no golf course, the monthly Homeowner's Dues are more affordable than in some other communities.  In 2013, they were $269 a month.

Community Recognition

This is an award winning community that has won both local and national recognition:

Named the 50+ Housing Community of the Year in 2012 by the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association.  The community received awards in several categories, including community, building, and marketing.

Chosen by Where to Retire magazine in their July/August 2013 issue as one of the 50 best master planned communities in the United States.

Contact Information:

If you are looking for a retirement community in the Southern or the Mid-Atlantic states, you will want to pay a visit to Cresswind.  Here's their contact information:

Cresswind at Lake Lanier
3007 Scarlet Oak Lane
Gainesville, GA  30504

(770) 532-4926

www.cresswind.com

If you are interested in reading more about the Georgia lifestyle, tourist attractions and places to visit before making a decision, you may want to use this link to books about Georgia from Amazon.com.

If you are currently making retirement plans, you may also want to read some of the other articles linked in the index articles listed below:

Gifts, Travel and Family Relationships

Great Places for Boomers to Retire Overseas

Great Places to Retire in the United States

Health and Medical Topics for Baby Boomers

Money and Financial Planning for Retirement


You are reading from the blog:  http://baby-boomer-retirement.blogspot.com

Photo of Lake Lanier courtesy of www.morguefile.com