Reynolds Lake Oconee vs The Landings (Savannah, GA) as places to live and play

[subcrazy12]

5 hours ago, Newbie15 said:

I think you are right about how the influx of new people will bring additional services. We're still 2.5 years out from retirement but we would like to have a plan. Are there any obvious dos/don'ts in terms of buying/building that a newcomer wouldn't know about? Areas? Builders? Features? Etc?  

 

Thanks for all your help.

The buying/building scenario is really going to depend on what you're going for in terms of timeline on waiting to build something.  If it's 2.5 years you may want to start looking for a lot now and looking for a builder if you want it done close to the time you retire.  On the buy front there's the whole spectrum of updated for vs dated as there are plenty of older homes depending on where in Reynolds you buy you can find some older homes in the more original sections of the development. Features-wise as well it's going depend on do you want a lake view/access to have your own dock for a boat or a course view or neither.  There are marinas you can keep a boat at if you want

 

In terms of area, I personally would avoid the great waters area.  Love the course and the area, but at the end of the day it's way further from the rest of the development and the main drag for food and groceries.  Landing is also on it's own but not far away, and does have its own set of features etc and has a really solid practice area for golf.  I am happy to chat more about specific areas or if you are ever going to be in the area again I am happy to try and talk with you at Reynolds if I am able.

[caniac6]

1 hour ago, Newbie15 said:

Have you toured woodside? The pictures make it look like everyone is older than us - we are 56 and 59. We would like more of a mix of ages.

Not yet. I’m sure there are some younger folks there, but a lot of their pictures and videos seem to feature a mature crowd. We are older, late 60s, but we prefer a good mix of ages, too.

[Newbie15]

2 hours ago, subcrazy12 said:

The buying/building scenario is really going to depend on what you're going for in terms of timeline on waiting to build something.  If it's 2.5 years you may want to start looking for a lot now and looking for a builder if you want it done close to the time you retire.  On the buy front there's the whole spectrum of updated for vs dated as there are plenty of older homes depending on where in Reynolds you buy you can find some older homes in the more original sections of the development. Features-wise as well it's going depend on do you want a lake view/access to have your own dock for a boat or a course view or neither.  There are marinas you can keep a boat at if you want

 

In terms of area, I personally would avoid the great waters area.  Love the course and the area, but at the end of the day it's way further from the rest of the development and the main drag for food and groceries.  Landing is also on it's own but not far away, and does have its own set of features etc and has a really solid practice area for golf.  I am happy to chat more about specific areas or if you are ever going to be in the area again I am happy to try and talk with you at Reynolds if I am able.

Yea, we identified both of those areas as being less than ideal. 

 

Thanks for all the feedback and the offer. I'll let you know next time we are down there.

[caniac6]

Just wondering if you have looked at any other places, or made a decision on your retirement location?

[Newbie15]

21 minutes ago, caniac6 said:

Just wondering if you have looked at any other places, or made a decision on your retirement location?

Not really. How about you?

 

A neighbor was recently praising Wilmington NC but we haven't been there yet.

[caniac6]

31 minutes ago, Newbie15 said:

Not really. How about you?

 

A neighbor was recently praising Wilmington NC but we haven't been there yet.

No. We have been checking the real estate near Wilmington. Our next door neighbor has a daughter that lives in Wilmington, and she says the traffic is not good. It’s been awhile since we’ve been there, but it is a nice area. Summers can be pretty hot. We have given some thought to Compass Pointe and Brunswick Forest in Leland. We give a lot of thought to a lot of places, but we really like it here in Winston-Salem.

[Newbie15]

Are there any golf communities in or around Winston-Salem?

[caniac6]

4 hours ago, Newbie15 said:

Are there any golf communities in or around Winston-Salem?

Bermuda Run is a private community in Davie County which is about 15 minutes west of W-S. They have 36 holes. The East course has bermuda greens, and is a really good course. The West has bent greens, and the front 9 is ok, and the back 9 is very good. The community dates to at least the 70s, and there is a wide variation in the style of homes. The homes at the West course might qualify as cluster homes because of the small lots, but they are really nice. 

     There are a couple other communities. Oak Valley is close to Bermuda Run, and is a semi private Palmer course. Good course, and always in good shape. Salem Glen is between W-S and Bermuda Run, and is is a Nicklaus course. The homes are nice, but it’s not as good a course as Oak Valley, and they have had ownership issues in the past. None of these communities would come close to Reynolds or the other places you are considering.

 There are 3 privates in town. Forsyth is expensive, very nice, and very crowded. Old Town has a high national ranking, and is pretty exclusive. Maple Chase, my club, is pretty much everything the other two are not. Very friendly, welcoming, great shape, not terribly difficult, but very fun. We are closing for most of next year for a major renovation.
 

 

[Newbie15]

On 8/23/2023 at 7:28 AM, caniac6 said:

Just wondering if you have looked at any other places, or made a decision on your retirement location?

Back to an old thread. 99% sure that we will retire to Inlet Beach (near Rosemary Beach) in Florida. We stayed at the Camp Creek Inn and played their course. The course and the other amenities sealed the deal. It'd be great if the real estate market would cool off and interest rates would drop.

[John Schlesinger]

What factors made you consider Inlet Beach?

[Newbie15]

1 hour ago, John Schlesinger said:

What factors made you consider Inlet Beach?

We've been going there for 15 years and as a result it feels like home to a certain degree. But what sealed the deal is the Watersound Beach Club which includes Camp Creek golf course, Sharkstooth golf course, a third to be built plus a beach club at the ocean which makes beach access easy.

 

Housing is really expensive and we will have to settle for less than we want or can get at Reynolds or elsewhere but we feel like the combination of activities in the area and amenities at the Club would be a good fit for us. 

 

Not a done deal yet but that's today's decision.

 

Are you looking for a place to retire to?

[me05501]

We live in Chattanooga and have vacationed in a lot of the areas discussed here. I've also done personal planning for a lot of people who've retired and either relocated or bought second homes on the coast. Hopefully my comments will be welcome here. 

 

*****

 

Homeowner's insurance is becoming a major issue in Florida. Insurers are either leaving the state, tripling rates or requiring specific improvements to homes before they'll initiate or continue coverage.

 

The State of FL responded by starting its own homeowners' insurance company and it's now the biggest currently operating in the state. It's much bigger than the government expected it to be and that'll require some decision making going forward. 

 

I have several friends who own coastal properties in the panhandle and further down each coast of Florida. Most of them are going naked w/r/t property insurance. The thinking is that the majority of the value is in the lot rather than the home and also that the most likely claims they might face wouldn't be covered anyway (flooding especially). They figure the $30-50,000 they might spend annually on premiums would be wasted so if they own the home outright they just don't insure. 

 

Unfortunately it's a thorny issue that's likely to get worse over time rather than better. 

 

*****

 

There are a few other issues that cause a lot of our friends to choose the coast as a part-time lifestyle only.

 

Heath care is a biggie. You can get reasonable healthcare in Pensacola or Tallahassee. Any good specialist you see in Destin is likely coming over one day a week from the nearest big medical center. There are exceptions of course and any retirement community will have its share of good providers for eyes and teeth and other recurring care clinics. Open heart surgery? Probably not so much. 

 

*****

 

Seasonality, summer crowds and traffic are other factors that make beach town living stressful for some. You have to examine your personality and decide whether you can roll with the hassles that come from living in a place most people only experience one week at a time. 

 

This is part of the reason for the popularity of retirement communities in the lower Appalachians. The North Georgia mountains, Reynolds Plantation, Tellico Village outside Knoxville, Fairfield Glade, etc. have a lot of people retirement planners call "halfbacks." These are people who retired to Florida, decided it wasn't for them, then moved only halfway back to Michigan or New York. 

 

*****

 

Another option is getting a place on the coast plus an inland place a few hours away. From Birmingham, AL to the panhandle is an easy 4-5 hour drive. Greater Atlanta to St. Augustine or PCB is similar. 

 

You may not get your ideal property in both locations but the combination of the two takes a lot of pressure off both.

 

Do you love shopping and trying new restaurants? Great! Do that stuff while you're staying inland. You've also got a place to hide out if a hurricane happens to head your way. 

 

Spend your beach time relaxing, hosting friends, and soaking up the milder weather when it's cold and rainy further north. 

 

This can be made more affordable if you're willing to rent your beach spot during the peak months when beach regulars often stay away due to crowds and traffic. 

 

*****

 

Just wanted to offer a few thoughts that might help. 

[Newbie15]

I'm the original poster and I appreciate your comments.  The biggest of those issues for us is insurance. I'm aware of the problem and it is a concern. We would have a mortgage so going naked wouldn't be an option. Though the point about the land being the most valuable part makes a lot of sense. We have 2.5 years before we make the move. I'm hoping that some of the recent statutory changes stabilize the market.