Dreaming of spending your retirement boating, fishing, swimming, or just soaking up the sun every day? Then Charlotte should be on your radar. There are two major lakes near Charlotte, NC—Lake Wylie and Lake Norman—that offer hundreds of miles of shoreline and plenty of tranquil coves that provide the perfect spot to cast a line.
Fortunately, there are several active adult communities in the Charlotte area that offer direct lake access. Here are three 55+ communities near lakes in Charlotte, NC if you’re dreaming of owning a place near the water.
Mid $300s - Mid $800s
D.R. Horton’s The Vineyards on Lake Wylie is the largest lakefront community in the Charlotte area. Not only does the community offer easy access to the lake’s 320 miles of shoreline, but it also provides residents with a boat ramp, several community boat docks, 48 boat slips that can be leased by homeowners, and an outdoor boat storage area as well as a canoe and kayak storage area.
There are also a number of lakeside decks spread throughout the community where residents can enjoy picnics with friends and family or cast a line and spend the day fishing. The neighborhoods’s waterfront walking trails and boardwalk are perfect for leisurely strolls. In addition to the direct lake access, homeowners also have access to a number of other desirable amenities, including a clubhouse, a grand ballroom, and a health and fitness center. Outdoors, residents will find a pool, a grand pavilion, a playground, a dog park, several athletic courts, a soccer field, and ten miles of walking trails that wind throughout the community.
The Vineyards at Lake Wylie also offers a vast selection of floor plans with both ranch-style homes and two-story layouts. Available plans range from 1,820 to 2,755 square feet and offer three to five bedrooms, two to three-and-a-half bathrooms, and attached two-car garages.
Low $400s - Mid $700s
Regency at Palisades is another community to consider if you’re looking for a home near one of the lakes in Charlotte, NC. Situated on Lake Wylie, the neighborhood features 413 single-family homes and is part of The Palisades master-planned, resort-style community.
There are 10 ranch-style floor plans that range from 2,000 to more than 3,500 square feet. Layouts offer two to five bedrooms, two to four-and-a-half bathrooms, and attached two-car garages. Community amenities include easy access to Lake Wylie for boating and fishing as well as a generously-sized 12,000-square-foot lakeside clubhouse with a multipurpose room, billiards, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and an indoor pool. Outdoor amenities include a pool and a hot tub, access to a nature preserve, four miles of trails, and tennis, bocce ball, and pickleball courts.
Regency at Palisades homeowners also have the opportunity to join the Palisades Country Club where there’s an 18-hole golf course, an on-site restaurant, and more.
Mid $300s - Low $800s
Located on the shores of Lake Norman—the largest man-made lake in North Carolina—the Lake Walk Freedom Homes community is ideal for active adults who want to own property on a lake near Charlotte.
The neighborhood, built by D.R. Horton, features just over 120 single-family homes with five available floor plans. Layouts range from 1,588 to 1,906 square feet and offer two to three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and an attached two-car garage.
With direct access to Lake Norman’s 520 miles of shoreline, homeowners have plenty of options to choose from when it comes to water recreation options, whether you like to boat, fish, canoe, kayak, or swim. Beyond the waterfront, the community has several other amenities for residents to take advantage of, including an outdoor pool and patio area, a dog park, walking and biking trails, plus bocce ball and pickleball courts. There’s also RV and boat parking on-site.
