Gainesville, Georgia, situated along the shores of Lake Lanier and at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, is known as a City of Excellence. Halfway between the city of Atlanta and the Appalachian Mountains, Gainesville has accrued several other nicknames in its history, including Queen City of the Mountains and the Poultry Capital.
Gainesville Is in the Midst of a Population Boom
Once considered a rural community, Gainesville is quickly growing in popularity. The city is attracting residents from other parts of Georgia and around the country. Gainesville-Hall County ranked third on the Milken Institute’s report for the best-performing small city in 2017. The area again ranked third in 2018.
Every year, approximately 3,000-4,000 people move to the Gainesville area, according to the Gainesville Times. To accommodate the population boom and to make the city as welcoming as possible for newcomers, the city is focusing on how to connect residents to their new community. This means creating a lifestyle where people enjoy local parks, support area charities, and feel like a part of the Gainesville community.
What Makes Gainesville So Retirement-Friendly?
With so much to do and experience in Gainesville, it’s easy to see why retirees find the city so appealing. Gainesville allows retirees to retire affordably and enjoy many activities within a vibrant small-town community. The city offers walking tours, historical tours, 25 miles of trail systems, more than a dozen gardens, and the newly renovated Chattahoochee Golf Course, one of the premier public golf courses in North Georgia.
A waterfront community, Gainesville is surrounded on three sides by Lake Lanier. This multipurpose lake serves as a water supply to the area and also offers numerous recreational opportunities for residents, including fishing and boating.
Gainesville Offers Affordable Active Adult Living
With Gainesville attracting more retirees, many active adult homebuyers wonder about the affordability of homes in the area. Retirees looking for homes for sale in Georgia that fit within their budget will find that Gainesville is one of the country’s most affordable small towns to retire in the United States. Gainesville earned a spot on our list of the Most Affordable Small Towns to Retire in 2019. We put together this list based on 12 different data points, including median income, average home sale price, and cost of living.
Active adults who want to live in an age-restricted community near Lake Lanier and experience the pleasant community feel of Gainesville will want to explore Cresswind at Lake Lanier.
Living in Cresswind at Lake Lanier
A gated community, Cresswind at Lake Lanier offers new and resale homes that start in the mid $200s. This serene 55+ community will contain 934 single-family homes and a 36,000-square-foot clubhouse upon completion. With an abundance of amenities and social clubs, active adults can enjoy their favorite hobbies, learn new ones, and interact with neighbors in many different ways.
A three-story clubhouse that spans 36,000 square feet stands at the heart of this age-restricted community. Called The Club at Cresswind, residents can meet here to exercise and socialize. The clubhouse contains a state-of-the-art fitness center, an aerobics studio, and an indoor pool where homeowners can swim laps. Residents can also mingle with friends and share their interests in the clubhouse’s hobby and game rooms.
Other amenities include a party room where homeowners can enjoy a variety of entertainment at the community lawn theater and a community demonstration kitchen where residents can pick up new cooking skills through gourmet cooking classes. The Club at Cresswind encourages residents to expand their knowledge through a learning center complete with computers and Wi-Fi.
The community offers a variety of groups, including book club, piano club, bowling league, and garden group. Homeowners can also explore exercise classes, fitness equipment instruction, and line dancing classes.
When it comes to outdoor recreation, residents of Cresswind at Lake Lanier have multiple options. They can enjoy a game of horseshoes, tennis, pickleball, or bocce, or take a jog along the community’s extensive walking trails.
Those who particularly enjoy being near the water will find 692 miles of shoreline along Lake Lanier, one of Georgia’s biggest recreational lakes. Boat enthusiasts can purchase a boat slip at the dock behind the community clubhouse.
Homes in Cresswind at Lake Lanier
Active adult homebuyers can browse single-family homes in a range of sizes and options within Cresswind at Lake Lanier. Kolter Homes offers 13 new-construction models that range from 1,346 to 2,964 square feet and feature granite countertops and Energy Star-rated appliances.
The original builder, Levitt & Sons, offered 13 single-family homes. Since Levitt & Sons constructed a small portion of the community, active adult homebuyers should note the limited availability of these models, which range from 1,275 to 2,640 square feet. All homes within this community are single-level, ranch-style designs. Many homes feature oversized lots with wooded views while others offer finished basements.
The Allure of Gainesville, Georgia
Gainesville continues to grow in popularity. Thousands of people, including retirees, move to the area every year. For those who prefer a small town over a big city, Gainesville offers much appeal. With a variety of things to do, an affordable cost of living, and the tranquil beauty of nearby Lake Lanier, many active adults are drawn to Gainesville. Active adult homebuyers who want to explore homes for sale in Gainesville can browse two 55+ communities that contain a variety of new and resale homes.
