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Saturday, August 20, 2022

Best Georgia Lakes to Buy Lakefront Property

Lakefront Properties to Buy in GA

Best Georgia Lakes to Buy Lakefront Property

Georgia is quickly becoming one of the top states to live in, with a lower-than-average cost of living and an eclectic mix of urban, suburban, and rural lifestyles. Atlanta is the state’s modern culture, amenities, and cuisine epicenter. A short drive away lies the state’s natural beauty, from mountains to the Coastal Plains, and with it, plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation. 

Thanks to Georgia’s numerous artificial reservoirs, the state has excellent bass, trout, and fly fishing. Its deep and wide lakes attract vacationers from all around the country. They’re also home to some of Georgia’s premiere waterfront properties, from vacant lots to sprawling custom estates and everything in between. 

If you’re considering buying waterfront property in Georgia, here are six of the top lakes to consider!

Lake Lanier

Named after local poet Sidney Lanier, Lake Lanier is a man-made reservoir maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers. It was created when the Buford Dam was built on the Chattahoochee River in 1956, flooding forests, farmland, and the former town of Oscarville. The state’s largest lake covers over 38,000 acres and includes 692 miles of shoreline.

The lake is in northeastern Georgia, about 50 miles outside of Atlanta. Most of Lake Lanier is situated in Hall and Forsyth counties, but it also reaches into Dawson, Gwinnett, and Lumpkin. Significant nearby cities include Gainesville, Dawsonville, Cumming, and Flowery Branch. The southern shoreline is more developed, as it is closest to I-985, making it easy to travel to Atlanta or the Appalachian Mountains.

Lake Lanier is one of the top getaway destinations in the state and sees visitors from around the United States. Numerous parks surround the lake providing land for camping, hiking, biking, and sightseeing.

Of course, the parks and other private lands provide access to activities on the water, including swimming, fishing, boating, kayaking, canoeing, waterskiing, and more. There are nine marinas on the lake, each offering boat rental and storage in addition to other amenities. Another 23 swim-friendly beaches are on the shores of the lake.

Other attractions include Margaritaville Resort and Waterpark at Lake Lanier Islands, Legacy Lodge Resort Hotel, Screaming Eagle Adventure Park, and the annual Atlanta Hong Kong Dragonboat Festival. Lake Lanier is also home to one of the largest Christmas light displays in the world, the Magical Nights of Lights. During the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, it hosted water races, such as rowing events.

Lake Lanier has developed coastline featuring waterfront properties, from lots to condos and townhomes. Most of the homes for sale here are single-family. As of the publication of this article, prices ranged from $233,000 for a 900 sq ft, two-bed, 1.5-bath home to a 17,700 sq ft construction featuring six bedrooms and 9.5+ bathrooms listed at $7,995,000.

Lake Allatoona

To the west of Lake Lanier is another reservoir maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers, Allatoona Lake. It was created after the construction of the Allatoona Dam on the Etowah River in 1949. It is smaller than Lake Lanier, only covering about 18.7 sq mi with 270 miles of shoreline.

The three major cities built around the lake are Emerson, Cartersville, Acworth, and Canton. The lake sits in both Bartow and Cherokee counties, with a small section extending into Cobb County. Despite being only 35 miles northwest of Atlanta, significant development around the lake is sparse, thanks to several extensive parklands and campgrounds. The Corps of Engineers owns 25,000 acres of public lands around the lake. It remains a quiet, remote location where visitors come to escape the city hustle.

The Corps operates seven campgrounds on the lake: Clark Creek, McCaskey Creek, McKinney, Old Highway 41, Payne, Sweetwater, and Victoria. Several other public and private campgrounds are available, including sites in Red Top Mountain State Park, Unicoi State Park, and First Landing State Park.

Naturally, boating is a popular pastime on Lake Allatoona, with eight marinas and two yacht clubs operating on the lake, alongside 15 boat ramps maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers. Boat rentals are available from Allatoona Landing and Holiday Harbor.

The nearby towns provide opportunities for shopping and entertainment. Stop by the Visitor’s Center for detailed information on some and more of the following attractions: the Adairsville Historic Register, the Barstow History Museum, the Cherokee County Museum, and the Etowah Indian Mounds. There’s also the Booth Western Art Museum, Tellus Science Museum, and the Terminus Wake Park.

Less development means fewer opportunities for properties and homes. However, Allatoona Lake does have some. In August 2022, there were vacant lots ranging in price from $55,800 to $11,400,000. Homes here range from an 800 sq ft cottage with one bedroom and one bathroom listed at $75,000 to $2,245,000 for a large four-bedroom, 4.5-bathroom property.

Lake Oconee

Lake Oconee is a small, 30 sq mi body of water with around 370 miles of shoreline about halfway between Atlanta and Augusta. It sits within Morgan, Greene, and Putnam counties, and the three biggest towns nearby are Greensboro, Milledgeville, and Eatonton. The reservoir was created when Georgia Power constructed the Wallace Dam on the Oconee River in 1979. 

As with the previously listed lakes, locals and visitors can access fishing, boating, swimming, hiking, and so much more on Lake Oconee. Of particular note, the Oconee National Forest surrounds the northern lake area. There are ten marinas offering boat storage and rental. More adventurous boaters may want to try wakeboarding, water, or jet skiing at Oconee Wild Watersports.

However, one of Lake Oconee’s biggest draws is its seven beautiful, expansive golf courses—complete with a number of luxury, resort-quality amenities and plenty of dining opportunities. Reynolds at Lake Oconee is the top golf destination in the area, featuring 117 holes across 16 acres designed by legendary names like Jones, Fazio, Engh, Nicklaus, and Cupp. The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds at Lake Oconee offers a luxury hotel and spa you can go to relax after a day of golf. 

Since Lake Oconee is a top vacation destination, several luxury living communities are on and around the lake. Lakefront homes had August 2022 listing prices that ran from $349,000 for a two-bed, two-bath cottage to a five-bed, 5.5-bath newly constructed home listed at $5,499,000. Vacant residential lots ranged in price from $49,500 to $3,500,000.

Lake Hartwell

Named for the folkloric Revolutionary War hero Nancy Hart, Lake Hartwell was formed after the creation of the dam of the same name built in 1962 by the US Army Corps of Engineers. It sits on the border of Georgia and South Carolina. While not considered Georgia’s largest lake (because of the shared shoreline), it is much larger than the previously mentioned lakes, covering 87.5 sq mi with about 960 miles of shoreline. 

Lake Hartwell sits on the Georgia side in the Hart, Franklin, and Stephens counties. Hartwell is the largest city on the shores of the lake itself, with Gumlog and Reed Creek as unincorporated communities. Lavonia and Toccoa are nearby.

Recreation opportunities abound on Lake Hartwell, with hiking, camping, fishing, swimming, boating, and more available at the 147-acre Hart State Park—which also features furnished cottages and 79 campsites. Find boats, canoes, and kayaks available for rent! Tugaloo State Park on northern Lake Hartwell also has cottages for rent.

Lake Hartwell stands out for its abundance of fishing opportunities, with massive populations of catfish, crappie, small and largemouth bass, stripers, and more. Public and private boat ramps are located all around the lake.

The nearby town of Hartwell offers plenty of shopping, dining, and entertainment opportunities. Why not catch a show at the Hart County Community Theatre or High Cotton Music Hall? Alternatively, history buffs might want to check out the Hart County Historical Museum, Center of the World Monument, or Tri-County Antique trail featuring several antique stores. 

Finally, golfers should check out the two nearby golf courses, the Hartwell Golf Club and Cateechee at Lake Hartwell.

Find many undeveloped lakefront properties on the Georgia side of Lake Hartwell, ranging in price from $8,000 to $3.4 million in August 2022. If you’re looking to build your own home on a lake, this is one of the best to consider.

If you’d prefer a move-in home, a number of homes are listed on Lake Hartwell, ranging from a three-bedroom, one-bathroom cottage listed at $99,900 to a five-bedroom, 5.5-bathroom newly constructed home listed at $1.65 million.

Lake Burton

A reservoir at the northern end of Georgia, Lake Burton is small, covering only 4.3 sq miles with just 62 miles of shoreline. It was one of the first man-made lakes to be used for power generation, and it is named after the town that flooded due to its creation by Georgia Power/Southern Company.

Lake Burton is in Rabun County, and the nearest town is Tiger. Nearby are the mountain towns of Clayton, Mountain City, and Dillard.

Despite its size, Lake Burton does not lack recreation opportunities. The nearby Moccasin Creek State Park features 54 campsites across 32 acres, plus designated areas for swimming and fishing. Boat storage and rental, including canoes and kayaks, are available at the lake’s three marinas. You might also consider picnicking in Jones Bridge Park or Timpson Cove.

Some residents of Tiger and Clayton live on the shores of Lake Burton. Finding available vacant residential lots was more challenging in August 2022. Those on the market ranged in price from $45,000 to $350,000. Home prices started much higher than the lakes above, with a three-bed, 2.5-bath property listed at $695,000. The highest listing price on Lake Burton was $7,775,000 for a seven-bed, 7.5-bath property.

Lake Rabun

Not a mile southeast of Lake Burton is the even smaller Lake Rabun. It covers just 1.3 sq mi, with only 25 miles of shoreline. It was also built and maintained by the Georgia Power Company. 

The lake’s smaller size presents fewer opportunities for recreation, but they do exist. Camping, fishing, and boating facilities are available at Nacoochee Park. 

The lake has seen a significant housing boom over the years. What it lacks in shopping, dining, and entertainment, it makes up for in quaint, residential opportunities. In fact, the Lake Rabun Homeowners Association tours the homes surrounding the lake to raise money for local causes.

Unfortunately, at least in August 2022, only seven homes were available on Lake Rabun’s shores. They ranged from $675,000 for a newly constructed home featuring two bedrooms and two bathrooms to $2,850,000 for a three-bedroom, four-bathroom property. 

Buying a Lake House in Georgia

Georgia is one of the fastest-growing states in the country. You may not think of it as a destination for waterfront living, but its lakes show you can have an affordable lakeside lifestyle in Georgia. If you want to avoid living in Atlanta or the Georgia plains and think a lakefront lifestyle is proper for you, consider looking into one of these lakes. 

As always, we recommend contacting a local realtor to explore further options. They can help you decide which lakefront property in Georgia is right for you.

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Preston Guyton

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