Cherokee County is one of the fastest growing areas in the state of Georgia. The scenic mountain and lake views and the gorgeous weather combine with proximity to metro Atlanta to make the county a very attractive destination for everyone from single professionals to young and growing families to empty nesters who want to spend their retirement years in a little piece of heaven.
New home builders in Cherokee County have risen to the demand with an unprecedented rate of new construction. The newest homes being built in the County are often part of one of the planned communities that offer all the amenities one could want within a short distance of your front door. Unlike "subdivisions", planned communities start with a master plan that takes into account all of the needs of the community, including recreation, transportation and growth. The only problem with buying a home in an unfinished community is that it's difficult to judge the neighborhood while it's still a construction site.
If you're considering buying a home in one of the new developments in Cherokee County, there are some ways that you can check out the community even before it's built. Here are some suggestions for making sure that you'll be buying a home and not just a new house in a pretty neighborhood.
1. Ask the sales person about the community's master plan. Unlike the "subdivisions" of yesteryear, new developments are more than just streets and houses. They are fully planned communities that often include amenities like community centers, green spaces and parks, recreational facilities - even retail shopping areas and restaurants.
2. Ask about the builders who work with the development company. There are dozens of new home builders in Cherokee County and many of them work directly with management and development corporations. If you know which builders the development company works with, you can look for other developments and homes that they have built to get a feel for the quality of their work.
3. If the community is well into the development stage, ask for a personal tour so that you can get a feel for the layout and the "personality" of the neighborhood. A personal tour can also give you a sense of how the homes being built fit into their surroundings - and even give you a peek at how the various new home builders in Cherokee County deal with the construction process.
4. Ask about those who have already bought into the community. The salesperson should be able to give you an idea of the general demographics of those buyers who have already committed to owning a home in the new community. Are they older? Younger? Young families or empty nesters? Is it a demographic with which you'll feel comfortable?
5. Ask about other projects that the development company has completed and take a drive through them to see how they've stood up to time. Are the neighborhoods and streets attractive? Do the homes appear to be in good repair? Is it the kind of community in which you'd like to live?
6. Ask about the builder selection process. In some communities, you'll have little choice or say in which builder actually builds your new home. The company may have specific builders with expertise in the style of home that you've chosen, or have a specific system for assigning builders to work with new buyers. In others, you may choose a lot, and be given a list of builders that work with the development company and will meet their guidelines - and the rest is up to you.
7. If you have a choice of builders for your new home, take the time to interview each prospective builder to find the right one for you. The "right" builder for you is the one that
-is familiar with your style of house -understands the process of working with the development company -listens to your ideas, suggestions and desires -works with you to find ways to incorporate your desires into the guidelines under which he must work -places communication with the client high on the list of priorities for his company -is comfortable for you to talk to and work with
As little as ten years ago, you'd have had to search far and wide to find a model over the age of thirty in a magazine or on television. In one ad, a stunning woman with silver hair climbs into the cockpit of a single-engine plane and takes off into the sky. In another, a comfortable looking couple in their middle years walk hand in hand through the vineyard they've bought with their retirement savings.
These days the new face of America is 50+, and with good reason. As the largest generation in recent history "grows up", they are redefining much of what marketers, advertisers and just about everyone else has accepted as fact. Baby boomers aren't retiring - they're re-tooling, trading in their jobs for new careers and following up on their dreams.
Many of them are ready to trade in their suburban family homes for the home they've dreamed of for years. They have some very definite ideas of what they want in their new home and new home builders in Cherokee County are creating beautiful communities that give them exactly what they want.
Many of the amenities that are expected by today's active adults are the same amenities that contribute to a quality of life for families of all ages. Gated communities like Cherokee County's Lake Arrowhead offer the unspoiled beauty of nature only minutes outside the South's largest metropolitan area. They include luxurious amenities like lakefront living, a world class golf course, a swim and tennis club, and a marina. In keeping with the concept of self-contained living, communities like Lake Arrowhead often include mixed use retail and leisure areas.
Among the developments under construction by new home builders in Cherokee County are serene gated communities tucked into the mountains, beautiful new homes with lake frontage and gorgeous communities built around recreation and leisure activities. The communities cover the full gamut of prices from the mid-$150's to and above $1M, from condominiums to townhouses to single family homes to palatial luxury homes. Many feature a multigenerational mix of residents. All take a great deal from the features that this generation values. Precisely what is it that new home builders in Cherokee County have to offer a generation on the grow and on the go?
The Community Many of these new homes are being built as part of fully planned communities, incorporating all of the features that active adults consider important to their lives.
- Communities that offer serenity and beauty within easy distance of metropolitan amenities. Natural surroundings and a peaceful environment are important, but so is proximity to the conveniences and amenities of a major metropolitan area. Some of the most popular new communities are located within easy distance of Atlanta, just a short drive away from the fine dining, cultural activities, medical facilities and entertainment venues of the largest and fastest growing metropolitan area in the South.
- Communities that are environmentally friendly, incorporating the natural surroundings with a minimal impact on them. Many of the new home builders in Cherokee County incorporate environmentally friendly design into all of their homes. The communities in which they are built are planned around green space, taking care to disturb Mother Nature as little as possible.
- Communities that include all the amenities that make life luxurious. Take a tour of new communities in and around Cherokee County and you'll find countless and varied amenities, including private golf courses, community centers with tennis courts, swimming pools and water parks.
These developments are not the suburban style subdivisions of the last century. Each home is unique, and is designed to fit into its environment organically. The outdoors are an integral part of the living spaces, and leisure and recreational opportunities are not afterthoughts, but a central core of the community's concept.
The developers don't pay lip service to environmental concern; they make it part of the foundation of the master plan. They encourage a commitment to fitness by incorporating features like hiking trails and fitness clubs as part of the community design and recognize the need for serenity and beauty in every part of the design process.
Most of all they recognize that today's new home buyer is looking for more than just a house - they are looking for a home and a community that reflects their values and supports their desire to live up to a particular quality of life. In communities like Lake Arrowhead, the promise of that high quality of life is fulfilled through design and creation of community.