Blog - Carolinas For Boomers

Lake Carolina

Lake Carolina has a little something for everyone, with homes and homes site priced from affordable to luxury. The community is about 20 minutes from downtown Columbia and the University of South Carolina. Like many new Southern communities, Lake Carolina plays on its water features, conservation and recreational opportunities.

Lake Carolina features six miles of shoreline and a 200-acre freshwater lake for swimming, fishing, sailing and skiing (if you join the appropriate community association). Bike and walking trails wind through 200 acres of wildlife areas.

Lake Carolina is also home to Jeep Rogers Family YMCA , a 12-acre facility with a heated in-door pool, indoor-running track, gym, tennis courts, multi-purpose fields and child care.
The community has more than 30 neighborhoods. Some feature wooded lots and lakefront views, and some are more traditional configurations.

Neighborhoods range from Ashland Grove with “value priced” homes ($190,000’s – $240,000’s) to the gated Peninsula, with showcase lakefront homes ($450,000’s – $2 million+).

The 184-acre Centennialis a mid-range neighborhood, with homes from the $130,000’s to more than $500,000.

More than 20 builders are currently at work in Lake Carolina, but can bring your own builder, provided home plans are approved and fit the community concept.

Sidewalks and bike paths run between the neighborhoods and connect to the Town Center, Lake Carolina’s commercial district. Town Center has more than 100,000 square feet of shops and professional buildings and restaurants.

Commercial opportunities are available at Town Center and there are some live-work units in the center.

The Ponds Community in Summerville

“Nature. Nurture. Neighborhood,” is the motto for The Ponds Summerville, SC community. And though it’s 25 miles inland from it’s fast-growing neighbor of Charleston, “lowcountry” is the theme – something the developers are trying to reflect in architectural style, old-growth preservation and community attitude.

More than half of the development’s land is dedicated to amenities including a 1,100-acre nature preserve, with a 20-acre lake. Other amenities include a multi-purpose sports field, 21 miles of trails, swimming pool, parks, playgrounds and an outdoor pavilion. The Summerville Family YMCA is also within The Ponds development. A non-profit conservancy, with homeowner members, will be set up to act as a steward for the nature and “quality of life” of the community.

The Ponds has 1,950 homesites on 2000 acres. To keep aesthetics and quality consistent, a design board reviews home plans and tends to favor Southern Colonial, Victorian, Arts & Craft and Cape Cod-styles. Homes are mainly single-family or townhomes with a number of planned live/work units. Architectural details include Southern-style porches and masonry fireplaces. Currently, five Charleston builders work in The Ponds.

Greenwood Communities and Resorts began development of The Ponds in 2006. Roads are already paved and the sewer system is in. Also, many of the amenities are already built, giving home buyers a tangible sense of value and community. While project completion is planned for 12 to 15 years, some homeowners have already moved in and at least one section of the development has already sold out.

Homes start in the low $300’s.

A June of 2008 sampling of homes from The Ponds web site:

3-bed, 2-bath with 1665 sq. feet — $345,000
3-bed, 3 bath with 2706 sq. feet — $538,690
4-bed, 2.5 bath with 2521 sq. feet — $379,900
4-bed, 2.5 bath with 2785 sq. feet — $469,000
5-bed, 3 bath with 2700 sq. feet — $424,900

The Settings of Black Mountain

If you are looking for a lush mountain setting with easy access to a real city, The Settings of Black Mountain, may be an option.

The Settings is located just 15 minutes outside of downtown Asheville, a popular destination because of its mountain setting, seasonable temperatures and its culture that blends Appalachian charm with the spirit of an arts colony.

While the gated community appears deep in the mountains, offering views of the Seven Sisters and Pisgah National Forest, it is actually part of the city of Asheville so residents can benefit from city utilities and services.
The Settings was developed by the Atlanta-based The Settings Development Companies, LLC, a company that strives to utilize the natural beauty of an area in its developments.

According to the project web site, more than 40 percent of the 364 acres is undisturbed green space. To help residents enjoy the natural setting, a series of nature trails, both developed and primitive, wind through the community.

Other amenities include a clubhouse and pool over looking the Blue Ridge Mountains, a kid’s playground, and a stocked trout pond. More amenities are planned as the community develops. While The Settings does not have a golf course, world-class golf is minutes away, as is shopping, and more rugged outdoor adventures such as whitewater rafting.

Homesites begin in the high $100s with home styles ranging from cottages to larger homes. Featured sites include .25 acres near the clubhouse ($200+) and almost two acres near a mountainous green space for around $460.