39 Roads

Recently, Retirement Relocation hosted events in Northern Virginia with developers from North and South Carolina.  We secured special offers for our clients and friends who were in attendance.  We also have a limited number of these offers from the developers to extend to those who could not be at the receptions or who live outside the immediate area.  The first is from Grand Harbor and its six communities on Lake Greenwood in South Carolina.  They are offering a complimentary two night “Stay and Play” Package, including a round of golf for two people for those who visit before May 31, 2007. 

Vista also gave a presentation on two of its communities in the North Carolina mountains.  On its Bill’s Mountain properties, Vista will give purchasers 15% cash back at closing (this would cover approximately 18-24 months of payments) or 15% off the purchase price.  They are also offering $1500 travel reimbursement at closing.  For its Blacksmith Run properties, they have the same travel expenditures reimbursement at closing and are giving $10,000 off the purchase price and $10,000 toward upgrades.  They also have attractive leaseback options on two of their model homes.  Vista’s offers are good until April 30, 2007.

I’ve also gotten a number of attractive offers in the mail recently to go look at properties.  One came from Alabama Shoreline for their Goose Pond Island properties near Huntsville, Alabama.  They are hosting Discovery Weekends in March where for $99 two people receive round-trip airfare, ground transportation, two nights lodging, meals, and either golf, fishing, or boating.  Their promotional materials boast amenities including a spacious clubhouse, 84-slip covered marina, community dock, and gated entrance.  Alabama Shoreline is offering lake access lots from $59,900, lake view homesites from $124,900, and dockable waterfront from $199,900.  I have requested more information on this community and other developments from Alabama Shoreline.

I also received a mailer with a similar promotion from Florida Waterway Sales for their Water Ridge location which touts “Lakefront Luxury near a Thriving City”.  The community, positioning itself as a “short drive” from Orlando, is planning amenities to include a spa and fitness center, swimming pools, tennis courts, and walking trails and features three freshwater lakes.  They are having a preview event March 9th-11th where you would get round-trip airfare and two nights hotel accommodations for $99 per couple.  This Grand Opening Weekend will also have boat and helicopter tours, meals, entertainment and an offer on developer owned homesites of no payments for 12 months with 90% financing.  Homesites start around $150,000.

If you’re interested in any of these offers, please call Retirement Relocation at 703-430-6411 or 877-55-RETIRE (877-557-3847) or via e-mail at info@RetireRelocateRelax.com.  Also, if you know of similar offers that you think our readers and clients would be interested in, please let us know.

In July 2006 Tennessee launched “Retire Tennessee”, its program to promote ten communities in the state as retirement destinations.  The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Matthew Kisber said, “Tennessee has become increasingly attractive to today’s migrating retirees. We fully recognize this as a viable industry and we are now working to implement programs that would establish retirement migration as an economic development strategy.” 

Tennessee has chosen to focus on this form of economic development for a number of reasons: retiree recruitment is an established approach and will be growing with the number of baby boomers reaching retirement age.  Tennessee is ranked 11th as a tourism destination in the country, better positioning themselves for those who may be looking to relocate.  Retirees generally bring increased wealth to their area, creating new jobs and businesses, while tax revenues from this new base of residents exceeds the cost of providing governmental services for them.  For more information please visit http://info.tnanytime.org/tngov/?p=68.

A big player in East Tennessee is Rarity Communities which currently has seven or eight communities, most of which are located on or near lakes, rivers, or mountains.  The company seeks to integrate its developments with their natural surroundings through solid land stewardship.  Rarity Bay has been chosen as one of “America’s Top 100 Golf Communities” by Travel + Leisure Golf Magazine; it was the only community in Tennessee to receive this distinction.  Rarity Bay is located on Lake Tellico about 30 minutes west of Knoxville and also offers water sports, an equestrian center, and views of the Great Smoky Mountains.  The company also has plans for rapid expansion and will be introducing several new communities within the year.

North American Land also has a significant presence in the state, most notably with Rocky River Vista two hours east of Nashville.  The community sits on a bluff overlooking the Rocky River and is located near Center Hill Lake and a scenic state park.  The company also offers Eagles Ridge in Northwest Tennessee on the Kentucky border.  Eagles Ridge is located on 45,000 acre Lake Barkley and features spectacular views.

Many more choices are available and will be available in the state, and Tennessee will become a much talked about destination in the years to come. 

Well, readers, my recent travels took me to the beautiful mountains of western North Carolina where I was able to go through a number of developments.
 
Carriage Park is a community in Hendersonville, N.C.  It is as their literature says, a “community of quiet neighborhoods, beautiful hiking trails and spectacular panoramic views, that span sixty miles… just five minutes from all the conveniences and charm of downtown Hendersonville. And only 20 minutes from Asheville.”  The views were truly stunning, and the convenience of this development is difficult to match.  They are also planning for a mountaintop clubhouse which will also capitalize on the amazing scenery of the region.
 
I was also able to visit three of Vista’s communities in the Hendersonville and Lake Lure area.  They have a number of options for various mountain-living budgets including townhomes, lot and home packages, and lots for custom-built homes.  Blacksmith Mountain and Blacksmith Run have the easy access to Hendersonville.  Blacksmith Run will be particularly retiree-friendly with flatter terrain and craftsman-style homes on 1/4 to 1/3 acres.  Bill’s Mountain is closer to Lake Lure and has the higher elevation and incredible views.
 
Grey Rock of the 2006 HGTV Dream Home fame is also located near Lake Lure.  In fact Land Resource is the only developer to have twice been selected for this honor.  Grey Rock has approximately 900 homesites and covers nearly 4000 acres, much of which will be left in its natural state.  Its sister property, Wild Ridges, launched in the spring and provides another option for the region.
 
The last stop on the tour through the area was The Settings of Black Mountain.  Black Mountain is small town with quaint shops and more than its share of good restaurants.  For example, Veranda Cafe was packed for lunch on a Thursday, and I was told that this is typical.  Black Mountain is 15 minutes by interstate to Asheville and the resources of a larger city.  Much of this area east of Asheville will remain undeveloped as there are several retreat and conference centers who own large tracts of land.  The Settings has done a noteworthy job of creating a development around what feels almost like a national park with small touches that add to the community.
 
So, if the North Carolina mountains appeal to you, there is certainly a community to match your interests, lifestyle, and budget.
 
On a different note, I receive several magazine subscriptions, most of which seemingly have little to nothing to do with retirement or relocation.  I was intrigued recently to find two publications whose issues had some relevance.  One of these is the November edition of Business 2.0 which had an article, “The Best Places to (Still) Invest”, focused on real estate.  Ten locales were highlighted, including five in the Southeast.  Suprisingly, with its seemingly escalated real estate prices, three of these are in Florida: Panama City, Vero Beach, and Lakeland.  My hometown of Wilmington, N.C., which is quickly becoming a popular choice for those who are retiring or may otherwise be relocating for a better quality of life, was also cited.  A recent edition of Tennis magazine featured an article on the best places to retire- for a life filled with tennis, of course.  The southern region garnered three of the six communities highlighted with Charlottesville, Va.; Charleston, S.C.; and Hilton Head Island, S.C. receiving the distinction.

I attended the Live South Real Estate Show in Reston, Virginia in September. I had some very interesting and informative conversations with representatives from the 50 or so communities who participated during the three day event. Here are some of my notes:

The Settings of Black Mountain is promoting its “convenient seclusion”, just a mile and a half from the town of Black Mountain and 15 minutes from Asheville, N.C.
An “urban resort” can be found just across the river from Savannah, Georgia at The Reserve at Savannah Harbor.

Berkshire Forest, located in Myrtle Beach, offers a beach club, golf membership, and easy access to the attractions of this beach town. They also have a three day, two night discovery package to visit the area for $99.

Ocean Isle Palms has positioned itself as a Caribbean beach community in Ocean Isle Beach, N.C. They are conducting a property release October 6-8.
Platinum Properties establishes “Southern boutique” communities of 10-50 home sites in Southeastern North Carolina.

A “rural but upscale” development can be found in Hot Springs, VA at Homestead Preserve which boasts The Homestead and its 240-year history as its club. They take pride in the preservation of the land and have 11,500 acres, of which only 3% is being used for 450 home sites, park areas, and other aspects of development.

Oakhurst in Lewisburg, West Virginia has America’s oldest golf course in Oakhurst Links. The course is played with the period equipment from 1884.
Harmony Township in Georgetown, SC ” will become a southern coastal town where small businesses, shops, and family homes co-exist in a tranquil neighborhood.” The Town Center will be within walking distance of homes while both Charleston and Myrtle Beach are about an hour away.

At the Rarity Communities reception on Sunday afternoon, Fred McArthur, Executive Vice President, asked the gathering, “How many of you have dreamed your whole lives of living in East Tennessee?” Three hands went up. Fred went on to say that after asking that question in Boston, Connecticut, California, and other places that was the first time he had any hands raised. I should note that one of the hands that shot up is a woman named Dixie, a Reston resident, who is from East Tennessee. I’m not sure her response really counts, but, nonetheless, I thought it was interesting.

Top communities from North and South Carolina will be hosting receptions with Retirement Relocation at local hotels in February and March.

I’m pleased that communities of this caliber have chosen to partner with Retirement Relocation to get broader exposure in Northern Virginia, and I’m excited for our clients who are looking at their options for investment, second home, or retirement properties to have a convenient way to familiarize themselves with these communities and their offerings.

Grand Harbor, with six different communities on the calm shores of Lake Greenwood in South Carolina, leads off on Thursday, February 8th at the Hyatt Regency Reston at 7:00 p.m. Grand Harbor is a premier residential private gated Golf and Yacht Club community and features tennis and fitness centers and equestrian facilities. Numerous amenities include a gorgeous lakefront Yacht Club and an 18 Hole, signature Davis Love, III Golf Course.

Vista, with several properties in the mountains of North Carolina, will host its event at the Hyatt Fair Lakes in Fairfax on Thursday, February 15th at 6:30 p.m. Vista’s Bill’s Mountain offers incomparable mountain views from its homesites, townhomes, and cottages, just minutes from Lake Lure. Blacksmith Run features craftsman-style homes and offers affordability and proximity to Hendersonville with the flavor of a mountain resort.

The Settings visits the area and will present its Carolina coastal and mountain communities at the Tysons Marriott at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 8th. From low country living in coastal South Carolina to lakefront homesite opportunities in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the “convenient seclusion” of their community in Black Mountain, NC, The Settings Development Companies is focused on the most desirable settings in the Southeast. The receptions are free and open to the public, but reservations are required due to limited seating.

Please join us for one or more of these informative receptions to learn more about these opportunities with award-winning amenity communities in North and South Carolina. If you would like more information about these events or to reserve a space, please contact Retirement Relocation at 703-430-6411 or 877-55-RETIRE (877-557-3847) or by e-mail at info@RetireRelocateRelax.com.