Ideal Living Logo Dark

Receive your complimentary relocation guide

Guide to Best Places to Retire in Georgia



Yes! Please send me The Digital "Choose Your Ideal Place" Guide
Yes! I want to receive ideal-LIVING Magazine
Ideal Living Relocation Guide Package Reflection

Best Places to Live & Retire in Georgia

From the Mountains to the Sea

Ideal-Living offers a free comprehensive service that begins with helping you find your Ideal Lifestyle. Until you know how you want to live, you can’t know where you want to live. We offer a wide array of tools to help you get answers to the questions that are keeping you from moving to your ideal destination. That includes finding the best place to retire in Georgia.100 Best Place to Live

This includes helping you find the best retirement communities in Georgia. Get the facts and compare all types of communities, such as gated communities, golf communities, active adult communities and 55+ adult communities.

We can help you gain all this information as well as put you in touch with representatives from the top retirement and resort communities in Georgia, this includes communities such as Reynolds Plantation (Lake Oconee), Sun City Peachtree, The Landings on Skidaway Island, Savannah Quarters and many more. With so many options, help is surely welcome and that is why we are here.

Besides its natural beauty, great beaches, mountains and nationally recognized retirement communities, Georgia is one of the most tax-friendly states for retirees and seniors. The tax benefits of living in Georgia include:

No tax on social security benefits
Limited state income tax
Full time residents qualify for Homestead Exemption
State property tax to be phased out before 2017
Food and prescription drugs exempt from state sales tax

 

 

Idyllic Communities in Ideal Locations

Georgia is a great place for vacationers and for retirees. There are beautiful beaches all along the coast, and amazing scenic mountain views inland. Explore the State of Georgia's rich history, natural beauty, and tempting trails. Enjoy tax-friendly living, pristine beaches, delicious restaurants and outdoor adventures. You never know, Georgia may be just what you’re looking for.

Prospective residents should choose a community that best fits their lifestyle. Some neighborhoods are only a short walk or ride away from bustling city centers. Others are closer to quieter, small-town shops.

Our free Digital Retirement GuideIdeal-Living Magazine and e-Newsletter offer an abundance of information on which states, towns and cities are the best for retirees, vacationers and second-home buyers. If you are looking to retire or relocate to any of the picturesque spots within the state, you’ll find the information you need from Ideal-Living. Our Ideal-Living Magazine includes numerous articles such as the top travel destinations, tips on selling your home, and how to make the most of your retirement.

Sample Communities to Discover

55+ Homes near Atlanta GA | Cresswind Georgia at Twin Lakes

Cresswind Georgia at Twin Lakes

Hoschton, GA
Homes from the $400s to $1M

Cresswind Georgia at Twin Lakes is a gated 55+ community in the metro Atlanta, Georgia area. Conveniently located in the master-planned community of Twin Lakes, the naturally scenic location truly is a gateway to all that north Georgia offers. The Blue Ridge Mountains, Lake Lanier and Athens are less than an hour drive from the community. With a focus on fitness, relationships, education and entertainment, Cresswind communities feature resort-style amenities and homes designed with active adults in mind.

Homebuyers can choose from four collections of 15 floorplans, ranging from 2- up to 5- Bedrooms and designed for optimal flexibility to create a home Built Around You. Kolter Homes offers a minimum of 25 structural options per plan so you can have the ability to add bedrooms, expand garages, second floor bonus rooms, daylight basements and more. Plus, choose from hundreds of design personalization opportunities.

Residents have exclusive access to the new Club Cresswind, which features a SmartFit Training Center with cardio, weights and EGYM Smart Circuit Training, indoor pool with lap lanes, art studio, warming kitchen and more. A full-time Lifestyle Director plans a full calendar of clubs, activities, concerts and events. Cresswind is home to the largest private pickleball facility in Georgia and one of the largest in the Southeast. In addition, residents can enjoy an abundance of outdoor recreation, with miles of walking trails and two lakes for fishing, kayaking and paddleboarding.

KOLTERHOMES created the Go Guide to Active Adult Living and Homebuying to help put buyers in control of the homebuying experience. After gathering suggestions from homebuyers, and with guidance from industry experts, KOLTERHOMES developed this comprehensive online guide with the best active adult locations, insider tips, insights, and driving tours. View the FREE guide at www.cresswind.com

Read More...

Gated Communities | Waterways | Best Places to Live in Georgia

Waterways

Richmond Hill, GA
Homes: $400K - $900K+ Townhomes: $300K Homesites: $90K - $300K

One of the best places to live in Georgia.

Nestled amid ancient moss-draped oak hammocks, winding freshwater lagoons and the salt marshes of coastal Georgia’s low country, Waterways is a private gated community with distinctive homes and modern amenities, just 30 minutes south of historic Savannah in Richmond Hill, Georgia. This surprising low country community offers luxury homes surrounded by a protected natural landscape.

Each Waterways neighborhood is designed with its own unique character and charm. Here, you’ll find a wide selection of interconnected neighborhoods, convenient access to community amenities, and homesites with lagoon, park, and wooded views. Homesites start in the 90s, townhomes from the 300’s and homes from the 400’s.

This is ideal living.

Just outside of Savannah, on the Georgia coast, there’s a master planned community that’s rooted in nature and built with modern amenities. Here, water’s influence is the center of the lifestyle, and health and wellness are valued along with days of adventure and exploration.Here, your family can escape from the noise of the world in a place where spontaneous get-togethers, outdoor activities, and the influence of water create a new rhythm of life.

The Waterways Marina Is Now Open….

Located along Redbird Waterway, the Marina features direct access to the Intracoastal Waterway, the Great Ogeechee River, and the Atlantic Ocean. Featuring dry slip storage, a ship store, and fueling and launching facilities, Waterways residents will have all they need for endless adventure. The center of our waterfront lifestyle is found at the Marina Village, with stunning views of golden marshes, dry slip storage spaces, along with fresh water boat slips for residents. Green spaces and events lawns will complement a curated collection of quaint retail shops and casual dining. Accessible from every corner of the community via Harbor View Drive, a road with spectacular views of glistening waters, Marina Village is sure to become the heartbeat of Waterways. Choosing the perfect place for your next adventure is about so much more than finding a home. Get a feel for the Waterways lifestyle with a Discover Waterways Visit, an immersive three day, two-night getaway. Schedule Your Visit Today!

Read More...

Lake Arrowhead | Mountain Community near Atlanta GA | Golf Community

Lake Arrowhead

Waleska, GA
Single Family Ranch Style Homes from $300K - $500K.

Lake Arrowhead sits on a 540-acre lake surrounded by mountains, pristine wilderness, and championship golf. Enjoy Resort style living that includes a 24 hour manned, guarded entry, a 2-story marina pavilion, sports courts with basketball, fishing pier, 18+ miles of hiking trails, swimming pools, pickleball, tennis, boat rental slips, dry storage, and a Dog Park to name a few. We encourage you to browse our inventory of homes here, our photo gallery here, and our video gallery here. The great part about our location is that we are in close proximity to the State of the Art Northside Cherokee Hospital, have easy access to the interstates, fine dining, shopping and entertainment.  Our county taxes are the lowest in the state for residents 62 and older.

Something For Everyone, Mountain Cottages, Ranch Homes, Golf & Lake Villas, Townhomes

Lake Arrowhead’s Portfolio of Ranch Style Homes are selling in three Neighborhoods.
The Woodlands Ranch Style Homes start in the mid $300’s, Highlands Vista Ranch Style Homes and Golf Villas are starting in the $400’s.

Our Newest 2024 Neighborhood, Red Cloud Cabins offer Mountain Cabins starting in the Mid $300’s.

The newly released neighborhood of Franklin Elm offers Single Family Ranch homes starting from the $400’s.

The three remaining new neighborhoods Waterview townhomes, Marina Parc Villas Phase II and Fort Gibson will be released for sale in 2024.

We invite you to add your name to the VIP List to be among the first to know about exciting releases of new home opportunities this year or call us at 770-720-2700 for a private VIP Tour of the community.

Come visit us at our Sales Center now open until 6 pm!

Find us on our social media:

facebook

Read More...

Get Started

Finding and choosing the right active adult community can be a daunting task. This is where ideal-LIVING can help. Sign up below to receive our complimentary relocation package, which offers tips on how to find a community that suits your needs. In this guide, you’ll discover the top communities in Georgia, as well as what you can do to get started. Sign up for this free package to take the first step in your exciting journey.

Free Package includes:

 

  • ideal-LIVING Relocation Guide
    The ultimate guide to find your ideal destination, life and home. This annual guide contains more than 15 state maps, a location-based cost of living and climate comparison chart and discovery travel packages.
  • ideal-LIVING Magazine
    Quarterly print magazine features the best places to retire and/or purchase your ideal second home.
  • ideal-LIVING E-Newsletter
    Receive our digital newsletter, two to three times a month, highlighting communities around the country and abroad.
  • Tickets to ideal-LIVING Live Events
    The ideal-LIVING Resort & Retirement Show has helped retirees and second-home buyers find their ideal community and home for more than 30 years.

© 2025 ideal-LIVING Magazine • 265 Racine Dr #201 • Wilmington, NC 28403 • 910.763.2100