Lakefront Master-Planned and Gated Communities

Can you imagine never having to make a trip to spend the day at the lake because you live near one? It’s a dream that is easily attainable with lake communities.

Why Lake Living?

Offering both the tranquility and the adventure of being by the water, it’s easy to see the appeal of lakeside living. It’s the perfect destination for those seeking access to year-round water activities, acres of natural beauty brimming with wildlife, and a tight-knit community where neighbors instantly become friends.

Finding the Best Lake Community

Truth be told, there are plenty of great lake destinations all over the country. It’s up to you to decide which one is perfect for your plans. But before you run off to the nearest lake, pause and consider exactly where it is you want your new lake life to be. Think about your needs and priorities. Do you want to be near the city, or do you envision a more remote setting? Do you see yourself nestled in the mountains with access to a lake? Or in a lakefront retirement community at a lower altitude? These questions can help you narrow down your ideal location and guide you to the best lakes to live on.

If you’re a sun-seeker, lake communities in the south would be ideal for you. Obvious hot spots like Florida already draw people in with sunshine and warm temperatures year-round, and their impeccably designed lake communities make the Sunshine State even more desirable for retirement or relocation. Other southern states like North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia offer up idyllic lake settings, some mixed with the serenity and remoteness of the mountains. Tennessee and Arkansas can also be deemed as some of the best places to retire on the lake. Looking for something further west? Venture to Washington, Colorado, or California. Wherever you land, boating, fishing, swimming, and other outdoor activities will always be waiting right outside your front door.

Venture Out

With so many options around the country, finding a lake community can be overwhelming. But if you can pinpoint your major must-haves, compiling a list of potential lake destinations will be easy. Aside from lakeside activities, consider other amenities you may want. Avid golfers may want their lake community to also be a golf community, with an award-winning course amid gorgeous views. Other amenities may include tax-friendliness, proximity to cities for dining, shopping, and entertainment. Or you may be searching for a 55+ community with lakeside benefits.

Research and Explore Lake Communities Around The U.S.

Search Filters:

Click to explore the following lake communities. Request information from multiple communities by selecting the checkboxes to the right and completing the form below.

Hot Springs Village | Private Gated Community Ouachita Mountain

Hot Springs Village

Hot Springs Village, AR
Lots from $1.5K-$300K to Homes from $125K-$2M

Hot Springs Village spans 26,000 acres of the Ouachita Mountain foothills. The largest private, gated community in North America boasts amenities for both adventure and leisure including pickle ball courts, tennis center, and 9 year-round, championship golf courses. Lake-life is also delightful with 11 lakes and 2 beaches for swimming, boating, skiing, kayaking, and relaxing! The Coronado Fitness Center, spa, indoor pool, and 30 miles of scenic hiking and biking nature trails are other HSV “hot” spots. Multiple dining, churches, and over 200 active organizations are perfect for social opportunities. The HSV Police, Fire, and EMT Departments along with two manned security gates provide residents peace of mind! HSV is centrally located and only a 20 minute drive to historic Hot Springs, an hour to Little Rock, and a day trip to many surrounding parks and attractions! Hot Springs Village offers a large variety of home styles. New construction and custom designed home packages are also available– all including your choice of lake or golf front, mountain view, or just nestled in the woods. Come enjoy the affordable HSV good life; the longer you stay, the more you’re going to love us! Photos by Zac Franklin.

Read More...

Estrella

Goodyear, AZ
New Homes from the mid $400K

Surrounded by majestic mountains and wide-open desert vistas, life in Estrella is a masterpiece of harmonious balance. Dynamic, yet serene; it offers young couples, families, and retirees a resort-inspired lifestyle with state-of-the-art amenities.

Estrella features the Presidio and Starpointe Residents’ Clubs, the Casa Lucero Welcome Center, fitness centers, resort-style pools, a waterpark, a splash pad, lap pools, more than 65+ miles of trails, and over 50+ community parks. With sports courts for basketball, tennis, volleyball, and pickleball, over 72 acres of lakes with complimentary usage of kayaks, paddle boats, and sail boats, award-winning Nicklaus Design champion golf course, restaurants, dining, shopping, great schools, on-site and nearby medical facilities all nestled among the Sierra Estrella Mountains, Estrella offers an unmatched lifestyle all for a low $112 base HOA fee.

Active adults can find refuge in their own gated community, CantaMia 55+ with the fully amenitized CantaMia Village Center, including its own resort-style pool, indoor lap pool, demo kitchen, art studio, cafe, dog park, pickleball courts, and event-scheduling.

Read More...

New Homes near Raleigh NC | Carolina Overlook by Del Webb

Carolina Overlook by Del Webb

Clayton, NC
Ranch homes from the mid $300s

Carolina Overlook is Clayton’s 55-plus active adult community by Del Webb in Johnston County. Featuring 10 ranch floorplan designs with options you’ll love, like 3-car garages, flex space, gourmet kitchens, and roomy lofts. We have 7 model homes open daily for touring. There are quick move-in homes available or you can build your dream home and visit the on-site design center to personalize. Resort-style amenities are under construction now – state-of-the-art clubhouse overlooking the onsite lake, pickleball courts, indoor and outdoor swimming pool, lifestyle director, clubs/classes, varsity room, aerobics room, dog park, community garden, walking trails, greenway trail access, and a temporary amenity before the main one opens. We can’t wait to meet you!

Read More...

55+ Homes Port St. Lucie FL | Telaro at Tradition | Active Adult

Telaro at Tradition

Port St. Lucie, FL
Single family homes and villas from $200K

If you’re an active adult looking for an age-55+ community in Florida, Telaro at Tradition in Port St. Lucie might be the perfect place for you.

Industry leader Mattamy Homes is building Telaro at Tradition, which will eventually include more than 400 luxury single-level residences. All are being constructed to the highest energy-efficient standards and offer a variety of customizable options. Comfortable villa designs in the Serenity Collection offer nearly 1,900 square feet of living space. Suppose you need a larger single-family home for visiting family and friends. In that case, the Tranquility Collection features four distinctive floor plans, while the Oasis Collection homes offer three large bedrooms with three full baths.

While part of the growing Tradition master-planned community, Telaro residents have their own private clubhouse, poolside cafe and market, fitness center, and courts for tennis and pickleball. In addition, Telaro homeowners have direct access to the Tradition community’s unique T Trail, a 20-mile multimodal network with dedicated paths for walking and biking, plus South Florida’s first autonomous shuttle service. Tradition also features a variety of on-site dining, entertainment, and lifestyle amenities, including top-rated healthcare services at Cleveland Clinic Tradition Hospital. The lively Port St. Lucie area offers retail shopping, championship golf courses, and waterways just outside the gates for scenic sunset cruises.

Find out if Telaro at Tradition is the destination you’ve always dreamed of by requesting more information below.

Read More...

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

Cresswind Georgia at Twin Lakes

Hoschton, GA
New Homes from $300K

Cresswind Georgia at Twin Lakes near Atlanta welcomes retirees and active adults who want age-55+ lifestyle amenities like the state’s largest private pickleball center.

Located within the growing Twin Lakes master-planned community, Cresswind Georgia residents enjoy kayaking, canoeing, and fishing on two pristine lakes. The gated Cresswind neighborhood features a private clubhouse with a full-time activity director who organizes club meetings, education classes, and special events. The SmartFit Training Center, an indoor pool with lap lanes and spa, a resort-style outdoor pool, tennis courts, and miles of walking trails, are among the healthy lifestyle amenities. For players of the world’s fastest-growing racquet sport, the Cresswind Georgia Pickleball Center is the largest private facility in the state, with more than 40 courts and a year-round calendar of tournament play.

The Cresswind Georgia single-family homes include ranch-style designs with two to four bedrooms. Custom options like bonus rooms, daylight basements, and golf cart garages make every luxury residence unique.

While Cresswind Georgia at Twin Lakes is a relaxing retreat in the North Georgia foothills, the dynamic City of Atlanta is just a short drive away. There you’ll find attractions like exciting night-life venues, impressive cultural arts centers, major league sports teams, and the finest health care facilities in the Southeast.

Request more information below and find out if the active-adult lifestyle of Cresswind Georgia at Twin Lakes is the perfect fit for you.

Read More...

K. Hov Four Seasons Lakes of Cane Bay | Gated Community near Charleston SC

K. Hovnanian’s Four Seasons at Lakes of Cane Bay

Summerville, SC

K. Hovnanian’s Four Seasons at Lakes of Cane Bay, a 55-plus active lifestyle community in Summerville, South Carolina, is centered on an expansive 300-acre lake system that is ideal for a variety of activities, such as fishing, boating, kayaking, walking and bird watching. The community’s spectacular clubhouse offers resort-style amenities that are second-to-none: two zero-entry outdoor saline pools, including a dedicated children’s pool; an indoor saline pool with lap lanes; a state-of-the-art fitness center and movement studio offering fitness classes, such as yoga and Pilates; a grand ballroom with a stage, seating for up to 300 and a demonstration/catering kitchen; a social lounge; a game room with billiards and card tables; bocce, pickleball and tennis courts; a lakeside amphitheater, and more. Homeowners in this inviting, parklike setting enjoy 24-hour gated security via a manned security gatehouse, as well as convenient access to area shopping, schools, recreation, dining, prestigious medical facilities, I-95, I-26 and Charleston International Airport. Live the Lake Life at Lakes of Cane Bay and experience the unsurpassed lifestyle you deserve.

Read More...

K. Hovnanian’s Four Seasons at Carolina Oaks

Bluffton, SC
Homes from the upper $300s

K. Hovnanian’s® Four Seasons at Carolina Oaks is a Bluffton, South Carolina 55+ community offering resort-style living in the scenic Lowcountry. This new active adult community features single-family homes in a picturesque wooded setting along with a variety of recreational amenities and a full calendar of activities.
The expansive clubhouse serves as the activity hub of the community, where residents enjoy yoga and Zumba at the fitness center, discover new talents in the arts & crafts room, play billiards with neighbors, lounge by the pool, and perfect dancing skills in the ballroom. Outdoor amenities include walking and biking paths, tennis and pickleball courts, bocce ball courts, a dog park, community gardens, fire pits, and screened verandas.

K. Hovnanian’s® Four Seasons at Carolina Oaks is within 20 miles of pristine Hilton Head Island beaches, championship golf courses, scenic nature preserves, marinas, and the historic sites of Bluffton and Savannah, Georgia.

Read More...

Shell Point Retirement Community

Fort Myers, FL
Lifecare Units from studio to homes. $120K - $1M+

THE BEST PLACE TO BE
Shell Point® is an award-winning lifecare retirement resort located along the Caloosahatchee River in Fort Myers, Florida just minutes from Sanibel Island and the Gulf of Mexico. When you retire at Shell Point, you have the comfort of knowing that your needs will be taken care of – both now and in the years to come.

RECREATION FOR EVERYONE
Shell Point offers an unparalleled lifestyle in an unparalleled waterfront setting. For those who enjoy exploring Florida’s waterways, there’s boating, fishing, sailing, kayaking, paddle boarding, and canoeing. For sport and fitness fans there is Shell Point’s championship golf course, four Har-Tru tennis courts, five pickleball courts, a bocce court, fitness centers with trained professionals and four heated swimming pools. Nature lovers will enjoy the boardwalks, bridges, bike paths and miles of walking trails. Residents who are interested in gardening enjoy individual garden plots, a lovely rose garden, and a fully-equipped orchid greenhouse and a butterfly garden.

ARTFUL LIVING
No other community offers the variety of outlets for creativity and personal expression that are available at Shell Point. Shell Point provides extensive craft and hobby facilities, including a complete woodworking shop, lapidary room, train room for miniature train enthusiasts, digital photography lab, modern pottery and ceramics studio, and an art studio with classes for beginners as well as advanced artists in a variety of media. Performing arts are enjoyed through choral ensembles, a jazz band, and multiple musical groups for participants at all levels.

DISCOVER SHELL POINT
Discover for yourself what residents of Shell Point already know – that Shell Point is the perfect place for retirement living – all in a resort-style setting. Shell Point offers private appointments with a tour of the community. Schedule your visit by calling (239) 466-1131, press 1 for Sales.

Read More...

Cresswind Charlotte

Charlotte, NC
Homes: $400K - $500K

Cresswind Charlotte is a luxury age-55+ community that is ideal for active adults and retirees who seek a private retreat that’s still convenient to uptown attractions.

Kolter Homes brings its national reputation for building top-quality, energy-efficient residences to Cresswind Charlotte. Here you’ll find customizable single-family homes with 11 distinctive floor plans from which to choose, with two or three bedrooms and two-car garages. Designer models and a choice selection of move-in-ready homes are available for live or virtual tours.

Club Cresswind is the heart of community life at Cresswind Charlotte, where the full-time activity director schedules weekly events and interest club meetings that keep everyone engaged. The fully-equipped fitness center features yoga and aerobics studios, while the indoor pool has lap lanes and a spa. Just outside is the resort-style pool, sports courts for tennis, pickleball, and bocce ball, and trailheads for walking paths that meander throughout the 370-acre woodland property.

Just beyond the Cresswind Charlotte entranceway are grocery stores, restaurants, and the Novant Health Mint Hill medical complex. Cultural arts centers and entertainment attractions in Uptown Charlotte are only a 25-minute drive away. Additional options include day trips to national forest hiking trails and cozy weekend getaways to nearby mountain ski resorts.

When you request more information below, you’ll be on your way to a healthier and happier lifestyle at Cresswind Charlotte.

Read More...

Active Adult Retirement Grantham NH | Eastman Community Association

Eastman Community Association

Grantham, NH
Homes, Condos: $135K - $1.5M Lots: $5K - $89K

Eastman Community Association – Four Seasons Paradise

The Eastman Community Association in Grantham, NH is an ideal active-adult and retirement destination. It’s also the perfect place to raise a family. Eastman is a sustainable, intergenerational community in the Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee Region of New Hampshire.

Ultimately, Eastman is a nature-lover’s haven. Tucked away in the pristine woodlands of New Hampshire’s Upper Connecticut River Valley, the Eastman Community Association encourages an active and connected lifestyle. Residents move to the rhythm of four distinct seasons. And, outdoor adventure is a central theme.

Just Add Amenities

Eastman is centrally located, but just remote enough. It’s conveniently two hours north of Boston and three hours from Hartford. And, Lake Sunapee, New London, and Lebanon are just minutes away. As a result, residents have ample access to urban amenities. Cultural venues, medical facilities, as well as educational opportunities are all within reach.

New Hampshire’s Grantham Mountain offers a picturesque backdrop to Eastman’s 345-acre lake, and ample hiking trails. So, be sure to pack your boots!

Looking for more? Try 37 miles of cross country trails starting at the Eastman Cross Country Center. In summer, head to one of six beaches, kayak and canoe launches, or to the pool and fitness center year round. Eastman also boasts an 18-hole golf course, har-tru tennis courts and an award-winning restaurant as well.

Condos are available from $125,000 to $270,000. Eastman’s single-family homes range from $130,000 to $1.5 million. (Prices are subject to change.)

Read More...

Oakland Park

Winter Garden, FL
Homes from $500K

Oakland Park is everything Florida living should be. With picturesque scenery and close proximity to Winter Garden, it is the perfect balance of modern conveniences and old Florida charm. Our preservation of the natural surroundings and the area’s history, character, and craftsmanship create a stunning sanctuary that you’ll want to call home.

Located just off the West Orange Trail and minutes from downtown Winter Garden, Oakland Park is Florida the way it should be – a blending of water, majestic trees, and a classic, small-town feel. It’s hard to imagine that a place so quaint is just minutes from Winter Garden and the excitement of Orlando. You truly can have the best of many worlds here at Oakland Park.

No matter where you are in Oakland Park, you are not far from a park, pool, or trail. Oakland Park amenities beckon families and friends to gather and enjoy the great outdoors, take in the vast shoreline or relax in the afternoon breeze. For those seeking shelter, the Oakland Park Clubhouse can be thought of as an extension of their own living room, a quiet nook for reading, or a festive setting for family and friends.

Oakland Park homes are inspired by historic styles and old-Florida charm and built by highly regarded regional builders. Design features such as outward-facing interiors and rear-facing garages provide a pedestrian-friendly feel, while large front porches encourage interaction between neighbors and create an organic feeling as if the community developed over several decades. And if you desire something different, our available homesites and options allow you the variety to satisfy your own personal tastes and practical needs.

Read More...

River Dunes

Oriental, NC
Homes: $225K - $1.1M Lots: $90K - $585K

River Dunes is an award-winning coastal retreat on the coast of North Carolina. You’ll find big water, big views, and big adventure here. River Dunes offers the best in coastal living and year-round boating, set in an unparalleled location with fourteen miles of shoreline on the big waters of the Pamlico Sound, Intracoastal Waterway and Neuse River. The award-winning master plan embraces gathering spaces, spectacular water views, and outdoor living. Traditional coastal architecture and a bustling Harbor Village draw upon the rich heritage of life on the coast. River Dunes is a place for enjoying the back porch with neighbors, the peace of an early-morning kayaking trip and fellowship on the docks in the afternoon. Enjoy luxurious guest accommodations, live music at the Pavilion and dining with friends.

The 400 slip Marina features floating docks, fuel, dockage and deep water access for boats up to 150′. The Harbor Village in the heart of the community offers dining, shopping, provisions, fitness, tennis courts, a day spa, accommodations, bikes, kayaks, trails and the new Design Center. The Harbor Club has a spectacular clubhouse with waterfront dining, pool, and hot tubs.

Read More...

55+ Homes in Odenton MD | Brookfield Residential at Two Rivers

Brookfield Residential at Two Rivers

Odenton, MD
For Sale Homes: From the $700's

This is your last opportunity to live exactly how you want to live in Maryland’s No. 1 selling resort-style community. Every day at Two Rivers will be amazing with so many amenities and activities to choose from throughout the community and at the clubhouse. Plus, you’ll be so close to everything you already know and love that you’ll have the best of both worlds. But you need to hurry, as the beautiful new Brookfield Residential homes in this community are moving fast!

Brookfield Residential delivers the latest style trends and innovative home design elements you desire most. Floorplans have been created to maximize your lifestyle and designed for easy single-level living and a low-maintenance lifestyle. Our Empower collection of innovative features will enhance each step of your new home experience to ensure it meets your needs.

Amenities at Two Rivers include a 15,000-square-foot clubhouse, a ballroom, indoor and outdoor pools, a fitness center, tennis and pickleball courts, walking trails, a dog park, community gardens, fire pits, playgrounds, a pavilion, a pond and a pier.

For more information about moving into your new home this year, call Brookfield Residential at 410.431.1511.

Read More...

Active Adult Community near Seattle WA | Port Ludlow | Waterfront Homes

Port Ludlow

Port Ludlow, WA
Homes: $490K+

For retirees, active adults, and remote workers, Port Ludlow is an inviting resort-style community on the shores of Puget Sound in the state of Washington.

Westharbor Homes is building new Port Ludlow residences to the highest environmental standards with energy-saving appliances. In the Ludlow Cove Cottages and Olympic Terrace II neighborhoods, you’ll find a delightful variety of floor plans, including beachfront single-family homes, waterfront condominiums, and spacious villas with fairway views.

The amenities and activities at Port Ludlow start with play on the community’s 18-hole golf course, a scenic layout along the water and through the maritime forest. The 300-slip marina offers complete boating services and launches for kayaks and paddleboards. In addition, there are two community clubhouses with fitness centers, swimming pools, and tennis/pickleball courts. You can also enjoy 30+ miles of walking trails, more than 100 community social clubs, and genuine farm-to-table dining with fresh seafood always on the menu at the Fireside Restaurant.

The nearby towns of Chimacum and Port Townsend feature cafes, bakeries, artisan shops, and grocery markets, plus convenient health care services that include specialty practices. And just a 30-minute ferry ride away is the dynamic city of Seattle, home to some of the nation’s leading hi-tech companies, a thriving cultural arts scene, and major professional sports teams.

When you request more information below, you’ll be on your way to discovering the waterfront lifestyle in the Pacific Northwest at Port Ludlow.
Check out our 360 degree view of Port Ludow by clicking here!

Read More...

Cumberland Harbour

St. Marys, GA
Homes: $350K - $2M Lots: $30K - $300K.

Located on a peninsula bounded by rivers and ocean we are Georgia’s Premier Coastal Community directly across from Cumberland Island National Seashore! Enjoy world-class amenities with pools, tennis, fitness center, parks and community docks. All protected by manned/gated 24/7 security for peace of mind. Located at the Southeastern-most point of Georgia we enjoy the mildest climate in the state. The metro area of Jacksonville, FL offers the finest in shopping, cultural activities, sporting events and health care that includes the Mayo Clinic. Jacksonville International Airport is 30 minutes from our frontgate.

The architecture in Cumberland Harbour is classic Low-Country Southern vernacular with wide porches, metal roofs, shiplap and vintage heart pine floors. Work with the region’s finest builders to create that one of a kind Dream Home. Choose from home sites with a wide variety of locations and price points. Our waterfront sites offer true deepwater access with the ability to put in your own private dock. Marshfront sites offer endless vistas and sunsets over the salt marshes. Our nature sites offer a live oak canopy perfect for relaxation on those Summer days. Play, Relax, Explore… Life lived better, Cumberland Harbour.

Read More...

The Retreats

Rancho Murieta, CA
Homes from the upper $700's

The Retreats is a gated community offering single-family new homes for sale in Rancho Murieta, CA. Choose from 4 unique single story floorplans on spacious homesites. Home sizes range from 2,292 sf up to 3,077 sf with up to 5 bedrooms and an option for our Extra Suite Plus for multigenerational living. Enjoy living within the privately gated golf course community of Rancho Murieta Country Club. Residents can enjoy evening strolls on the community walking paths and nature trails around the lakes or just a visit to the Murieta Equestrian Center. Rancho Murieta is conveniently located just 25 miles from Sacramento.
Offered By: K. Hovnanian Homes Northern California, Inc.

Read More...

Clarendon County SC

Manning, SC
Homes starting in the mid $200s

Clarendon County is the hidden gem of the Palmetto State! Ripe with nature and full of possibilities, you’re sure to fall in love with our area. Home to Lake Marion, the largest lake in South Carolina, we are an outdoor enthusiast’s dream destination. Fishing, boating, hunting and golf are just a few favorite pastimes found in our county. We are centrally located, just a quick drive to Columbia, the state capital, historic Charleston and pristine beaches from the Lowcountry to the Grand Strand. Historic 301 makes its way through our county, and we are conveniently located on the I-95 corridor.

Our area is home to several active lifestyle communities that display the best parts of “Lake Life Living.” Examples include: Wyboo Plantation, a gated community home to the signature Player’s Course at Wyboo with your choice of houses along the course or on the shores of Lake Marion. Or, Hunter Quinn Homes’ Gregory Pointe, a new community with single-levels homes that bring a modern, Charleston design to the heart of South Carolina’s lowcountry. Please take time to explore our county and be prepared to be impressed with what you discover! Community Product and Pricing

Read More...

Plan your visit to a lakefront community

Finding the perfect place to call home has never been more important, and we’re here to help. Take a look at the lake communities below and note the ones that stand out to you. Once you’ve chosen a few, make plans to book a discovery tour to take a closer look at those areas. It’s the best way to really know if a community is the perfect fit for you. After that, your only other step is to soak up the luxury of living by the lake.

Request information for your selected communities.

Your Information Request for your selected properties


By submitting this form, you agree to allow ideal-LIVING.com to provide your contact information to the selected communities.