Lake Lanier draws over 7.5 million visitors every year, spans several counties (Hall, Forsyth, Gwinnett, Dawson and Lumpkin County), encompasses approximately 38,000 acres and was an Olympic venue in 1996. Every holiday season, over six miles of Lake Lanier Islands are decorated for the Magical Nights of Lights display, which is one of the largest light shows in the world. Frontage property is available in all price ranges, from the $200,000s to amenity-rich, multimillion-dollar estates and while the lake attracts many year-round residents, it also attracts part-time residents and has a healthy vacation-rental market.
A recently listed, $2.5 million, custom-built, six-bedroom, 5 ½-bath, Cape Cod-style lakeside home in gated Breeze Bay on Lanier in Cumming has dormer windows, stacked stone, a front porch, a hot tub, an outside fireplace and a back deck overlooking the lake. The magnificent interior includes hardwood flooring, fanlights and a gourmet kitchen with stacked stone accents, an island, a keeping room, a wine rack and hard-surface counters. The home also has a three-car garage, a nanny suite, a finished terrace level and a two-slip dock. The master bedroom has crown molding, a trey ceiling and a jetted tub. The schools are Chattahoochee Elementary, North Forsyth Middle and North Forsyth High School.
A two-bedroom, two-bath Habersham Pointe condominium in Cumming, recently listed at $269,900, has 10-foot, transom-topped windows and a jetted tub and separate shower in the master suite. The complex’s 60 units occupy around two miles of shoreline and residents share a swimming pool, five courtesy boat docks, lakeside tables and grills. Students attend Mashburn Elementary, Otwell Middle and Forsyth Central High School.
Regional malls include Lakeshore Mall in Gainesville and Stonebridge Village Shopping Center in Hall County. Major medical centers include Northside Hospital Forsyth and Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville and, soon, Braselton.