Some home buyers are just looking for a place to hang their hat while they live their lives elsewhere – at work, with friends or maybe on the road.

But more and more these days, developers are building projects that cater to buyers who want to really enjoy their time in their homes and neighborhood, creating communities where residents can relax and find every amenity they want within easy distance of their home.

Christopher Oquendo/Special (ENLARGE)

Barbara and Bob Carlin show off the living room of their home at Horizon at Wildwood.

Christopher Oquendo/Special (ENLARGE)

The Chandlers' lot backs up to the 18-hole championship golf course and a nature preserve. Their home was designed by John Wieland Homes.

Christopher Oquendo/Special (ENLARGE)

Kassie and Derek Dahlgren enjoy spending their weekends in Anderson Creek.

Christopher Oquendo/Special (ENLARGE)

Wendi and Jason Chandler enjoy the amenties of their neighborhood in the Reunion community.

Christopher Oquendo/Special (ENLARGE)

A full-time activities director keeps Reunion residents busy.

Christopher Oquendo/Special (ENLARGE)

Jason Chandler lines up his putt at Reunion, a development in Hoschton in Hall County.

Christopher Oquendo/Special (ENLARGE)

The Dahlgrens own a 3.3-acre lot and built a traditional Southern 'dogtrot' design.

Christopher Oquendo/Special (ENLARGE)

The living room is in one building on the Dahlgrens' property and bedrooms in the other.

Christopher Oquendo/Special (ENLARGE)

The Carlins' home includes two balconies, one of which is off the master suite.

Christopher Oquendo/Special (ENLARGE)

Jim Weinberg created the furniture and design package included with the unit purchased by the Carlins.

Christopher Oquendo/Special (ENLARGE)

The Chandlers' lot backs up to the 18-hole championship golf course and a nature preserve. Their home was designed by John Wieland Homes.

"People are looking to get out of traffic and away from all the irritations that come with today's hectic lifestyles," says Jason Wingfield, Division Vice President for John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods. "They're looking for a place they can relax, where coming home means relief. If they can find a community with recreation and entertainment easily available, they'll embrace it."

Today's HomeFinder takes a look at some of these communities, including Reunion in Hall County, Horizon at Wildwood in Cobb, and Anderson Creek in Gilmer — three very different developments that appeal to buyers looking for very different lifestyles. What they have in common is their effort to create a specific atmosphere to appeal to buyers looking in that niche.

Wingfield calls Wieland's Reunion "our lifestyle neighborhood.

"We've been building neighborhoods for years, but in creating Reunion, we worked very hard to develop a unique multi-generational community. Our residents come to us at all stages of life from young families to empty-nesters. A variety of floor plans and home styles means that people can find just the kind of home they need no matter what stage of life they are in, and they can still enjoy our amenities like the golf course and clubhouse."

Not content just to provide amenities outside their buyer's front doors, some developers are thinking "inside the box."

Betty Harbourt is executive vice president with The Marketing Directors, a national company working with the developers of Horizon at Wildwood, a residential high-rise in Cobb County. She created Horizon's "Liveable Lifestyles" program, where buyers can select fully-furnished homes to suit a variety of personalities and needs.

"One of the hardest things for a future homeowner to do is to visualize themselves in the space — it is empty, not painted in their favorite shade of green and has no stamp of personality for who they are," she says. "Liveable Lifestyles is a turn-key furnished home that fits and adds the personal touches instantly. Buying a new home sure can't get any easier than that!"

A lifestyle community may also be a second home community. People whose weekday routines keep them tethered to city life may want a place to escape to where they can immerse themselves in a passion. Developments are springing up all over Georgia where people can mingle with others who enjoy the same enthusiasm for an activity, like motorcycling or hunting. Maybe you've always wanted to live near a winery or want to share a neighborhood with others who share your environmental concerns.

Home buyers all around Atlanta are surrounding themselves with like-minded neighbors who share their enthusiasm and interests. Here are three families who have embraced the lifestyle community way of life.

FOCUS ON PERSONAL INTERESTS

Horizon at Wildwood: A 17-story luxury condominium building in Cobb County. The building features concierge service, a state-of-the-art fitness center, a full-sized outdoor swimming pool with cabana area, an outdoor kitchen and grill area, infinity-edged garden spa and residents' clubroom with a lounge and bar for entertaining. There's a resident bicycle program, and the building is within walking distance of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area with its miles of trails.

Our homeowners: Barbara and Bob Carlin just bought a 15th floor unit. Their condo has a living room and den, dining room, two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and two balconies. The Carlins chose to buy "The Entertainer," a custom-designed residence with a complete furniture package created by Jim Weinberg.

What they were looking for: "We wanted to not have a yard any more and all of the work of a single-family home," Barbara told us. "That kind of living had served us well, but this is a different season in our life. This is a great time for us to launch out and do something a little daring and a little different."

How they found Horizon: "I was reading a magazine and saw a story about the building. I love art and architecture, and the story intrigued me enough that I had to visit. We had been looking for a new home for a year and a half. We wanted something different, and we wanted to stay in east Cobb but be closer to the city. Driving up to the building, I said to my husband, 'I love it, I love it, I love it!' "

Why this unit: "As soon as we walked in the door and saw the view and the layout, we knew this was right for us. It's completely done and decorated by Jim Weinberg. I have a background in art and was very impressed with his ability and sensibility. I didn't want to leave! Another thing I particularly like about our unit is that it has a loft feeling with cement columns juxtaposed with fine crown molding and other architectural details you would see in a beautifully crafted home. We have 10-foot ceilings with full glass walls to accentuate the view. It's perfect for family living and it's perfect for entertaining. The two bedrooms are essentially two master suites with one at either end of the unit, so it's perfect for company. Our guests will feel pampered and cared for."

A change in lifestyle: "I've heard it said that you spend the first 40 years of your life accumulating and building, and the second 40 years giving it all away. This move gives us the chance to speak to other sensibilities in our lives. I've always wanted to do something modern and contemporary, more sophisticated. We're only bringing our books and two pieces of furniture with us to this new home. The rest we're giving to the next generation."

It's not downsizing, it's expanding: "Here we don't need an exercise room because the one at Horizon is beautifully equipped. We have all the benefits of a garden and a pool and a spa, and we don't have the responsibility for it. I want to go hiking and biking, and I don't want to be out mowing the yard and keeping up with all the responsibilities of a large home. We have all the benefits here and none of the work. We feel that in many ways we're downsizing, but we're really expanding our territory."

HE'S A GOLF FANATIC, SHE LOVES THE NEIGHBORHOOD FEELING

Reunion: John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods' vision of a historic small town in Hall County. The community features an 18-hole championship golf course, water park including triple-loop waterslide and separate splash pool, lighted tennis center and children's adventure play park. There's a meeting house and athletic center, including a fitness center with separate aerobics studio, children's activity room and a gathering hall. A full-time activities director schedules events for all ages.

Our homeowners: In September 2006, Wendi and Jason Chandler bought "The Frederick," a two-story four-bedroom, three-bath home with full basement, screened porch and master on the main. Annual dues are $750 to cover maintenance and the pool, tennis courts and gym, and $185 a month buys unlimited golf with cart, as well as use of the driving range and putting green.

How they found Reunion: Jason says, "I had played golf with Wendi's dad out here a few times. I knew this was exactly what she would want, something that felt like a traditional neighborhood with a lot of character." Wendi adds, "It feels like something from the 1920s or 1930s, like being in a historic town. We knew John Wieland had a great reputation, and adding in the golf and the pool and the tennis courts and the other amenities, it was just absolutely right for us."

A smooth process from start to finish: "We picked this lot because it has a golf view and we back up to a natural wooded area. Then we selected the model we wanted, and it was nine months to the move-in. The biggest surprise was how well the building process went. We've built four homes and this was the best experience we've had," Wendi says.

How they spend their time: Jason says, "I play golf on Saturday and Sunday, and after a round of golf, the guys and I eat lunch at the restaurant at Reunion Hall." Wendi adds, "There's a social gathering every Friday night in the neighborhood, and with a full-time activities director, we have a constant stream of activities: movie night in the park, a fall festival, chili cook-off, holiday parties, a parade on the Fourth of July. It's just so much fun. I also love to shop in the area, we go to movies and out to dinner, but honestly, the neighborhood is so great that I'm content just staying home."

WHERE NATURE IS PERMANENTLY PROTECTED

Anderson Creek Retreat: A community focused on preserving the natural environment and on providing a place for mountain sports like hiking, biking and fishing. The development covers over 1,000 acres of mountaintops, ridges and creek valleys with preserved pioneer homesteads, creek corridors and botanically sensitive areas.

These permanently protected places are connected by a network of trails, and covenants ensure that the land will be managed for the long-term benefit of the environment and property owners.

In February 2004, Kassie and Derek Dahlgren bought a 3.3 acre lot at Anderson Creek Retreat. They built a home with a traditional Southern "dogtrot" design of two separate buildings separated by a covered porch.

The kitchen, living room and dining room are in one building, and the two bedrooms are in another. There's a large back deck as well, and landscaping is all in native plants like mountain laurels and rhododendrons.

How they found Anderson Creek: "We had been looking in the area for a couple of years when we ran into an old friend who is a builder," says Derek. "He was building a house for a property owner in Anderson Creek and told us about the development. He suggested we drive up and check it out, so we did. We ended up making five or six trips up there over the next year or so. We rode our bikes or hiked each time we visited. The more we got to know the property the more we knew this was where we wanted to build."

Keeping things the way they are: "We didn't want to be part of a subdivision atmosphere," says Derek. "The developer, Doug David, has a concept of conservation and keeping things the way they were. There were no plans for building tennis courts or pools, no paved roads; it was just going to be rustic and natural, staying the way it was. That's just what we were looking for."

Kassie adds, "It's unbelievable how much open property there is here. We can mountain bike for three days and not hit the same trail twice."

There's a real sense of community: "People don't come up here and buy their lot and try to be isolated," says Derek. "Everybody who has built up here wants to be part of the process of leaving things very natural and protecting what's here. We even have a group that organizes plant rescues. Before someone builds on their property, the house is staked out, and we as a community go in and save as many plants as we can before the bulldozers come in."

How they spend their time here: "We come up almost every weekend. It takes us an hour and fifteen minutes to get here from our home in Canton," says Derek.

"We bring our dog, Scout, who's a great mountain biker. She runs the trails with us, and she wears a bear bell so she won't spook any bears. She loves it here," adds Kassie. "We cook out here at the house, or go down to the creek camp. Derek usually has some project like putting up shelves, and I go out looking for arrowheads. On a Saturday morning, we'll meet up with the neighbors and go for a ride. Then we use our outdoor shower, my favorite feature of our entire cabin, and spend the afternoon relaxing."

There's always something new to see: "As long as we've been here, we're still finding new trails. I'm not sure we've seen them all," says Derek. "There's the creek camp, the trout stream, a lake you can fish or use canoes on, logging trails and a wagon trail that runs through the property, deer trails ... some of the trails run along ridges where you're looking out over the property and some run by the creek. They're not easy trails to ride, but they're awesome. And if you get tired of riding here, you can continue on to the U.S. Forest Service land next door and go all the way to Amicalola Falls. We never run out of things to do. "

FACTS ABOUT HORIZON AT WILDWOOD:

Address: 3300 Windy Ridge Parkway, Atlanta

Telephone: 404-961-7160

Web site: www.horizonwild

wood.com

Price range: $170,000 to $500,000-plus

Year built: 2007

Number of units: 274

Square footage: 700 to 2,700 square feet

Builder: Wood Partners

Directions from downtown Atlanta: Take I-75 north to Exit 260 (Windy Hill Road/Smyrna). Turn right and go approximately one-half mile to Powers Ferry Road. Turn right and go approximately one-half mile to Windy Ridge Parkway. Turn left and Horizon will be immediately on your left. The sales center is in the building on the ground level.

FACTS ABOUT ANDERSON CREEK:

Address: 247 Old Anderson Creek Road, Ellijay

Telephone: 706-635-5124

Web site:

www.andersoncreekretreat.com

Price range: $350,000-$1,000,000

Number of homes: 12

Square footage: 1,100-4,400

Lot sizes: 3-plus acres

Developer: Anderson Creek LLLP

Directions from downtown Atlanta: Take I-285 to Ga. 400 north. Travel 2.3 miles past Ga. 53 near Dawsonville. Turn left on Ga. 136 and travel approximately 14 miles until Ga. 136 merges with Ga. 183. Continue on Ga. 183 for 2.3 miles until it ends at Ga. 52 near Amicalola Falls. Turn left on Ga. 52 toward Ellijay. At approximately 10.6 miles turn right on Roy Road. Go approximately 5.8 miles on Roy Road to a stop sign at Old Bucktown Road. Turn right across the bridge on Tickanetley Creek and bear left on Old Bucktown Road for 1.3 miles. Anderson Creek's barn and pasture are on your right at Spring Camp Road.

FACTS ABOUT REUNION:

Address: 5620 Grand Reunion Drive, Hoschton

Telephone: 770-967-1108

Web site: www.jwhomes.com/reunion

Price range: $300,000s to $500,000s and up

Year built: Under construction

Number of homes: 850-plus

Square footage: 2,400 and up

Lot sizes: 1/4 acre to 1/3-plus acre

Developer and builder: John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods

Directions from downtown Atlanta: Take I-85 north to Exit 120 (Hamilton Mill Road) and turn left. Take a right on Sardis Church Road, then right at stop sign onto Thompson Mill Road. Turn right at stop sign and remain on Thompson Mill. Reunion is ahead on the left.