The drive is 90 minutes door-to-door when Lauren and Paul Kinderman and children Paul, Steven, Matt and Amanda leave Alpharetta headed for their vacation home on Lake Oconee.
They spent a little less than a year searching for a place on the lake before they found just the right one four years ago.
“One of the things we liked [about the house] was the long, wooded driveway," Lauren said. "Another was that it’s small and manageable. We wanted good access to the lake and to be on deeper water so the kids could dive right off the dock.”
Choosing Oconee: Invited by friends for a weekend visit on the lake, the couple decided this was where they wanted to set up a vacation home. "It was really the only lake we considered. We love the fact that Georgia Power keeps the lake at pretty much a constant level, and that the land around the lake is so well kept," Lauren said.
A lake house is for being on the water: The Kindermans spend a lot of time on their dock. There's a slip for one boat, and a personal watercraft lift. "We've got plenty of room for a table and chairs, holders for our fishing rods and lots of toys," Paul said. "There are great places to take the boat, including a big rock down by the dam that's about 15 feet high. The kids like to jump off into the deep water there."
They love water sports: "Everybody fishes and it's catch and release. We can guarantee you'll catch catfish, bass or crappie here. Everyone likes to water ski and wake board, and we can't spend a weekend up here without tubing," said Paul, who works in sales for a Swiss company in the wireless industry.
A neighborhood feel: The wooded lot is in the middle of a neighborhood called Putnam's Landing on Lick Creek. "There are only two families on our street who don't live at the lake year-round. Our neighbors have a dog who's become good friends with Mario, our miniature Labradoodle," Lauren said.
A place to entertain: "We try to have visitors regularly. Lauren loves to cook, especially since the remodeling's been done," Paul said. "Sometimes we invite our kids' classmates and their families. We've had our parents up there for some of their big birthdays. It's just fun to have the relatives come visit," Lauren added.
At a glance
The Kindermans' single-story home has three bedrooms and three baths. They bought the home four years ago and have since remodeled the kitchen and master bedroom and bath. They’ve furnished the house to accommodate large numbers of guests, with one bedroom holding bunk beds for all the kids and another featuring a double bed with trundle. Two screened porches offer plenty of comfortable outdoor living space.
Getting there
Take I-20 East to Exit 130 (Ga. 44) and turn right. Putnam’s Landing will be on the left just past the third traffic light.
Community overview
“While the real estate downturn has certainly affected Lake Oconee, it's not nearly so much as most other areas of the country,” said Realtor Chris Oliver of Century 21, Minchey Properties in Eatonton.
Oliver is finding Atlanta families are still in the market for vacation homes and appreciate the amenities and great recreation offered on Lake Oconee.
“Currently there are 1,500-square-foot condos available inside the gates at Reynolds from $196,000 to $399,000 and some waterfront homes at reduced pricing of $750,000," Oliver said. Waterfront homes outside the gates have become more affordable as well, with a full range of about $230,000 to $600,000 and a much better selection available now between the $300,000 and $400,000 price points.
Information
www.lakeoconeehomes.org
www.georgiapower.com/lakes/Oconee.asp
For sale
$250,000: 102 Blue Heron, Eatonton. New 3,200-square-foot townhome on the water. Three bedrooms, three and a half baths, great room, terrace-level family room, stainless steel appliances and hardwood floors.
$399,900: 16 Apalachee Woods Trail, Buckhead. Three-bedroom three-bath home on wooded lakefront lot with new dock. Over 3,400 square feet, fireplace, completely remodeled with granite and travertine. Reduced more than $100,000.
Recent sale
$388,000: 1460 Choo Choo Drive, Greensboro. Four-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath, four-sided brick home with more than 3,000 square feet. Waterfront lot with upscale finishes. Sold January 2011.
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