Lakefront living: HGTV’s Egypt Sherrod picks three great Atlanta-area neighborhoods on the water

A few of her favorite waterside spots
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Lakefront LivingRecent listing: White columns at Berkeley Lake
Wooded 9,567-square-foot estate with lake view and three master suites. Listed for $974,900.

There’s something about living on water that calms the soul, and you don’t have to leave Atlanta to do it. Many metro neighborhoods are built next to private or public reservoirs, from quaint, Tudor-themed Avondale Estates near Decatur to the 40 different neighborhoods around Lake Windward in Alpharetta. Life on the lake makes every day feel like a vacation. Here are three of my favorite lakefront spots:

Launched in the 1950s as a summer retreat, Berkeley Lake centers on an 88-acre private lake. Home styles range from cottages to sprawling estates. This Gwinnett community is only 20 miles from the heart of Atlanta, with easy access to major highways. Fish, kayak, canoe, paddleboard, or ride around on a pontoon (boat speeds restricted). The community organizes parties with live music, movie nights on the beach, Fourth of July celebrations, and other fun activities. Prices range from $400,000 to $1.6 million near the water.

Lakefront LivingRecent listing: Backyard boating in Acworth
This four-bedroom, 2.5-bath home comes with a wraparound porch and you own floating dock on Lake Allatoona. Listed for $429,900.

Acworth is nestled between Lake Allatoona and Lake Acworth in the foothills of the North Georgia mountains, earning the town the nickname “Lake City.” The area is a magnet for outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy swimming, fishing, boating, sailing, water-skiing, camping, hiking, or hanging out on the white sand public beach. Shoppers enjoy the historic downtown, which offers antique and flea markets, boutiques, and restaurants serving a variety of cuisines, from classic Italian to spicy Cajun. Cauble Park is home to many annual events, including a summer concert series, Smoke on the Lake BBQ Festival, ski competitions, and a Fourth of July fireworks show. Home styles here include Victorians, classic bungalows, and new construction. Prices commonly range from the high $100s to the $700s.

Lakefront LivingRecent Listing: Green fairways at Lake Spivey
Three-bedroom, 2.5-bath home on the first green at Lake Spivey Country Club. Listed for $235,000.

The neighborhoods around Lake Spivey, the largest private lake in Georgia, are in affordable Clayton and Henry counties, only 20 minutes from Atlanta’s downtown. Home to celebrities from Monica Pearson to T.I. and Olympic swimmer Steve Lundquist, Spivey has also served as a backdrop for movies, road races, and concerts. Residents enjoy cruising on pontoon boats, water-skiing, wakeboarding, canoeing, kayaking, tubing, swimming, and fishing. Every Fourth of July, the civic association puts on a fireworks display for area residents. Prices range from the $200s for a kiss of lakefront to $5 million for grand waterfront estates.

Egypt Sherrod is the host of HGTV’s highly rated Property Virgins, CEO of the Egypt Sherrod Real Estate Group, and author of Keep Calm . . . It’s Just Real Estate: Your No-Stress Guide to Buying a Home. egyptsherrodrealestate.com

Illustrations by Brown Bird Design 

This article originally appeared in the Summer 2015 issue of Atlanta Magazine’s HOME.

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