“Luxury” by one dictionary definition is “something adding to pleasure or comfort, but not absolutely necessary.”
Luxury real estate gives “pleasure or comfort” to the purchaser by providing that comforting value found in a location, lifestyle or an amenity — or something else entirely.
Set on spectacular Great Abaco island in the Bahamas, Schooner Bay is a one-of-a-kind residential community that offers owners the chance to get away from it all while still enjoying the finest lifestyle amenities that the 21st century has to offer. The gorgeous oceanfront homes, tasteful harbourside cottages and maintenance-free condominiums give residents choices that are as close to heavenly as you’re likely to find anywhere else.
Surrounded by the sparkling blue waters of the Caribbean, water sports are clearly the prime recreational pursuits at Schooner Bay. B
While new upscale facilities at Schooner Bay are set to debut soon, the “wellness lifestyl
Located in the Upstate region of South Carolina and 16 miles from the university town of Clemson, The Reserve at Lake Keowee is a waterfront residential community with a centerpiece Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course. This May the award-winning layout will again be one of three area courses to host the BMW Charity Pro-Am, a leading event on the Web.com Tour that always includes an impressive roster of celebrity players. But life at The Reserve is about more than fairways and greens.
“Our location is an asset to our residents in more than one way,” Livingston continued. “First, we’re in a thermal belt here in the foothills that gives us shorter winters—snow is a rarity—
“Second, we’re right down the road from Clemson and all the educational and cultural opportunities there. And Greenville is just 40 minutes away with its great airport, medical facilities, entertainment events, shopping, restaurants and everything else.”
“We’re very proud of our Village Center and Market,” he said. “It’s become the hub of our community, a place where people can visit with their neighbors while picking up some groceries or meet up for lunch or go for a walk on one of our community trails.”
“Our residents have really embraced the whole ‘wellness lifestyle‘ with the emphasis not just on exercise but also on eating healthier. So we’re going to establish an on-site farm here with a community co-op so that we can grow some of our own food to supplement the great produce that we get from our local farmers.”
The Virginian Golf Club is located in the highlands of southwestern Virginia, about midway between the historic mountain towns of Abingdon and Bristol. Interstate 81 is just 10 minutes from the community, which is also convenient to the nearby Virginia Highlands Airport for private planes and the Tri-Cities Regional Airport for commercial service. The Virginian’s homes and homesites offer panoramic mountain and countryside vistas, while the Grandview neighborhood looks down the club’s 9th and 18th fairways. Vineyard Terraces is a new, European-inspired collection of hillside homes overlooking a working vineyard.
Located on the Georgia coast near all of the cultural amenities of the city of Savannah, The Landings on Skidaway Island is now home to about 9,000 residents spread out in more than a dozen distinctive neighborhoods.
David Ridberg was a city police chief and his wife, Amanda, was an office manager in Connecticut; they decided to take an early retirement with their daughter and move to The Landings.
There’s no doubt that The Landings’ featured amenities are its six on-site golf courses, two designed by Arnold Palmer, another pair by Arthur Hills and one each by Tom Fazio and Willard Byrd. And the Ridbergs aren’t just players—they’re serious competitors, as evidenced by their back-to-back wins in The Landings’ husband-and-wife golf championship.
“We wanted a place with more than one golf course,” David said, “and having the six courses here is great because you never get tired of playing the same one every week. I like to play in the afternoons, so it’s never
“Because we have a daughter in middle school,” Amanda said, “I really appreciate the safety and security here. She can ride her bike around with friends and we don’t have to worry. There’s a great mix of people here—young couples, families, early retirees like us and older residents. It’s really a respectful and friendly environment for everyone.”
And while both of the Ridbergs are active in their local church and its charitable activities, they’ve also found a new appreciation for the natural world at The Landings. “There are about 40 miles of trails here and we spend a lot of time walking, running and biking around,” David said. “It’s really beautiful with all of the big oaks and pines and the wildlife, especially the birds—egrets, herons, owls and eagles. It’s like living in the middle of a nature preserve.”
By Kelly Godbey. Previously published in the 2015 Spring Issue. Destinations of Luxury.
