The Reserve at Lake Keowee Introduces Village Point at Marina Park

SUNSET, S.C., June 28, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For the first time in its 12-year history, The Reserve at Lake Keowee is releasing a neighborhood of fourteen homes along an area known as Marina Park, a stone's throw from the community's amenity-centric waterfront Village. Village Point, as the neighborhood is called, presents the trifecta of what second-home buyers are seeking: remarkable beauty and quality, flexible floor plans, and value.

Village Point features three home plans, ranging in size from approximately 2,650 to 3,750 square feet, each of which may be customized by adding terrace levels, garages, and upper levels. The neighborhood is located within five minutes or less by foot or golf cart from 10 of The Reserve's most popular amenities. Inside the grounds, Village Point is a haven on the water, featuring pedestrian pathways accented by statuary and manicured landscaping. Pricing for homes in Village Point begin in the mid-$600,000s, and the homes qualify for entry into the community's residential rental program.

Homes in Village Point have been designed by the Atlanta, Ga.-based firm Lew Oliver, Inc., and will be built by Pyramid Construction, a well known, trusted general contractor within The Reserve that constructed the community's Pool Pavilion complex, Tennis & Fitness facility, Guest House Cottages and Laurel Pond neighborhood.

"The architecture of the Village Point at The Reserve at Lake Keowee will be, in essence, the quintessential summer lake cottage," describes Lew Oliver, architect of the project. "Found in lake districts and coastal villages of the Eastern Seaboard, the homes are free-form vernacular and shingle styled, with asymmetrical gables, ribbon windows, and rambling porches. Designed for capturing the summer breezes, the designs are open and casual. Interiors will be comfortable and non-pretentious, but with a nod to style.  The finish palette includes mountain rock, handmade brick, wood shingles and siding, with Arts and Crafts period colors.  Clustered on the most prominent peninsula in The Reserve, the village will be entirely pedestrian friendly, convenient to the Town Center, boat slips, clubhouse, and amenities, only minutes away on foot."

"We have a couple of key reasons to be very excited about Village Point," states Chuck Pigg, Community Manager of The Reserve at Lake Keowee and Vice President of Greenwood Communities and Resorts (the community's development partner). "First, it feels great to be officially 'back in the development business', bringing this new product to market after prudent dormancy during the real estate recession. Second, we are releasing our most compelling home packages to date. Never have we been able to sell property so close to the water at this price point. Our lakefront homesites have historically averaged 25 percent higher than what we've been able to create here within Village Point. We got creative with this, and we expect to be successful."

Rutledge Livingston, The Reserve at Lake Keowee's Director of Sales adds that "buzz has been building for Village Point since earlier this year. More than 150 people from across the country signed up to be a part of an exclusive Interest List, long before the first plans were drawn. We already have a handful of reservations for specific homes and feel that the neighborhood is being very well received."

The brochure about Village Point paints an idyllic lakeside lifestyle that awaits homeowners:

Hop on the golf cart and follow the neighborhood path to the Village Market for a bite to eat. While you're at it, pick up a picnic lunch for the boat, and your mail at the Post Office. Walk to the marina, where Commodore Carlisle and his team have your boat fueled and cleaned, inner tubes inflated, or your canoe or kayak at the ready, for a day of family fun on the water.

Breeze up to the Great Lawn for any number of signature gatherings among neighbors and friends, or pop over to The Orchard House for a chef-inspired dinner, or 18 holes on the Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course.

Exercise the dog – or better yet, take a date-night stroll –through the manicured grounds of Village Point, dotted with artistic focal elements, lush landscape, and statuary, or extend your walk along the boardwalk overlooking The Reserve's 200-slip Marina at the magical hour of sunset on Lake Keowee.

This is a day in the life at Village Point.

The Reserve at Lake Keowee's increase in sales activity is illustrative of a nationwide resurgence in second home purchasing power. According to the 2012 Investment and Vacation Home Buyers Survey published earlier this year by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the interest in and sales activity surrounding second homes across the country is surging, up 64.5 percent in 2011 from 2010, and accounting for 11 percent of overall real estate transactions. While admittedly the lending atmosphere is still challenging (42 percent of second home transactions were paid in cash), the demographic of potential buyers who have traditionally made up the lion's share of vacation home purchases is dramatically on the rise: currently, 42.1 million people are currently in their 50s, 43.5 million in their 40s, and 40.2 million in their 30s – a healthy, abundant pipeline to fuel greater sales volume in favorable economic conditions.

About The Reserve at Lake Keowee

Created in 2000 by Greenwood Communities and Resorts, The Reserve at Lake Keowee is an award-winning residential community that spans 3,900 acres in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, with 30 miles of shoreline on Lake Keowee and convenient access to nationally-recognized commercial and cultural centers that include Greenville, S.C.; Asheville, N.C.; and Clemson and Furman Universities. Voted the "Best Lake Community" of 2012 by Real Estate Scorecard and a "Best for Boating" community by LINKS Magazine, The Reserve offers more than $100 million in completed family amenities including a 200-slip Marina, Village Center, Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, and more than 1,400 acres of parks, preserves, trails, and green spaces. The Reserve has approximately 650 members from 30 different states, with an additional 660+ extended family members who enjoy club privileges through the multi-generational Legacy Membership program. Homesites at The Reserve start in the $100,000s; homes, under $500,000. To learn more, call 877-922-LAKE (5253), visit www.ReserveAtLakeKeowee.com, or read the community's official blog at www.LifeOnKeowee.com.

About Greenwood Communities and Resorts

Greenwood Communities and Resorts, based in Greenwood, S.C., is a leader in the creation and management of award-winning residential and resort communities in the southeastern United States since 1978. Beginning with the award-winning Palmetto Dunes Resort at Hilton Head Island and evolving to current communities like The Ponds, Big Canoe near Atlanta and The Reserve at Lake Keowee, Greenwood's mission has remained the same: Create memorable places that foster meaningful and fulfilling lives.

Media Contact:
Jamie Prince
FLOURISH Integrated Communications
(864) 248-0255 | jamie@startflourishing.com

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