Oakwood

Old-growth trees and manicured landscapes surround the expansive properties of Royal Lakes, a master-planned community on the grounds of the eponymous golf and country club. Multiple subdivisions offer a range of floorplans, while the club provides plenty of recreational opportunities on top of its parkland-style 18-hole golf course. Residents are within a short drive of nearby shopping centers, nature preserves and the shores of Lake Lanier. Royal Lakes’s homes sit in full view of the courses’ rolling fairways and sparkling ponds. “Lots are pretty big here, plus there are lots of trees and plenty of privacy. Overall, it’s a great community,” says Trey Bell, Owner of Bell Real Estate Group with over 10 years of real estate experience. Half of the neighborhood’s houses were built in the 1990s, while the other half were built in the early 2000s. Architectural styles range from brick ranch-style and Craftsman homes to spacious New Traditional estates and custom mansions. Homebuyers have multiple options for club membership. Social memberships provide limited access to the golf course and clubhouse but give full access to the tennis courts and pool. Alternatively, full access offers unlimited access to the golf course and other amenities. “People that buy there but to stay permanently,” says Bell, “It’s the best neighborhood as far as community, location. My family rides our golf carts to the clubhouse all the time.” Royal Lakes’ average home values rank higher than the Gainesville and the national average home values. Prices range from $450,000 to $1.0 million, with homes larger than 3,000 square feet priced higher than others. Hall County oversees the education of Royal Lakes public school students. Chicopee Woods Elementary teaches pre-kindergarten and fifth grade and has a C-rating on Niche. Students move on to South Hall Middle and Johnson High School, both of which have B-ratings on Niche. Johnson High School’s soccer team has recently won multiple state titles. Just 5 miles north of Royal Lakes is the Gainesville campus of the University of Northeast Georgia. The university offers degree programs in fields such as healthcare and education. Residents can easily step onto the rolling fairways of Royal Lakes Golf Club, offering an 18-hole course spread over 150 acres. Members and residents can also play on the country club’s tennis courts or beat the heat in the swimming pool. Members can rent the Royal Lakes Clubhouse for private events like weddings. Just over 6 miles to the north is Chicopee Woods Nature Preserve. The preserve is the largest of its kind in the region. It is also designated as an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society. Royal Lakes has a busy calendar of events. Members can head to the clubhouse for Easter and Mother’s Day Brunches, watch the Fourth of July Fireworks over the lakes and participate in a full docket of professional golf tournaments. There are also several clubs and interest groups where residents can invest their time. Residents depend on cars to commute to and from the neighborhood. The exit onto Interstate 985 is 3 miles north of the neighborhood. Flowery Branch is 5 miles to the west, while Oakwood and UNG Gainesville are 5 miles to the north. Downtown Gainesville and Lake Lanier are just 10 miles to the northeast along US Highway 53. The Royal Oaks Golf Club has dining options like Longshots Pub and Grill, which offers casual American dishes when residents need a quick bite. Bullseye Burgers & Chicken serves hamburgers and chicken sandwiches in the Royal Lakes Marketplace. Residents stock up on the essentials at Kroger, also located in Royal Lakes Marketplace. Franchise restaurants like Dunkin’ and Subway are also found in the shopping center. Royal Lakes has a CAP Index crime score of 2 out of 10, ranking lower than the national average of 4 out of 10. Lake Lanier experiences a high rate of severe storms and tornado activity. Hall County maintains emergency preparedness plans in the event of extreme weather events.