Bill Lewis, FOR USA TODAY NETWORK – TENNESSEEPublished 8:04 a.m. CT Jan. 27, 2017
Jan Hughes and her husband, Linkey, planned to downsize from their Fairvue Plantation home on Old Hickory Lake, but what they wanted — a penthouse condominium right on the water — wasn’t available.
In fact, they were told no one was building multi-story luxury condos with doorstep access to the lake.
There are luxury condos on the market in Franklin, but Williamson County was out of the question. No lake. The couple considered a condo in downtown Nashville but quickly rejected the idea.
“We thought about going downtown, but the prices kept going up and are absurd. And we love the lake,” said Jan Hughes.
Then they learned about the planned Water’s Edge condominiums at Foxland Harbor, the country club and golf community in Gallatin directly across the lake from their house.
That was two years ago. Jan and Linkey Hughes immediately put down a $5,000 deposit that guaranteed a place in line when sales officially begin this week. They aren’t alone. Twenty buyers have made deposits. Sales officially start Feb. 1, said Joe Godfrey, Foxland’s president.
Construction is expected to begin this spring on the first of up to 77 condos in four-story buildings on the shore of the lake.
“There’s not anything remotely like this," Godfrey said. "A condo on the lake and a country club right outside your door. A view right down the shoreline, and the master bedroom looks over the water.”
Initial prices for a two-bedroom condo with 1,536 square feet of space begin in the mid-$300,000s. Prices for a three-bedroom unit with 2,020 square feet of space start at $535,000. Prices go up for higher floors.
Each building will have two penthouses. Each will have 2,864 square feet of space and be priced around $750,000, Godfrey said.
All condos have elevator access, a covered balcony and garage and surface parking, he said.
Construction should begin in March or April. Owners are expected to begin moving in 14 months later, Godfrey said.
Condo owners will have social memberships in Foxland Harbor’s club, which includes use of the lakeside pool, clubhouse, restaurant, bar and fitness center as well as limited access to the 7,200-yard golf course.
Many residents keep their boats at Gallatin Marina, about 10 minutes away.
“You call ahead and they have your boat ready,” said Godfrey.
Most deposits on condos have come from downsizers like Jan and Linkey Hughes or empty nesters. One buyer is planning ahead for retirement. Another is purchasing a condo for his daughter. All heard about Water’s Edge from friends or their Realtors.
“This has all been word-of-mouth,” Godfrey said.
Jan Hughes said she and her husband could have purchased a smaller house, but they’ve owned condos before and enjoyed the lock-and-leave convenience.
“With a condo you can lock your door and go away. You can’t do that with a house,” she said.
About 240 homes have been completed at Foxland Harbor by builders including Goodall Homes, Phillips Builders, Drees Homes, Wallace Custom Builders, Botsko Builders, Pettis Builders and others, said Godfrey.
Trey Pettis, president of Pettis Builders, said home buyers are attracted to Foxland’s outdoor lifestyle. The company has built more than 40 homes in the community.
“We haven’t built a house without a covered outdoor living space,” said Pettis. We design a lot of homes around the golf course or lake views.”
Jan and Linkey Hughes are looking forward to the view from their top-floor condo. They have already sold their home in Fairvue Plantation and are living in smaller quarters until the condo is ready.
In fact, they’ve been anticipating the view for two years, ever since putting down their deposit.
“I knew we wanted to be in the first building and on the top floor,” she said, “and there are only two.”