Tellico Lake in East Tennessee has been a retirement magnet for active adults seeking four gentle seasons, low taxes, and postcard-worthy views. However, one shoreline community stands out from the crowd: Rarity Bay. This private, gated community in Vonore combines lake and Smoky Mountain views with resort-style amenities. Consequently, every sunrise feels like a vacation. Building new here instead of buying resale lets you create a space that fits your next chapter. Consider exploring Rarity Bay’s new homes, as they offer customization that perfectly fits your lifestyle.
1. A Fresh Start With Peace of Mind
When you build new, you own more than granite countertops and perfect paint lines; you own years of worry-free living. Today’s construction includes high-efficiency HVAC, thicker insulation, low-E windows, and smart-home wiring. These features keep energy bills low and let you lock the door or adjust the thermostat from your beach in Florida. Most builders offer one-, two-, or ten-year structural warranties. This prevents surprise expenses in retirement. Compared to a resale that may have aging plumbing or an outdated roof, a new build means you can golf, boat, or spend time with grandkids, not contractors. Especially when considering the new homes at Rarity Bay, the added peace of mind is invaluable.
2. Designed Around Your Lifestyle
Rarity Bay lots range from gentle interior sites to bluff properties that watch the sun set into the lake. Starting with a blank canvas allows you to orient living areas to maximize the view. You can decide if you want a walk-out lower level for visiting family. Additionally, eliminate stairs by choosing a single-story footprint with wider doorways and step-free showers. Outdoor kitchens, screened porches with fireplaces, and inground pools. Owner’s suites, flex rooms for hobbies, and oversized garage bays for the golf cart are simple to incorporate when you plan them from the beginning. Thoughtful placement of these features ensures the house supports your active retirement, rather than restricting it. Discover how Rarity Bay’s new homes are tailor-made for your lifestyle with these customized options.
3. The Rarity Bay Advantage
Residents call Rarity Bay “lake life with a country-club heartbeat.” The amenities list reads like a vacation brochure: 18-hole championship golf course, lighted tennis and pickleball courts, resort-style pool, state-of-the-art fitness center, community docks, miles of walking and riding trails, and world-class equestrian facilities with professional boarding. The centerpiece clubhouse has casual and fine dining, water views, and a full calendar of concerts, lectures, and wine dinners. HOA fees are around $1,100 a year, remarkably low for a gated community of this caliber. Club memberships unlock additional social and golf privileges. Whether you want to paddle early in the morning on calm water or play a sunset nine with friends, it’s all inside the gate. Interestingly, the new homes at Rarity Bay incorporate these advantages seamlessly.
4. A Built-In Social Network
More than 50 resident-led clubs here cover everything from pickleball ladders and yoga on the lawn to photography, quilting, wine tastings, and the popular “Dinner for Eight” rotation that pairs new neighbors over home-cooked meals. Monthly community events, such as live-music pool parties, charity 5 Ks, and holiday boat parades, keep calendars as full as you like. Since many owners have moved from other states, newcomers are welcomed with open arms. It’s common to join three clubs within your first month. Building new means you can move in knowing you already have shared interests at the clubhouse. Therefore, choosing Rarity Bay’s new homes ensures an active social life right away.
5. Finding the Perfect Canvas With Rick Smenner
Lots in Rarity Bay aren’t one-size-fits-all. Some have long main-channel lake views. Others hug fairway curves or nestle into quiet, wooded cul-de-sacs. Navigating view corridors, topography, and architectural guidelines is where Rick Smenner excels. With over 45 years of experience in East Tennessee real estate, he negotiates the best prices. Therefore, when you sign a contract, you’re confident you can build exactly what you want, with no surprises. After all, finding the perfect canvas for new homes in Rarity Bay involves expert guidance.
6. Bringing the Vision to Life With Danny Cantrell
Once you have your lot, Danny Cantrell of Platinum Builders brings the plans to life. As one of Tellico Lake’s top custom builders, Danny specializes in retirement-friendly designs: open great rooms for entertaining, zero-entry showers, and bonus bunkrooms for grandkids. He strategically places windows to bring in lake and mountain views into almost every room. His teams are renowned for their exquisite trim work, energy-efficient materials, and open communication. Weekly photo updates keep out-of-state owners informed. From the first slab pour to the final landscape installation, Danny treats each project like a showcase. Your new home not only meets but also exceeds Rarity Bay’s architectural standards. As you build a home in Rarity Bay, these new homes reflect modern luxury.
7. Everyday Luxury With Nature at Your Doorstep
Imagine sipping your morning coffee on a covered porch while Great Blue Herons glide across the lake below, then boating through 16,500 acres of navigable blueway all the way to Knoxville. Afternoon options include a hike along ten miles of community trails, horseback riding through the hardwoods, or a friendly game of pickleball. Because Rarity Bay is elevated, the Great Smoky Mountains rise up on the horizon and frost winter sunsets with lavender hues. Since Tennessee has no state income tax, you get to keep more of your retirement income. You can spend it on travel, hobbies, or spoiling visiting family. That combination of natural beauty and financial sense is hard to find anywhere else in the Southeast. Notably, new homes in Rarity Bay blend everyday luxury with spectacular views.
8. Ready to Start Your Next Chapter?
Building a new home in Rarity Bay isn’t just a construction project; it’s a lifestyle decision that upgrades your entire daily routine. You get a modern, energy-efficient home tailored to your tastes, and a social fabric woven around lake and mountain activities. Plus, you have a local team, Rick Smenner, to find the perfect site and Danny Cantrell to build every beam and brick, who turn your vision into reality. If you’re ready to trade maintenance headaches for kayaking at dawn or traffic noise for birdsong across the coves, Rarity Bay is waiting. Contact Rick today to schedule a tour of available lots at 865-696-9002. Begin drawing your retirement home, as Rarity Bay’s new homes open a world of possibilities. The next sunrise over Tellico Lake could be yours.