If you’ve fallen for the glass-calm mornings, mountain silhouettes, and clubhouse buzz of Rarity Bay on Tellico Lake, you’re not alone. Many buyers come here planning to purchase a lot and build a custom retirement home that suits their lifestyle for the next chapter of their lives. This guide walks you through the smartest route to do exactly that, where to look, what to watch for, who to call, and how to go from “someday” to a set of keys.
Why Rarity Bay is a top pick for a “buy-now, build-next” plan
Rarity Bay pairs postcard-worthy Tellico Lake views with resort-style amenities: championship golf, pickleball and tennis, a fitness center and pool, community docks, riding and hiking trails, and a friendly social scene. In other words, you get the best of a luxury lake community plus room to tailor a home to your lifestyle. Explore the community overview and current homesite options here: Rarity Bay, Tennessee.
Step 1: Get the lay of the land (literally)
Before you fall in love with a floor plan, you need to marry your vision with the terrain. Rarity Bay offers an array of homesites—lakefront, lake-view, golf-course-adjacent, cul-de-sac, and wooded interior lots each with unique considerations:
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Orientation & views: Morning sun vs. afternoon shade; sightlines to the lake and mountains.
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Slope & buildability: “Gently sloped” can be perfect for a walkout basement; steeper lots may require more engineering and retaining work.
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Utilities & Setbacks: Confirm water, sewer, and HOA/ACC setbacks early to avoid costly rework in your design.
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Lifestyle adjacency: Prefer pickleball or the golf practice facility? Want quick access to the Country Club or marina? Select a location that aligns with your daily routine.
Want to browse and compare? Start with our Rarity Bay hub and matchmaking help from the Tellico Lake Home Team: Rarity Bay community page.
Step 2: Call the local insider Rick Smenner
When you’re buying dirt (not just a house), local experience is everything. That’s where Rick Smenner comes in. Rick has decades of Tellico-area experience and a long track record guiding buyers through the lot-selection → design → build journey. On our site, you can read more about Rick’s background, philosophy, and why his clients lean on him for the nuance that doesn’t show up on an MLS sheet: Meet Rick Smenner.
Why contact Rick before you place an offer on a lot:
- Inventory you can’t see online. Well-connected agents are often the first to hear about pre-market and private-transfer lots—especially in resort communities, where neighbors frequently ask around before listing.
- Topo & cost reality-check. Two similar-looking lots can lead to wildly different excavation, drainage, and foundation costs. Rick will flag red flags early so your “affordable lot” doesn’t become an expensive build.
- Covenants, conditions, and ACC nuances. Every community has design parameters, including roof pitches, materials, height limits, and view protections. Rick helps you pick a lot that works with your style (not against it), so approvals are smooth.
- Negotiation & timing. In a lake community, factors like dock permits, survey age, soil tests, and tree-clearing rights can make or break a deal. Rick will shape the contract to protect your build timeline and budget.
- Team assembly. From soil engineers to surveyors and the right builder for your style, he’ll connect you with the local pros who deliver.
Get in touch here: Work with Rick or call 865-696-9002.
Step 3: Use a builder who thrives in Rarity Bay Danny Cantrell, Platinum Builders
Once you’ve zeroed in on the right homesite, you want a builder who knows how to translate lot characteristics into a beautiful, efficient home. Our Preferred Home Builder is Platinum Builders LLC, led by Danny Cantrell, a Knoxville native with a reputation for hands-on supervision, trusted subs, and a client-first process. Learn more here: Preferred Home Builder: Platinum Builders.
What makes Platinum Builders a standout for retirement builds:
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A collaborative, “listen-first” design process. Danny’s team focuses on understanding how you want to live, right-sizing spaces, simplifying circulation, and prioritizing everyday functionality.
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On-site oversight. Genuine craftsmanship is evident in the details: foundations tailored to slopes, effective water management, view-framing windows, and livable outdoor spaces. Platinum’s strong on-site presence ensures those details are kept tight.
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Tight subcontractor network. The builder’s rolodex matters. In resort communities, reliable subs are the difference between “on schedule” and “months behind.” Platinum’s long-standing trades help keep jobs moving.
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Post-delivery relationship. Retirement homes evolve—screened porches to four-season rooms, EV outlets, and hobby spaces. Platinum leans into a relationship model that supports you long after move-in.
Pair that with Rick’s lot advice, and you’ve got a clean hand-off from selection to design to build.
A simple, proven path: from first call to final walkthrough
1) Clarify the vision
Start with how you want to live (not just square footage). Are you entertaining neighbors after golf? Hosting the grandkids for summer lake time? Do you want a main-level owner’s suite, two guest bedrooms, and a flex room for hobbies? Save inspiration to share with your builder.
2) Pre-screen lots with Rick
Rick will pull a curated list of candidates across lakefront, lake-view, and interior homesites that fit your budget and style. He’ll also flag slope, setbacks, utility locations, and any HOA/ACC design parameters that will affect your plan. Explore the Rarity Bay overview to get oriented: Rarity Bay, Tennessee.
3) Walk the top 2–3 sites together
Photos don’t reveal everything. On-site, you’ll notice wind exposure, road noise, neighboring rooflines (for view corridors), tree canopies, and where the best outdoor living could be carved out.
4) Feasibility huddle with Platinum Builders
Before you write the offer, loop in Danny Cantrell for a quick feasibility read—foundation type, likely driveway approach, preliminary grading, and any structural considerations. It’s the best way to avoid costly surprises later. Meet Platinum Builders.
5) Craft the offer to protect your build
Include the right contingencies: survey update, soils/geotech if needed, utility verification, and any HOA architectural approvals that should occur prior to closing. Rick will help structure timelines that keep your build path clear. About Rick.
6) Design for “retirement-smart” living
Platinum Builders excels at plans that live easily day-to-day and welcome guests on demand:
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Main-level living with zero-step entries where possible
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Wide corridors and doorways for future accessibility
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Owner’s suite separation for privacy
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Outdoor rooms (screened porch, grilling deck) oriented to wind and sun
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Storage that works (golf clubs, lake gear, seasonal décor)
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Low-maintenance exterior materials and landscaping
7) Build with on-site guidance & clear milestones
One perk of working with an established local builder is predictable sequencing and communication. Expect milestone walk-throughs (framing/rough-in, pre-drywall, trim) and proactive punch-list management.
Budgeting smarter: where lot and build interact
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The lot can add (or save) thousands. Grading, retaining, and drainage on tighter or steeper sites can shift your foundation budget. Ask for early line-items so you can compare “total cost to live here,” not just the lot sticker price.
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Design for the view. In Rarity Bay, window placement, porch depth, and roof lines can either frame Tellico Lake—or block it. A good builder will “compose” the view wall.
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HOA & ACC submittals. Approvals protect the community’s aesthetics and your investment. A local team that understands Rarity Bay’s community expectations will design and document to streamline approvals. Rarity Bay overview.
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Lake life extras. Plan for boat storage, cart parking, a utility sink for tackle, a conditioned shop, and outdoor showers. These are small adds that pay off every weekend.
Already own a lot? Here’s how we can plug in now
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Feasibility & scope review: Rick and Danny will walk your lot and provide a punch-list of site-specific tips.
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Plan refinement: Platinum Builders can value-engineer materials and details to keep aesthetics high while controlling cost.
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Timeline & permit mapping: We’ll align your project against typical HOA timelines and local build cycles.
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Selections roadmap: From exterior materials (that age well lakeside) to interiors (that stay timeless), we’ll help you make decisions in the right order.
Start your build research here: New Homes on Tellico Lake & Where to Build.
Why this team works: seamless hand-offs and local mastery
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Rick Smenner, your buyer’s advocate: A veteran Tellico-area broker who tailors the process and shields you from the “unknown unknowns.” He’s steeped in 55+ community nuance and knows how to position your offer so your retirement plan—not just the seller’s—stays on track. Learn more or reach out: About Rick.
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Danny Cantrell, your builder partner: A Knoxville-native builder whose Platinum Builders team runs a client-centric, on-site-driven process with trusted local subcontractors—ideal for the lake, slopes, and views that define Rarity Bay living. Details and recent projects: Preferred Home Builder.
Together, they turn a beautiful piece of land into a home that’s tailored to your lake days, golf mornings, and sunset dinners.
FAQs (quick hits)
Q: How long does the build process take?
A: It varies by design, selections, weather, and approvals. The best first step is a feasibility call with Rick and Danny to scope your lot and plan. Contact Rick.
Q: Can I tour model homes or recent builds?
A: Yes, Platinum Builders highlights recent projects and can coordinate site walks so you can see build quality and design choices in person.
Q: I’m early, can I just learn the communities first?
A: Absolutely. Start with our Rarity Bay guide and then compare Tellico Village, Kahite, and WindRiver to sharpen your wish list. Explore communities
Ready to find your Rarity Bay lot?
Here’s your action plan:
- Contact Rick Smenner to discuss your goals and budget: About Rick or 865-696-9002.
- Preview lots & neighborhoods with curated matches: Rarity Bay overview.
- Huddle with Platinum Builders for an early feasibility check: Preferred Home Builder.
- Confirm your build path with our guide to new construction on Tellico Lake: New Homes & Where to Build.
Your lot is out there. With the right local guide and the right builder, your Tellico Lake retirement can go from dream to driveway beautifully, efficiently, and confidently.