Emerald Shores, Lake Oconee | Neighborhood Guide

Emerald Shores on Lake Oconee is the model established community on the White Plains side of the lake in Greene County. This well-planned, highly regarded neighborhood features beautifully manicured streets with sidewalks, low HOA fees, and high-end custom luxury homes built to escape not only the city traffic, but the growing development of Lake Oconee itself.

Emerald Shores has a phenomenal mixture of home styles and lot layouts. Brick, Cape Cod, and modern farmhouse designs all live within the same community, but the various styles mix together in harmony, mainly due to the high quality of the builds and the rolling hills of the landscape.

Residents benefit from a community security camera system and a private neighborhood boat ramp that offers direct entry into some of the clearest water on the lake. This is one of the most beautiful non-gated communities to be found anywhere on Lake Oconee — and one of the most expensive. It is also one of the more expensive addresses on this side of the lake, and it holds one of the highest sales ever recorded on the Richland and White Plains shore.

Quick Facts

County / city	Greene County — White Plains, GA 30678
Streets	Clearwater Drive and Crystal Point
Getting there	On the eastern shore, White Plains side of the lake
Time to grocery	20 to 25 minutes to the Lake Oconee Publix. Oconee Towne Center, coming at the I-20 exit in Greensboro, will add a closer option
Gated	No, though there is a community security camera system
HOA	Active POA, roughly $400 to $500 a year. Covenants and minutes at emeraldshores.org
Amenities	Private neighborhood boat ramp, community pond, sidewalk-lined streets, security cameras
Water access	Mostly private frontage, with a few properties on shared subdivision access
Schools	Greene County School System, with eligibility to apply to Lake Oconee Academy by lottery

Where Emerald Shores Is Located on Lake Oconee

Emerald Shores sits on the White Plains side of Lake Oconee in Greene County, Georgia, along the eastern shore. Clearwater Drive and Crystal Point are the two streets that make up the community. It is part of the wider Richland & White Plains area of Lake Oconee.

Inside the Community

From its sidewalk-lined streets to its community pond and private lake access, Emerald Shores is built for the kind of easy, connected Lake Oconee lifestyle buyers are looking for.

Homes and Prices in Emerald Shores

This is a newer neighborhood than most of its neighbors on this shore. The houses date from the early 2000s onward, new construction is still going in, and they are large — five and six bedrooms are far more common here than three or four. Lots run from a little over half an acre up to around three.

Waterfront homes here have sold from around $1.4 million up to just over $3 million since 2022. The handful of properties without their own frontage sit below that.

Sellers do well here. Houses have closed close to what was asked and gone under contract in about two months, which is quicker than most of this shore. That said, the neighborhood is not immune, and asking prices set above what this market has produced have sat like they do anywhere else. The drive-time to the central commercial hub is the reasoning frequently cited by buyers.

One Thing to Check Before You Buy Here

For a neighborhood at this price point, the water is worth checking carefully. Depth varies a good deal here and it is not always what buyers assume at this end of the market. Frontage and depth are also different things, and it is depth that determines what you can keep tied up out back.

If you are bringing a larger boat, have the depth confirmed at that specific dock before you go under contract. It is the one thing about this neighborhood that surprises people, and it is easier to find out now than after closing.

Not every lot is waterfront. Most listings carry private dock access, but a handful have shared subdivision access instead.

Frequently Asked Questions About Emerald Shores

Is Emerald Shores a gated community?

No. Emerald Shores is a non-gated community on the White Plains side of Lake Oconee in Greene County, Georgia. It does have a community security camera system.

How much do homes in Emerald Shores cost?

Waterfront homes have sold from around $1.4 million up to just over $3 million since 2022, and the few properties without their own frontage sit well below that. It is one of the more expensive neighborhoods on this side of the lake.

Does Emerald Shores have lake access?

Yes. Emerald Shores has a private neighborhood boat ramp that offers residents direct entry into some of the clearest water on Lake Oconee. Most lots also carry private dock access, though a few have shared subdivision access instead.

How deep is the water at Emerald Shores?

It varies a good deal lot to lot, and it is not always what buyers assume at this end of the market. Confirm depth at the specific dock if you plan to keep a larger boat.

What styles of homes are in Emerald Shores?

Emerald Shores features high-end custom homes in a mix of brick, Cape Cod, and modern farmhouse designs, set among rolling, wooded terrain on sidewalk-lined streets. Homes date from the early 2000s onward and are large, most with five or six bedrooms.

Does Emerald Shores have a POA, and what are the dues?

Yes. Emerald Shores has an active POA and the fees are genuinely low for what the neighborhood offers, at roughly $400 to $500 a year. The community also includes a security camera system, and the POA website provides meeting minutes, community information, and a copy of the covenants and restrictions at emeraldshores.org.

What county is Emerald Shores in?

Emerald Shores is in Greene County, Georgia, on the White Plains side of Lake Oconee. Greene County addresses are eligible to apply to Lake Oconee Academy through its lottery.

Interested in Emerald Shores?

If you are thinking about buying or selling a home in Emerald Shores, Margie Sorrell knows this community and the wider Lake Oconee market inside and out. Contact Margie to talk through your options.

Last updated September 2026.