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. Homes here have been selling in the $1.4 million range, and the neighborhood holds the second-highest recorded sale on this entire side of the lake.
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 neighbours on this shore. Every home in the MLS record was built between 2000 and 2025, with the middle of the range sitting around 2016, and new construction is still going in. The houses are large — roughly 2,100 to 7,900 square feet, with five and six bedrooms far more common than three or four. Lots run from a little over half an acre to about three and a third.
Sales have run from $675,000 to $3,075,000, with the typical house landing around $1.4 million. The five sales since late 2023 have come in nearer $1.8 million. That $3,075,000 sale, a 2025 build on Crystal Point, is the second-highest price recorded anywhere on the Richland and White Plains side of the lake.
Sellers here do well. Homes have closed at about 97% of their original asking price and gone under contract in roughly two months. But the neighborhood is not immune — nine listings have expired or been withdrawn, and three properties in the record have never sold at all.
One Thing to Check Before You Buy Here
For a neighborhood at this price point, the water is shallower than most buyers expect. Recorded dock depths in Emerald Shores run 4.5 to 8 feet, and most of what is on file sits at about five. Recorded water frontage runs from about 110 to 245 feet, typically around 150. But depth and frontage are 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. Docks here are subject to Georgia Power shoreline permitting.
Worth knowing too: not every lot is waterfront. Most listings carry private dock access, but a handful have shared subdivision access instead. Confirm which one you are buying.
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?
Recorded sales run from $675,000 to $3,075,000, with the typical house around $1.4 million. Sales since late 2023 have come in closer to $1.8 million. 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?
Recorded dock depths run 4.5 to 8 feet, with most around five — shallower than many buyers expect at this price point. Recorded water frontage runs about 110 to 245 feet, typically around 150. 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 2000 onward and run roughly 2,100 to 7,900 square feet, 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 — listings report 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.
Sale figures drawn from 26 MLS listing records covering 18 individual properties in Emerald Shores, closings from May 2019 through October 2025. Last updated September 2026.