Retire in New home at Braselton, or Old home in Gwinnett County?

[Taeho Ko]

Hello, I am currently 56 years old. My wife and I live in California, but we are planning to retire and move to Georgia (GA) within the next three years.
We’ve considered various tax benefits and the relatively lower cost of living.
I would love to hear valuable opinions from those living in Georgia and from real estate investors about which area we should choose.

I have two options in mind:
First, we could purchase a new home in Braselton (Jackson County), GA for around $450K with a 30% down payment, rent it out for now, and move in when we retire. It seems to be a more rural area, with a famous winery and golf course nearby.
Second, we could buy a 15- to 20-year-old home for a similar price in Gwinnett County, GA—an area known for good school districts, various markets, and more upscale neighborhoods—rent it out for now, and move in later after retirement. I understand these homes have already appreciated more than double in value.

My concern with the first option is that after we move in following retirement, the new home community might feel too quiet or desolate.
With the second option, I’m worried that the house is older, may require more maintenance, and might not appreciate much further.
Which plan do you think is better? Thank you for your time and thoughts. Cheers!