St. James Homes for Sale in Southport, NC

Overview

St. James is a large gated residential and golf community near Southport, North Carolina, offering a combination of single-family homes, condominiums, golf-course properties, marina-area residences, and low-maintenance housing options.

The community is notable for the scale and variety of its amenities. St. James includes four golf courses totaling 81 holes, a full-service marina on the Intracoastal Waterway, parks, walking and biking trails, kayak access, dog parks, and a private oceanfront beach club on Oak Island. Additional golf, fitness, swimming, tennis, pickleball, dining, and clubhouse amenities are available through optional club membership.

St. James has developed over several decades, resulting in a broad range of home styles, sizes, neighborhoods, and price points. Buyers can find smaller condominium residences as well as larger custom single-family homes, including properties overlooking golf courses, ponds, wooded areas, and the Intracoastal Waterway.

Its location also provides convenient access to Historic Downtown Southport, Oak Island beaches, boating, fishing, shopping, restaurants, and other destinations throughout Brunswick County.

Location

St. James is located in Brunswick County between Southport and the growing Highway 211 corridor.

The community has multiple gated entrances, providing access to different sections of the development. Its size is an important consideration for buyers because travel time between a home, a particular gate, the marina, golf facilities, or other amenities can vary depending on where the property is located within St. James.

Historic Downtown Southport is nearby, providing restaurants, shops, waterfront parks, community events, and access to the Cape Fear River.

Oak Island is also nearby and provides the closest Atlantic Ocean beaches. St. James property owners have the additional benefit of access to the community's private beach club on Oak Island.

Highway 211 connects the area with additional shopping, restaurants, medical services, and neighboring Brunswick County communities.

Wilmington is north of St. James, while Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand are southwest, giving residents access to two larger regional destinations.

Homes & Real Estate in St. James

One of the defining characteristics of St. James is the variety of real estate available within the community.

Housing options include:

• Single-family homes
• Condominiums
• Golf villas
• Low-maintenance residences
• Golf-course homes
• Pond-view homes
• Wooded homesites
• Marina-area properties
• Waterfront and water-view properties
• Custom homes
• One-story homes
• Two-story homes

Condominiums and villas provide some of the smaller housing options in St. James. Two-bedroom units around 1,000 to 1,300 square feet can be found in several sections of the community.

Detached single-family homes offer substantially more variety. Homes around 2,000 square feet are available, while larger residences can exceed 3,000 square feet. St. James also contains larger custom properties beyond those ranges.

Three-bedroom homes are common among detached properties, although buyers can find different bedroom counts and floor plans.

Because development has occurred over many years, architectural styles and construction materials vary. Brick and brick veneer are common among detached homes, along with other traditional exterior materials.

Foundations can include crawl spaces and slabs depending on the home and section of the community.

Many properties include screened porches, Carolina rooms, decks, patios, bonus rooms, offices, formal dining rooms, fireplaces, attached garages, and outdoor living areas designed to take advantage of the coastal North Carolina climate.

Condos & Golf Villas in St. James

St. James offers condominium and villa options for buyers seeking a smaller residence or reduced exterior-maintenance responsibilities.

Communities such as Club Villas and Marsh Winds include two-bedroom condominium layouts, with many residences measuring approximately 1,000 to 1,200 square feet.

Some villas have flexible lockout configurations in which a bedroom and bathroom can be separated from the primary living space with its own entrance. Buyers interested in using a property for rental purposes should verify current association and community rental rules before purchasing.

Golf views are available from some villas, while others overlook ponds, wooded areas, pools, or landscaped common areas.

Certain condominium neighborhoods also maintain their own amenities, such as community swimming pools.

Condo buyers should pay particular attention to association fees because these properties may have both St. James POA dues and a separate condominium or neighborhood association fee.

Golf in St. James

Golf is one of the most significant recreational features of St. James.

The community contains four golf courses with a combined 81 holes.

Golf facilities within St. James include courses associated with the Founders Club, Members Club, Players Club, and Reserve Club.

The courses provide a variety of layouts and settings, and numerous homes and villas throughout St. James overlook fairways, greens, ponds, and other golf-course features.

Golf privileges are associated with The Clubs at St. James, and club membership is separate from basic property ownership.

This distinction is important for buyers.

Purchasing a home in St. James provides access to property-owner amenities, but it does not automatically mean the buyer receives full golf, fitness, tennis, pool, and private club privileges.

Membership opportunities and levels can change, so buyers interested in golf should verify current membership options, initiation costs, dues, transferability, waiting periods, and privileges directly during the purchase process.

St. James is therefore particularly suited to buyers who want the option of extensive golf facilities without requiring every property owner to maintain a golf membership.

St. James Marina

The St. James Marina is located on the Intracoastal Waterway and is one of the community's major distinguishing features.

The full-service marina provides direct access to the area's interconnected coastal waterways.

For boating enthusiasts, the location provides access to the Intracoastal Waterway and connections toward the Cape Fear River, Atlantic Ocean, nearby islands, and other coastal destinations.

The marina area also includes dining and gathering spaces, including Beacon 315.

Properties near the marina can include condominiums and residences with water or marina views.

Some marina-area condominiums have substantially different association structures and fees than traditional single-family homes elsewhere in St. James, so buyers should carefully review all applicable association expenses.

Purchasing property within St. James does not necessarily include a boat slip. Buyers who own a boat should separately verify slip availability, marina fees, boat-storage options, launch facilities, and vessel restrictions.

Waterway Park & Kayaking

Residents do not have to own a boat to take advantage of the community's location near the Intracoastal Waterway.

Waterway Park provides another connection to the coastal environment and offers opportunities for activities such as kayaking and enjoying views of the waterway.

St. James also contains additional parks and natural spaces throughout the development.

For buyers who want a coastal community without living directly on an oceanfront homesite, these shared waterfront areas provide additional ways to enjoy the water.

St. James Beach Club on Oak Island

One of the most distinctive benefits of owning property in St. James is access to the community's private beach club on Oak Island.

The beach club gives St. James residents a dedicated oceanfront destination away from the main residential community.

Amenities include:

• Direct beach access
• Private parking
• Oceanfront swimming pool
• Restrooms
• Shower facilities
• Picnic and gathering areas
• Covered areas for enjoying the oceanfront setting

Private parking is particularly useful during the busier beach season when public parking on Oak Island can be in higher demand.

The beach club allows residents to live in a gated mainland community while retaining convenient access to a private oceanfront amenity.

Beach Access

Oak Island provides the closest Atlantic Ocean beach access to St. James.

In addition to the private St. James Beach Club, Oak Island has numerous public beach access points.

Oak Island offers miles of shoreline, public beach accesses, fishing opportunities, restaurants, parks, and the Oak Island Pier.

Caswell Beach is located toward the eastern end of Oak Island and provides another nearby coastal destination.

Residents can also reach Holden Beach and other Brunswick County beaches by car.

Drive times vary considerably based on a home's location within St. James, the gate being used, seasonal traffic, and the particular beach destination.

Community Amenities

St. James contains an extensive collection of recreational and community amenities.

Amenities available to property owners can include:

• Gated entrances
• Private Oak Island Beach Club
• Marina
• Waterway access
• Parks
• Dog parks
• Walking and biking trails
• Community gathering areas
• Picnic areas
• Kayak access
• Community center
• Amphitheater
• Landscaped common areas
• RV and boat storage options

Additional amenities are available through optional club membership and may include:

• Four golf courses
• Clubhouses
• Restaurants
• Fitness centers
• Indoor and outdoor swimming pools
• Tennis
• Pickleball
• Croquet
• Golf practice facilities
• Social and recreational programming

Because some amenities are property-owner amenities while others require separate club membership, buyers should verify exactly which facilities are included with property ownership and which require additional membership.

Walking & Biking Trails

St. James includes an extensive network of roads, sidewalks, paths, and trails used for walking and cycling.

The community contains more than 30 miles of walking and biking opportunities throughout its different neighborhoods and natural areas.

The size of St. James creates a variety of routes, from shorter neighborhood walks to longer trips through different sections of the community.

Parks, ponds, golf courses, wooded areas, and the Intracoastal Waterway create varied scenery throughout the trail and road network.

Parks & Outdoor Recreation

Outdoor recreation extends beyond golf and boating.

St. James includes parks, dog parks, picnic areas, walking routes, green spaces, water access, and other common areas.

Residents can also take advantage of fishing, kayaking, cycling, and other outdoor activities.

The combination of mainland amenities and the private Oak Island Beach Club gives residents access to several different coastal environments without requiring an oceanfront home.

Shopping & Dining

St. James residents have access to dining both within the community and throughout the Southport area.

The marina includes Beacon 315 and waterfront gathering areas.

Additional restaurants are associated with The Clubs at St. James and are available according to current membership privileges.

Outside the gates, Highway 211 has become a major commercial corridor for the Southport area, with grocery stores, pharmacies, restaurants, medical offices, and other everyday services.

Historic Downtown Southport offers locally owned restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques, galleries, and waterfront dining.

Additional shopping and dining are available on Oak Island and throughout Brunswick County.

Schools

St. James is served by Brunswick County Schools.

Current neighborhood information generally identifies:

Elementary School:
Virginia Williamson Elementary School

Middle School:
South Brunswick Middle School

High School:
South Brunswick High School

School assignments are subject to change. Buyers should verify school assignments directly with the school district during the home-buying process.

Private, charter, preschool, and other educational options are also available in the greater Brunswick County area.

Healthcare

St. James is within driving distance of healthcare providers throughout the Southport and Brunswick County area.

Nearby medical services include primary care practices, specialty providers, urgent care, pharmacies, dental offices, and other healthcare facilities.

Dosher Memorial Hospital is located in Southport.

Additional hospital and specialty-care options are available elsewhere in Brunswick County and in the greater Wilmington area.

For retirees and buyers planning to make St. James a long-term residence, access to medical services in both Southport and the Wilmington region is an important factor to consider.

Nearby Attractions

St. James provides convenient access to a number of southeastern North Carolina destinations, including:

• Historic Downtown Southport
• Oak Island
• Caswell Beach
• Cape Fear River
• Intracoastal Waterway
• Oak Island Lighthouse
• Southport waterfront
• Bald Head Island ferry access
• Fort Fisher
• North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher
• Brunswick County beaches
• Wilmington
• Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand

Southport is especially convenient for dining, shopping, waterfront parks, community events, and access to the Cape Fear River.

HOA Information

St. James has a property owners association, commonly referred to as the St. James POA.

Current properties indicate annual base POA dues in approximately the $1,300 to $1,400 range, but buyers should verify the current amount because dues can change.

More importantly, the POA fee should not be confused with every potential ownership expense within St. James.

Certain condominiums, villas, and other low-maintenance properties have an additional association.

For example, current condominium properties demonstrate additional annual association expenses ranging into several thousand dollars per year. Some marina-area condominium arrangements can have even higher secondary association fees because the services and maintenance responsibilities differ significantly from detached single-family homes.

Depending on the property, additional association fees may cover items such as:

• Exterior building maintenance
• Landscaping
• Roof maintenance
• Pest control
• Termite protection
• Building insurance
• Water or sewer
• Trash
• Pool maintenance
• Common-area maintenance
• Property management

Club membership is another separate expense and should not be confused with POA dues.

Buyers should determine the complete cost structure for the specific property they are considering, including:

• St. James POA dues
• Any condominium or neighborhood association dues
• Current assessments
• Club membership costs, if desired
• Marina or boat-storage costs, if applicable
• Insurance responsibilities
• Maintenance responsibilities
• Transfer or capital contribution fees
• Rental restrictions

HOA dues, amenities, rules, services, assessments, and governing documents are subject to change. Buyers should verify all HOA information during their due diligence period.

Club Membership

One of the most important things for prospective St. James buyers to understand is the distinction between property ownership and club membership.

A buyer does not necessarily need to purchase a club membership simply because they own a home in St. James.

Property ownership provides access to certain community amenities, including the private beach club, parks, trails, marina-area facilities, and other POA amenities.

The Clubs at St. James provide a separate set of amenities that can include golf, private clubhouses, restaurants, fitness centers, swimming pools, tennis, pickleball, croquet, and other recreational facilities.

Membership structures, availability, costs, and privileges can change.

Buyers interested in club membership should investigate current membership options as part of their home search rather than assuming a previous owner's membership automatically transfers with the property.

Utilities

Utility arrangements vary somewhat by property and location within St. James.

Common providers and services include:

Electricity:
Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation serves many properties in St. James.

Water and Sewer:
Brunswick County Public Utilities provides water and sewer service to many properties in the community.

Some properties may have different service arrangements depending on location and development phase.

Cable, internet, and other telecommunications services are also available, although provider and service level should be verified at the individual address.

Many St. James homes use electric heat pumps, while some properties also have propane for fireplaces, cooktops, generators, or other appliances.

Property Taxes & Cost of Living

St. James is located in Brunswick County, and property taxes depend on the assessed value of the individual property and applicable tax jurisdiction.

Some properties may fall within different municipal boundaries or taxing arrangements, making it important to verify taxes for the specific home rather than applying another property's tax bill.

Ownership expenses can also vary significantly depending on housing type.

A detached single-family homeowner may primarily need to consider property taxes, POA dues, insurance, utilities, maintenance, and optional club membership.

A condominium owner may have additional association dues but may also have certain exterior maintenance or insurance expenses included within those fees.

Buyers considering golf membership, marina use, or boat storage should include those optional costs when estimating their overall budget.

Flood Zones & Insurance

St. James is a large community with properties located in different topographical and waterfront settings.

Not every home is located in the same flood zone, and buyers should not assume that every St. James property requires flood insurance simply because the community is close to the Intracoastal Waterway and coastal waterways.

Flood-zone designations vary by property.

Some homes are outside higher-risk flood areas, while other properties may have different flood considerations based on elevation and proximity to water.

Buyers should verify the FEMA flood-zone designation for the specific property and obtain insurance quotes during the due diligence period.

Homeowners should also consider wind and hail coverage, hurricane deductibles, and other coastal insurance factors.

Condominium buyers should determine which portions of the property are covered by the association's master insurance policy and which coverages remain the individual owner's responsibility.

Retirement & Second Home Living

St. James offers many features commonly considered by retirement and second-home buyers.

The community includes one-story homes, primary suites on the main level, condominiums, villas, low-maintenance options, golf, fitness facilities, pools, pickleball, tennis, trails, boating, parks, restaurants, and beach access.

Buyers can choose between a more traditional single-family property and a smaller lock-and-leave condominium depending on their lifestyle and maintenance preferences.

The private Oak Island Beach Club can be particularly useful for second-home owners who want convenient beach access without purchasing an oceanfront property.

St. James' location near Southport also provides access to restaurants, healthcare, shopping, community events, and waterfront activities.

Why Buyers Choose St. James

St. James offers a combination of features that is difficult to replicate in a smaller residential development.

Buyers may consider St. James for its:

• Gated setting
• Wide selection of homes
• Single-family residences
• Condominiums and golf villas
• Golf-course properties
• Waterfront and marina-area residences
• Four golf courses with 81 holes
• Full-service marina
• Intracoastal Waterway access
• Private Oak Island Beach Club
• Community parks
• Dog parks
• Walking and biking trails
• Kayaking opportunities
• Fitness facilities
• Indoor and outdoor pools
• Tennis
• Pickleball
• Restaurants
• Proximity to Historic Downtown Southport
• Access to Oak Island beaches

The community can accommodate buyers with very different priorities, from golfers and boaters to retirees, second-home owners, and buyers simply looking for a gated coastal neighborhood near Southport.

Frequently Asked Questions About St. James

Where is St. James in North Carolina?

St. James is located in Brunswick County near Southport, North Carolina. The community is close to Oak Island, the Intracoastal Waterway, and the Cape Fear River.

Is St. James a gated community?

Yes. St. James is a gated community with multiple entrances serving different sections of the development.

What types of homes are available in St. James?

St. James includes single-family homes, condominiums, golf villas, custom homes, golf-course properties, marina-area residences, and waterfront and water-view properties.

Are there condos in St. James?

Yes. St. James includes condominium and villa communities such as Club Villas and Marsh Winds. Some units have lockout floor plans and neighborhood-specific pools.

How large are homes in St. James?

St. James offers a broad range of home sizes. Smaller condos can be around 1,000 square feet, while detached homes commonly exceed 2,000 square feet and larger custom residences can exceed 3,000 square feet.

Does St. James have an HOA?

Yes. St. James has a property owners association. Some condos and other properties also have additional neighborhood or condominium association fees.

How much are St. James POA dues?

Current properties indicate base annual St. James POA dues around the $1,300 to $1,400 range. Buyers should verify the current amount because dues and assessments can change.

Does St. James have golf?

Yes. St. James contains four golf courses offering a combined 81 holes.

Is golf included when you buy a home in St. James?

No. Full golf privileges are associated with optional club membership rather than automatically being included with basic property ownership.

Do you have to join The Clubs at St. James?

No. Club membership is separate from property ownership. Buyers who want golf, certain pools, fitness facilities, tennis, pickleball, private dining, and other club amenities should investigate current membership options.

Does St. James have a marina?

Yes. St. James has a full-service marina located on the Intracoastal Waterway.

Does buying a home in St. James include a boat slip?

Not necessarily. Buyers interested in boating should verify current slip availability, marina fees, boat-storage options, and other boating arrangements separately.

Does St. James have a private beach?

St. James property owners have access to a private oceanfront beach club on Oak Island. The club provides direct beach access and amenities for St. James residents.

Where is the St. James Beach Club?

The St. James Beach Club is located on Oak Island rather than inside the mainland residential community.

Does the St. James Beach Club have parking?

Yes. The private beach club includes dedicated parking for eligible St. James property owners.

Does the St. James Beach Club have a pool?

Yes. The oceanfront St. James Beach Club includes a swimming pool along with beach access and other facilities.

Is St. James on the Intracoastal Waterway?

Yes. Portions of St. James border the Intracoastal Waterway, and the community's marina provides access to the waterway.

Can you kayak in St. James?

Yes. St. James provides opportunities for kayaking and other non-motorized water recreation, including access near Waterway Park.

Does St. James have walking and biking trails?

Yes. St. James has an extensive network of walking and biking routes throughout the community.

Does St. James have pickleball courts?

Yes. Pickleball facilities are available through the community's club amenities. Buyers should verify current membership requirements for specific courts and facilities.

What schools serve St. James?

St. James is generally associated with Virginia Williamson Elementary School, South Brunswick Middle School, and South Brunswick High School. School assignments should be verified directly with Brunswick County Schools.

Is St. James close to Southport?

Yes. St. James is located just outside Historic Downtown Southport, providing convenient access to its waterfront, restaurants, shops, parks, and community events.

Is St. James close to Oak Island?

Yes. Oak Island is nearby and provides the closest Atlantic Ocean beaches. St. James also maintains its private oceanfront beach club on Oak Island.

Is St. James a good option for a second home?

St. James offers features frequently sought by second-home buyers, including condos, villas, low-maintenance properties, gated entrances, beach access, golf, boating, pools, trails, and proximity to Southport.

Are all St. James homes in a flood zone?

No. Flood-zone designations vary throughout St. James. Buyers should verify the flood designation and insurance requirements for the specific property they are considering.

Can I use my own real estate agent when buying a home in St. James?

Yes. Buyers can have their own real estate agent represent them when purchasing resale or new-construction property in St. James.

View Homes for Sale in St. James

If you're searching for a home in St. James, browse the current homes for sale below. Listings are updated regularly so you can view available properties, pricing, photos, and detailed home information.

Whether you're searching for a primary residence, retirement home, vacation property, or investment opportunity, St. James offers buyers convenient access to everything the surrounding area has to offer.

View homes for sale in St. James below, or contact the Chris Luther Team today for more information or to schedule a private showing.