Published February 8, 2023

St. James Plantation, North Carolina | What We Love About Living in St. James Plantation

Written by Kirk Pugh

St. James Plantation, North Carolina | What We Love About Living in St. James Plantation header image.

St. James Plantation, Southport, North Carolina

Courtesy of Google maps, retrieved Nov 5 2021

St. James Plantation is a gated community in Brunswick County, North Carolina, located a few miles inland of the seaside town Southport, and 30 miles south of Wilmington North Carolina. St. James is a residential town with about 3330 residents, an all-volunteer fire/EMS department, five golf courses, tennis courts, swimming pools, a full service marina, and a private beach club in Oak Island on the Atlantic coast.

Find Your Next Home in St. James Plantation, North Carolina

In November 2021, there are 86 active property listings in St. James Plantation. The real estate for sale in St. James ranges from listings in the $300s to $1million+ homes, and buildable lots. There are a number of condominium communities within St. James, with units priced starting in the high $100s and going up beyond the $400s. Boat owners will find a variety of wet- and dry-slips for sale in the private St. James Marina.

From the moment we entered the gates of St. James on our very first visit, we knew we had found someplace special. What immediately set it

apart from other communities we had explored was both the natural beauty of the community and its waterside setting, and that fact that it was alive with people enjoying exactly the type of active coastal resort atmosphere we were looking for, and the friendly waves and smiles that greeted us at every turn, made us instantly feel at home.

With over 150 special interest clubs and charities, and very active POA Social Committee, there is always something to do, and with multiple pools, clubhouses, sports facilities, and a private beach club, you can easily choose to be as active, or inactive, as you choose to be.

One of our favorite things to do is to take our beach chairs and a cooler of goodies and cruise on over to the Beach Club and relax on the sand and raise a glass to toast another day of living the dream…

Rick Binford, Broker/Realtor®, St. James Plantation resident & local expert

St. James Plantation North Carolina Weather

St. James Plantation is tucked on the western edge of Southport, which is statistically the warmest place in North Carolina. The average yearly temperature is a balmy 65 degrees. Golf on one of the many private St. James Plantation courses is not out of the question even in December and January, and residents often bundle up for an evening around the firepit in the winter. St. James is close to the Atlantic coast, so it can feel the impact of storms, hurricanes, and other wind events, but snowstorms are definitely not a threat!

St. James Plantation Close-up: Recreation & Attractions

In addition to enjoying the proximity of Southport with its restaurants, attractions, shopping, and recreation, St. James Plantation offers residents many exclusive options for dining and recreation. With private beach access, miles of walking/biking trails, marinas, championship golf courses, club houses, and private restaurants, there's always something to do.

Pizza may not be the selling point for living in St. James Plantation, but residents are fond of the story of D's Italian Restaurant versus Falcone's Italian Restaurant - both of which are in Southport. The owners each used to be married, and together they owned D's. When they divorced, the wife opening Falcones. Now everyone picks a side.

There is plenty to do right in St. James Plantation, and residents socialize regularly - visiting neighbors via golf cart - so it's not difficult to leave your car in the garage for days.

~ Adam Bullock, Broker/REALTOR®, Cape Fear Coastal Property Management & local expert

The St. James community is a combination of retirees and families, and the HOA organizes activities and clubs that appeal to a broad range of interests. There are actually hundreds of social clubs in St. James Plantation, catering to many activities and hobbies. Residents gather for charity events, seasonal celebrations, and casual mixers.

For boaters, St. James Plantation offers access the canals, the Intracoastal Waterway, and the Atlantic Ocean, with private dockage in your own backyard, or the full service St. James Marina. Waterfront homes can be a kayakers dream, as small lakes, marshy waterways, and canals are plentiful.