St. James Plantation, the huge community near Southport, NC, will release new homesites in it Woodlands Park neighborhood the weekend of April 27 and is offering a special visitation package that weekend. The Preview Weekend includes two nights accommodations on site; golf at The Reserve Club, the new Nicklaus Design course; cooking classes; massages; a sunset yacht cruise on the Intracoastal Waterway; dinner and dancing; and extra incentives St. James values at up to $35,000 if you purchase a piece of property. Cost for the weekend is $199, and lots begin at $200,000. Go to stjamesplantation.com/AprilGetaway.aspx for more details...
Magnolia Greens, near Wilmington, NC, is offering a range of builders' spec homes that begin at $270,000 and range up to nearly $500,000. The less expensive homes are in Cornerstone Village on smaller "patio" lots but are "association maintained," which means you don't worry about exterior maintenance. We did not play the Tom Jackson layout in the community, but we did note its wide fairways and generally flat contours. www.magnoliagreens.com
Fawn Lake, near Fredericksburg, VA, is offering some fairly large new homes at "buyers market" prices, according to their latest brochure. Four bedroom homes begin around $699,000 and range up to $898,000 for a monster with two kitchens -- one in the basement -- and views of the 4th hole of the community's Arnold Palmer Signature course. The community's web site is www.fawnlakevirginia.com...
Cooper's Point Communities at Shellman Bluff, GA, is sponsoring a Discover Coastal Georgia weekend March 30 to April 1 which includes golf on the fun Sapelo Hammock course next door, 2 nights accommodations at the Westin Savannah Golf Resort (about an hour away), boat tours and other goodies. Our invitation says "Free" weekend, but the web site is a little coy about the price. We are confident you can probably wangle the free deal if you are serious about looking at property. There were some wonderful marsh view lots available when we visited a year ago. See www.cooperspoint.com...
DeBordieu Colony on the furthest south extremity of Myrtle Beach's Grand Strand, and the most upscale of all the South Strand communities, sent us updated master plan schematics with available lots and homes. There are many choices at the high end, including one lot directly on the ocean for $2.5 million. Interior lots are priced beginning in the low $300s and up. Oceanfront and ocean view homes are priced about what you would expect, beginning around $3 million. Interior homes, some on the excellent Pete Dye golf course, begin at around $800,000. Contact Hollace Williams at