Wilmington, NC, is known by one traditional nickname – the Port City for its navigable river – and by a few cinematic others, including Filmington, Wilmywood and Hollywood East, because of its conducive background for numerous Hollywood movies. Those films number more than 25 and cover the entire range of genres…from the serious and creepy Blue Velvet to the action-packed Iron Man 3 to the inspirationally weepy A Walk to Remember, based on the Nicholas Sparks novel. (Sparks is a native of North Carolina.) Wilmington is so indigenous to movie making settings that a site devoted to Wilmington-made movies mistakenly credits the city for hosting the filming of Dirty Dancing, which was actually shot in Roanoke, VA and on Lake Lure, a good four hours away.

Golf home seekers will find in Wilmington a town that is both historic and modern, with enough to do that you will feel like a tourist one day and a longtime resident the next. It is a university town, with a large branch of the University of North Carolina system located in town. That means plenty of opportunities for continuing education, concerts and bigtime collegiate sports.

Producers planning the next Caddyshack or Tin Cup would do well to select one of the Wilmington area’s fine golf courses as a setting. But such “stardom” comes with a price, with homes listed under $400,000 – the upper limit for this series of explorations – hard to find. Indeed, the two golf communities inside the city limits of Wilmington – Porter’s Neck and Landfall – show lowest home prices at $693,000 and $799,000, respectively. But fear not, there are some way more reasonably priced options just outside the city limits. Here are some of them…

Cape Fear National at Brunswick Forest

Brunswick Forest, Leland, NC

When Brunswick Forest opened in the mid 2000s, its developers decided to keep prices low by building early homes on small lots. The created a rather cramped look but certainly more independence than attached condo living. The sharply priced single-family homes were an instant success, and the semi-private Cape Fear National golf course, designed by local boy Tim Cate, just added to the then-new community’s allure.

During and after the 2008 recession, Brunswick was one of the few golf communities that saw its sales rates continue to rise. Today, some neighborhoods in the community have much more breathing space and, naturally, higher relative prices. But Brunswick Forest is still a fine choice for those looking for a golfing lifestyle with flexibility. (The golf course offers both membership and pay-as-you-go play.)

Brunswick Forest features three outdoor pools, one indoor pool, Fitness & Wellness Center, two cardio/weight rooms, tennis courts, basketball and pickleball courts, Hammock Lake, walking trails, parks, playground, dog park and meeting rooms. In keeping with its original orientation toward low prices, I note that there are five homes for sale in Brunswick Forest under the magical price of $400,000 (priced from $340K to $390K). The highest priced house in that group, features 3 bedroom and 2 baths and total space of just over 1,600 square feet. A screened-in porch with paver stones is just outside the dining area and, for serious cooks, the house features natural gas.

Magnolia Greens, Leland, NC

 Magnolia Greens and Brunswick Forest fought it out in the mid 2000s to capture clients looking for single-family homes priced from the high $200s. Those were the days. Today, the only sub-$400,000 homes available in Magnolia Greens are townhomes, with two of those priced at $315,000 and $365,000. The more expensive of the two features 3 bedrooms and 2 baths, one more bedroom than the lower-priced model. The unit backs up to the 3rd hole on the Tom Jackson designed 18-hole layout.

Membership in the golf club, which is owned by the Heritage Golf Group. is reasonable and offers members access to Heritage’s 45 other golf courses nationwide.

Magnolia Greens provides its residents with two outdoor pools, an indoor pool, a clubhouse, a fitness center, tennis and pickleball courts and a picnic area. Blossom Restaurant, located within the community, serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Castle Bay, Hampstead, NC

Hampstead is less than a half hour drive north from center city Wilmington. After I visited the community more than a decade ago, and played its Scottish style golf course, I wrote: “The Castle Bay course looks gentle enough, but when the wind blows, it is anything but. Water on the course is not exactly the Firth of Forth, but hook or slice one into the wind, and you will be just as wet. Castle Bay is a fine links-type layout with access for all and, if you are in the Wilmington area, you should give it a go.”

I could find only two homes currently for sale in Castle Bay, one priced just above $400,000, and one listed at $369,000. The latter house features three bedrooms and two baths and is sited beside the 17th hole with views across a pond. The only quibbles I had with the community was the presence of high-tension wires around the golf course, and homes were packed fairly tightly together.

The era of the golf home in high-quality golf communities priced lower than $400,000 is over.  Or is it?

In many areas of the Southeast rich with golf communities, inventories of homes for sale are down.  The choice of golf homes in the $300,000 to $400,000 price range are especially skimpy, or worse -- “skimpy” as in not available at all or not exactly in move-in condition.  But $400,000 is the most many can afford for a vacation home or forever home.  So how bad is it out there?

The answer is not as bad as it looks for those poised to jump in when a house in good condition and properly priced comes on the market.  I know this because I recently scanned a group of homes for sale in golf communities I have recommended to my clients over the last 15 years.  In coming weeks, I will feature different golf-enriched areas where the $400,000 home runs the gamut from thriving to life support.  This week I start with Aiken, SC, area and golf homes that are priced below $400,000. (In some cases, I am showing homes listed just above the $400K mark, mindful that some sharp negotiations might result in a selling price within the magic margin.)

For a relatively small town – population 33,000 – Aiken presents more than its share of golfing options; the five major golf communities include 144 holes of golf. As of October 1, there were more than 120 golf homes for sale across Aiken’s five golf communities.  Just outside the Aiken city limits, additional quality golf communities in Graniteville, Edgefield and North Augusta add additional golf courses to the mix. (Aiken shares the South Carolina and Georgia border with Augusta.)

Woodside Plantation
Woodside Plantation is one of the most comprehensive golf communities in the South, offering a total of 72 holes of golf – via two separate memberships if you want to play them all – a full roster of other amenities, a few miles of walking trails and access to one of the most charming towns in the Carolinas.  Recent listings in Woodside’s Reserve Club section showed 22 homes for sale, including a 3,000 square foot 4 bedroom, 3 ½ bath residence listed at $379,500.  It may need some work since it has been on the market since May, but the dozens of photos that accompany the listing look good. There were also some choice lots listed for those inclined to build a house to their specifications.
Woodside Plantation
A few homes in the original Woodside Country Club section are also listed inside the magic $400,000 level.  A 25-year-old patio home described as “move-in ready” and featuring 2,100 square feet of living space – 3 BR, 2 ½ BA – is listed for $379,000.  A typical patio home is around 2,000 square feet and sited on a small lot, typically less than a quarter acre; it is perfect for those who don’t want too much property to tend to. (Author of this article raises hand.)  The listing describes it as an “Environmentally friendly home with solar panels and EV charging outlet in the double garage.”

Cedar Creek
Cedar Creek is something of an anomaly in the Aiken area, given that its popular Arthur Hills designed layout is open to the public.  You can join the club or opt to pay as you go.  (In 2025, full memberships for a 62 year or older senior were $2,850, with an additional $1,250 for a spouse.)  Either way, the surrounding community is a fine choice for a retirement lifestyle set among the mostly brick homes.  Cedar Creek appeals to a wide range of retirees and local families, and I was not overly surprised to find that there are no homes priced under $400,000.  However, a 3 BR, 2 BA house of more than 2,100 square feet, sited down a long, tree-line driveway, is currently listed at $419,000.  Sharp negotiating skills could drop the price below $400,000.
Cedar Creek

Houndslake Country Club
I have not played the Houndslake Course but if Joe Lee designed it, the layout should be excellent. (Lee is credited with the design of Doral Country Club in Florida and one of the Disney Resort courses, but his portfolio stretches well beyond the Sunshine State.)  Like Cedar Creek, Houndslake’s club is semi-private; if you intend to play, say, three or four times a week, a membership makes sense.  For occasional golfers, the paying as you go – green fees are less than $40 per round – makes more sense.

Houndslake listings recently showed three homes priced below $370,000 and one, a traditional brick home on a half-acre with 4 BR and 3 BA, listed at $404,000. For those contemplating building a house, I saw five listings for lots beginning at $39,000.
Other Aiken area golf communities with homes for sale include The Palmetto Club (homes priced from $690,000), and the Aiken Golf Club, an historic layout recently renovated and open to the public, where the two houses listed at under $400,000 appear to need substantial upgrades.

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If you are interested in Aiken or any other area of the Southeast, please let me know at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and I will be pleased to assist.  I never charge my clients a fee for my help.