Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Is there a source to find out all of the fees and ongoing financial costs associated with SJ? I'd like to know what to expect should we decide to move there.
Is there a source to find out all of the fees and ongoing financial costs associated with SJ? I'd like to know what to expect should we decide to move there.
The mandatory annual POA assessment is $1050 per year. That covers security at the four gates, use of POA amenities such as parks and the Beach Club on Oak Island, maintenance of roadways and landscaping of common areas, etc. The POA also is supportive of the numerous clubs at SJP where many meet at the Community Center weekly, monthly, etc.
The Clubs at St James are an entirely different animal, not mandatory, owned and operated by Troon. There is a $25,000 initiation fee, an extra $5,000 if you don't join within 30 days of closing on your lot or home. It is possible to have a membership transferred to you but that is only the much older membership type from before 2000. Not many of those folks around anymore. You then have to decide which of the three types of membership you want. The Social Membership, $280 a month, allows the use the fitness facilities, pools( the Beach Club can be used by all), restaurants( Beacon 315 is the only one of the five that non-club members can use), and you can play 12 rounds of golf a year at Members price, non member price after 12 rounds. The Sport Membership, $360 a month, gives you all the above I mentioned plus tennis and pickleball. Also you get 30 rounds of golf at Member price. Members price is $76 if before noon, $51 after 12 noon. The Golf Membership, $755 a month(if both golfers, $695 if one golfer and spouse is a Sport member), again gives all of the above, unlimited golf with zero greens fees, just add a cart plan of $2600 a year(carts are $26 so after 100 rounds, it's cheaper than paying each round) .
There are classes such as cardio, Pilates, yoga, pool exercise, etc at the fitness facilities taught by certified instructors. It's $55 a month for unlimited or $10 a class to just drop in.
With any of these memberships, there is an $800 a year minimum food and beverage(alcohol counts) requirement. Can pay all $800 in January and use all year long to pay for food and beverage or just spend $200 a quarter. Either way works to fulfill that.
That covers just about everything, any questions, just ask. Happy to help. A great place to live, been here 6 years and best decision we ever made.
So to summarize ( and confirm my understanding)
POA assessment - $1050 /yr.
Club membership - $25K (once) + $3360/yr. (Social)....OR.....$4320/yr. (Sport) I'm only an occasional golfer; spouse doesn't golf
Fitness classes - $660/yr.
Food/Beverage Req - $800/yr.
First year = $31,830 (with Sport membership) After that, $6830/yr.
But I was under the impression you had to join the club, so the $25k isn't optional. And is the $660 fitness class fee per person or couple?
You are correct on your summary. Fitness is individual since spouses usually do different classes.
The Clubs are totally optional. At last I heard, close to 80% of residents are club members. Some did not see the value, others as they got older, dropped it.
Ahh, so the $5000 is a way to pressure you to join, not unlike the way unscrupulous health clubs offer you a "low rate but its only good for that day" kind if thing. And I know it's subjective, but let me ask anyway...if we are not golf or tennis players (nor even pickleball at this stage), would it even be worth it to join the club. Better to just go ala carte on things we want to do?
I'm also curious (if you happen to feel you know) what the turnover is like there. Do people generally leave when they reach a certain age? Move back Northeast to be with grandkids.
And speaking of kids, are the pools overrun with them? If I'm paying $25K to join a club I want relative peace and quiet when at the pool.
Is availability of GOOD healthcare a big issue? Driving to Wilmington for every doctors appt. as we get older seems like a non-starter.
I'm also curious (if you happen to feel you know) what the turnover is like there. Do people generally leave when they reach a certain age? Move back Northeast to be with grandkids.
SJP opened 20-25 years ago. A good number of those first residents (many of whom are hitting their 80's) are moving on for many reasons...closer to family, need for living assistance, or passing. That is likely to continue for some time of course, but it certainly doesn't appear to have a negative influence on real estate values. I assume thats the basis for your question?
Quote:
Originally Posted by NC_Cpl
availability of GOOD healthcare a big issue? Driving to Wilmington for every doctors appt. as we get older seems like a non-starter.
Yes and no. My wife and I receive most of our care here in Brunswick County, including our GP doc, dermatologist, mammogram, colonoscopy, eye exam, orthopedist, physical therapy. Went to Wilmington for cataract surgery. Very happy with our healthcare situation.
Edit to add: Based on your post on the Triangle Board, my suggestion would be to consider Southport. Very different from SJP, so it may or may not appeal to you.
.....
Is availability of GOOD healthcare a big issue? Driving to Wilmington for every doctors appt. as we get older seems like a non-starter.
There are several Family Practice people right on Highway 211 or in Southport. Several Internist in Southport. You may have to go to Wilmington for other specialists.
Actually I am trying to get a sense for resident turnover. I realize folks are hunkering down these days if they have a 2.5% mortgage, but before that happened, do you find many people leave because it didn't live up to their expectations? Changed in a way they didn't like? Got tired of SJP altogether, or their neighbors? Got bored with the area?
I tend to rely more on the bad reviews than the good ones. People are very biased when they are invested in what you're asking about. Be it where they live or something they bought off Amazon.
Thanks. We're pretty spoiled as right now we're nestled in between Duke, UNC and a few other large healthcare systems here. I prefer specialists unless it's a very routine thing, and even then I choose Internal Medicine, never FP or GP's. I just searched "family practice" in the area and one has just 5 providers, two DO's (no thanks) and one nurse practitioner. The two MDs credentials: Medical school- American University of the Caribbean-St Maarten (2009)
Medical school- State Medical and Pharmaceutical University (1996) (Russia/Romania)
Precisely what I'm concerned about. Ummm, no thanks.
Actually I am trying to get a sense for resident turnover. I realize folks are hunkering down these days if they have a 2.5% mortgage, but before that happened, do you find many people leave because it didn't live up to their expectations? Changed in a way they didn't like? Got tired of SJP altogther? Got bored with the area?
I know several ex-SJP residents who didn't like the vibe, but everyone should know exactly what it is and whats its like. My impression is most people love it. I don't think anyone has left the area because of boredom, lol. Some have left because of growth and traffic.
I live in Southport btw.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
