$852,576Average Value$420Average Price per Sq Ft53Homes For Sale
Lakeside neighborhood living in the Blue Ridge foothills
The Lake James community sits about 17 miles outside of Morganton, stretching out at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Forested hills here roll down to a nearly 7,000-acre lake, and shorelines wind for 150 miles. "It's a beautiful place to experience the four seasons. It's completely green in spring and summer, orange in the fall and its peaceful and quiet in winter," says local broker Casey Bridges with Bridges Real Estate. Community life here tends to follow the pace of the outdoors, with many neighbors meeting at marinas or on state park trails. Day-to-day needs and work commutes typically lead residents to the busier community of Morganton.
Distinctive mountain and lakeside homes in Lake James
Homes around Lake James range from rustic cabins and ranch-style homes to large Contemporary lakefront estates. Homes are often tucked among wooded areas and along waterfront stretches, with both gated communities and established streets present. Lakefront homes typically have private docks. Prices vary widely, with homes starting around $225,000 for smaller interiors and exceeding $2 million for spacious lakefront estates. The median sales price here is about $930,000.
Groceries, dining and everyday shopping in Morganton
Bear Creek Marina in Nebo serves up seafood and burgers on the lake, but most everyday shopping and dining options are found in downtown Morganton, about 20 minutes away by car. The town offers several grocery stores like Food Lion and Walmart, fast-casual restaurants like McDonalds and Chick-Fil-A, and locally owned boutiques. Dining ranges from casual grills, breweries and coffee shops to more formal restaurants like Root and Vine, known for their cocktails and artisan pizzas.
Outdoor trails, lake recreation and parks near Lake James
Lake James State Park is the center of outdoor activity, offering public swimming areas, more than 14 hiking trails, mountain biking paths and campsites. The lake is popular for boating, fishing, paddle sports, and birding, with public boat ramps and several marinas available. Each January, Lake James State Park hosts the Lake James Ice Festival, a relatively new annual event that began in 2022, organized by the Friends of Lake James nonprofit. Ice sculptors from across the region transform the park with dozens of themed ice sculptures, ranging from aquatic creatures to dinosaurs and “underwater park” scenes. Residents also use nearby Pisgah National Forest and South Mountains State Park for additional hiking, climbing and exploration.
Specialized programming at McDowell High
Kids in the community can start out at Nebo Elementary, which earns a B from Niche, then continue to the B-rated East McDowell Junior High. McDowell High, rated B-minus, provides an AIG program for academically gifted students with specialized courses.
Interstate 40 and Highway 70 provide nearby connectivity
The community connects to Morganton via U.S. Highway 70 and Interstate 40, with Morganton located about 17 miles east. Interstate 40 runs east-west and provides direct routes west to Asheville and east to Hickory and further into the Piedmont region. The closest major airport is Asheville Regional Airport, about 40 miles away, offering regional and national flights. For local medical needs, Mission Hospital McDowell in Marion is the nearest full-service hospital, a 16-minute drive from Lake James. Residents are also close to UNC Health Blue Ridge in Morganton for specialized care and hospital services.
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Lake James Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Lake James, Morganton sell after 86 days on the market compared to the national average of 55 days. The median sale price for homes in Lake James, Morganton over the last 12 months is $1,077,500, up 20% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Back on the market at no fault of the seller or condition of the home (buyers changed their mind about moving). Welcome to 4634 Harbor View Terrace! This beautifully appointed ranch-style lakefront home offers true main-level living with a finished lower level, blending comfort, space, and exceptional lake views. Featuring three bedrooms (all on main level) and three full bathrooms, the home
Check back soon for additional photos and a virtual tour! Experience lakefront living with expansive big-water views and a beautiful mountain backdrop from this spacious waterfront home designed to take full advantage of its exceptional setting. Multiple levels of outdoor living provide plenty of opportunities to relax, entertain and enjoy the scenery included a large screened deck, open deck
Fabulous Mountain Views along with beautiful pristine Lake James. This .79+/- acre off water lot is in gated Arbor on Lake James. This lot has spectacular lake/mountain views along with a great building site for you to build your perfect lake home. This lot also has a deeded boat slip #13 for easy water access so you can enjoy Lake James recreation. Convenient to Marion, WNC mountains and more.
Build Your Dream Home in The Arbor at Lake James!Discover the perfect blend of natural beauty and modern convenience with this 1.30-acre lot nestled in the prestigious gated community of The Arbor at Lake James in Nebo, NC. Situated in Western North Carolina, this is the perfect blank canvas for your Dream Home or a Vacation Retreat. Come enjoy WNC and the incredible Lake James!
Experience unparalleled luxury in this fully furnished, turn-key estate offering some of the most breathtaking, unobstructed lake and mountain views at Lake James. Thoughtfully designed to maximize its surrounding scenery, the home frames majestic views of Grandfather Mountain and Shortoff Mountain from nearly every room, as well as from the expansive back patio and screened-in porch. Offered
Build your dream mountain retreat on this beautiful interior lot in The Peninsula at Lake James, a sought-after gated community offering the perfect blend of privacy and lake-life amenities. This lot offers a builder-friendly setting with paved road frontage and access to underground utilities, making the building process smooth from day one. The gated community features a community pool, a
Exceptional waterfront living awaits at 23 Anchor Dr. in The Arbor at Lake James, where luxury, comfort and effortless lake living come together in one remarkable turnkey package. Built in 2025 and meticulously maintained, this like-new home has been a highly successful short-term rental while offering an ideal design for full-time living. The thoughtfully crafted main-level floor plan features a
Leslie Elliott
Howard Hanna Beverly-Hanks Asheville-Biltmore Park
Experience the pinnacle of lakeside living on Lot 4 Pisgah Preserve Drive, a premier homesite offering what are arguably the most breathtaking views in all of Lake James. This exceptional property provides a front-row seat to the dramatic face of Shortoff Mountain and only 7 minutes to Bear Creek Marina. Perfectly positioned within the gated Pisgah Preserve community—which borders the vast Pisgah
5029 Winfield Drive | Southpointe at Lake James — A Rare Waterfront GemNestled on 1.13 acres with a beautifully cleared shoreline, ready for you to create unforgettable moments on the pristine waters of Lake James. This exceptional homesite invites you to design your dream retreat at water's edge where luxury living meets nature’s masterpiece.Imagine waking each morning to the
Discover the perfect opportunity to build your custom home in the desirable The Arbor at Lake James community in Nebo, NC. This beautiful 1-acre lot offers a peaceful setting surrounded by nature and includes a deeded boat slip, providing convenient access to Lake James for boating, fishing, and relaxing days on the water. The community recently implemented a special assessment to replace the
Set on .79 acres, this exceptional cabin-style retreat in the sought-after Arbor at Lake James community boasts some of the best views on the lake, with an unforgettable 180-degree panorama encompassing Lake James, Linville Mountain, Hawksbill, Shortoff Mountain, Grandfather Mountain, and the Blue Ridge Mountain range. A wraparound porch and expansive wraparound deck offer multiple spaces to soak
Build your waterfront dream home at Lake James, in the pristine gated community of Waters Edge. The property features a great build site and 168 feet of shoreline with a very gentle slope down to the water. This partially cleared, 0.94-acre waterfront lot has it's own beach, providing easy access to a quiet cove. Waters Edge is a gated community offering amenities such as a private swimming
Lake Life! directly on lake James! This Carriage home features a second floor large one bedroom/one bath luxury home. This home has all the the top of the line building materials. Granite in the kitchen and a massive marble shower in the bathroom. Gas stove for cooking and a fireplace to stay cozy and warm in the winter. Bring your boat and jet ski to this private double decker boat dock. Enjoy
$100 OFF FIRST # MONTHS WHEN YOU SIGN A LEASE BY 10/1/26 - $395/month for first 3 months. Regular rate is $495/month. Lake James Forest is an RV park located in Marion, NC - a peaceful 55+ community. BYO RV and enjoy full hookups and year-round living. We offer 50 and 30 amp service. Multiple sites available - *sites in photos may not be exact sites available.* We are conveniently located to I-40
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
