The home located at 229 North Caswell Avenue in Southport is no stranger to turning heads. Built in 1910, this Queen Anne Victorian estate is truly unique in the area. It caught the attention of filmmakers in the 1980s, including director Bruce Beresford, who needed a quintessentially Southern location for his film Crimes of the Heart. He chose this three-bedroom, 2,700-square-foot home, situated right in the heart of Southport, just a few blocks from the waterfront, yacht basin, and the shops, restaurants, and venues of the downtown area.
This picture, on the right, shows the home as it appeared in the 1986 movie. Crimes of the Heart follows the Magrath sisters, played by Diane Keaton, Jessica Lange, and Sissy Spacek. Sam Shepard and Tess Harper also star in the film, which was the first major feature to be shot in Southport. Since then, dozens of other movies have used the town as their backdrop over the last 40 years.
Now, the home that helped launch Southport’s film industry is on the market, looking for a new owner.
The home was listed on August 1st by Alicia Devereaux of Nest Realty.
Boasting all the elaborate details of the Queen Anne Victorian style—gingerbread trim, latticework, turrets, wraparound porches, multi-angled roofs, large bay windows, and a prominent wooden staircase—this is a true hallmark home. Inside, the house remains faithful to its Victorian roots, with pressed tin ceilings, ornate woodwork, and beautifully detailed crown molding.
The floorplan flows from the expansive foyer to the living room on the left, and the formal dining room straight ahead. Both rooms connect to the parlor/den, which then leads to the fully remodeled commercial-grade kitchen—a chef’s dream—complete with a walk-in pantry and a “secret” door to the sunroom.
Upstairs, there are three bedrooms (two with bay-window seating areas) and two full baths that have been modernized but still retain their original charm. In the front bedroom, a cast-iron staircase leads up to the turret, offering views of Southport and the waterfront. The outdoor areas rival the magnificence of the home, offering beautiful spaces to relax and unwind. Sit on the wraparound front porch or the large second-floor porch and watch Southport drift by; enjoy coffee or cocktails in the sunroom; while away the afternoon or evening by the waterfall/pond and firepit area; or dine al fresco under the pergola. The property also includes a detached two-car garage with a FROG (Finished Room Over Garage) above, and a large driveway.
The asking price is $1,350,000. To see more pictures of the home, check out its official listing here.