MacGregor Downs, Cary NC: Neighborhood Guide and Homes for Sale

Caul Group Residential, brokered by eXp Realty

MacGregor Downs is one of Cary's original golf course communities, ZIP code 27511, built around MacGregor Downs Country Club on the shores of Lake MacGregor. The club was established in 1967 (MacGregor Downs Country Club). Wake County records show about 400 homes in the original MacGregor Downs plats, built from 1968 on, with a median home of about 3,700 square feet on roughly two-thirds of an acre. Counting the later MacGregor West, Balmoral, Villas and townhome sections, the area has about 704 homes, and its detached homes sold for a median of $1,156,000 over the past year (Wake County property records, October 2026).

Here is where MacGregor Downs is, how the club and the neighborhood fit together, what the homes are like, what they are selling for and how school assignment works.

Where MacGregor Downs is

MacGregor Downs is in south Cary, close to WakeMed Cary Hospital and the Cary Parkway corridor. The country club is at 430 St Andrews Lane, Cary, NC 27511.

Road distances from the club (OpenStreetMap routing, October 2026):

  • WakeMed Cary Hospital: 1.8 miles
  • Cary Town Hall: 4.3 miles
  • Crossroads Plaza: 5.0 miles
  • Fred G. Bond Metro Park: 6.1 miles
  • NC State Capitol, downtown Raleigh: 11.1 miles
  • RDU Airport: 16.4 miles
  • Research Triangle Park: 17.7 miles

Drive times depend on the time of day, so test your commute at rush hour.

A short history

J. Gregory Poole Sr. acquired the land in 1962, construction began in 1965 and the Willard Byrd-designed golf course opened in 1967. Jack Nicklaus played there in the 1973 PGA Professional Match Play Championship. Members bought the club in 1980, and after a membership vote it was sold to Concert Golf Partners in 2014. Greens and tees were updated in 2015, and a bunker renovation was finished in 2021 (MacGregor Downs Country Club).

MacGregor Downs Country Club

The club is private, with golf, dining, fitness, tennis, pickleball and swimming. It offers a Premier Golf membership, which the club says includes access to two golf courses, and a Lifestyle membership for members who want dining, fitness, tennis, pickleball, swimming and social events without a full golf commitment (MacGregor Downs Country Club, Membership).

Club membership is separate from owning a home in the neighborhood. Our post do you have to join the club? explains how that works across Triangle golf communities.

Home styles and sections of MacGregor Downs

MacGregor Downs grew in stages (Wake County property records, October 2026):

  • Original MacGregor Downs plats: about 400 homes, built from 1968 on with a median build year of 1978. Median heated space is about 3,700 square feet, and the median lot is about 0.66 acre.
  • MacGregor West: about 232 homes, built from 1979 to 2001.
  • Smaller sections: Balmoral at MacGregor (about 31 homes), MacGregor Villas (about 19) and MacGregor townhomes.

Across all MacGregor-named plats, detached homes have a median of about 3,950 square feet of heated space, with most between about 2,770 and 6,270, on a median lot of 0.61 acre. Many original houses have been updated or replaced, and county records show homes built as recently as 2025.

HOA

We did not find a master homeowners association for all of MacGregor Downs in county records. Some sections have their own association, including MacGregor Villas, Balmoral at MacGregor, Kelso Knoll and the MacGregor townhomes. Confirm for any home on the NC Residential Property and Owners' Association Disclosure Statement.

The MacGregor Downs market right now

Wake County records show 32 recorded sales over $100,000 across MacGregor-named plats from October 2025 through September 2026, using each home's last recorded sale. The overall median was $1,160,500 (Wake County property records, October 2026):

  • Detached homes: 25 sales, median $1,156,000, most between $923,000 and $2,150,000, with a high of $2,850,000.
  • In the original MacGregor Downs plats alone: 16 sales, median $1,062,500.
  • Attached homes: 7 sales, from $475,000 to $1,315,000.

For the wider 27511 ZIP code, Redfin reports for the three months ending September 2026:

  • Median sale price: $549,838, up 5.7% year over year
  • Median days on market: 31
  • Homes sold in September: 116
  • Sale-to-list price: 98.9%
  • Homes with a price drop: 35.9%

What it means: MacGregor Downs sits at about twice the ZIP median, and prices swing widely with lot, lake or golf frontage and how much a home has been updated. Recent sales on similar lots are a far better guide than the ZIP average.

Assigned schools

MacGregor Downs addresses are assigned by the Wake County Public School System (WCPSS). In a 2026-27 sample, most addresses were assigned to Briarcliff Elementary, East Cary Middle and Cary High, and some to Apex Elementary, Apex Middle and Apex High. All are on a traditional calendar, and none was capped (WCPSS address lookup, October 2026).

Check the exact address in the WCPSS address lookup.

Parks, shopping and dining nearby

  • The club and Lake MacGregor, inside the community.
  • Fred G. Bond Metro Park, about 6.1 miles away.
  • Crossroads Plaza, about 5.0 miles away.
  • Downtown Cary, about 4.3 miles away.
  • Lochmere, nearby in Cary. See our Lochmere guide.

Buying in MacGregor Downs: what to check

  • Age and updates. Many homes date from the 1970s and 1980s, so ask for permits and the age of major systems.
  • Lot details: lake or golf frontage, slope, drainage and easements.
  • Whether a section association applies, and its dues and rules.
  • Club membership options, if you plan to join.
  • School assignment by exact address.

See our buyer services page for how we help buyers compare homes.

Selling in MacGregor Downs: what buyers ask about

  • Updates to the kitchen, baths, roof and HVAC, with dates.
  • Lot size and frontage.
  • Whether a section association applies.
  • Assigned schools.
  • How the price compares with recent MacGregor sales.

See how we sell homes, or start with a home value estimate.

MacGregor Downs FAQs

When was MacGregor Downs built?

J. Gregory Poole Sr. acquired the land in 1962, and the Willard Byrd-designed golf course opened in 1967 (MacGregor Downs Country Club). Homes in the original plats date from 1968 on (Wake County property records).

How many homes are in MacGregor Downs?

Wake County records show about 400 homes in the original MacGregor Downs plats and about 704 across all MacGregor-named sections, including MacGregor West.

What are MacGregor Downs homes selling for?

From October 2025 through September 2026, 25 detached homes across MacGregor-named plats sold for a median of $1,156,000, with a high of $2,850,000 (Wake County property records).

Do you have to join MacGregor Downs Country Club?

The club is private and membership is a separate decision from buying a home. It offers Premier Golf and Lifestyle memberships (MacGregor Downs Country Club).

Does MacGregor Downs have an HOA?

We did not find a master association for all of MacGregor Downs in county records. Some sections, such as MacGregor Villas, Balmoral at MacGregor and Kelso Knoll, have their own association.

Which schools serve MacGregor Downs?

In a 2026-27 sample, most addresses were assigned to Briarcliff Elementary, East Cary Middle and Cary High, and some to Apex Elementary, Middle and High. Check any address in the WCPSS address lookup.

How big are MacGregor Downs lots?

In the original plats, the median lot is about 0.66 acre, and across all MacGregor-named plats the median detached lot is 0.61 acre (Wake County property records).

Thinking of selling in MacGregor Downs?

MacGregor Downs homes range from original 1970s houses to recent rebuilds, so pricing takes a close look at lot, updates and street. We price from recent MacGregor sales and help sellers present the work they have done.

Caul Group Residential is the #1 Resale Team in the Triangle. Our office is at 201 Shannon Oaks Circle, Suite 200, Cary, NC 27511. RealTrends Verified 2026 (based on 2025 sales) ranks our team, "Caul Team," #1 in Raleigh by sides and by volume. See the RealTrends profile. We have 5.0 stars on Zillow from 1,200+ reviews (Oct 2026). Read the reviews.

More on the area: Cary, Lochmere, Preston, Apex and our Cary agents.