A developing market with beach access in Carolina Shores
In Carolina Shores, homes sit on quiet streets, with wooded lots, pond access and homeowners association amenities throughout. Less than 15 minutes from Sunset Beach, the Brunswick County town offers a peaceful, oceanside atmosphere without beachfront price tags. “Carolina Shores began as a small neighborhood that was part of Calabash before it seceded and became its own town,” says Nancy Smith, a real estate broker with Carolina Coastal Real Estate who has lived in the area for over 40 years. “You have more established homes with a bit more character in the original Carolina Shores subdivision. But the town has expanded to include new home communities, and it continues to develop. One of the biggest draws is access to Sunset Beach.”
Established abodes and brand-new builds
Two-to-four-bedroom ranch-style homes make up the majority of the community’s housing market, with build years ranging from the 1980s to 2025. On the south side of town, wooded properties range from half an acre to 2 acres, with private yards and easy access to Calabash amenities. On the north side of Carolina Shores, homes are split into HOA-operated subdivisions, including Village at Calabash, Lighthouse Cove, Calabash Lakes, The Farm at Brunswick and Eagle Run. Most of the subdivisions offer a private pool, sports facilities and a clubhouse. Condos and townhomes range from $175,000 to $325,000, while single-family homes can go for $200,000 to $650,000.
Career and technical education courses at West Brunswick High School
Most families of Carolina Shores are served by Jessie Mae Monroe Elementary School, which earns a B overall grade from Niche. The B-minus-rated Shallotte Middle School has elective offerings ranging from handbells to business education. West Brunswick High School also receives a B-minus and has seven career and technical education pathways, from marketing to family and consumer sciences. The Southwest Brunswick Branch Library hosts programs and events ranging from movie showings and yoga to gardening workshops and book clubs.
Golf courses in every direction and nearby fishing spots
There are eight golf courses within a 5-mile radius of the community, from the nearby Crow Creek Golf Club to Glen Dornoch Waterway Golf Links, which features picturesque views of the Intracoastal Waterway. “Carolina Shores used to have its own golf course,” Smith says. “It was recently closed and we’re not sure what will take its place. But we are expecting new construction in the area in the coming years.” The Town of Carolina Shores Park has tennis courts, shaded picnic tables and a fenced-in dog park. The area is known for its premier fishing spots, from deep-sea charter fishing to casting a line from a dock along the Little River, the Intracoastal Waterway or the Calabash River. Carolina Shores is also within a 15-mimute drive of Sunset Beach, with 3 miles of sandy shoreline and a popular fishing pier.
Annual events in Brunswick County
The Brunswick Islands are within a short drive of town and are a hotspot for festivals and events from spring to fall. The NC Oyster Festival is held every October in Ocean Isle Beach with music performances, craft and food vendors and its signature oyster shucking contest. On Tuesday evenings from June to August, Calabash Town Park hosts the Calabash Summer Concert Series, a free event complete with food vendors.
Local restaurants and seafood staples
While Carolina Shores is largely residential, there are a few shopping centers within the community, and plentiful amenities just southeast in Calabash. The Grand Strand Coffee Bar offers smoothies, espresso, baked goods and breakfast sandwiches. “Calabash is often called the ‘Seafood Capital of the World,” says Smith. On Beach Drive, Bennett’s Grill and Cafe serves seafood, specialty burgers and barbecue. Around the corner, The Boundary House Restaurant is a popular, nautically themed eatery serving locally caught seafood and steak. Lowe’s Foods and Food Lion are the go-to spots for grocery shopping.
Drive along the Ocean Highway
United States Route 17, locally known as the Ocean Highway, is easily accessible from Carolina Shores and can take drivers around 50 miles northeast to Wilmington or 25 miles south to Myrtle Beach.
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Written By
Jillian Pillow
