Calabash, North Carolina, is a charming coastal town in Brunswick County about 40 minutes south of downtown Wilmington. It also borders, South Carolina, the Calabash River, and the Atlantic Ocean. It is known as the 'Seafood Capital of the World' where you can get fresh shrimp, fish, clams, and oysters right off the boat. It is only a 15 minute ride to North Myrtle Beach where there are tons of activities, restaurants, and much much more. Calabash is also close to many incredible golf courses both in North Carolina & South Carolina. Within a five minute drive you can get to the pretty white sandy shores of Sunset Beach too!
Calabash is a small coastal town in southern Brunswick County known for its seafood restaurants and relaxed coastal atmosphere.
The town sits near the North Carolina–South Carolina border, making it convenient to both Brunswick County beaches and Myrtle Beach.
Calabash is often called the “Seafood Capital of the World” because of its long history of Calabash-style seafood restaurants.
Buyers are drawn to Calabash for its proximity to Sunset Beach, Ocean Isle Beach, and numerous championship golf courses.
The area offers a mix of golf communities, coastal neighborhoods, condos, and single-family homes.
Many residents enjoy boating, fishing, golf, and the quieter coastal lifestyle compared with larger resort areas.
Calabash is popular with retirees, second-home buyers, and people relocating to the Carolina coast.
Because the town sits near waterways and coastal environments, buyers should review flood zones and insurance requirements during due diligence.
**It is important to verify flood zones, HOA rules, and property-specific restrictions during the due diligence process.**
Market snapshot in Calabash, NC
Calabash offers a variety of housing options including golf community homes, townhomes, condos, and coastal cottages.
Home values often vary based on golf course proximity, water views, neighborhood amenities, and distance to the beach.
Many buyers searching Calabash also consider nearby areas such as Sunset Beach, Ocean Isle Beach, and Carolina Shores.
The area continues to see interest from buyers relocating to coastal North Carolina for retirement or second homes.
Inventory levels may fluctuate depending on seasonal demand and the popularity of the coastal real estate market.
FAQs about Living in Calabash, NC
Where is Calabash located? Calabash is located in Brunswick County, North Carolina, near the South Carolina border and just inland from Sunset Beach.
Why is Calabash famous for seafood? Calabash is known for its unique style of lightly battered and fried seafood, often referred to as Calabash-style seafood.
How far is Calabash from the beach? Sunset Beach is typically about a 10 to 15 minute drive from Calabash.
Is Calabash a good place to live? Many residents enjoy Calabash for its relaxed coastal lifestyle, golf communities, and proximity to beaches and dining.
What types of homes are available in Calabash? The area offers golf community homes, condos, townhomes, and single-family houses in a variety of coastal neighborhoods.
Is Calabash good for retirees? Yes, Calabash is a popular retirement destination due to its mild climate, golf courses, and coastal setting.
Are there golf communities in Calabash? Yes, the area is known for several golf communities and courses throughout southern Brunswick County.
How far is Calabash from Myrtle Beach? Myrtle Beach is typically about a 30 to 40 minute drive depending on traffic.
Is Calabash growing? Southern Brunswick County has experienced steady growth as more people relocate to coastal North Carolina.
What should buyers consider before purchasing in Calabash? Buyers should review flood zones, HOA regulations, property insurance requirements, and community restrictions during due diligence.
Watch a short video on the Calabash, NC Area
“Video recorded by Brian Schrader, Coastline NC Real Estate. We’ve helped buyers purchase homes in the Calabash, NC area for many years .”
Full video transcript on the Calabash, NC area Overview video
hey everybody this is Brian Schrader with Coastline NC real estate team at glucose World Corporation today's area Spotlight is going to be Calabash Calabash is located in the Southeastern part of North Carolina as you can see here along the Calabash River so diving right into the the location Calabash is located as you see here on the the red the red area Arrow it's about 10 minutes from North 10 minutes north of North Myrtle Beach in about 50 minutes south of downtown Wilmington it's a um it's an old historic fishing Village it's known for its Seafood so uh getting close to it diving in a little bit closer you can see here on the map on the star that's the the town of Calabash a lot of people get confused because there's Calabash there's Carolina Shores and also Sunset Beach that are all within you know a 10 mile radius so to speak on the map you'll see that you know you're close to Sunset Beach and also Ocean Isle Beach this area is Coastal so this is a flood map as you can see some of the area of course down along the Riverbanks of the Calabash River you'll find that some areas are in a AE Zone which is in a flood zone which means that you're required to carry flood insurance if you have a mortgage on the property but the majority of the town Township is out of the flood zone which is nice so we're going to take a look at some of the areas of Calabash it's a small quaint town as you can see here it's got a lot of little shops fishing Village but it's mainly known for this area right here this is downtown Calabash this is where the big uh shrimp oats come in the seafood and it is well known for its Seafood for sure there's tons of little restaurants coffee shops there's an awesome Creamery in downtown Calabash as well but here are some shots of just the small town there are um some neighborhoods that are right around the corner there's uh some of the the country's best golf courses are found just minutes uh from Calabash this is a shot of the thistle Community um as you see awesome awesome golf courses but with outside the um the gates or the town of Calabash you'll find many different little pocket communities throughout one thing that is really unique about Calabash is that it kind of sits off the coast but it is along the Calabash River but it's also near Ocean Isle Beach and Sunset Beach and also close to Myrtle Beach as well so here you got some shots of the Calabash River you see some of the communities this is Kingfish Bay in the background they have water access so if you are looking for an area that's off the beach but close to it Calabash might be a good fit for you Sunset Beach is one of the biggest advantages of being in Calabash because you can get there within about a five minutes drive as you can see here here's a shot of Sunset Beach the pier the pretty Sands so if you have any questions about the Calabash area or Carolina Shores or Sunset Beach area feel free to give me a call here at the number I'm going to post a link for some properties that might be for sale in the area to the comments of this video but uh when in doubt give me a call and we hope to see you guys here on the next update again it's Brian Schrader with the coastline real estate team at Blue Coast Realty Corporation
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