Questions re Calabash (Carolina Shores, Brunswick: real estate, HOA fees, insurance)

[RogerandSam98]

My husband and I are thinking of moving to the Calabash area. Roger is legally blind and doesn't drive. Can anyone tell me if there is county, or some other type of transportation in the area? Also, how is the hurricane situation in that area? How reasonable is the hurricane insurance? Are there any affordable communities that would be somewhat close to town, and also have a pool and places to fish? What can we expect to pay monthly in homeowner association fees? Are there a lot of alligators in the area? (We have a small dog). We're going to be retiring in a year to year and a half, and Calabash sounds beautiful. We live in NJ, which we like, but are being run out of state by high property taxes, like a lot of other people. We also want to escape the cold winter temperatures. Knowing that Calabash is on the southern coastal part of NC, we realize that it's very hot/humid in summer, but are you able to sit on a screen porch/deck without dying from the heat? Would love to hear how others who have moved from up north feel about it the area. Thanks much!

[goldenage1]

I'll try to answer some of your question, although I live many miles north of Calabash.

1. There is a Brunswick Transit System with 16 vans: Brunswick Transit System

2. You can expect hurricanes every few years. The insurance naturally costs money, and it varies with the cost of your house. We pay about $1600 annually for the "wind and hail" coverage plus $800 for the contents on a house worth about $300,000.

3. You will have to define "affordable", but there is a golf course community called Carolina Shores where most homes are under $250,000, and go as low as $114,000. It is very close to the Intracoastal Waterway where you can fish with a boat.

4. I would expect HOA fees run from $80-200/month depending on what you get. One real estate listing on Cleek Court advertises that Carolina Shores is: "a golf course community with some of the lowest HOA fees in the area including a large pool, clubhouse, tennis courts, picnic area and bocci courts with no management company- ran by owners". If you want to contact Carolina Shores, here is a website: http://www.carolinashorespoa.org/

5. Naturally there are alligators, but they stay close to the water. If you expect to let the dogs out and you live near water, you should plan to have a fence.

6. You can sit out on a screened porch in the morning and evening. I consider it too hot to be outside at noon.