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60 photos

$899,900

8839 Carenden
Sunset Beach, NC 28468
Listed by Amberlee Powers · Keller Williams Realty-BC
Bedrooms
3
Bathrooms
3.5
Living area
3,206 sqft
Year built
2003

About this home

Set within the gates of Thistle Downs, this beautifully updated home offers more than 3,200 square feet in a setting that feels worlds away from the ordinary. Inspired by Old World Scottish architecture and surrounded by ponds, green space, mature landscaping, and golf course views, Thistle Downs has a character all its own. Here, the pace feels quieter, the landscape more established, and the setting remarkably peaceful, all while remaining close to the beach. The home itself reflects that same sense of thoughtful character. Distinct living and dining spaces create a natural sense of separation and flow, while carefully selected updates bring warmth and refinement throughout. The remodeled kitchen features leathered marble countertops, while custom built-ins and a gas fireplace add warmth and character to the main living areas. The primary suite is designed as a comfortable retreat, with a soaking tub, walk-in shower, and dual closets featuring custom-designed shelving created specifically for each space by the owner. An enclosed rear porch with EZ Breeze windows extends the living experience throughout the seasons and offers a beautiful vantage point overlooking the backyard. Outside is where this property truly comes to life. The backyard overlooks a pond with a fountain, mature landscaping, and views toward the golf course and surrounding green space. Ducks return each year to nest beneath the hammock, birds move through the trees, and the sound of the fountain carries gently across the yard. Professionally designed landscaping by H. Burkert & Company gives the outdoor spaces an established, intentional feel that blends naturally with the character of Thistle Downs. Additional features include a newer water heater, irrigation system, WellSpring whole-home water filtration system, epoxy garage flooring with built-in shelving, and a home warranty offered by the seller. There is a particular feeling that comes with living in Thistle Downs. It is the beauty of the architecture, the quiet of the water, the mature landscape, and the feeling of being tucked away in a private sanctuary while the coast remains just minutes away. This is a home and setting best understood not simply by seeing it, but by experiencing what it feels like to live here.

Highlights

WaterfrontViewFireplace

Property details

MLS
Coastal Carolinas Association of REALTORS®
MLS #
2625456
Property type
Detached
Subdivision
Thistle Golf Estates
Status
Active
Days on market
N/A
On market date
October 17, 2026
Stories
N/A
Total bathrooms
3.5
Garage spaces
2
Parking spaces
6
Lot size
0.3 acres
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Nearby schools

Within 10 miles. School directory data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), accessed via the Urban Institute Education Data API. Local Score is calculated by INNOVATE Real Estate; where a state rating is shown, it comes from that state's own official school report card.

Elementary
Jessie Mae Monroe Elementary
3.84 mi away · Grades 0-5
Zoned school (attendance boundary, 2015-16 data)
3.3
Local Score (state rating (2025) blended 70/30 with student-teacher ratio) -- not an official state rating
State rating: C (2025)
Enrollment
391
Student:teacher ratio
14.0:1
District
Brunswick County Schools
Middle
Shallotte Middle
8.7 mi away · Grades 6-8
Zoned school (attendance boundary, 2015-16 data)
3.0
Local Score (state rating (2025) blended 70/30 with student-teacher ratio) -- not an official state rating
State rating: C (2025)
Enrollment
674
Student:teacher ratio
17.3:1
District
Brunswick County Schools
High
Brunswick County Early College
19.06 mi away · Grades 9-13
Zoned school (attendance boundary, 2015-16 data)
3.8
Local Score (state rating (2025) blended 70/30 with student-teacher ratio) -- not an official state rating
State rating: A (2025)
Enrollment
365
Student:teacher ratio
33.2:1
District
Brunswick County Schools

Walkability

Blended score for Sunset Beach's center, calculated by INNOVATE Real Estate from two sources: the EPA's National Walkability Index (street network, transit, land-use mix) and Google Places amenity data (what's actually reachable on foot from this point). 60% EPA National Walkability Index + 40% nearby-amenity density (Google Places).

20
Very car-dependent
out of 100
EPA National Walkability Index
4.5 / 20 -- Least walkable
Google Places amenity density
15 / 100
Restaurants & cafes4
Grocery stores1
Parks0
Schools0
Transit stops0
Pharmacies0

Mortgage calculator

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Est. monthly payment
$5,569/mo
$179,980 down
$719,920 loan
Principal & interest$4,669
Property tax (est.)$750
Home insurance (est.)$150

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Data source: Listing information provided by Coastal Carolinas Association of REALTORS® (CCAR) via Trestle/CoreLogic. Last updated 1 days ago.

Information herein deemed reliable but not guaranteed; all measurements, school assignments, HOA fees, taxes, and feature lists are approximate and should be independently verified. Equal Housing Opportunity.