What is it about Coastal Delaware that appeals to Baby Boomers? Where do I start?

Is it the Atlantic Beaches in Cape Henlopen State Park, Rehoboth Beach, Bethany Beach or Fenwick Island?

Is it the Historic Towns of Lewes or Milton, Delaware?

We have gathered information on many of the things that make Coastal Delaware special and you can download the entire Coastal Delaware Relocation Guide.

Combine the beach resorts with the prime location in the heart of the Mid-Atlantic Region, so close to DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, all of New Jersey and New York, and you have a prime location for Baby Boomers. Join us!

FEATURING THE SEVENTH ANNUAL PET PAGEANT & THIRD ANNUAL YAPPY HOUR IN LEWES, DELAWARE, Friday, February 8 and Sunday, February 9, 2013

The 7th Annual Lewes Winter Fest Barkfest event takes place in the Historic Commercial District surrounding Second Street and across the canal at Irish Eyes Pub & Restaurant the weekend before Valentine’s Day (Friday, February 8 and Saturday, February 9). The event gives Valentine’s Day shoppers and diners additional activities in which to participate and attend. It has become more “dog-centric” in the past couple of years. The popular event has included a unique Pet Pageant for the past six years (although last year’s was cancelled due to weather) on Saturday afternoon and two years ago another event was added on Friday evening – a Yappy Hour for Pets and People who like to “Yap.” COMCAST SPOTLIGHT continues as the event’s Media Sponsor and financial contributor for the seventh year.  During the two-day Winter Fest event, numerous retail businesses and restaurants will be offering Valentine holiday-themed specials including discounts on specific items.

Yappy Hour

The Yappy Hour component of this year’s Winter Fest Barkfest was conceived by Lesley Bowers, owner of P.U.P.S. (Pawsitively Unique Pet Shop) on Second Street who also initiated the Pet Pageant seven years ago. (more…)

Last year, I took photos OF the Parade. This year we were IN the parade and I took this video of the crowds lining the streets of Lewes, Delaware, on this unseasonably warm evening. Watch the video and you’ll be able to tell right off that we had a fun time. Life is good in Lewes, Delaware.

Ever since Sandy devastated so much of the Mid-Atlantic Region, many of our Buyer Clients have asked this question – Is Lewes, Delaware in a flood zone? That is quickly followed by this question – Can I get flood insurance and what will it cost?

Delaware was very lucky and damage from Sandy was minor compared to our neighbors to the north in New Jersey and New York. We all need to think about our risk and protect ourselves against potential natural disasters. I found the information below on the Town of Lewes, Delaware, web site. It’s a good place to start.

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), flooding in the United States causes more property damage than any other type of natural disaster. FEMA recommends, therefore, that EVERYONE HAVE FLOOD INSURANCE. WHY? There are several reasons: 90% of all natural disasters involve flooding and between 25% and 30% of flood insurance claims come from areas designated as low risk. Most homeowners insurance policies DO NOT cover losses resulting from flooding. Federal disaster assistance programs WILL NOT pay for flood damage UNLESS the President declares the affected area a Federal Disaster Area, and most floods are too small or local to qualify for Federal assistance. Some people have purchased flood insurance because the bank required it when they got a mortgage or home improvement loan. Usually these policies just cover the structure and not the contents. During the kind of flooding that typically occurs in Lewes, there is usually more damage to furniture and contents than there is to the structure. At last count, there were 758 flood insurance policies in Lewes. If you are covered, review your policy to be sure that you have contents coverage. If you do not have flood insurance, talk to your insurance agent. Even if prior flooding events did not affect your property or you have done some flood proofing, the next flood could be worse. Flood insurance covers all surface floods.

A “National Flood Insurance Program Brochure,” prepared by the City’s “Project Impact,” is available at the counter at Lewes City Hall. The brochure provides the Top 10 Facts Every Consumer Needs to Know About the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)” as well as information about purchasing flood insurance, including a listing of participating insurance companies in Delaware.

TOP 10 FACTS EVERY HOMEOWNER NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT FLOOD INSURANCE

1. Everyone lives in a flood zone – You don’t need to live near water to be flooded. Floods are caused by storms, melting snow, hurricanes, and water backup due to inadequate or overloaded drainage systems, dam or levee failure.

FULL ARTICLE

The Christmas Tour of Lewes is December 1 from 10:00am-4:00pm. Advance tickets are $20.00 each; tickets purchased the day of the tour are $25.00.  Children under 12 and under are FREE when accompanied by an adult. Call 302-645-7670 (ext. 12) to purchase tickets in advance, or click here.

This self-guided tour gives the Society a chance to show off its historic houses decorated for the season. In addition, several private homes are selected each year to bring even more Yuletide cheer to our quaint town on the bay.

During the tour, come by the Christmas Antiques Bazaar and Bake Sale, held at the Rabbit’s Ferry House at Third and Shipcarpenter Streets on the Lewes Historic Complex.  It’s a wonderful chance to do a bit of shopping for the holidays! Outside of the house is a Holiday Greens Sale featuring fresh magnolia, pine and holly- while supplies last!

Read the Full Story here: Christmas House Tour

What happens when you price your home right? The phone rings. Agents schedule showing appointments. There is excitement and activity. A new listing in a nice community that is priced appropriately for the market will be noticed. You stand a very good chance of getting an offer.

What happens when your price is too high?

Price your home too high for the market and people will just disregard it. Sellers often ask “Why doesn’t someone just make an offer? We’re willing to negotiate.” The problem is – Buyers will not even make an offer on a home that they perceive as being over priced. A little high – Maybe. A lot high – No. There are other options and Buyers will move on.

First Impressions Count

You’ve heard it – you only get one chance to make a first impression. That is true in all the important aspects of real estate -

• Curb Appeal
• Staging
• Pricing

It all has to be spot on to achieve the desired result in today’s real estate market.

Cape Henlopen High School will be one of the main venues for this year’s Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival. In fact, opening night on October 11th, featuring Boney James takes place at the school’s auditorium. Then, on Friday, October 12th, Brian Colbertson with Eric Darius (seen to the right at a previous Jazz Festival) will light up the stage. Saturday afternoon Jonathan Butler will be joined by Maysa and Warren Hill.

For a complete schedule CLICK HERE

One thing I can say is that the seats at Cape are much more comfortable than the folding chairs at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center and it’s great to spread the Jazz from Rehoboth to Lewes. The new Cape Henlopen High School was completed in 2009 and provides a great local venue, with lots of parking and ease of access. What a shame that this is the first Jazz Festival I will miss in many years. Business calls me to Chicago.

Better than new is one of those phrases we often see in a listing of an existing home. New home salespeople like to call them “used homes”; we tend to call them existing homes for sale.

New construction

In a community where you have a choice of new construction, a “to-be-built” home that is advertised at the Base Model price or an existing home that is move in ready, which is the better value?

Let’s compare a new model at Bay Crossing with an existing home in the same community.

The Cutter is 2,300 square foot single level home with 2 bedrooms and 2 baths being built by Blenheim Homes. The builder offers an optional 2nd floor with an open loft, 3rd bedroom, & full bath. A full unfinished basement is included in the base price. Also included is a standard lot with no premium.

Standard flooring is carpet and vinyl. The model is shown with hardwood flooring, an optional sunroom, the second floor loft and vaulted ceiling, upgraded gourmet kitchen, stone two-sided fireplace, luxury owners suite and more. Models always display every imaginable option and upgrade to show prospective buyers all the ways a home can be customized.

MLS#563897 is listed at $379,900, the base model price for The Cutter. The Final Section under construction now includes some lots that back to trees at a Premium Price or lots that back to other homes with no lot premium. Only a few remain that can have a Walk-out basement.

Better than new?

Now let’s look at an existing home for sale at Bay Crossing, a 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath Beacon model with a loft that was built in 2005 by Pulte Homes.

When this home was purchased new, the current owners selected many options and upgrades that included:

• Premium wooded, cul-de-sac lot
• Sunroom
• Maintenance free rear deck
• Hardwood floors and Ceramic Tile
• Extended Corian counter top with bar seating
• Tray Ceilings
• Full unfinished Walkout Basement with a double door and 5 full sized windows
• Upgraded HVAC to a dual fuel system with a humidifier and electrostatic air cleaner
• Additional insulation in the garage walls and attic
• Pella Storm doors and exterior floor lighting

Then there are all the decorative touches and upgrades that have been added like:

• Custom Paint
• Blinds or shades in all the bedrooms, dining room and living room
• Master Bedroom closet organizer
• Stainless appliances including a gas double oven
• Custom Wall unit with storage and bar in the living room
• Front loading washer and dryer
• Garage storage unit and epoxy painted floor
• Ceiling fans in all bedrooms, Sunroom, Family Room and Loft
• Additional landscaping
• Gutter Guard

MLS#593867 was listed for sale at $439,500. On one of the best lots in the community on a dead end cul-de-sac, there is nothing you need to add to this beautiful home.

UPDATE – This home sold on September 26, 2012 for $420,000

Recent Sales at Bay Crossing

When I look at the actual selling price of new homes sold at Bay Crossing in the past 12 months, I find

• MLS#591716 that was listed at $359,900, sold for $437,730 in June 2012.
• MLS#591615 that was listed for $359,900, sold for $415,042 in May 2012.
• MLS#592607 sold in July for $492,147

And those selling prices do not include finishing touches like blinds and window treatments. So which is the better value in today’s market?