Living in a Beach Community (Seaford, Lewes: low income, renter, crimes)

[beachliz]

My husband and I were interested in Covey Creek at one time, which is off Savannah Road....about a mile or so from Lewes Beach. It has older and newer homes, and I've heard it's peaceful and well-kept. Prices range from high 200's-upper 300's.

[Caladium]

Thanks beachliz--I just looked at a listing for a house on Quail Trail and it looks very appealing.

What is the section of Lewes over near the UD College of Marine Studies like? Does that area have a name so I can look it on realtor sites?

[beachliz]

Oh gosh...know the area, and Pilottown is located near there. That is a really nice area--another area we considered. Many of the homes there are a bit pricey though.

[Caladium]

Thanks again--beachliz I'm going to miss you so much when you move. You are so patient with all my questions. When are you guys leaving?

What is Pilottown?

[beachliz]

Thanks! I'm going to miss living here when I move --in June 2014, when my son graduates high school. We'll be empty nesters before age 40...wow.

It's in my nature to be helpful, and I'll be sure to troll the Delaware forum often when I leave.

Oh--Pillottown is a large, rather upscale community. There are other nice developments around it as well--definitely a very decent area.

[nlblueyes]

New Road has lots of houses on it.. it's off Pilottown Road and Route 1. I think this may be the area you are referencing near UofD campus.

The road across the street from Cape Henlopen HIgh School on Kings Hwy side has several developments on it (Wolf Run might be the name of one) and that road comes out at the light at Savannah Road and the drawbridge area.

[Caladium]

There's a community sort of halfway between Lewes and Rehoboth just west of Cape Henlopen Park. It has a lake called Bookhammers Pond, if that helps identify it. Does anyone know what this area is called, and what can you tell me about it? Is it a nice area to live? There's a canal that goes from this neighborhood into the park--is that something we could kayak?

[dbclancy]

i absolutely wholeheartedly agree to get a buyer's agent. my referral was from NY2DE and she is GREAT! spent a week in DE w/her at the end of June and would not have seen and learned what we did without her. she is extremely knowledgeable and quite savy. knows the area, knows the builders, knows the communities. highly recommend her without reservation. and we are not planning to retire until 2012-13, yet she spent a LOT of time with us. without her guidance we would have driven around the state without purpose or direction and would not have seen half the properties that we did. she's a winner.

Originally Posted by Mary2014

Caladium,
While the condo name is Lewes Harbour, it is actually a canal. I don't think it gets cold enough for it to freeze over, but, I have never been to Lewes in the dead of winter. I suspect most boats are pulled out of the water before winter sets in - but, can't say for sure.

If you rent the unit I stayed at for a week off season at Lewes Harbour - it will probably run $800 for the week. If you can stay a full month (so there is no need for a weekly cleaning service to come in) it is more likely to average a lot less per week. It just depends if the owner has lined up a long term winter rental or not.

I do think it is a great place from which to scout the area and the owner of the condo also happens to be a real estate agent. I believe NY2DE used her as his buyer's agent. She is local and knows the Lewes area.

So, that gives you two possible buyer's agents. I recommend you line up a buyer's agent before you arrive for your vacation. Just driving around the area yourself is not real productive when it comes to looking at resale property. I asked my agent (since I am not an immediate buyer) to line up some vacant units for me to see while I was down in April so I could look at condos in various communities. Because he was willing to do this for someone who is not an immediate buyer - I will definately use him when I am ready to buy.

Mary2014

[Caladium]

Originally Posted by dbclancy

i absolutely wholeheartedly agree to get a buyer's agent. my referral was from NY2DE and she is GREAT! spent a week in DE w/her at the end of June and would not have seen and learned what we did without her. she is extremely knowledgeable and quite savy. knows the area, knows the builders, knows the communities. highly recommend her without reservation. and we are not planning to retire until 2012-13, yet she spent a LOT of time with us. without her guidance we would have driven around the state without purpose or direction and would not have seen half the properties that we did. she's a winner.

Thanks! Yes, that's what we plan to do. I sometimes worry that agents mind taking people around when it's the busy season, but since we'll be visiting in the winter I think it won't be a problem. And, eventually we'll buy--so spending time with us isn't wasting that person's time.

[Caladium]

For those of you who have lived in the coastal areas a few years.....

how have these communities changed since you first moved in? What changes do you see coming in the future?

What do you think Bethany, Rehoboth and Lewes will be like 10 years from now (or, maybe 20 years from now)?