Where to buy in Delaware? (Wilmington, Dover: houses, buyer, university)

[JadeG]

I'm running out of ideas about where to look in Delaware, and could use any suggestions anyone has.

We're looking for something at least 2200 sq ft (we need 2 bedrooms and 2 studies -- we both bring a lot of work home) in New Castle County. Location is difficult because I need to commute to Dover, while my spouse commutes to Newark. Much of our social life is in Philly, and the traffic seems lighter going south to work, so we've scoured the Bear area.

I finally figured out that I just don't like the developments DE is full of. I grew up in New England, and I seem to like privacy, lots of trees and houses that are a bit . . . quirky, I guess. Every time I see a non-development house, I see "coming development" signs all around it. I really don't want to move to MD or NJ, but I'm beginning to wonder if we have any other choice.

Do those of you who have been here longer than I have have any other ideas about where we should be looking?

Thanks,
Jade

[rossc]

Well, assuming you're not in the city, if you are not in a development, you're probably in the middle of a corn field...and you're probably right. Eventually it will be a development. I'm from New England also. You just won't find New England charm in DE.

I'd think you'd have better luck looking further north around Wilmington or Newark.

[Laural]

Originally Posted by JadeG

I'm running out of ideas about where to look in Delaware, and could use any suggestions anyone has.

We're looking for something at least 2200 sq ft (we need 2 bedrooms and 2 studies -- we both bring a lot of work home) in New Castle County. Location is difficult because I need to commute to Dover, while my spouse commutes to Newark. Much of our social life is in Philly, and the traffic seems lighter going south to work, so we've scoured the Bear area.

I finally figured out that I just don't like the developments DE is full of. I grew up in New England, and I seem to like privacy, lots of trees and houses that are a bit . . . quirky, I guess. Every time I see a non-development house, I see "coming development" signs all around it. I really don't want to move to MD or NJ, but I'm beginning to wonder if we have any other choice.

Do those of you who have been here longer than I have have any other ideas about where we should be looking?

Thanks,
Jade

You should try Townsend, some older parts of Middletown, Odessa and Symrna.

Townsend is my first choice we almost bought there, it was on an acre of land, with rows of corn fields surrounding it. But we didn't get it there was another buyer involved and it got really messy. But we loved the privacy it was on a country road but then in 10 minutes you were in town.

[JadeG]

Thanks rossc. We did see some cool houses in the 19711 zip code. I cringe a little at the 55-minute-each-way commute to Dover from there. Same with Wilmington. I love some of the old houses I see advertised there, but the commute is over an hour.

Maybe I need to buy a cornfield . . . :-)

[JadeG]

Townsend, Odessa, Smyrna . . . I'll look there. Thanks, Laural. I've looked at the older part of Middletown -- everything I like there seems frighteningly close to that *huge* firehouse. I've never seen a firehouse that big. It looks like it could wake up the whole town.

Jade

[Joe84323]

Originally Posted by rossc

You just won't find New England charm in DE.

You will, you just gotta pay for it

[rossc]

DE just doesn't have the landscape that makes up most of what we consider New England charm. Building a nice New England cape in the middle of a corn field doesn't quite cut it.

[anniebleu]

I agree with rossc that you're unlikely to find anywhere reminiscent of New England in Delaware, though parts of this state are charming in their own way. I'm still going to get around to posting some of my Delaware pics!

I've lived in Delaware more than 30 years, grew up in New Jersey, but spent a great deal of time in New England, and much of that area of the country is unique.

Strangely, my home town in NJ came about as close to a NE town, in some ways, as any I've seen outside of NE.

[Laural]

Originally Posted by rossc

DE just doesn't have the landscape that makes up most of what we consider New England charm. Building a nice New England cape in the middle of a corn field doesn't quite cut it.

Rossc, boy you have a way with words. I was thinking of the privacy factor, and not having a lot of people around, because I thought it was obvious that you aren't going to get the New England charm in this part of the country. geesh.

[kat196]

How about looking in Oaklands or Nottingham Green. Both developments are older ones (especially Oaklands) in Newark and are not as cookie-cutter as all these newer ones. You can walk to downtown Newark and enjoy all the amenities of the University of Delaware such as recitals, plays, etc. That's where I would look. Good luck!