55+ Communities (Wilmington, Seaford, Felton: best town, for sale by owner, modular home)

[disney4me]

I’ve only posted a few times but I do read the boards everyday. Thanks to everyone for their input.
My husband and I hope to retire to Delaware by early 2009. We've started to look at different communities, we are open to both 55+ community and new homes that are not in 55+ community. We made our 3rd visit in September. We’ve only looked in Kent and Sussex County.
Two notes that I have not seen posted. The 1st is that closing costs are high in Delaware, as much as $10,000. The 2nd it seem that a lot of communities have more than one builder.
After looking at so many places you get to know what you want and don’t want. For us it’s no crawlspace, no well and septic. We do want and need storage other than in the garage, so we are hoping to find a place with a basement.
Also Charley and Elizamary are right, take your time and make sure you look around. This is a life-changing move and you don’t want to have to make a move again.
We spent a lot of time just driving around and found communities this way too, we also looked at new homes just been built, they looked like flips and in most cases we were not impressed.
Do yourself a favor and buy the county maps. We found them at Happy Harry’s and a bookstore, they are $12.00 each but well worth it.

2nd and 3rd visited communities.
Longacre Village is right on Rt.13 north and is an adult community with 4 builders. Some of the houses can get real close to Rt. 13. They cut the lawn but not shovel the snow. Our first visit was nice when we looked at the home close to 13. The 2nd visit we saw the homes towards the back
I think they are a little pricy for adult communities. Also the sales person on our 2nd visit wanted us to sign this paper that was not the normal paper work that we’ve been filling out at all the other places we’ve been to. We walked out and will not be back.

Heritage Shores in Bridgeville, this one also has two builders. I thought it was over priced for what you get and the taxes are a little high for Delaware.
2nd visit it looks like they are breaking ground for a shopping center

Heritage Creek, Schell Brothers, in Milton. I felt like Natalie Wood in Miracle on 34th Street when we drove up. Until my husband pointed out the land has not been cleared, no utilities have been run and the two models where running off a generator. The plans call for a pool and a clubhouse. The sales person said it was not an adult community but they hope to attract older people. Our 2nd visit and still on change, 3 months later.

Country Life Homes in Milford. My husband liked this one more than I do; it's just too big for me, I fell like I have to leave a trail of breadcrumbs to find my way around. I do like the floor plans. They will be breaking ground for a shopping center across the street in the Spring.
This one is not an adult community but it has a pool and a clubhouse.
They do not cut the lawn or shovel the snow.
2nd visit my husband thought the floor plans are not well laid out.

Satterfield, Fort Maier, in Felton. I like this one more than my husband. The Claymont model is my favorite. I also think you get the most BANG for your BUCK here.
Right now they are offering $10,000 toward closing and 1/2 off options up to $50,000.
It’s just more house than what we need.
I told him we could always hire someone to cut the lawn.
This is not an adult community.
3rd visit they have added a new model, 1510 sq ft starting at $190,000.

Laureltowne,in Magnolia. This community has two builders, Century Homes and Stover Homes. The day we were there no one was there from Stover Homes. I liked the McKinley model that Century Homes offered.
2nd visit still no one from Stover Homes around.

We have NOT been back to the ones listed below.

Champions Club, at Jonathan's Landing in Magnolia. This is and adult community and we felted it was high priced for what you get.

Independence, Schell Brothers, in Longneck is really nice but a little pricy and to many upgrades which makes it way out for my price range. Here we only saw floor plans at a sales office. Maintenance was almost $300.00 a month. We keep getting email and junk mail from them. The models are now open.

Spring Meadow in Smyrna, We like them but we like the lower slower Delaware better.

Jonathan's Landing, LaCross Homes, aka Laxhomes in Magnolia.
LaCross has several communities in Delaware with the same models; check their web site for a community in a town that you might like. I found that they have to many options to get the home to what you might want.

Blair’s Pond in Milford. They do have a lot of model but the day we where there we didn't like the sales person. They also have Coursey's Point which I think is in Felton.

P.F. Summers I think this was in Felton too, sorry I can't remember. I didn't like the floor plans and they were to close to the railroad tracks

Pinehurst, Ashburn Homes, this was in Felton too on Irish Hill Road and we liked the Wellington model.

There is just so much to choose from and they are all want you to buy, so take your time and let them come to you with bigger and better incentives.

We’ve also looked in PA and my home state of New Jersey.
The only place that may make us stay in New Jersey is a Del Webb community called River Pointe in Manchester. The only down side with this community is that it is near
Lakehurst Navel Base.

Sorry this post is so long.

Thanks again to everyone for their input.

[Charley]

Hi Disney,

No need to apologize for the length. You provided good information that is helpful to those still looking at Delaware communities. You are right about getting the county maps. That was one of the first things I did a few years ago. With all the new construction, I might need to buy updates.

You mentioned the high closing costs. I would imagine that is a function of the transfer tax, which I believe is 3% of the sale price, with 1.5% being paid by the buyer and 1.5% by the seller. (If someone who has bought property could confirm that for us, that would be helpful.)

Thanks for providing good detailed information.

Charley

[rockky]

disney4me - It sure looks as if you are doing your homework!! With input from others who have visited (or made the move) and compiled info, you guys should write a book!

One suggestion you may want to consider further.....the basement in DE thing. You can get one, and there may be a few areas where the ground water isn't as high. I don't know of anyone who has a basement that didn't leak. I've heard stories about people who put $$$$X$ into fixes that don't work.

I'm sure a builder can promise anything, but if you have one who guarantees no water in a basement in Kent or Sussex I'd be cautious about everything else they promise.

[Charley]

Rockky makes a great point on the basement issue. The elevation is Delaware is somewhere around 22 feet above sea level. The state is very flat and I imagine that the distance between the house and the underlying water table is not that much. As we look at potential homes, we certainly are not interested in a basement.

Of course, if Al Gore is right and we don't do enough to control the issues causing global warming, someday most of Delaware will be under the Atlantic and the folks in Middletown and Bridgeville will suddenly all have beachfront property.

Charley

[from PA]

One suggestion you may want to consider further.....the basement in DE thing. You can get one, and there may be a few areas where the ground water isn't as high. I don't know of anyone who has a basement that didn't leak. I've heard stories about people who put $$$$X$ into fixes that don't work.



We live in Jonathan's Landing by Lacrosse. We have a basement and have not had a drop of water. We actually had our sub pump checked out to see if it was working because in 1 1/2 years it has never gone on.
If you are not into a + 55 community yet, these are worth a second look.
Lots of flexability in the floorplans and many to choose from.

[terry parson]

Hello: I am interested in a place named Pot-Nets.... for a new manufacturerd homes. Can anyone give me information if it's worth my time looking into this developement.
and is there any employment down that way in Delaware. Wanting to relocate from Jersey. Have looked at a lot of 55+. Also any info on a development called Cool Branch. Thanks

[elizamary]

Originally Posted by terry parson

Hello: I am interested in a place named Pot-Nets.... for a new manufacturerd homes. Can anyone give me information if it's worth my time looking into this developement.
and is there any employment down that way in Delaware. Wanting to relocate from Jersey. Have looked at a lot of 55+. Also any info on a development called Cool Branch. Thanks

I have no information on Cool branch but I heard Pot nets is not the place to be.
As far as I know, the lot rent will go through the roof.
This is just hear say but If you are considering a lot there, then please check and make sure how often they will raise the lot rent and what all hidden cost will be.

[teachsmk]

Hi All,
I came across this forum a couple of months ago but this is my first time joining in. My husband and I live in Connecticut and are seriously thinking of moving to Delaware when I retire in a couple of years. We found this site so helpful and we looked at many of the places mentioned when we were down a couple of weeks ago. We hope to go down again for a week in April. We love the ocean so one of the decisions we made is that we want to live in Sussex County near the ocean so that eliminates many of the places mentioned in this forum. We will continue to look at over 55 communities and non-age restricted communities. Several people have told us that there are so many over 55 people living in Delaware that even if you buy in a non-age restricted community, there will probably be many over 55 people there anyway. We are thinking of looking at Bethany Beach, Fenwick and Selbyville when we go down again. Also, someone recently mentioned Baywood to us. We would love to hear any information anyone has about places closer to the ocean.
Thanks to everyone out there who has given us so much wonderful information.
By the way, we did go to Independence and there was a salesperson in the office. She was very nice. The models were not quite ready so we did not see them but I believe they opened at the end of September.
Thanks again for all your help,
Sheila K.

[elizamary]

Originally Posted by teachsmk

Hi All,
I came across this forum a couple of months ago but this is my first time joining in. My husband and I live in Connecticut and are seriously thinking of moving to Delaware when I retire in a couple of years. We found this site so
Sheila K.

I just wish we had known of this forum before we moved. Not down here a year yet.
Luckily, it all worked out for us. But this forum is a wealth of knowledge and great people.

Sussex is nice but a ton of traffic in the summer. We looked at Sussex West and like the houses but no gym or pool.
then we road on rt1 and it was horrible. It took us 20 mins just to go one block.
I knew then I couldn't live that way.
We love the ocean too and drive down every so often especially this time of the year (fall)
We are only 35 mins away in Kent county, which is not bad. More reasonable living here too.

since you have 2 years before you retire, take your time and look at all your options as to what is the best way to go.
This is a huge decsion and one not to be taken lightly. We planned for 2 years before we acually moved.
I must say though, planning this far in advance makes you very anxious. I couldn't wait to retire and acually move into my new home. Now we are hear and it was definately worth the wait

[MPBsr]

Originally Posted by teachsmk

Hi All,
I came across this forum a couple of months ago but this is my first time joining in. My husband and I live in Connecticut and are seriously thinking of moving to Delaware when I retire in a couple of years. We found this site so helpful and we looked at many of the places mentioned when we were down a couple of weeks ago. We hope to go down again for a week in April. We love the ocean so one of the decisions we made is that we want to live in Sussex County near the ocean so that eliminates many of the places mentioned in this forum. We will continue to look at over 55 communities and non-age restricted communities. Several people have told us that there are so many over 55 people living in Delaware that even if you buy in a non-age restricted community, there will probably be many over 55 people there anyway. We are thinking of looking at Bethany Beach, Fenwick and Selbyville when we go down again. Also, someone recently mentioned Baywood to us. We would love to hear any information anyone has about places closer to the ocean.
Thanks to everyone out there who has given us so much wonderful information.
By the way, we did go to Independence and there was a salesperson in the office. She was very nice. The models were not quite ready so we did not see them but I believe they opened at the end of September.
Thanks again for all your help,
Sheila K.

Baywood is a very nice golf community. Unfort, it's a land lease and 3 years ago a lot not near the golf course was $625 a month. I'm sure it's higher today.