55+ Communities (Dover, Smyrna, New Castle: houses, to buy, college)

[peeweeaz]

Hey Nicknet,
You're awesome to have taken the time to list all those web sites. You're a woman after my own heart. I was a research analyst with the Depart. of Defense for 34 plus years and I'm obsessive-compulsive when it comes to details. I take 20 mins to tell a five minute story. Most people start rolling their eyes (especially my wife) when I open my mouth. Anyway, thanks for all that info. I hope you have roamed around this forum and have seen some of my research finds on apartments. I believe they're in Dover Neighborhoods and 55 + Communities threads. Although you didn't specifically say so, your message implied you're taking a hard look at Delaware? A lot of helpful people are on this forum who have a lot of info - residents, folks who have been there and stayed for lengthy visits. So, take advantage of the forum. We can all share in our research efforts and help one another.

[jvogle]

Hi Charley,

I am picking this up a litle on the late side.

We also currently live in the Hudson Valley -- what a coincidence!

We bought in Delaware - closed last November -- we are waiting for my husband to retire.

We bought in a community called Heritage Shores (Bridgeville, DE). We own our own land -- I think this is important. It is a 55+ community with many amenities -- golf course, indoor and outdoor pools, fitness center etc.

The homes have come down in price since we bought -- good for those now looking to get in.

I have no idea what your price point is -- you can get a home from the middle 200,000 to upper 300,000 range.

The HOA are currently 210 a month -- some may consider this rather expensive -- all depends on one's perspective. The taxes are higher than most of De also -- between the bond, county and town taxes we are paying somewhere around 3,400 compared to the average of 1400 a year for other areas of DE. But we are already use to this living in Dutchess County.

Have you been to DE -- southern DE? It takes some getting use to to say the least! It is like what Dutchess County was 40 years ago -- no exaggeration. It is mostly farm land -- you have to drive to stores doctors you name it. It is called "lower, slower Delaware" and they coined that one right. People tend not to show up on time or not at all. We from NY find this hard to take.

So Charley it all depends what you are looking for. For sure you do not have the hussle and bussle of the New York scene but you have to also not expect things that we take for granted in New York either.

Jacquie

[Charley]

Hi Jacquie,

We'll be coming down to Delaware at the end of August for our fourth time. We've been checking out many communities over the past few years. Heritage Shores is on our list.

I like the description of "lower and slower" although having people not show up for something WOULD make me a little nuts.

Anyway, thanks for joining the conversation and I'm looking forward to my first look at Heritage Shores, and Jonathan's Landings, and Independence ... and renewed looks at a few of the others.

Charley

[MPBsr]

Originally Posted by CMTAD

Hi Jacquie,

We'll be coming down to Delaware at the end of August for our fourth time. We've been checking out many communities over the past few years. Heritage Shores is on our list.

I like the description of "lower and slower" although having people not show up for something WOULD make me a little nuts.

Anyway, thanks for joining the conversation and I'm looking forward to my first look at Heritage Shores, and Jonathan's Landings, and Independence ... and renewed looks at a few of the others.

Charley

Jonathan's Landing is on my top list. Unfort, I can't get the Mrs. to move down to DE. Not because of DE, but because of the NJ Turnpike. We have family in central jersey and driving on the turnpike from 1 to 8a is booorrrriiinnnnggg. She can't take the drive.

[zarabeth]

Speaking for my husband and myself, "lower and slower Delaware" quickly became annoying, as it spills over onto just about every area you need to settle in. We've been here a year ( Seaford) and the fact that there are no taxes does nothing for me anymore, as I'd GLADLY pay ANYTHING to get workmen to come to my house when they SAY they are going to. We tore an old wood deck off the back of our newly purchased house, and it sat on our property for months, as everyone we called to pick it up, didn't show up. We still can't get anyone out for an estimate to build a new one. I take time off from the offfice, hang around for hours, no one comes; it happens time after time.

Lower and slower means, when you try to tell the local service people what you want in an office design, you end up arguing for weeks with workmen because " no one 'round here ever did it that way before." I had to argue to get cream colored bathroom fixtures instead of the standard white. I had to argue to put a color other than white or beige on our office walls.

Lower and slower equates into frustration when you're dealing with people who want to do things the way they always did them, even if what they are doing is 40 years behind the times, poor quality, or the same as everyone else's in town.

Lower and slower means that when you discover the wallpaper has been put on upside down, you point it out and the local workmen look it up and down, then ask you if you want it fixed, cuz really, it ain't all that bad if you look at it.

I've lived in some fairly rural places in my life, to be sure....biggest town we ever lived in had 70,000 people, so it's not like I was used to the many amenities a big city had, but sheesh....we're not talking slower/quaint Amish or something here, we're talking slow.....as in, they move when they want to, show up when they want to, and finish...sorta....maybe...when they want to, and then if it's wrong, well.....maybe they'll fix it, maybe they won't.

Heritage Shores is 7 minutes from me, it's a pretty community set in the middle of nowhere, basically. I know folks from there. If you don't mind the fact the locals you have to deal with embrace the slooooow part wholeheartedly, then you'll probably be okay. I've run out of patience with arguing, frankly.....and I still don't have a new deck.

[jvogle]

Hi Everyone especially Zarabeth,

I just got back from Heritage Shores and back in New York.

Ah, what a "fun filled week" it has been -- not really.

The workers did show up and on time.

Here is the key I think -- you need referrals -- KEY.

I have a contractor -- he does the work and it is good -- but he is not from DE. He is from the Eastern Shore of Md. The only thing is HE IS VERY EXPENSIVE! But the quality of his work is topnotch.

What I see at least in Heritage Shores because it is a retirement community is that people do not want to spend money. The old saying is "You get what you pay for".

I got the contractor from the building inspector I had when we bought the place. The building inspector was excellent -- I forget how I got him.

The key is you got to do a lot of investigation -- but that is no different than anywhere else -- there are poor contractors in NY as well as DE.

Zarabeth, if you want the name of the contractor -- write me at jacqueline_vogle@att.net. But he is expensive so just be aware of that fact like $80 an hour! For example to buy a quality storm door and install it is almost $700. The door itself is around 400.

Good contractors are super busy also. I just lucked out. The room is not done yet -- I wish it was already but since I am not living down there it isn't that bad -- if I was I am sure he would be working more diligently. And for me since we are not down there on a full-time basis -- this works out better because he checks things out while he is around. It is just that you are constantly living in the situation. A trade off.

I have been a lucky rolling streak lately. I have a neighbor who had custom window treatments done -- and wow were they great -- but again you get what you pay for. I called her but had kind of jumped the gun on that one but I really like the way she operates. So I asked if she knew anyone who builds custom cabinets and she did. He is native born from Sussex County and he came when he said and so far so good. I have not gotten a price yet but my guess it will be up there. I also am working with a landscaping contractor -- actually designer. He came when he said he would and I am just waiting on the CAD design. They mainly do work at the Beach ($$$$). I will not even consider going to the landscaping places up and down Route 13. I like quality and I am willing to pay for it.

So yes the "lower slower Delaware" does exist but I seem to be able to for the most part navigate around it. I confirm appointments and let them know that I am in town for only a short while. Maybe it is the way I approach these people, I am not sure -- but I seem to be getting things accomplished.

On another note -- my God I am being eaten alive! Even with bug spray. I am not sure if they are mosquitoes or something else. And the bites itch for days and days later. Any thoughts on that subject -- either prevention or cure!

By the way I was alway told if I want any decent medical care one has to go either to Salesbury, Baltimore, Annapolis or Wilmington. Any thoughts on that one from anyone out there? I have been to John Hopkins and know that is a great hospital. I heard Nanicoke (not sure of the spelling) is God awful. Anyone have any experiences with that hospital or the doctors?

Jacquie

[elizamary]

.

What I see at least in Heritage Shores because it is a retirement community is that people do not want to spend money. The old saying is "You get what you pay for".


I'm confused. Doesn't Heritage Shores take care of your upgrades and add on's.
Here at Southern Meadows, we picked up grades and their contractors do the work.

Also speaking about contractors.........What about Lowe's or Home Depot. They have contractors.
I do understand you have to be careful. Back in Philly we dealt with Home depot installing doors and were very disappointed.
Then we went to Lowes when we need more doors installed and this guy was excellent. If we had a problem, Lowes was on top of it. but I guess each store is different. Depends on how it is managed.

[peeweeaz]

I believe the contractors who do installs for Lowe's and Home Depot are sub-contractors, in that, they are not employed, per se, by either store, but are hired to do specific jobs. The only problem with that is neither Lowe's nor Home Depot has much leverage over the contractors. But, like Elizamary said, sometimes you get lucky.

[zarabeth]

jvogle, heavens YES, I'd love the names of some people that will actually do work and stand behind it.

I was bitten to shreds all month too! The bites are too tiny to be skeeter bites....it's sandy here, is it possibly sand fleas? I am covered in small, really itchy bites from the ankles up to my knees....right between where the sneaker socks ended and the shorts began

I did find one woman in Seaford who did the drapes for our office and did everything on time, it was amazing...but expensive.

Medical is our business, and yes, I know tons about Nanticoke....email me here, via private message....Salisbury, Maryland has Peninsula Regional, and they have some good people down there. Beebe is supposedly good, although I've never been, and we don't have much contact with their docs. Christiana is in Wilmington, and is a Level One trauma...lots of specialists 24/7; but again, I've never been there as a patient.

[jvogle]

Hi Everyone,

Have been out of touch -- back down to Delaware last week and when I am down there it is "camping out" as our furniture is mostly in NY.


Zarabeth -- how do I get your private email address -- not sure? Definitely need to know of good doctors --have some health issues.

I think you misunderstood my email on contractors

There are 2 developers in Heritage Shores -- our House was built by Lennar -- "the everything house" all is included. But if you are anything like me -- well I like my own personal touch! So I hired a contractor to do what I wanted done after we settled on the house. There was for instance a room that was designated "light storage" which I wanted finished off with heat, AC and electric. A storm door would be nice so he will buy and install one for us. Things like that.

I heard it was very difficult finding people who do "quality work" and those that do are expensive.

Personally I would not have any installer from Home Depot or Lowes -- did that once -- NEVER AGAIN!!! Nothing but problems.

The best is getting referrals -- I got this contractor from the man who did the home inspection. And so far I have not been disappointed and I AM EXTREMELY PARTICULAR.

As I said he is good but on the expensive side.


I am going to have custom entertainment center made -- it will be interesting how much that turns out to be. I have one in our home in AZ -- it will be interesting to see the price difference. Oh someone recommended a custom cabinet person for that.

They say DE is cheaper. I have not found that to be true at all so far. I understand that when you buy a car it is not tax free and then you have to pay a rather large 1x amount to register it.

And as far as income tax -- I found out if you have more than 60,000 in income then you are in the highest tax bracket for the state -- just 2 tiers. Granted the rate is lower than New York but not that much. Over 60 you do get the 12,500 per person off on pensions and IRA withdrawals per person.

But you know what I discovered -- they get you one way or the other.



Our property taxes are basically what they are in NY although I know that our community is an exception to the rule down there. We have not only county but also city tax and a bond for the infrastructure for the community -- so I am expecting between 3000 and 3500 for the year not the 1100 to 1400 that I heard others pay.

What I find exceedingly expensive is the gas for heating -- wow! The rates are so much higher than in NY -- understand that the heating bills for Feb were between 400 and 500 for the month not including electric. Here in NY same hot water baseboard -- even a bigger house was only 167 for the month. As I said the rates are higher. I also find food prices higher, not as much variety or as fresh. And unfortunately unlike here in NY there is basically few choices -- it is Food Lion (yuck) and Walmart. I am not about to run to Rehoboth to go shopping at Giant.

Here in NY within 15 minutes of my home I have 5 supermarkets. Boy are we spoiled.

We have a hospital that ranks as one of the top 50 in the country 20 minutes from our house -- it is called Vassar Brothers.

But the lower Hudson Valley is getting too much like Westchester and NYC. No wide open spaces like 30 years ago. We are in a development and the deer come into the yards and walk the streets -- no place for them to roam. All the land is going for housing and it takes 30 minutes to go 1 mile at rush hour.

You cannot have it all -- one must choose -- so we did.

I am sure that eventually Sussex County on the west -- Bridgeville etc will get more and more stores as the communities build up.

The grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence -- how true that is.

Oh well we will get use to it I am sure.

Anyway, we will be in DE only PT -- the winters will be in AZ.

If anyone is looking for a really really nice retirement community with every imaginable amenity you could think of let me know. We would recommend where we have a house there in a heartbeat!


OH BY THE WAY -- ANYONE EVER HEAR OF CHELESE BUILDERS (THEY DO 3 SEASON ROOMS AND SUCH) OR BLUE HERON -- THEY ARE LANDSCAPERS?

Jacquie