55+ Communities

[little eggplant]

NapaJoe - We were at Roesville at the same time you were in Sept and we were told that they were working on a "reduced fee" membership to the Milford Boys and Girls Club for use of their facilities. This did not sit well with us. Charley, and any others going there soon, please express the seriousness of our group concern that the lack of clubhouse really affects their sales and most(?) of us won't consider a property without one. I agree, it is a lovely community, but its seemingly stagnant nature is a cause for concern.

[duchess2nana]

Thanks for so much information. We are also looking to move to Delaware from No. Va. in a few years because of the tax breaks and of course traffic.

Looking forward to finding out more information.

[duchess2nana]

We just spent four days driving around Delaware and saw several 55+ communities and think its best for us to be a close to the Md. line as possible. Our kids live in Md. and Va. so we don't want to be far but want the tax advantages of Delaware. Also thinking about Pa., just across the Md. border. Any suggestions??

We have about two years and will have to sell our house in No. Va. but its time to pick an area.

Love the one level house and any traffic that is better than DC is great.

[duchess2nana]

Did you go anywhere close to Newark Del? We also checked out from New Castle to Camden-Wyoming area. Think we need to stay close to the Md./Pa line for the kids.

[Charley]

Originally Posted by little eggplant

NapaJoe - We were at Roesville at the same time you were in Sept and we were told that they were working on a "reduced fee" membership to the Milford Boys and Girls Club for use of their facilities. This did not sit well with us. Charley, and any others going there soon, please express the seriousness of our group concern that the lack of clubhouse really affects their sales and most(?) of us won't consider a property without one. I agree, it is a lovely community, but its seemingly stagnant nature is a cause for concern.

I absolutely intend to do just that. I don't know if it will make any difference in their thinking, but I intend to tell them exactly what's being said within the conversations of those considering 55+ communities - without mentioning names. And you're right about considering property without a clubhouse. If I wanted to live in a beautiful home without a clubhouse or a pool, I'd stay right where I am!

[drnorman]

Charley is right on this. If you want to live in a "plus 55 COMMUNITY", then it only makes sense for you to want to benefit from the experiences that come with a community. I don't know how you go about doing that without a community center. We all give up a certain amount of control over our lives when we commit to living in a particular "planned" community. In exchange, we expect some very specific benefits, starting with the people we get to know, the activities we share, and the understanding that comes from associating with people similar to ourselves and yet new to us upon arrival. We don't all have to be alike or agree about everything in order to get along and enjoy each other's company. So, the absence of a community center is more than a defect in the community, it is not a missing leg or arm, but, rather, it is a missing liver or heart or something critical to our lives. I've had this conversation about the construction of a community center at Roesville and my sense was that there is no urgency about it. After a lot of looking, we found Heritage Shores, Champions and Spring Arbor to be communities offering significant community benefits. And I know that there are others. Homes are generally more expensive as you move further north in DE into PA (I'm including all expenses). For what it is worth, I have a feeling that declines in prices have reached a bottom in DE plus 55 communities. There has been a significant pickup in traffic in these communities in the past couple of months. Many more potential buyers are looking and most of them want a community center. I don't think we'll see many more, if any, declines in prices. Of course, I could be wrong. By the way, the number of potential buyers from NY and NJ is impressive. We are all going to turn a couple of these communities in DE into very low-key versions of some parts of Florida (the original retirement home for NY and NJ residents).

[cant wait to retire]

I'm SO thrilled that we'll get to take advantage of the $6500 tax credit when we buy our retirement home. An unexpected blessing - we're very grateful!

[little eggplant]

Originally Posted by drnorman

By the way, the number of potential buyers from NY and NJ is impressive. We are all going to turn a couple of these communities in DE into very low-key versions of some parts of Florida (the original retirement home for NY and NJ residents).

Gawd, I hope that doesn't mean men in white socks and sandals!

[Mary2014]

All,

I have been reading the on line version of the Cape Gazette to keep up on local southern DE news. This week they reported that a rate increase has been requested for the sewer systems at Pots-Net and Baywood. The Baywood requested increase is from $368 per yr to $868! The Baywood sewer system is privately owned.

On my list of questions to ask of the various retirement communities is not only the yearly cost of water and sewer, but, is it public water and sewer or privately owned.

Mary

[Honeycrisp]

Wow, that is a steep jump. I wonder what the #'s are at Pot-Nets - ?