Active adult communities NJ vs. Delaware ? (Toms River, New Brunswick: sales, leases, homes)

[jlx]

Any advice appreciated. Family member considering a move to DE active adult community to save on taxes and live in a more senior friendly home. Would like them to consider staying in southern NJ community to be closer to family. It seems like the tax savings will be eaten up by the cost of gas used returning to NJ to visit. They are looking at a max 250-300,000 for a 2bed 2bath 2car garage detached one floor home. Anyone out there know about these communities in monmouth/ocean counties vs. Kent or Sussex county in DE? Are all 55+ communities exempt from school taxes? How's the monthly maintenance fee compare? What are the benefits/drawbacks to the land-lease properties which seem to be prevalent in De? Thanks in advance.

[BobKovacs]

The communities in NJ are all over the place price-wise, tax-wise, and maintenance fee-wise. My mother lives in Holiday City in Toms River and the homes there are generally under $250k, the taxes are under $2k/year, and the maintenance fee is $25/month. By comparison, we know several people in Rossmoor in Monroe, and you can easily drop $500k there, pay $5k/year in taxes, and spend $300/month for maintenance. So, it's possible to retire inexpensively in NJ, provided you look in the right places and don't need a brand new 2,000sf house. I can't speak for DE, but I can't imagine it being much cheaper than going into Holiday City.

[JT in DE]

We've been living in Delaware for about 8 years now and originally from NJ. New Brunswick area, (and Bob I see your last name is also Hungarian... mine is Takacs). We love it down here. I'm in my fifties and we live in a regular community in Dover, DE area but my mom and dad did the Brick/Toms River retirement thing before they passed. They paid around 300K about 10 years ago, had I think it was 4000 a year in taxes. There's a number of 55+ communities in DE, some have lot leases, some you own the land outright. But just to give you an idea, one 55+ community I'm familiar with is called the Woods at Longacre Village, on Rt 13 about 7 miles south of Dover. You can get an 1800 sq ft ranch for about 270K, monthly maintenance is $130, taxes--a year--is about $1100, you own the land and there's a tax break on school taxes for over 65. No sales tax in DE, traffic is wonderfully light compared to Jersey, people are so nice. It's been great for us. DM me anytime with questions from one NJ refugee to another.

[Anthony Scuorzo]

Del has some great buys in active adult communities with lower taxes-One of the people talks about Holiday City-old .old old!!!!!! New communities in Del are about 50-75K less than comparable in Nj taxes are less than half-check out Legacy in Townsend, Del then check out Greenbriar in Waretown -both very nice and new but the homes are bigger cheaper and taxes are 2K vs 5500 ,oh by the way you own the land

[SKovacsM]

Originally Posted by JT in DE

We've been living in Delaware for about 8 years now and originally from NJ. New Brunswick area, (and Bob I see your last name is also Hungarian... mine is Takacs). We love it down here. I'm in my fifties and we live in a regular community in Dover, DE area but my mom and dad did the Brick/Toms River retirement thing before they passed. They paid around 300K about 10 years ago, had I think it was 4000 a year in taxes. There's a number of 55+ communities in DE, some have lot leases, some you own the land outright. But just to give you an idea, one 55+ community I'm familiar with is called the Woods at Longacre Village, on Rt 13 about 7 miles south of Dover. You can get an 1800 sq ft ranch for about 270K, monthly maintenance is $130, taxes--a year--is about $1100, you own the land and there's a tax break on school taxes for over 65. No sales tax in DE, traffic is wonderfully light compared to Jersey, people are so nice. It's been great for us. DM me anytime with questions from one NJ refugee to another.

Good Afternoon JT,
This is our dilemma, NJ vs Del. We are just starting our search since
we plan to retire next year. NJ is nice but to expensive.
We would like a 55+AA Community near the ocean. Do you know if
there is one and do you a realtor that would know these area?
We have this week off and would like to travel down and check out the area so if you have any suggestions, that would be great!
Thank you,
SKovacsM

[SKovacsM]

Good Afternoon JT,
This is our dilemma, NJ vs Del. We are just starting our search since
we plan to retire next year. NJ is nice but to expensive.
We would like a 55+AA Community near the ocean. Do you know if
there is one and do you a realtor that would know these area?
We have this week off and would like to travel down and check out the area so if you have any suggestions, that would be great!
Thank you,
SKovacsM