Need Advice on Delaware (Newark, Delmar: cheap home, neighborhood, buying)

[skeddy]

All states have issues.

[Pine to Vine]

Originally Posted by silron

Lived in NYC for 17 years,now living in south Delaware for 20 years and like it very much.i wonder why a big % of people that move from north to DE are from PA.the only thing about south De is ,if you need certain type of medical specialist you;ll need to got to Wilmington or Baltimore,etc.but how often in a life you need that.

I would say this is a valid concern. I sometime worry about the quality of care my elderly parents get from local physicians on Delmarva, but they have made it this far, so I have let that go.

[Pine to Vine]

Originally Posted by Mr.Retired

My thoughts are that you have to work in New York, retire in PA
and die in Delaware just so you can have something to pass onto your kids.

Funny.

Since you are investigating Delaware, top and bottom, an important fact: there remains a cultural divide that has traditionally been demarcated at the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. Above the canal (where most of the people live) is more suburban and the residents tend to be more culturally liberal and affiliated with Philadelphia. OTOH, below the canal (where most of the land lies) is more rural and the residents tend to be culturally conservative and affiliated with Delmarva. The only hills, of course, are in extreme northern Delaware.

Best of luck with your search. Roaming the country looking for a new retirement locale was one of the most enjoyable adventures of our marriage. We still pinch ourselves from time to time, having successfully found that place and starting a new phase of life.

[Mr.Retired]

Originally Posted by rdlr

You'll figure it out, once you visit Delaware a few times, and make the comparisons yourself. Houses of Worship are plentiful, too. There are about 10-12 within a couple miles of us (all different denominations) and our town has approximately 1,400 people. Currently, our town is readying for our yearly Peach Festival and Peach Festival Parade (Led of course, by our Peach Festival Band)...... This is a busy time for locals. I'm currently painting my big, old front porch's floor and plan on having shady seating, free coffee, juice, water, peach pastries and a peach to take home, for parade watchers. If you crave excitement, chaos and a lah-de-dah lifestyle, you won't find it here. I wish you the best.

Sounds wonderful.Thanks a bunch.................

[Mr.Retired]

Originally Posted by Pine to Vine

Funny.

Since you are investigating Delaware, top and bottom, an important fact: there remains a cultural divide that has traditionally been demarcated at the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. Above the canal (where most of the people live) is more suburban and the residents tend to be more culturally liberal and affiliated with Philadelphia. OTOH, below the canal (where most of the land lies) is more rural and the residents tend to be culturally conservative and affiliated with Delmarva. The only hills, of course, are in extreme northern Delaware.

Best of luck with your search. Roaming the country looking for a new retirement locale was one of the most enjoyable adventures of our marriage. We still pinch ourselves from time to time, having successfully found that place and starting a new phase of life.

That sounds beautiful.
All my wife and I do is flip a coin on who's gonna walk the dog today..............just kidding!

[Mr.Retired]

Originally Posted by NJBoy3

If taxes are a major issue it is hard to beat FL. I have put "Taxes by State" below.

https://www.retirementliving.com/taxes-by-state

Thanks but Florida is out...I prefer an under the radar location to one that everyone flocks to.

[Refugeescape]

Escaped from the People's Republic of New Jersey...was paying $21,000...that's right $21,000 a year in property taxes. Moved to Milton, Delaware(east of route 1). Whatever you do concentrate in Sussex County Delaware. Built a 3,000 square foot home on ten acres - a mile from the beach...taxes - $972 FOR THE YEAR! Many expats from New York, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut(blue states) but mostly from New Jersey. Atlantic City is a short hop via the Ferry, Dover Downs is right up by the AFB. Philly and D.C. nearby. Beautiful shopping facilities reminiscent of the Hampton's(LI) and great eateries. Only concern is that the progressives(a.k.a. liberals) are infiltrating this east coast oasis. If your politics are left of center, try Wilmington or Newark. Good Luck.

P.S. No sales tax as well.

[Mr.Retired]

Originally Posted by Refugeescape

Escaped from the People's Republic of New Jersey...was paying $21,000...that's right $21,000 a year in property taxes. Moved to Milton, Delaware(east of route 1). Whatever you do concentrate in Sussex County Delaware. Built a 3,000 square foot home on ten acres - a mile from the beach...taxes - $972 FOR THE YEAR! Many expats from New York, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut(blue states) but mostly from New Jersey. Atlantic City is a short hop via the Ferry, Dover Downs is right up by the AFB. Philly and D.C. nearby. Beautiful shopping facilities reminiscent of the Hampton's(LI) and great eateries. Only concern is that the progressives(a.k.a. liberals) are infiltrating this east coast oasis. If your politics are left of center, try Wilmington or Newark. Good Luck.

P.S. No sales tax as well.

Thank you for the insight. Will do...........

[wharton]

Originally Posted by NJBoy3

Trees and hills, sounds like PA. We can even throw in scenic rivers. South eastern PA should at least be on your list for consideration.

Lancaster and York. New hospitals, good medical. Great scenic day trips, been doing it for 40 years.. I flat out love PA.

Second this. We retired to Lancaster County PA. after 2-1/2 years of searching the eastern 2/3rds of the country. Funny that you refer to the area as "south-eastern PA". Obviously, you can just glance at a map to confirm that you are correct. That said, in the last three years we have learned that most locals are firm in their belief that they are residents of south-central PA. or even more funny, claiming with all sincerity that they are located in "central PA". State College is in central PA, 140 miles NW of my house, and a several hour drive away.

We frequently head through Delaware to camp at the state park, just south of Dewey beach. Nothing personal to those who are happy in the flat, boring rural areas of Delaware, but with the exception of being a closer drive to the beach, it's got nothing on our area, or many other retirement options, not even close. We literally live in the middle of what dozens of millions of folks in the region consider to be a special way to spend the day, or weekend. We are minutes from everything, including great entertainment, dining, medical, and anything else you could ever want. If all that matter to a retiree is money, and you decide that saving a bit on taxes is more important than quality of life, then Delaware can check all the boxes. Having been to dozens of retirement "hot spots" just about everywhere east of the Rockies, I can honestly say that there are many better options than a big cheap house, with low taxes, in the middle of dead flat rural Delaware.

[nuts2uiam]

Originally Posted by wharton

Second this. We retired to Lancaster County PA. after 2-1/2 years of searching the eastern 2/3rds of the country. Funny that you refer to the area as "south-eastern PA". Obviously, you can just glance at a map to confirm that you are correct. That said, in the last three years we have learned that most locals are firm in their belief that they are residents of south-central PA. or even more funny, claiming with all sincerity that they are located in "central PA". State College is in central PA, 140 miles NW of my house, and a several hour drive away.

We frequently head through Delaware to camp at the state park, just south of Dewey beach. Nothing personal to those who are happy in the flat, boring rural areas of Delaware, but with the exception of being a closer drive to the beach, it's got nothing on our area, or many other retirement options, not even close. We literally live in the middle of what dozens of millions of folks in the region consider to be a special way to spend the day, or weekend. We are minutes from everything, including great entertainment, dining, medical, and anything else you could ever want. If all that matter to a retiree is money, and you decide that saving a bit on taxes is more important than quality of life, then Delaware can check all the boxes. Having been to dozens of retirement "hot spots" just about everywhere east of the Rockies, I can honestly say that there are many better options than a big cheap house, with low taxes, in the middle of dead flat rural Delaware.

Wow. I am sorry that you feel the need to categorically disparage our choice of a place to live, that is something I would never do about another area. FWIW, we too spent a few years deciding on where we wanted to retire to and for us, Delaware fit the bill perfectly. I can assure you that money was not our primary concern, nor a cheap home. We actually increased the size of our home by 1/3 again. Like you, we decided what we valued. We too have plenty here to keep us occupied and we do get less snow here, which was also a consideration.