You’ve heard of the “Last Chance Workout” if you’re a fan of The Biggest Loser. Amazing what they can accomplish given the opportunity! Well there are some “Last Chance Opportunities” at several of our Active Adult Communities.

Holiday Incentives

Independence is one of those with a Holiday Incentive from now through December 23rd. Today I found notes I had made in February 2008 when we saw some of the first ever incentives from Schell Brothers at Independence. They were offering $15,000 in options/upgrades and a hard hat tour of the Clubhouse.

That was then and this is now – (more…)

Take the tour of the fabulous clubhouse at Independence, one of Delaware’s most popular active adult communities. This is what you expect in a top-rated community, with an indoor pool and an outdoor pool, a state-of-the-art Fitness Center, entertaining space in the ballroom and cafe area, game rooms to rival the best resort. Why take a risk on a community that promises a clubhouse will be built some time in the future? Watch the tour and then go look at the to-be-built models – SEE MODELS HERE.

I’m a news junkie and CNBC, CNN or NPR is always my background.  I get really angry when I hear the talking heads spout the doom and gloom with such certainty. What real estate market are they talking about? Not the local market here in Coastal Delaware. All real estate is local! I am so busy I cannot keep up with all of the new people contacting me about relocating to Coastal Delaware. I am one of those people who believes that an immediate response is the only good response, but unless I can clone myself, I just can’t do it!

Here are some facts:

• Sussex County sales were up 20% in July/August compared to the same time last year
• Baby Boomers will be retiring for the next 10-20 years and they are moving to Coastal Delaware from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, DC, and even Connecticut, Rhode Island and other Northeastern states.
• In August 2010, Schell Brothers, our most successful local builder, just tied their best sales month ever! As other builders have abandoned projects, they have taken over several communities. (more…)

Have I told you how much I enjoy working with Buyers? It all starts with a phone call or an email exchange when I begin to learn something about new clients. Sometimes they know exactly what they are looking but with most we start with what I call the “Circle Tour”. This must be my background as a Travel Agent back in the day, but I think you need to first find the area in which you want to live, then the neighborhood or community, and finally the home.

But, back to my story which began back in late 2006/early 2007. The email came to me as a result of advertising on a web site reaching out to the Baby Boomer population planning for retirement to an Active Adult community. This couple is originally from the Mid Atlantic area, had moved to Florida and had decided it was time to move back closer to family and the grandchildren. It’s a long trip and they realized that the only way to really be part of their lives was to move closer.

On their visit last year, we toured all of the possible communities that offered the type of active adult lifestyle they were looking for. Florida is known for communities like The Villages and others, some of which are larger than the entire state of Delaware. I wanted them to see what we had right here close to home and family. They left with lots to think about and a commitment to get their home in Florida on the market so that they could move to Coastal Delaware.

On their return trip this year they were able to pick the community that felt like home to them – Independence in the Long Neck area of Millsboro, Delaware. They loved Independence Hall, the incredible clubhouse with an indoor and an outdoor pool, Fitness Center, Ballroom, function rooms and a long list of activities for residents. This is the model they chose – the Hancock. We wrote an offer and they spent two days picking all the upgrades and options to customize their retirement home before driving to the Auto Train back to Florida.

Their new home is now under construction and yesterday my husband Bill accompanied our clients on the “pre-drywall walk-through”. Bill is a Contractor as well as a Realtor and he is the one that accompanies our clients on inspections and walk-throughs on both new construction and resale homes. Things are moving along and settlement is forecast for October 2009.

Now that 3 year timeframe seems so short!

I was at Independence this afternoon for a pre-construction conference call with one of my clients who still live in Florida. When one of my clients buys a new construction home, I always attend as many of the meetings during the construction process as I can. Especially when they are not able to attend in person, either my husband Bill or I will make sure to be there on their behalf.

As usual, I arrived early today because I wanted to take some new pictures for this blog and my other web sites.

Independence Hall

When I got to the Sales Office, Jerry, the Community Sales Manager, was still in a meeting with a nice couple from Pennsylvania. They had come to Independence on their own and were learning about the community from Jerry. He introduced me to them and identified me as one of their Real Estate partners. They seemed surprised -

“I didn’t think you would work with Realtors”, is what they said.

Jerry told them that was absolutely not true. “Did you see the sign outside the entrance that says

REALTORS WARMLY WELCOMED

“We cooperate fully with our Real Estate partners”, Jerry said, “and Kathy is one of those partners

with whom we have worked on many occasions.” We chatted for a while and I told them about my other clients that had already bought in Independence as well as in other Schell Brothers communities. We all talked about how important it is to know what all your options are while you are making such an important decision at this stage in all of our lives.

Realtors are really warmly welcomed at all of the new active adult communities here in Coastal Delaware. Not only that, the builders take care of any commissions to our Brokers. So, you benefit from impartial advice and counsel from an agent like me who is familiar with all of the communities at no cost to you whatsoever.

What’s new at Coastal Delaware’s Active Adult Communities for 2009? How have they weathered the “Terrible Three”, the past three years of the worst real estate market ever? They’ve done pretty well, thank you very much. Here’s a quick update -

Bay Crossing - new models feature a 1600 sq. ft. single level home that’s just right for the two of you and it’s located in Lewes!

Heritage Shores - new models coming this Spring and there’s an opportunity to buy one of the existing models if you move quickly. Give me a call or email Kathy for details!

Independence – More homes going up every week and lots of activities at Independence Hall. Tina has the calendar full and the residents are having a blast in the pool, on the dance floor and in the fitness center.

Nassau Grove - Phase II is now open and select lots have been released. The clubhouse is buzzing with activity and plans for Casino Night coming up on March 14th! Want an invite? Email Kathy for an invitation.

Don’t see information on a community you’ve heard about? Just ask. Call or email and ask away. If we can’t answer your question, we’ll find out and get back to you in the click of a mouse.

The Buyers and their agents were everywhere this weekend. Despite the rather cold and cloudy weather, there was a full house everywhere we went. At one point over the past three days, I was at Nassau Grove, Independence and Bay Crossing. The good news is that all three were busy and there was an air of enthusiasm like we haven’t felt in quite some time.  The truth is that the activity level and attitudes seemed to change over the holidays here. The phones have been ringing more, showings are up for resale homes, and sales of both inventory homes and to be built homes at many of our new home communities are also up.

Today one couple I began working with this past June went to settlement on their new home at Independence. What a beautiful home they built and they are looking forward to all the activities at Independence Hall.

Home at Independence

On my last visit with clients to Independence, the upscale active adult community in Millsboro, we heard about the new Green model. Although I haven’t seen all the details, it seems that their new model home will feature a host of green energy options that are available to buyers at Independence. Geo-thermal HVAC system is one feature that I am sure of. As  learn more details, I will post the information here.