The final phase is now open at Bay Crossing with wooded and walkout lots available. This is my favorite section at Bay Crossing because I do love to back to woods with more privacy than you have in other locations. All homes now have full basements.

For right now, the builder is offering 50% off any options up to $75,000 AND 50% off select lot premiums. The Laser model is excluded from this promotion. Combine this with the $6500 tax credit for existing homeowners who buy before April 30, 2010 and you have quite an exciting opportunity to buy in Bay Crossing, Lewes’s only active adult community.

Base model prices range from @299,900 to $399,900.

There are a few Quick Delivery homes with lots of upgrades available now from $388,900 to $429,900.

If you would like to come down over the holidays, please give us a call at 302-645-4564. We will be in town and we would love to show you these homes and others that just might make your holidays bright!

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

What’s it like to live at Heritage Shores? I have been actively involved with buyers and sellers in the community since 2005, before the Clubhouse or any of the model homes were even built. Since then, I have seen the community take shape and the golf course open to rave reviews. Still many of agents from the beach resorts have never been to Heritage Shores. The only part of Sussex County they know is that narrow section along the coast and the only homes they want to list or sell are those with price tags in the $Millions.

Some of the most interesting opportunities and developments taking place in Coastal Delaware are not limited to the traditional resort towns of Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, Fenwick Island or Bethany. Now all of Sussex County has become involved in meeting the needs of people living all around us. Our newest residents didn’t move here because of the beach, though many like to know it’s only a short drive away. Though we are still the vacation home Mecca for our neighbors from the DC Metropolitan Area, Northern Virginia and Suburban Maryland, they are being joined by Boomers from New York and New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and the Eastern Shore.

In my database alone, the inquiries about retiring to Delaware are coming from as far away as Florida and Illinois, from Texas and the UK, but most are coming from the nearby states in the Mid-Atlantic Region.

Let’s hear from some of the newcomers that are now living at Heritage Shores. I asked one of my clients, Jean, who moved here in 2007 from White Plains, NY, what she likes about her new home. She commented “I cannot believe how lucky I am to have Heritage Shores as a place to retire to.  You don’t have to play golf to have a wonderful, fulfilling life here.  I have made many new friends and am busier now than I was before I moved here.”

One couple that has lived here for over two years now commented on how quiet it is. ”It’s wonderful to see the new birds that have followed us to Heritage Shores, and they are multiplying each year!  We have seen many more bluebirds, yellow and green finches, mockingbirds, sparrows, robins, and a few chickadees and cardinals. We have our resident blue herons and white egrets that fly from pond to pond to grace us all with their presence.  As our trees grow, so does the bird population which enhances this already serene lifestyle.”

In a community like Heritage Shores, it’s all there for you and you can choose your lifestyle – busy or serene or both! For more, be sure to visit RetireToHeritageShores.com!

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.