Today is the 1st of December. Where did the year go? In Coastal Delaware it went quickly because we were BUSY! I know you all watch the news like I do and get depressed by the reports of “depressed housing sales”. Well, I find myself talking to the TV and asking “Why don’t you come to Lewes or Rehoboth Beach and see how well the real estate market is doing here?

They’re evacuating New Jersey

So many of our Buyer Clients are coming here from New Jersey I joke that it feels like a “Permanent Class Reunion”. (more…)

Here it is again – Memorial Day Weekend at the Beach in Delaware and the weather forecast is great!

Want to know what’s going on this weekend?

Read What’s New at the beaches and have a wonderful holiday weekend! Some of my favorites this weekend include the Grand Opening of the Historic Lewes Farmers Market, the Delaware by Hand Art and  Craft Show at the Zwaanendael Museum.

1.       Delaware By Hand Arts & Crafts Show, Sat., 5/28, 10 am – 5 pm, Zwaanendael Museum, Lewes, DE

2.       Visit the Horseshoe Crab|Shorebird Festival, Sat., 5/28, 10 am – 4 pm, Downtown Milton and Prime Hook Refuge

3.       Shop the Historic Lewes Farmers Market, Sat., 5/28, 8am – 12 Noon, Lewes Historical Society Complex

4.       Find fresh produce and more at the new Milton Farmers Market, Fri., 5/27, 3pm – 6 pm, Milton Historical Society (more…)

Who knows your home is for sale? Your neighbors? The people down the street or around town? Where are the prospective buyers? Not next door.

Your buyers are on the Internet

Do you know who they are and where they live now? Ask yourself, who is relocating to Lewes, Delaware, and the surrounding areas like Rehoboth Beach, Milton, Milford, Georgetown and the rest of Sussex County? The majority of our buyers do not currently live in Delaware; they live in New Jersey or New York, Connecticut or Pennsylvania, Maryland or Virginia. Most are over the age of 50 and they intend this to be their last move. They may not be moving here full time quite yet, but the idea is to relocate to Coastal Delaware to retire. (more…)

Mark your calendars! On Saturday, March 27th, Teller Wines will have their 7th Annual Wine Expo & Benefit at the Lewes Yacht Club from 1 to 4pm. This is a great event with over 100 top-knotch wines to taste and really great gourmet food (appetizers and small bites). This year, a portion of the proceeds from the event will benefit the Historic Lewes Farmers Market. Tickets are $60, and they sell out quickly.  For tickets, call 302-644-7400 or pick them up at Teller Wines, 1201A Savannah Rd. in Lewes.  

This year the HLFM will be offering three fabulous silent auction items at this event that are so special that you will want to get a ticket just to be able to bid on them!

Are lower taxes enough of a reason to relocate? Maybe not, but it can be the main motivating factor for many Boomers who are preparing for retirement.  If you live in New Jersey, a state with one of the highest sales taxes or New York, one of the 5 least tax-friendly states, Delaware is worth a look. Delaware ranks a low 47th when considering tax burden as a percentage of income. With no sales tax and very low property tax, Delaware always makes the list of Tax Friendly states for retirees.

Low taxes alone however will not make you happy. I always tell my real estate clients that we don’t become different people when we retire. We may have more time to do the things we enjoy and we may take up a new hobby or sport, but we will still be the same people. If you like living in the heart of the action where you can walk to everything, you won’t be happy in a remote community an hour away from the things you enjoy. In Delaware, you would be more content living in a town like Lewes, Rehoboth or Milton. If you love being near the beach with access to great restaurants and shops, these are wonderful places to live. And, the taxes on a multi-million dollar beach house here are probably less than you pay now on a $400,000 home in New Jersey. Something to think about!

In date order here are our Top Ten Holiday Events for 2008!

This year our home in Milton is on the Holiday House Tour December 13^th. That would be a great weekend to visit Milton and get a feel for this town and its new and historic homes. Happy Holidays -

1. Sounds of Christmas at the Theatre of the Arts, Rehoboth Beach – November 23rd – December 20^th – sure to become an annual holiday event!
2. Tanger Outlets After Thanksgiving Sale – November 28^th All Tanger Outlet stores are open at midnight on Thanksgiving night!
3. Holiday Tree Lighting and Sing-a-long & Boardwalk of Lights – November 28^th, Rehoboth Beach Bandstand
4. Milton Christmas Parade – December 3^rd at 7 p.m. in Downtown Milton
5. Scrooge! A Clear Space Holiday Tradition – December 4^th, 7 p.m. – Delaware Technical & Community College, Georgetown
6. Lewes Hospitality Night – December 4^th, 6 p.m. – Lewes merchants host shopping, entertainment and complimentary refreshments.
7. Lewes Historical Society House Tour – December 6^th, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Self-guided tour of private homes and historical sites. Visit www.historiclewes.org for more information.
8. Christmas Parade and caroling in Zwaanendael Park (right across the street from the RE/MAX office in Lewes) – December 6^th at 5 p.m..
9. Milton Holly Festival – December 13^th, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Milton Fire Hall and Goshen Hall in the heart of town.
10. Milton Holiday House Tour – December 13^th, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. to benefit the Milton Theatre.

It is so hard to pick a top ten when there are so many great places to dine in this area. On an interview back in the day, Bill was asked about his favorite hobby. When he said dining out, the interviewer told him that wasn’t a hobby. Bill’s response was that he must be confusing it with eating out! We love to dine at good restaurants and that can be a fine dining establishment or a great place for pizza or a sandwich. Here are some of our favorites. Enjoy!

1. Cultured Pearl, our favorite Sushi restaurant at the beach. They have a full Japanese menu but Kathy always orders the Sushi. On Rehoboth Avenue.
2. Fins, where the fish is always fresh and the service wonderful. Bill’s favorite is the Cioppino. Also on Rehoboth Avenue.
3. Big Fish Grill is a tie for always fresh fish selection. They also have a carry out next door and provide catering. Last year, they catered our client appreciation party and everyone loved the seared tuna. Located on Rt. 1 in Rehoboth.
4. Half Full is my idea of good pizza. Individually sized and terrific crust. Terrific wine selection by the glass and it’s open late in downtown Lewes.
5. Fish On! at the Villages of Five Points in Lewes offers great seafood with a creative touch. A friendly bar and staff make this a place you’ll visit again. Tell Fred that Kathy and Bill sent you.
6. Striper Bites on Savannah Road in Lewes is where the locals go for Happy Hour and stay for dinner. Another great seafood restaurant at the beach and just a few door down from our RE/MAX office.
7. Gallucio’s is also now open in Lewes at the Villages of Five Points - a great choice for good Italian food and classic pizza with a crisp crust. This web site is for the original Gallucio’s in Wilmington but the food is just as good in Lewes.
8. Café Sole, on Baltimore Avenue in Rehoboth Beach, is a consistent choice for lunch or dinner, for a sandwich or a wonderful dinner creatively prepared.
9. The Buttery is the perfect restaurant in Lewes for lunch on the porch or an elegant special occasion dinner by candlelight. It is also right across the street from our RE/MAX office.
10. Seafood Thai, located on the beach block of Rehoboth Avenue, is a great find if you enjoy very good and reasonably priced Thai food in a friendly atmosphere. Try the Tofu!

What’s your favorite restaurant in Coastal Delaware?