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”. They are all about my age and some of them even come from a town I lived in as a child or where I went to high school. It’s fun.

New Yorkers too!

They are even coming from Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island and Long Island – to Delaware! When I was born in Flushing, I doubt anyone even knew where Delaware was.

So come on down and visit this month. Tax Free Christmas Shopping, Parades, lights, camera, action … Happy Holidays begin today!

The Big Christmas Parade takes place in Lewes this Saturday, December 3rd, at 5 pm. Bill and I will be Santa’s Helpers this year getting all the floats and marchers lined up on time and in order. Guess who will be on the last float?

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.

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

5.       Discover Seaford Heritage Weekend, Fri. through Sun, 5/27 – 5/29, Governor Ross Plantation, Seaford

6.       Take a Lantern Tour of Fort Miles, Sat., 5/28, 7pm – 8:30 pm, Cape Henlopen State Park, Lewes

7.       Join the Zany Umbrella Circus, Sat.,5/28, 12N – 3pm, The Freeman Stage! At Bayside, Selbyville

8.       Spend the day at Delaware Seashore State Park, just North of the Indian River Inlet on Route 1

9.       Travel the Delaware Wine and Ale Trail – but please bring a designated driver!

10.   Or, you can always Contact Us and we can help you find your dream home here in Coastal Delaware!

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.

I'm for SALE!

Are you reaching them?

Our buyers are not reading the Cape Gazette or the Coast Press unless they happen to be here on vacation. If your home is only being advertised the old way in local papers or those glossy “free” magazines, will the right people ever see it?

Is your buyer going to walk in the door of your listing agent’s office ready to buy or are they actively searching on the Internet before they ever visit Lewes for the first time? Do you know how they search?

What do the buyers want?

They want a 1st floor master bedroom and master bath. They want an upgraded kitchen and beautiful floors. Basically they want a home that is “move-in” ready and needs no work at all. They’ve worked hard and now they are preparing for retirement and they want to be rewarded with their dream home.

Buyers want to see lots of pictures and video when your home is marketed on the Internet. If they don’t see what they’re looking for on their favorite web sites, they’ll never come to see your home in person.

If you’re planning to sell your home and it has the features that appeal to the new retirees – the leading edge Baby Boomers, your home should be featured here on this site – www.ActiveAdultsDelaware.com.  Contact us if you’d like to hear more about our marketing plan to sell your home.

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!

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.

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?