Mid Atlantic and Chesapeake Bay - Retiring to Delaware

Folks, My in-laws are looking to leave Long Island, NY and retire to Delaware. They have vacationed in Rehoboth Beach a couple of times and like it very much. They love the beach, and are looking for a nice safe community, where there is a neighborhood feel- with a decent year-round community. A Main-Street type of town would be ideal.

Any recommendations on towns or areas to focus on, would be greatly appreciated.

Milton has some nice, newer communities along Rt 16 and Rt 1. Milton is about 10 miles north of Lewes.

Or if they have a bit more $$, try looking at some of the housing communities in Lewes. Very nice communities and close to the water.

Delaware is nice but you still have winter. Why not move further South?

The main reason for the move is cost of living. They are on a fixed income, and own a home worth about 550k (outright no mortgage). They still want to be close enough to LI to see grandkids without an 8+ hour drive. Thanks for suggestions so far.

General Lewes area would be my choice - nice year-round community with enough to do for retirees during 'off-season' - yet not as crowded as Rehoboth/Dewey/Bethany from May to September. Suggest staying north of Rehoboth or west - Rt 1 south of Lewes is like the LIE at rush hour at times.

Lewes, Milton.

Common comment for the NY escapees when they look at a sale flyer for a home is 'oh, those real estate taxes aren't bad at all each month'. Then they are told that total is for the year and they shit themselves laughing.

The thing that bothers me about Delaware is they kept electing Biden! Anybody see that tan he's sporting? Looks like the Southwest Airline's commercial.

Ocean View is OK just don't try to plan a drive any where during go or come home from the beach time.

Lewes,Delaware...beautiful!

I'd vote for Lewes as well. A really nice small feel waterfront community.

small community feel with a nice quiet town ..Lewes hands down. Born and raised spending every weekend in that area, know it like the back of my hand, and worked from milton to ocean city maryland for 5 years.

Lewes.

dont bring the new york driving style to lewes though, please ;)

I thought it took at least 8 hrs. to get to anywhere on LI :jk:.
Millsboro or Seaford would be good choices.

Bethany Beach is a beautiful place also... very safe and pretty quiet.. In the middle of the MD and DE beaches..

I thought it took at least 8 hrs. to get to anywhere on LI :jk:.
Millsboro or Seaford would be good choices.


i have to ask you ... Have you ever been to Millsboro or Seaford?? They are def not safe and they are crawling with low income housing and pretty much a dump..... I work in Seaford and its def not an attracting town.. Millsboro is full of chicken plant workers and high crime

Sar i didn't want to say it but now that the cat's out of the bag....yeah, i was thinking jhub put the 'j/k' smiley after the wrong sentence.

Thanks for all of the great replies - it has certainly narrowed down the search process. Can anyone recommend a builder or ones to avoid? The in-laws are looking at neighborhoods, not necessarily brand-new - but less than 10-15yrs old would be nice

I know it was not on your list but Ocean Pines Md is a great community. brunori homes is a well known builder.

Or if Delaware is a must some great new communities off of rt 24 and rt 54 right off of Coastal highway. On the "mainland".

Yes, Brunori does make a very nice house. Honest people to deal with as well!

Avoid Centex. No question about that.

Would strongly prefer most local builders over any nat'l builder in general. Be wary of 'hoods with HOA's that could be underfunded.

Lewes, Milton.

Common comment for the NY escapees when they look at a sale flyer for a home is 'oh, those real estate taxes aren't bad at all each month'. Then they are told that total is for the year and they shit themselves laughing.

Ya, then they move here and complain that there are not enough state services for them....

The thing that bothers me about Delaware is they kept electing Biden! Anybody see that tan he's sporting? Looks like the Southwest Airline's commercial.

Any guess why he didnt say his inlaws wanna move to MD?

Any guess why he didnt say his inlaws wanna move to MD?

Pretty sure you meant The People's Republic of OweMaryland.
Good new even they cannot get along. hope for no special session:bashhh:

Thanks guys they are going to take a 2 week "ride" to get some bearings and see what looks like a promising area to narrow it down to.

They have friends who just moved to Magnolia, DE. They are now interested in that area as well - but again know nothing about it - any comments on Magnolia? areas to look at/avoid? builders? communities?

Thanks guys they are going to take a 2 week "ride" to get some bearings and see what looks like a promising area to narrow it down to.

Please post their thoughts and experiences. I'm pre-retirement planning and would like to hear what they thought.

Thanks guys they are going to take a 2 week "ride" to get some bearings and see what looks like a promising area to narrow it down to.

They have friends who just moved to Magnolia, DE. They are now interested in that area as well - but again know nothing about it - any comments on Magnolia? areas to look at/avoid? builders? communities?

magnolia is west bethany I believe.. its nice

Magnolia DE is in the middle of the satte, about 45 min north of the beaches and about 10 min south of Dover. Fortunately it is about 5 minutes from the Delaware Bay and boat ramps at Bowers Beach. But not a great place for retirement.