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In this issue: It may not feel like Spring this week, but Spring is in the Delaware air. Garden lovers, you'll love Delaware Tourism's Insider's Guide to Gardens.
This month, we highlight a few new and beautiful homes for sale 55+ communities. If a 55+ neighborhood is not for you, Delaware has something for everybody. Just call us at 302-424-1890 to get the ball rolling.
The Broker ponders, "How many homes will you buy and sell in your retirement?" Trending Today, there's news on Delaware's Real Estate Taxes and you can read the Upstate Update from TREND MLS. Got an empty house to sell? We have the answer. Read about the benefits of Virtual Staging in Seller Resources. Get ready to Live LOCAL with Movies on Tap and Trip Advisor's Top 10 Delaware Attractions. In our Non-profit Spotlight, we highlight the gardeners and good work of Lewes In Bloom. Finally, our Featured Team Member and Broker Kathy Sperl-Bell reveals recent company milestones as we begin year six as an independent boutique brokerage. Buyers and Sellers, planning will make your retirement work! Please utilize our Website and our Blog. Full of useful data, some real estate related and some just focused on educating people about living in and moving to Delaware, these resources are free for you to use as you plan for your retirement.
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| OUR FEATURED HOMES | |
SUSSEX COUNTY:
55+ Heritage Shores
8 Whistling Duck Drive, Bridgeville
2 Bedrooms | 2 Baths | 1565 Sq. Ft.
Who's looking for 55+ resort-style, single-story living on a championship Bridgeville golf course? Just say, "Fore" and call Heritage Shores your new home! Featuring a beautiful stone front, this home sits on a premium lot overlooking the 15th Green. Watch the play in the day or entertain at night using the built-in led lighting on your custom paver patio.
Inside find many kitchen upgrades, a Bose surround sound system, professionally-painted rooms, color-matched shades, Hunter fans, a cozy gas fireplace with heat blower and a luxury master bath with a soaking tub.
The neighborhood is one of the top 50 Best Master-Planned Golf Communities in the U.S. and the amenities include an 18 hole golf course, a huge clubhouse, indoor and outdoor pools, putting greens and pickle ball, a state of the art fitness center with a dance and aerobics studio, tennis courts and the new Sugarbeet Market area.
NEW CASTLE COUNTY:
55+ Four Seasons at Silver Maple
904 River Birch Circle, Middletown
3 Bedrooms | 2 Baths | 2200 Sq. Ft.
MLS #707446 | $375,000
Why wait for new construction? This home sweet home in Northern Delaware offers a low maintenance lifestyle. Minutes to shopping and about 10 miles to the Chesapeake City Marina, you'll live in a rural setting in Middletown. Minutes from Route 1/Route 13, you'll have convenient access to Newark and Dover, the beautiful Delaware Beaches and your family and friends that live in PA, NJ and NY!
Never lived in and ready to go, the virtually staged photos show just some of the possibilities including the professionally designed landscape package that's coming in the spring.
This is lovely one-story living with the family room in the rear of the home, an open kitchen, breakfast bar, a separate eat-in area plus a formal dining room for special occasions.
The 3rd bedroom or can be used as such or as a home office which ever you prefer. Enjoy the luxurious owner's suite with walk-in closets and a master bath with separate vanities and a walk-in shower. There's a utility room off the 2 car garage and a full unfinished basement for extra storage, too.
SUSSEX COUNTY:
55+ Independence
 23800 Samuel Adams Circle, Millsboro
3 Bedrooms | 2 Baths | 1984 Sq. Ft.
MLS #707982 | $380,000
An active adult lifestyle awaits you at 55+ Independence in Southern Delaware. Minutes from the inland bays, ocean beaches and attractions, this home has upgrades galore and is on a premium wooded lot. You'll have an easy walk to the amenity-rich clubhouse with swimming pools, a fitness center, aerobics & dance studio, a ballroom, conference room, saunas, a card room and billiards hall, bar & lounge, theater, massage rooms and more. There's tennis, horseshoe pits, a volleyball court, putting green, walking and biking trails, a picnic area and community garden, too.
Sound great? A designer palate makes this home warm and inviting. Be impressed by the natural light and beautiful views all-around. An entertainers' delight with a wide, open floorplan, this price makes it possible to own in this desirable neighborhood.
Did we mention, you'll be a short drive to everyday and outlet shopping and the beaches? Perfect in so many ways, don't let this one get away.
Call 302-424-1890 for Showing.
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Living LOCAL!
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TripAdvisor's Top 10 Delaware Attractions
 Our friends at Delaware Tourism posted TripAdvisor's Top 10 Delaware Attractions on their website VisitDelaware.com. "There are so many things to do in Delaware. Picking just one can leave you in a whirlwind of awesome options. That's where TripAdvisor comes in. The best way to know how fun an activity or attraction will be is to ask people who have been there and done that." You'll find "a couple of bonus adventures," too. Click here and enjoy!
Movies On Tap Benefits Good Causes
 Movie On Tap are coming to our Delaware towns! Delaware Business Now slates Mispillion Brewing in Milford as the April 12 location for Premier Wine & Spirits new, monthly tasting series called Movies On Tap. " Movies on Tap" will offer meet-and-greet tasting opportunities at some of the area's most beloved breweries. Attendees will hang out the brewer; sample and learn about the beer; and view a cult-classic film of the brewer's choosing. Mispillion Brewery's flick choice is "Caddyshack" and the event will benefit the Food Bank of Delaware.
Tickets ($20) include beer samples, the movie and popcorn. Other confirmed breweries will include: Yards, Evil Genius, 2SP Brewing, 16 Mile, Flying Dog, Twin Lakes Brewing, and Schlafly. Read more here. Spring Events and The Insider's Guide to DE Gardens
To Find Exciting Delaware Events, Regional Calendars, Bandstand Schedules & More
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TRENDING TODAY
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Delaware's Real Estate Taxes: 4th Lowest in the Nation
Delaware's Real Estate Taxes are the 4th lowest again with property taxes on homes in the first state are lower than in neighboring states, including New Jersey, which has the highest real estate property taxes in the nation.
According to a report from WalletHub, "Aiding Delaware is the lack of vehicle property taxes seen in other states.
Did you know that the average American household spends $2,127 on property taxes for their homes each year and residents of the 27 states with vehicle property taxes shell out another $412?
Delaware's lower property rates have led to retirees coming to the state, with portions of Kent and Sussex counties seeing the strongest population growth. Read more on our Blog.
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UPSTATE UPDATE
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February 2016 Real Estate Sales in Kent and New Castle Counties, according to TREND MLS service, "exceeded February 2015 by 15% and are now 19% ahead of 2015 Year-To-Date," says Dave Davis, resident TREND statistician.
"While we are very unlikely to continue exceeding 2015 by almost 20%, we are off to a stronger than expected start to 2016 as we enter the spring market when both inventory and sales begin to accelerate and peak over the summer." Read February's details for Central and Northern Delaware on our Blog.
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SELLER RESOURCES: Virtual Staging
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Sometimes all you need is a fresh pair of eyes to make your home look fabulous and for sale. But sometimes, that's not enough. In this article, we touched on how to stage the Vacant Home.
The Vacant Home never shows as well as a home that has been professionally staged. And, it usually sits longer on the market, too! Why? Because most Buyers can't picture themselves in a property with bare walls and empty floors. Can you?
Take a look at the images above. We have "virtually staged" the Sunroom and the Family Room of this new listing. Now tell me which images will attract more interest from buyers shopping on the Internet? (I vote for the "After" shots.)
Read the 3 Seller Scenarios prime for utilizing Staging for Selling and more about our process for staging vacant homes here.
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FEATURED TEAM MEMBER
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Kathy Sperl-Bell
It's been a hot real estate award season for the Team at Active Adults Realty. Our Brokerage was presented with the KHOV Top Brokerage Award for 2015 and our agents Bill Bell and Al Willis garnered top honors for New Castle County and Sussex County, respectively. We also received 55Places.com's honors as the #2 Team in the Country and most recently received our 7th All-Star Award from Constant Contact.
We're so happy to be recognized for our achievements in 2015. Our success stems from our strong online real estate presence developed over the many years specializing in Boomers and Beyond moving to Delaware.
Boomers ready for retirement need education on the advantages of relocating to Delaware, and we find it of paramount importance to share this knowledge with our clients. We make an effort to engage with our clients on various social media platforms and on our blog as well, providing the much needed resources needed to properly assist you in your retirement decisions and the destination.
We support our sellers through the focused marketing of their homes. We also educate our buyers on the local real estate market while communicating with them through targeted opt-in newsletters like this one.
Read more about Kathy Sperl-Bell here and click on the link to read about Active Adults Realty in the Cape Gazette's Business Milestone publication.
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ASK THE BROKER:
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How many homes will you buy and sell after retirement? I am not talking to real estate investors who buy and sell homes as a business. And I'm not talking to the Oprahs of the world who may continue to buy homes just because they can.
I am talking to you - Relocating Retirees - How many homes will you buy and sell in retirement?
Will you sell your family home and move to escape high property taxes? Will you go off on your own looking at 55+ active adult communities in an area you don't know at all? You'd be amazed at how many homes some clients have bought and sold, losing money each time. Why? What are they searching for? Read the top three scenarios that cost buyers big bucks... here.
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NON-PROFIT SPOTLIGHT
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We love Lewes in Bloom, the force behind many of Lewes' most beautiful garden spots. Lewes In Bloom, Inc. promotes the beautification and maintenance of Historic Lewes and the community at large. By doing so, historical preservation, urban forestry, environmental awareness and wide-ranging community involvement, in addition to floral displays and landscaping are enhanced for everyone's enjoyment.
Join the fun and support the organization's efforts by attending the Lewes Tulip Celebration April 7 - 16, 2016. According to the experts, "Warm weather has the "early" tulips beginning to peek out of the soil and are expected to be in full bloom by April 1. Other varieties of tulips are expected to bloom around the first week of April." Support Lewes In Bloom on Saturday, April 9. in Zwaanandael Park. They'll be selling a variety of plants, LIB merchandise and unique, handcrafted garden-themed items from 10am-3pm. Need a gift for special someone? Be one of the first to own a one-of-a-kind Lewes in Bloom Bangle Bracelet. It comes in a velvet pouch and is available in silver tone, copper tone or gold tone for $29. Email marbud16@comcast.net to order yours today. 
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Ten thousand people per day are turning 65 and Baby Boomers are just beginning to retire. Remember, Delaware is the sweet spot in the heart of the Mid-Atlantic Region ripe for new residents and Active Adults Realty is totally focused on providing real estate services to Baby Boomers.
If you, or if you know some one who could benefit from our expertise, please forward this newsletter to them, so they can started on the path to retirement in Delaware by Subscribing to Boomers and Beyond at the Beach/Off-season at the Beach, our FREE email newsletter and/or our Locals NOW!, our FREE email publication featuring local news and events.
Sincerely,
Kathy Sperl-Bell, Broker-Owner
Active Adults Realty
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