Why Many are Calling Delaware Beaches Their Second Home
By Julie Matthews
Are you or somebody you know considering purchasing a second home in the Delaware beaches vicinity? What’s not to love here? Laid-back, relaxing, beautiful beaches and shorelines; high-quality cuisine; and boundless activities for everyone of all ages. Delaware’s beaches are a favorite beach resort more and more visitors are making their home.
Redefining Lifestyles
The Delaware beaches—including Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach, Bethany Beach, Lewes and Fenwick Island in Sussex County—have become an increasingly popular destination for second-home buyers. A second home in this area allows homeowners to escape to the beach on the weekends and leave behind the hustle and bustle and everyday stresses they may experience living or working in the more congested, larger cities such as Baltimore and Philadelphia. For just a few hours on the road, they can get away to a whole different atmosphere, full of natural beauty, without having to travel too far.
Living at one of Delaware’s beaches is especially appealing for people in retirement or close to their retirement years. A second home allows them to test the waters, so to speak, for their new life in a different location. They may be seeking beach life; however, moving down south to the Carolinas or Florida may be too far or big of a change. They may not be quite ready to leave their “forever” home and community where they have laid down roots. Having a bonus home at the Delaware beaches, they can travel back and forth between their real lives and their retired lives. If they have family back home, they can still have the flexibility of attending important family events.
Practical Perks
Delaware beaches offer their residents, whether primary or second-home residents, a high quality of life in a relaxed beach atmosphere. Delaware residents enjoy a number of desirable financial incentives, including tax-free shopping and low property taxes. Furthermore, here homebuyers often get more for their money compared to some other beach resort areas on the East Coast. As far as cost-of-living measures, Delaware is a comparably more affordable option when looking at some of its neighboring states. In addition, Delaware’s centralized location on the East Coast is convenient, and its smaller geographical size and population makes it fairly easy to navigate within.
The fact that a significant amount of new planned communities, including 55-plus communities, are cropping up in the area is definitely a major draw to this region. Neighborhoods are being built in previously rural areas just outside of the beach towns. These newer communities are full of amenities, such as clubhouses, pools and recreational activities for residents. The newer construction of these communities offer owners low maintenance living and convenience, which are important factors for those in retirement.
Endless Entertainment
While its beaches are the main attraction, this area offers visitors and residents a wide array of activities that expand beyond the beach providing residents a well-rounded lifestyle. For recreational activities they can head to the water for some fishing, boating or kayaking. Or they can hit the trails at one of the nearby state parks for hiking and bicycling, or tee off at one of the many golf courses in the area.
Shopping enthusiasts have a variety of shopping options from local beach stores to charming boutiques and antique stores to the Tanger Outlets. Of course, the area boasts an impressive dining scene with numerous fine dining options including award-winning restaurants with outstanding coastal cuisine to casual beach dining. A relaxing day at the spa can be easily arranged at one of the area’s spas, and for those wanting an exciting outing on the town there are numerous breweries and wineries—and even a casino a short distance away.
All of these great benefits make Delaware Beaches an excellent choice for calling it home.
