Sussex County (Lower Delaware) Waterfront Home News

The top waterfront communities in the East Coast can be found in Sussex County. If you’re looking for ultimate luxurious living with great weather and beach fun all day long, then these spots are perfect for you. A lot of these homes may be more expensive than your average retirement options but you can be sure that every detail is worth it down to the last penny.

Seashore Luxury
Ocean Drive in South Bethany has a number of top quality homes fronting the Atlantic Coast. On the average, expect to shell out around $3,000,000 to be a few meters away from the cool waters. Houses in the area are around 20 years old but you can be sure that these are made only of the finest materials for optimum weather-resistance and durability. The average price can get you 8 bedrooms with baths on an 8,500 square foot lot. The house has 5 master suites as well with 3 having a breathtaking view of the ocean. There are lots of space for vehicles, storage and other extra spaces like a wide backyard and side yard.

The houses typically have asphalt shingle roofing, carpet, tile and vinyl floors and a cedar and redwood exterior. Usually, homes are sold including a number of appliances such as pre-wired cable television, dishwasher, dryer, refrigerator with ice maker, electric oven, washer and gas range. Ceiling fans, door and window insulation, skylights and window treatments may also be included. House designs can vary such as traditional, country and contemporary.

If you prefer smaller living space, South Edgewater in Bethany Beach may be right for you. You get to have a 2-bedroom and 2-bathroom home for as low as $1,000,000 while still being very close to the Atlantic Coast. There are facilities such as an indoor swimming pool and fitness center. The structures are very well-made with metal roof and stone exterior. Centralized air-conditioning is available to fully balance the breeze at different times of the day. Appliances and interior features like window treatments, window and door insulation plus built-in bookcases are present too. These spaces may come in the form of single or double level houses, condominiums or apartments. Prices can differ depending on the age and size of the area.

Cozy Beach Living
At almost $4,000,000, you can get your dream country home. Ocean Drive in Rehoboth Beach also has a number of North Shores single family homes featuring 5 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms. You get to have a great view of the ocean at one side and more captivating green and grassy sceneries at the other end. Houses usually have a cedar or redwood exterior, shingle roof and hardwood and tile flooring.

Included appliances in most models are dishwasher, dryer, refrigerator, ice maker, microwave, washer and electric oven. Other interior features include ceiling fans, vaulted ceilings, walk-in closets and a whirlpool tub. Heat pumps as well as central AC for heating and cooling are available too although most residents enjoy the natural ocean breeze.

Sussex County offers you the best waterfront homes you’ve always dreamed of. Whether you’re a single retiree, living with your spouse with all kids gone or a striving family man, you will surely find the right spot by the Atlantic Coast. Delaware 55+ communities are widely known for providing high quality living and comfort for many years to come.

Water View Properties
There are so many places in Delaware where you can be very close to the water as well as still be conveniently near the town action. The top water view properties would be found in Rehoboth Beach, Fenwick Island and Ocean View. Real estate and homes in these areas tend to be more expensive compared to other communities but you will surely be very close to events and beach fun too.

Ocean View has several wonderful communities featuring the majestic Atlantic Coast as a backdrop such as Bear Trap, Bethany Bay, Sandy Cove and Cedar Shores. You will find prime homes available aging around 20 years. Standard beachside homes have around 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms at least at an average price of $700,000. Bigger areas estimating around 6,500 square feet or more can reach up to $1,500,000 or more. Some beachside homes come with extra facilities as well like indoor swimming pool, Jacuzzi and whirlpool tub. There’s lots of room for vehicles plus a huge side and backyard for vegetation. Homes in Ocean View are only meters away from the waves.

Bethany Bay in Ocean View has many available waterfront homes so prices tend to drop as the number of properties for sale increase. Pettinaro is a new community with homes aging around 10 years or less. The houses in this area are not too close to shore but you still get to have the nice water view while spending less on maintenance and repair due to the constant pounding of sea elements on most beachside homes. There are apartments, cottages, condominiums and single family homes in Pettinaro having an average area of 2,000 square feet including 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.

Long Neck Delaware Housing Options
Long Neck is another beautiful waterfront area in Sussex County where you will find very affordable homes and lots. Average price of 2,000 square feet area properties can be anywhere from $400,000 to $650,000. Homes usually have two levels which includes 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Non-waterfront homes can go as low as $150,000 although you may be able to get a glimpse of nearby streams and forestry outside your window.

Long Neck also features coastal cottages which are influenced by the 1960s. These properties are very ideal for retirees and couples since space is well-maximized and maintenance is never a problem. The standard model includes 3 bedrooms and 2 baths on a 1,000 square feet area. The cottage has wood exterior, shingle roof and hardwood flooring that can come quite useful against the ocean elements. The coastal cottages also come semi-furnished with gas range, centralized air-conditioning, sofas, chairs, beds, light fixtures and refrigerator. On the outside, landscaping is already done too.

You may be baffled about making the final decision whether or not to buy that wonderful beach house and property in Rehoboth Beach. You may still be considering other beautiful waterfront lots in other Delaware communities. It is surely a tough call when all these places have their unique strengths and advantages. Here are some tips on how to get the best deal.

The Ground
Since you’re going to live very close to the ocean or a body of water, it is important to consider the elements that can affect your home in the long run. Houses near the beach are more likely to experience heavy pounding constantly compared to others located in remote parts of town. Heat, moisture, sand and wind are the most common things to deal with. First, assess the ground in which the structure or house stands. The quality of the soil should be perfect in keeping the house stable. Even if it is sandy, there are several engineering approaches that focus on maintaining the strength of the waterfront home for years to come. You may also need to consider if the soil is conducive for planting and growing a lawn.

 The View
The price of the property may significantly be influenced by the view. Since you’re planning on a waterfront home, it is important that you take advantage of the location by getting the view you’ve always wanted without any compromise. Check which part or room of the house best features the ocean. Assess which direction the sun rises and sets because later on, this may become more of an annoyance if light and heat directly focuses on your bedroom at some point during the day. If you’re buying a ready-made house, consider the aspects that best compliment the view like frame windows, French doors and skylights. It is better to choose structures that already have complimentary factors with regards to the outside view instead of spending more renovating just to get the look you want. The floor plan is very important to consider since the house may be adjusted significantly just to get the perfect view. The terrain may have been moved or inclined which increases the risk for soil erosion. Make sure you get a nice view and a stable floor plan at the same time.

Know Your Neighbors
Talk to other homeowners in the area especially the ones beside yours. Ask them about problems they’ve encountered in the structure and location. Ask your neighbors how long they have been living in the area as well as the price they originally got their property for. This way, you will have an idea how much home rates have changed over a number of years. You may also want to know where the most convenient commercial areas are like the grocery, doctor’s clinic and school. Check if you feel very warm and comfortable with your future community. There are also a number of annual events and community festivals in most Delaware communities so you may want to determine these to find the right waterfront property that best matches your taste and lifestyle.

South Shore Marina, near the mouth of the Indian River Inlet.
A private gated community and as the name suggest, there is a marina.

Winding Creek Village, Lewes Delaware
Semi-affordable waterfront community located on Guinea Creek which flows into the Rehoboth Bay.

Cape Shores, Lewes Delaware
An exclusive beach community located on beautiful sandy beaches of the Delaware Bay directly next door to Cape Henlopen State Park.

Joy Beach, Lewes Delaware
A mixture of classic fisherman’s shanties and new construction beach homes. Both bay and canal front homes are available.

Broadkill Beach, Milton Delaware
Broadkill offers waterfront homes similar to those found in Lewes, Rehoboth and Bethany for a fraction of the price. They ain’t cheap, but you can pick one up for less than $600,000 whereas a beach block home in Lewes, Rehoboth or Bethany is more likely to fetch Millions. You might want to make your purchase quickly. Once the word gets out they too will be priced out of reach for anyone but the Gordon Gecko’s of the world.

Bay Vista, in Rehoboth Beach is a community in transition. This neighborhood is home to nearly 190 homes many of which are located along a canal or have views of Rehoboth Bay. Currently (6Nov2007) there are nine homes for sale in Bay Vista with prices ranging from $399.999 - $1,599,000. That’s quite a price spread. I’m guessing in the not so distant future many of the older smaller homes will be removed and replaced. The community also contains a small boat marina with access to the Lewes Rehoboth Canal which leads out into the Rehoboth and Delaware bays and eventually the Atlantic Ocean. A boat trip to the Ocean or Delaware Bay would take about thirty minutes on an average power boat. There are also a number of restaurants and bars which you can visit by boat including but not limited to the following list:

Irish Eyes Pub in Lewes Harbor
The Lighthouse Restaurant in Lewes Harbor
The Rusty Rudder in Dewy Beach
The Lighthouse in Dewey Beach
Serendipity Restaurant in Oak Orchard on the Indian River Bay

Click the link to see the available Bay Vista Rehoboth Beach Homes

Where are the best deals in Delaware waterfront property?

First let me tell you where they are not.

Rehoboth Beach:
It’s rare to find a waterfront home in Rehoboth for less than $3 Million Dollars.
Lewes:
Waterfront prices are not much less expensive than Rehoboth. Expect to pay at least $2.5 Million Dollars.
Dewey Beach, Bethany Beach and Fenwick Island all have similar high prices.

So where are the real Deals? The answer is Broadkill Beach, Primehook Beach and Slaughter Beach!

Broadkill Beach currently (Nov5th 2007) has 23 properties for sale ranging from $435K - $1.5 Million with an average price of $709,318 Primehook Beach currently only has one home for sale priced at $725,000 but it is a community of approximately 226 homes with similar prices to Broadkill. The town of Slaughter Beach contains 409 houses and currently 10 of them are for sale with a low price of $279,900 and a high of $850,000. The current average price for homes in Slaughter Beach is $544,760

While homes priced between $544,760 and $709,318 may not seem like a bargain to everyone they certainly are when compared to the prices in Rehoboth, Lewes and Bethany. As the old adage states “Waterfront, they aren’t makin any more of it”. Supply and demand tells us anything in limited quantities becomes more valuable. All three of these communities will be solid investments.