Last week we featured Audrey Hammond in our Active Adults Agents Close to Home series. She told us what she loves about living in Milford, with its beautiful downtown and rural setting thats an easy drive to the bay and ocean beaches.
This week we talked with Liz Kotyuk, who described the finer points of living at Tidewater Landing outside Lewes, and the smart tax benefits that come from downsizing to a lovely community in Delaware, with wonderful live music and great restaurants nearby.
What brought you to Delaware?
I went to the New Jersey beaches often in my young life and have dreamed of living near the beach for a long time. When we got ready to leave our home in Pennsylvania the New Jersey side was too expensive, so searching in Delaware was a no-brainer.
Tidewater Landing is a planned community with homes in the $500k to $800K range, just west of Route 1, and an easy drive to a lot of attractions. Tell us what its like.
Buyers should be aware that if affordability is at the top of their wish list they should stay West of Route 1 and perhaps a bit North of the popular beaches. Most of the new developments offer a pool and clubhouse along with walking trails. Some offer fire pit areas, pickleball courts, playgrounds and activities like book clubs and games at their club houses. Some even offer gyms equipped with new, modern equipment.
(Prompted by that description, well add that Tidewater Landing also has a lovely setting on the shore of Love Creek. Its a beautiful place along one of the many inland waterways, with a fishing pier and kayak launch surrounded by nature trails. Residents also enjoy a sparking pool, sun deck and tennis courts near the club house where Liz is becoming a billiard master extraordinaire).
What types of leisure activities are close-to-home?
There are so many things to do just about every day, and certainly on weekends. One of my favorite pastimes is going down to Selbyville to the Freeman Pavilion, where you can see great local and nationally-known bands five or six days a week. Harringtons is a casino that also has music and many local restaurants also have bands, so theres no shortage of music and dancing.
We also enjoy kayaking and taking the ferry to Cape May, New Jersey to walk around. The shopping and sightseeing in nearby Berlin, Maryland are fun as well.
Any discussion about local activities would be incomplete without spotlighting Delawares cuisine scene. What are some of your favorite restaurants?
Hands down, Half Full is my favorite for specialty pizza, and Striper Bites runs a close second. (both restaurants are in downtown Lewes, a 10-minute drive from Tidewater Landing). We also like take-out from Full Belly Bistro (located off Savannah Road near The Villages of Five Points, which also offers downtown stores and dining). Taco Reho is another great place for take-out or eating in. Bethany Blues was one of our first finds and remains a favorite.
Like you, lots of folks are moving to Delaware from other nearby states. What are some other tips based on your experiences?
We downsized to a ranch style home with a basement thats about 800 square feet less than what we owned in Pennsylvania. Truth be told, it took about a year to adjust and really decide what to donate or pass along to people. Looking back now, I love living with less, all on one floor. It seems easier to find the door and go out and enjoy the area!
Many production builders have created neighborhoods that, for the most part, have amenities that people are looking for. That comes as a cost, so homeowners association (HOA) fees are very common. There are also many construction companies that will build on your lot if youre lucky enough to find one thats been tested for placement of a well and septic system (assuming city water and septic are not an option). So dont rule out custom building if thats your dream.
All in all I find buyers love the low taxes in Delaware and since home prices fluctuate everywhere these days educating people on all of the options is a step were happy to take!
We also love to talk about history and cultural attractions. What are some of your favorites?
Sussex County, and Lewes in particular, are rich in history. There are quaint museums to tour, visits to graveyards that tell touching stories on headstones, and a certain house near the canal in Lewes with a cannonball from the war in 1912 embedded in its oundation.
The Lewes Historical Society has tours thatll show you lots of memorabilia and artifacts from amazing times in our history.
I also want to learn just about everything I can about marine animals and plant life. I enjoy taking in the salt air and hope to take painting or photography classes in the near future. Here in Delaware it seems like the world is your oyster (pun intended)!