The Best Real Estate Team for Seniors & Retirees in Delaware
Looking for the Best Real Estate Agent for Seniors in Delaware?
If you're 55 or older and thinking about downsizing, relocating, or moving into an active adult community, the agent you choose matters more than most people realize. Active Adults Realty® is a Delaware brokerage built specifically around the needs of retirees and their families — not a side specialty we added on. Our Professional Advisors help you compare communities, understand HOA fees and amenities, and negotiate on your behalf, at no extra cost to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES)?
A Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES) is a Realtor® who has completed additional training focused on the needs of home buyers and sellers age 50 and older, including downsizing, senior housing options, and using retirement accounts in a real estate transaction. Christine Davis, Associate Broker-Owner of Active Adults Realty®, holds the SRES designation. We consider any client planning ahead for retirement a "senior" client — we like to say we work with "Boomers and Beyond."
Does it cost more to use a buyer's agent when purchasing in an active adult community?
No. Working with a Realtor®, including one with SRES and Accredited Buyer's Representative (ABR) certifications, generally costs you nothing extra. Whether you buy an existing home, new construction, or a home in an active adult community, the broker commission is paid at settlement out of the seller's proceeds in the vast majority of transactions. The exception is a home listed for sale by owner.
Why not just work directly with the builder's sales office?
A salesperson at a new home community works for the builder, and their job is to sell you a home in that specific community — nothing else. They have no obligation to tell you about a better-fitting community nearby or one that hasn't launched yet. A Buyer's Agent works for you: our goal is to help you find the right home at the right price and negotiate on your behalf. You will not pay less by going directly to a builder without your own representation, no matter what you may have heard.
Is an active adult community right for everyone 55+?
No single option fits everyone. Active adult communities are a great fit for many people, but Delaware also has non-age-restricted neighborhoods, and great options in resort towns like Rehoboth Beach and Lewes, as well as inland towns like Milton, Milford, and Georgetown. The right choice depends on your lifestyle, budget, and plans — which is exactly what a Seniors Real Estate Specialist helps you sort through.
About Delaware
At Active Adults Realty® we focus on the people, not the places. We do make it our business to learn all about the different communities so that we can help our clients make good choices.
We help our clients research future retirement housing options, buy a second home that may become a full time residence in the future or sell the large family home and look for more appropriate housing that will provide years of comfortable living. Our younger clients include Boomers that are helping parents find more accessible housing so that they can continue to live independently.
When you are ready to think about buying a second/vacation home or a retirement home nearby or in a new town, it's important to work with people that you trust and feel comfortable with, whatever your age or motivation. That includes not only a Realtor® to represent you, but also a financial advisor, mortgage consultant, an attorney, and other trusted advisors.
Christine Davis, Associate Broker-Owner, Active Adults Realty®, is a Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES). A senior client by our definition is anyone planning ahead for their retirement. We sometimes call our clients "Boomers and Beyond"!. Some key points to remember –
- Only a Realtor® can become an SRES and many with that specialization are also certified as an Accredited Buyers Representative (ABR).
- Working through a Realtor®, even one with an ABR and SRES certification generally costs you nothing extra. Whether you buy an existing home, a new home or a home in an Active Adult Community, any broker commission is paid at settlement out of the Sellers' proceeds. Exceptions may include a home listed For Sale by Owner.
- You will not pay less for a home in an Active Adult Community or any other new home community if you go to them directly without representation by your own Buyer's Agent, no matter what you may have heard.
- A Buyer's Agent is responsible to his/her client - you. It is your agent's goal to help you find the right house at the right price for you and negotiate on your behalf.
- A sales person at any new home community is an employee of the builder and has one objective - to sell you one of their homes in that particular community. They will not tell you about another community in the area or one that is coming soon that may suit you better.
You Won't Go Unprotected
There is no one solution that fits everyone. Active Adult Communities are not the right answer for everyone in the target age group of 55+. It is a great option for many, and there are different communities to consider.
At the Delaware Beaches and surrounding areas, always a popular vacation home and retirement home choice for people from the Mid Atlantic Region, there are both Active Adult and Non-Age Restricted communities. There are also great housing options in the resort towns of Rehoboth Beach or Lewes and wonderful towns a little further inland like Milton, Milford, Georgetown and others. Developing a client relationship with a qualified Seniors Real Estate Specialist is the best way to get all the information you need to make a good real estate decision for your future.
Ready to Talk to a Professional Advisor Who Understands Your Timeline?
Whether you're just starting to explore options or ready to tour communities this month, our Professional Advisors are here to help — with no pressure and no cost to you as a buyer.