Retire Here: Discover the Coastal Charm of Sussex County, Delaware

I have a friend who lives part-time outside of Bethany Beach and she really loves it. It's her summer retreat since she wouldn't live there full-time because of what Barbra mentioned, growth and especially healthcare.

I'm looking for a place to continue retirement and even though I'm healthy right now there are no "trade-offs" that trump a good healthcare system. Even in areas where healthcare is rated good it's not that great these days!

This part of Delaware sounds like a great place to retire. I agree with Stevo that healthcare is a top "must" - even if we are healthy now that can change in an instant.

Is it a 55 community or not,' toddlers and mostly 55 and older' ?

How much money you need in retirement is too often the subject of articles for seniors. I don't see how someone can say you need $738,000 in savings, for example, to have a comfortable retirement. The analysis of how much one needs is far too personal and complex for such a statement. Is your home paid for or do you still have a mortgage? Is your car paid for? How is your health? How comprehensive are your home, car and health insurance policies? How much do you travel? Is your home new or older (money for repairs, maintenance), etc.,etc., etc.!!

Agreed. Seriously, how many retirees in West Virginia have over $700,000 saved? Most American retirees don’t even have $500,000 saved no matter what State they live in. If these amounts are true, the US is in big trouble.

Walden is not a 55 and up community and people of all ages can move to Walden. The 3 sections of Walden, when completed, will house over 750 people with an average of 2 per residence. Most people moving to Sussex County, DE are 55 and up and do not have school age children so Walden may have 50 children with time or less out of the total 750. Walden is an HOA community with an elected board that handles finances, community rules, legal issues, community maintenance, approval of resident group activities and any problems that arise and committees that handle HOA landscaping, HOA social events, etc. Many HOA social events are planned for adults and children throughout the year. There are various builders in Sussex Co. DE. and many communities similar to Walden. All have the same very low property taxes.

So what are The HOA fees?

I currently live in Hunterdon County, NJ. I have a former NJ neighbor who moved to Millsboro about 4 years ago and she is trying to convince me to move to DE also. Her parents relocated to Millsboro years ago. My neighbor built a new home on one acre with trees on a nice quiet cul-de-sac street with about a dozen homes – not a mega subdivision. They love living there. She lucked out. I am now looking for a home in Sussex County, but I am not impressed. All the new construction homes are in subdivisions on quarter acre or smaller lots. I need more elbow room. The lot should be at least a 1-acre lot, so I don't have to reach out my window and touch my next-door neighbor and I could have a side entry garage. And I need trees. Every subdivision has clear cut the entire area and made it devoid of trees. The prices of the new homes are ridiculous too and still going higher. The lower-priced homes (pre-owned) not in a subdivision need too much renovation to be livable, are mobile or manufactured homes and most are on very busy roads. I check out the real estate websites but nothing changes. All the new homes are cookie-cutter and look the same no matter what subdivision it is. The low DE property taxes make it tempting to move to DE but not if it is overdeveloped and lacks decent healthcare. The continuing sprawl of the large subdivisions is destroying all the farmland. There won’t be enough farmland to grow the corn needed for all the chicken companies in DE. Very disappointing. Makes me sorry I sold my NJ home on 4 acres. My town regulated subdivisions by increasing the minimum lot size for subdivisions to be 7 acres to keep the area rural and farmland. Yes, my property taxes were high, but I guess you get what you pay for – decent lot size, trees and better healthcare. I am re-thinking about moving to DE.

HOA fees at Walden are $125 per year, but that does not include lawn mowing. Most lots are 1/4-1/3 acre and there are houses with side load garages on the larger lots, some with 3 car garages also. Most Walden residents moved here from MD, Washington, DC, Virginia, NJ, NY, PA and other states and wanted less land than they had prior. Most do not want to mow or pay more than they have to for hired lawn mowers. Hired lawn mowers here charge about $600-$800 per year to mow the 1/4-1/3 acres lawns so do the math for a 1/2-1 acre lawn. Most people had wells installed for lawn and shrub irrigation only (about $3700,) as this 1 time cost is less expensive long term than Tidewater Utilities water and irrigation water use would double or triple on larger properties. Walden has 16 house models, with 4 or 5 front elevations each, a wide selection of siding, roof and front door colors so is NOT cookie cutter, varying from 1600-3642 sq. ft plus options to increase the sq. footage. The houses are modern and beautiful. Some less expensive builders with smaller homes may have a cookie cutter look but still have different front elevations, varying siding and front door colors. Resale homes are not all mobile or manufactured and a realtor can find a house suitable for any buyer. Custom builders may build small neighborhoods. Walden was built on farmland so there were no trees, but the developer planted many trees along the 2 adjacent roads and the HOA planted more. The builder planted a tree in the front of each house. Residents have also planted trees and crepe myrtles. Walden house base prices start at $545,000 (1652 sq. ft.) to $714,000 (3642 sq. ft.) minus discounts of $24,500 possible. Options will add more to the price. This builder has 19 developments in Sussex County and other builders have multiple developments. When comparing the price of Walden homes to many of the downstate NY, CT, NJ, NE Virginia and Washington, DC resale houses that some people sold for $1 million or more, those people can afford these houses. If they sold their houses anywhere for less, people looking at Walden can choose the size house they want and options so can manage the price of their new house. I have no desire to pay $10,000- $25,000 property taxes in NY or NJ on 2800 sq. ft. resale houses and now we pay $2200 property taxes on a new $3898 sq. ft. house 8 miles from the beach on 1/3 acre with lower maintenance costs. Much more acceptable for people 55 and up, many retired.