That’s what I’ve been up to my eyeballs in this past week as we’ve slowly been moving in to our new Delaware beach home. It feels really good to finally be using some of our own stuff again instead of squatting at other people’s homes — but it doesn’t make moving any less chaotic.

My husband and I have moved seven times in seven years of marriage. Two of those moves have been major transatlantic moves, hauling our small smattering of earthly possessions 6,000 miles each way. Two others have been cross-country moves, trekking a moving truck 1,000 miles each way. This is simply to say that we’ve been through most everything when it comes to moving.

Yet each time, I forget about those basic things you want to have on hand that first week, when I honestly don’t know where anything is. Every move I make, I’m reminded of that feeling of chaos, of helplessness, of not being able to do the most basic of things (drink of water, anyone?) without certain items within arm’s reach.

So here’s my list of those absolutely essential things you want to have on hand from Day 1 of moving into a new Delaware resort community. These are the things you’ll want to bring in your first load, and will want to locate easily all throughout the moving process.

Basic to human survival.

Photo by Pascal

• water — If you can drink water straight out of the faucet, consider yourself blessed. If you need some sort of filtering system to make it palatable, bring a Brita pitcher. If your water is laced with arsenic, as it was in our most recent host country, then find out STAT how to find water you can drink without poisoning yourself.

• cups or bottles for drinking water

• sippy cups for your little ones

• dried snacks that don’t require utensils

• basic food stuffs — bread, peanut butter, apples, nuts, crackers, granola, yogurt, and milk do the trick for our family.

• nonbreakable plates, bowls, and utensils — It’s nice to not worry about storing your regular dishes somewhere where kids can’t accidentally knock them over (and with boxes everywhere, chances are high). Picnicware is great for this.

• napkins

So that you can actually function.

Photo by Linus Bohman

• flashlights

• keys

• cell phones

• a designated spot for flashlights, keys, and cell phones – Amidst the chaos, these things are easily lost. Claim one counter or shelf as the place for all of these things.

• light bulbs

• toilet paper

• money

Cleaning supplies.

Photo by Barret Anspach

• paper towels and/or cloth rags

• all-purpose cleaner*

• glass cleaner*

• floor cleaner*

* Shameless plug — I’ve got homemade recipes for these — and tons more — in my ebook

• bucket

• sponges

• broom

• dustpan

• basic towels for the kitchen

In order to spend the night in your new home.

Photo by Andy

• bedding for the kids — pillows, blankets, and some sort of pallet (a mattress on the floor, a sleeping bag, whatever). Include their “thing” they have to sleep with, such as a blankie or stuffed animal. It would be a long night without those in our home.

• curtains for the kids’ room — If your kids wake at sunrise, do your best to outfit their room with curtains as soon as possible.

• jammies for the kids

• change of clothes for the kids — Actually, you might want several changes on hand, if you think they may get messy throughout the day.

• favorite toys and books for the kids — Just a few of their best-loved items to keep them occupied and happy.

• nightlights for the kids — If they need them

• bedding for the adults

• jammies for the adults

• one hand towel per bathroom

• one bath towel per person

• basic toiletries — toothbrushes and toothpaste, soap, and the like

I can’t say we’ve remembered all of this ahead of time for this current move of ours, but we’ve done fairly well. If you’ve got a move on the horizon, perhaps this list will get you going for those first few days of “survival mode” in your new Delaware golf community.

by Written by Tsh Oxenreider
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According to an annual report released Wednesday by the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Bay and coastal beaches in Maryland and Delaware ranked among the cleanest in the nation. Delaware beaches rank second in the nation for having the cleanest beach water. The council analyzed 2009 government data on water quality at more than 3,000 beaches nationwide in its annual report, “Testing the Waters: A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches.”

Two Delaware beaches — Cape Henlopen State Park and Rehoboth Beach — earned four stars in the report’s five-star rating guide for 200 of the most popular U.S. beaches. Maryland’s Ocean City at Beach 6 also earned four stars, while none of New Jersey’s beaches earned more than three stars. Ratings are based on water quality, monitoring frequency and public notification of contamination. Only two percent of samples across 25 of the state’s beaches exceeded the national health standard for contamination.

Delmarva-area beaches ranked among the cleanest in the nation, with 278 closing and advisory days. In Delaware, there were 94 closing and advisory days in 2009, up from 11 in 2008. Nearly all of those closings and advisories were caused by storm water runoff pollution.

The report ranked New Hampshire first in the nation for cleanest beach water.

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Original article by Nicole Gaudiano, News Journal Washington Bureau, July 28, 2010

Retirement beckons, and you have many real estate choices to make. Do you downsize or relocate, or do you stay in a home in which you have a large amount of equity – or even own outright? If you sell, how much of the proceeds should you put into the new home versus savings or investments?

First off, know that if you want to finance the purchase, federal law prohibits lenders from denying you a mortgage loan based on your age. But most people’s income drops during retirement, so they might not qualify for as large a loan as in the past, says Pamela Hamrick, LendingTree Loans’ vice president of operations.

If you do take out a mortgage in retirement, it’s important to plan ahead for higher monthly expenses, such as property tax increases, or ballooning homeowners’ insurance premiums like those seen in Florida after the 2005 hurricane season, she says. “It all goes back to making sure you’ve got enough money somewhere for those potential changes, especially when you get on in years.”

Eve Kaplan of Kaplan Financial Advisors in Berkeley Heights, NJ, sometimes suggests 15-year mortgages for people who are still working, because their payments end sooner. People planning to live in a new home for only 10 or 15 years before moving into a retirement community should consider taking on a bigger mortgage rather than sinking most of their cash from the sale of a previous home into the property, she says. But interest-only or adjustable-rate mortgages can be a disaster for people heading into retirement, she cautions.

Financial planner Kenneth Robinson of Cleveland suggests asking yourself the following questions:

1. Does just the idea of having a mortgage make you nervous?

2. How reliable is the income you would have to draw upon to make the payment?

3. Are you used to paying a mortgage every month, or has the prior home been paid off for some time? The more a mortgage payment is a regular part of their lives, the more comfortable they are likely to be to keep it.

4. How aggressively or cautiously do you expect to invest in retirement? If the after-tax cost of the mortgage is less than the after-tax benefit of investing the money, having more money to invest starts to look good.

But Jim Ludwick of MainStreet Financial Planning in Odenton, MD, recommends putting from 75 percent to 100 percent of the net proceeds from the home sale into the new property. “Most middle-class clients that I deal with prefer not to have a mortgage in retirement and like to think about using a reverse mortgage in an emergency,” he says.

And Andrew Tignanelli, president of The Financial Consulate in Lutherville, MD, adds this thought:

“I have a saying for this exact situation. ‘If you are looking to make money in retirement, then consider a small, moderate mortgage. If you are looking for peace and contentment, then stay debt-free.’ ”

It’s a complicated question, so sort through your options carefully to decide how to balance your debt, investments and savings.

03-10-2007 2:48 PM by RE.com Tips & Tools
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Boasting over 2,000 square feet of living space, these luxurious 3-bedroom, 2 ½-bath homes come complete with first floor owner’s suite, large owner’s bath, 9’ ceilings, and elegant dining room. New home owners will welcome the open-style kitchen that connects right into the beautiful two-story great room. The Cypress Point includes a loft that affords additional living space on the second floor that overlooks the two-story great room! Many custom features assist home owners with customizing their new home, including the availability of an optional sunroom. A one-car garage is included with two-car sizing optional on some home sites.

“The Cypress Point is a wonderful addition to our community and provides a new value niche for Bayside,” said Doug Brown, Vice President of Community Development for The Carl M. Freeman Companies. Todd Hickman, Division Manager/Vice President of NV Homes commented, “This new townhome to Bayside is a great fit for the resort lifestyle the community offers and provides spacious living areas for today’s active families.”

When complete, the Bayside community will comprise more than 1,600 homes. The outstanding Bayside resort amenities include: a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, The Freeman Stage for Performing Arts, two community pools, stocked ponds, a carousel park & playground, nature trails, tennis complex, and more. All of this is just 4-miles to the Atlantic Ocean beaches. For exciting Cypress Point townhome details, please visit www.LiveBayside.com.

The Carl M. Freeman Companies were founded by Carl M. Freeman in 1947 and later led by Mr. Freeman’s son, Joshua M. Freeman from the early 1990s through 2006. The Freeman Companies are real estate developers focused on commercial and community development and redevelopment in the mid-Atlantic region. Visit www.FreemanCompanies.com for more information.

Contact: Patti Grimes, Vice President, info@livebayside.com
36220 Lighthouse Road (Rt. 54), Selbyville, DE  19975 • VOICE: 302-436-3003

The 7,300-square foot clubhouse, with a 22-foot high cathedral ceiling leading to a glass cupola includes a fully outfitted Pro Shop, multiple great room-style open spaces for large-scale entertaining, and The Cove Bar & Grill. The Cove is complete with one of the area’s more significant bars featuring multiple flat screen TVs perfect for watching the sporting event of the day and 120-feet of glass providing breathtaking views of the golf course and community. Outside the clubhouse boasts a spectacular deck overlooking the pond and fountain at the 18th green, and large fire pit to add a little heat to any event.

“This is a tremendous addition to our magnificent community and beautiful Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course,” said Tom Halverstadt, Sr. Vice President for The Carl M. Freeman Companies. “It’s only natural that a golf course this beautiful would have a first class, architecturally stunning clubhouse facility and we think we’ve delivered that to our homeowners, members and guests,” Halverstadt went on to say.

“This truly complements our renowned golf course and is a wonderful addition to our community,” said Doug Brown, Vice President of Community Development. “The Bayside community continues to grow and thrive and The Cove Bar & Grill is a great gathering place for community residents, members and guests to celebrate the lifestyle that Bayside offers,” Brown continued.

Bayside currently features more than 500-residential homes and offers resort amenities including a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, two community pools, a Carousel Park & Playground, recreational trails, tennis complex, and outdoor stage (The Freeman Stage) for performances, and much more. For more information, please visit www.livebayside.com.

The Carl M. Freeman Companies were founded by Carl M. Freeman in 1947 and later led by Mr. Freeman’s son, Joshua M. Freeman from the early 1990s through 2006. The Freeman Companies are real estate developers, focused on commercial and community development and redevelopment in the mid-Atlantic region. Visit www.freemancompanies.com for more information.

Many baby boomers will likely be buying with an eye on retirement. (Four out of 10 surveyed who already own a vacation property said they eventually intend to retire to live there year-round.)

Baby boomers planning to retire in a few years may also be motivated to buy a second home now while interest rates are low, and before property values in their chosen location potentially increase. And by investing in a vacation property early on, they get a place where they can spend quality time with their children and grandchildren before they retire.

So what are boomers looking to buy? Some things boomers look for in a second home are:

Recreational property.

Boomers are living healthier and longer lives and desire vacation property where there is an abundance of leisure activities to enjoy such as hiking, golfing and skiing.

Small town or rural location.

Three out of five boomers surveyed said they’d prefer to retire to a small town or rural area. Only 12 percent said they’d prefer to retire in an urban or city setting.

A home in a Sunbelt region.

Florida and other traditional Sunbelt regions remain popular retirement locales.

Property close to home.

Boomers looking for a second home to enjoy for weekend escapes typically look for property within two hours’ driving distance of their current home.

The option to rent.

Vacation property that can be rented out to cover some of the expenses involved is considered desirable.

A suitable place to retire.

Access to quality health care and other amenities are important considerations in a second home that’s eventually intended to become a primary residence.

A tax advantage.

Those planning to eventually sell their primary residence and move into their vacation home can get a double tax advantage. They can claim a capital gains tax exemption on the profits from the sale of their first home of up to $250,000 if they’re a single home owner or up to $500,000 if they’re married. Then, if they purchase a second home which they subsequently convert into their new primary residence, and live in that home for at least two out of the five years before they put it on the market, that property will also become eligible for the same preferential tax treatment as their first home. (Consult an accountant or financial advisor for more information on the capital gains tax exemption and how it may impact your own personal tax situation.)

Baby boomers represent a large percentage of the population and have, for years, dominated the real estate market: Nearly four out of five already own homes. So it’s not surprising that now, having reached their peak earning years, many are regarding another investment in real estate as a way to achieve their retirement goals.

Read full article at realestate.com

Original publication:  June 14, 2007

The welcome frenzy of the home buyer tax credit has begun to fade from Delaware’s residential market, but signs of natural momentum and greater stability remain, real estate agents say.

While far fewer sales contracts were signed in May than last year in both Kent and New Castle counties, far more deals went to closing than in May 2009, driven by the momentum of the tax-credit program that expired in April. Sussex County sales, on the other hand, were up across the board as vacation-home buyers responded to summer’s approach.

“I feel like buyers are tired of waiting for the shoe to drop. They seem to have the money. They certainly want to be here,” said Lauren Alberti of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Bethany Beach.

Sale prices were off in Kent by 1.1 percent and in New Castle by 7 percent from last May, but rose a solid 11 percent in Sussex, according to the Sussex County Association of Realtors.

With buyers’ chances of getting an $8,000 tax credit gone, Kent saw 20 percent fewer contracts signed in May than last year, and New Castle was off 31 percent.

Tax-credit deals were still driving settlements throughout May, however — closings were up 40 percent in Kent, and 34 percent in New Castle, according to Trend MLS. Contract signings were up 8.1 percent in Sussex, and settlements rose 10.7 percent.

“I think realism has set in some, and the sellers are saying, ‘If there’s a buyer out there and we can come to terms, let’s do it,’ ” Alberti said. “There was a time where buyers wanted the sellers to leave blood on the floor.”

Year-to-date, sales are up 31 percent compared with the same period last year in Kent, 15 percent in New Castle. Year-to-date prices are down 4.3 percent in Kent, 2.6 percent in New Castle. Sussex does not calculate year-to-date data.

DELAWARE HOME SALES FOR MAY

CONTRACTS SIGNED
May 2009
New Castle: 455, Sussex: 298, Kent: 126
May 2010
Sussex: 322, New Castle: 313, Kent: 101

UNITS SOLD
May 2009
New Castle: 419, Sussex: 225, Kent: 95
May 2010
New Castle: 562, Sussex: 249, Kent: 133

SALE PRICE
May 2009
Kent: $212,158, New Castle: $247,959. Sussex: $290,813
May 2010
Sussex: $322,185, New Castle: $230,425, Kent: $209,759

Source: Trend MLS, Sussex County Association of Realtors
By ERIC RUTH • The News Journal • June 12, 2010

Property Tax Deductions

IRS Publication 530 contains tax information for first-time home buyers. Real estate property taxes paid for a first home and a vacation home are fully deductible for income tax purposes. While property taxes are collected at the local level, by counties, cities and towns, the rate is capped by the state government, meaning that the local government cannot exceed the maximum. This also means that rates will vary by location, so do your research first to find the lowest rates in the state. Remember, though, that property taxes are the primary means of generating revenue for local use, with much of it going towards education, roads and often emergency services.

Some of the highest state taxes in the country are located in the Northeast, such as New Jersey, New Hampshire, New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts. Lowest rates belong to the Southern states which include Arkansas, Mississippi, West Virginia, Alabama and Louisiana. All but five states collect sales tax on purchased items. These exemptions include Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon. For more information on your particular state, go to the official government page found here. Most states do have property tax relief programs in place for those who are struggling to keep up.

Again, programs vary from state-to-state, so it’s worth looking into if you think you may qualify for assistance, credit or a rebate. Read the article, “State Tax – How much will I have to pay if I move to another state? for more state tax information.

The residential real estate industry is counting on low mortgage rates to stimulate sales, but long-term borrowing costs inched up this week, according to Freddie Mac.

Freddie Mac (NYSE: FRE) says a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.79 percent in the week ending June 3, up from 4.78 percent last week, just above the lowest levels of the year.

A 15-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.2 percent, the lowest since Freddie Mac began tracking 15-year mortgages in 1991.

A one-year adjustable-rate mortgage was unchanged at 3.95 percent, considerably lower than the 4.81 percent one-year ARMS were averaging a year ago.

“There are also signs that credit conditions may be improving,” said Freddie Mac chief economist Frank Nothaft. “The number of homeowners with private mortgage insurance who became current on their mortgages outnumbered those who defaulted for the third month in a row in April, according to the Mortgage Insurance Companies of America.”

Pending sales of existing homes in April rose 6 percent, the third straight monthly increase, reaching the highest levels in six months, the National Association of Realtors reported this week.

The homebuyer tax credit expired at the end of April, leaving low mortgage rates as the main incentive for buyers entering the market.

Read the original article: Freddie Mac: Mortgage rates edge higher – Business Journal