Why Delaware?

Top Ten Reasons

Top 10 Reasons To Live in Delaware
There are many great reasons to call Delaware home.  Here are a few of our favorites.

1)  SIGNIFICANT TAX ADVANTAGES
•  NO state sales tax.
•  NO state tax on Social Security benefits.
•  NO personal property taxes:  one of the lowest property tax rates in the nation!  First time home buyers in Delaware may be eligible for a federal income tax credit of up to $2,000/year.
•  Named "Most Tax Friendly State" by Kiplinger (2014).

2)  GREAT LOCATION
Delaware is within driving distance of several regional hubs including Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington D.C., & New York City.

3)  STUNNING NATURAL RESOURCES
Incredible beaches, state & county parks, and miles of biking & hiking trails.

Delaware boasts 26 miles of Atlantic Ocean coastline, 25 miles of Delaware Bay coastline, and 115 miles of inland bay coastline – the perfect environment for diverse wildlife and outdoor activities.

The Natural Resources Defense Council’s “Testing the Waters 2014 – A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches”, June 2014, ranked Delaware first out of 30 states for overall water quality.

4)  AWARD-WINNING TOWNS
Coastal Living magazine’s article “Discover Coastal Dream Towns,” referred to Lewes as “A Sleeper by the Bay.”

Parents Magazine (June 2013) named Rehoboth Beach one of America’s “10 Best Beach Towns for Families”.

Family Vacation Critic Magazine (March 2013) ranked Rehoboth Beach in top 10 best beaches for families, and Sea Witch Festival, held in late October, as #1 of the 10 Best Fall Beach Festivals.

5)  RESTAURANTS AND NIGHTLIFE
From upscale coastal cuisine to best-kept local secrets, our beach towns are home to hundreds of award-winning restaurants.

The Coastal Delaware region also boasts some of the most exciting nightlife in the Mid-Atlantic region.

6)  DIVERSE AND ECLECTIC ORGANIZATIONS
Click on any of the following links for more information on some of the exceptional organizations that make Coastal Delaware such a fantastic place to call home!

7)  EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
A diverse selection of public and private schools service the Coastal Delaware region;  from award-winning preschools, elementary schools, high schools, universities, and life-long learning institutions.

8)  ACTIVITIES & SPORTS
Delaware’s natural environment offers an endless supply of outdoor recreation from hiking or biking the Breakwater Trail, or kayaking the inland bays and estuaries.  Additionally, Delaware has been ranked the Most Bicycle-Friendly State East of the Mississippi River.

The coastal areas of Delaware and Maryland are also home to some of the best golf courses in the region.  From the Jack Niclaus signature course at The Peninsula to...

9)  TAX FREE SHOPPING
Charming local boutiques, along with the Tanger Outlets located on Route One, make for a shopper’s paradise.

10)  EVENTS & FESTIVALS
Exciting events and festivals are held throughout Coastal Delaware all year long, including:

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Still Need More Reasons to Live in Delaware?
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Significant Tax Advantages

• One of the lowest property tax burdens in the nation! Sussex County’s Fiscal Year 2014 budget marks the 24th year in a row the County’s property tax rate has remained at 44.5 cents per $100 of assessed value. The average Sussex County property tax bill for a single-family home remains around $100 annually, not including independent school district taxes. (Sussex County Government News Release, June 18, 2013)
• Kiplinger's PERSONAL FINANCE Magazine, September 2012, picked DE as one of 10 Most Tax-Friendly States for Retirees.
• Each qualified homeowner 65 and older (one per household) in Sussex County receives a Senior Citizen Property School Tax Credit up to $500.
• Pension Exclusions: For each person 60 and over, up to $12,500 of pension and eligible retirement income are exempt from Delaware income tax.
• $110 in tax credits multiplied by the number of persons age 60 and over, plus the number of personal exemptions allowed for Federal purposes.
• Persons 65 and over OR blind, and electing to use the Delaware standard deduction, receive an additional standard deduction of $2,500 for each criteria checked (maximum $5,000 per individual).
• Persons 60 and over OR Disabled, and earned income is less than $2,500 ($5,000 if married) may be eligible for up to $2,000 ($4,000 if married) in exclusions from gross income.
• America’s Most Wealth-Friendly States: Delaware continues to rank as one of the wealth friendliest States, including Best States for Trusts. Major reasons: No tax on assets held in a trust, allow dynasty trusts permitting assets to pass to future generations and avoid estate taxes, seek to protect trust assets from lawsuits and creditors. SOURCE: Bloomberg Wealth Manager Magazine, Thetrustadvisor.com
• Corporate Tax Haven - Capital of the World: Delaware’s pro-business tax and corporate laws have made it a corporate haven. Nearly half of all US public corporations are incorporated in DE, with 133,297 established in 2011, with a current total of 945,326. In the last seven years over 80% of new Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) have made Delaware their corporate home. (The New York Times, June 2012)
• First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit: Effective July 9, 2013, individuals buying their first home in Delaware may be eligible for a federal income tax credit of up to $2,000 a year for as long as the homebuyer occupies the home and has a mortgage.  (For details, contact Delaware State Housing Authority, 888.363.8808)
  
  

 Health Care

• Prestigious Beebe Medical Center: Located in Lewes, with 8 outpatient facilities-labs. Highly recognized health care facility, including HealthGrades® naming Beebe Medical Center recipient of the Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence™, ranking among Top 5% in nation for patient outcome, for 4 years in a row (2010-2013). HealthGrades® also named Beebe as one of America’s best 100 hospitals 2 years in a row (2012-2013) for: Coronary Intervention™; Orthopedic Surgery™; Joint Replacement™; and Spine Surgery™.
• Christiana Care Health System: Headquartered in Wilmington, recognized for excellence on a regional and national level, is one of the country's leading health care providers, ranking 21st in the nation for hospital admissions. It is a major teaching hospital with 2 campuses, over 250 Medical-Dental residents, and over 10,400 employees. It is home to Delaware's only Level I trauma center.
• Close to Nationally Recognized Hospitals: From Rehoboth Beach under 3 hours to: National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, 130 miles; The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, 115 miles; and Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, 122 miles.
• United Health Foundations "America's Health Ranks 2013 Senior Report"  ranked Delaware 12th overall for senior health and ranked #1 for seniors having highest rate in nation for dedicated healthcare providers with 96.8% of seniors having a personal doctor or healthcare provider.
  
  

Enjoy the Natural Surroundings

• Location-Location-Location: Delaware is within 4-hours drive of one-third of U.S. population. From Rehoboth Beach to: Philadelphia 119 miles; Baltimore 120 miles; Washington, DC, 122 miles; Trenton 150 miles; New York City 208 miles; Richmond 224 miles.
• Incredible beaches, state parks, biking and hiking trails, scenic-challenging golf, and outstanding restaurants.
• The Natural Resources Defense Council’s “Testing the Waters 2013 – A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches”, June 2013, ranked Delaware 1st out of 30 states for overall water quality and awarded “Superstar Beach” status to Rehoboth and Dewey Beaches. Both received not only the highest 5-star rating, but had perfect testing results for the past 3 years. Delaware has 26 miles of Atlantic Ocean coastline, 25 miles of Delaware Bay coastline, and 115 miles of inland bay coastline.
• Best Boardwalk: National Geographic’s Travel website (April 2013) designated Rehoboth Beach’s boardwalk as 6th best in the Nation. American Profile (April 2012) named Rehoboth Beach America’s Best Boardwalk.
• Best Beach Town for Families: Parents Magazine (June 2013) named Rehoboth Beach as one of America’s “10 Best Beach Towns for Families”. Rehoboth Beach was ranked 10th.
• Family vacation Critic Magazine (March 2013) ranked Rehoboth Beach #9 of the 10 best beaches for families, and Sea Witch Festival, held in late October, as #1 of the 10 Best Fall Beach Festivals.                                                                                                              

Top Retirement Location

In addition to the tax benefits, DE is consistently named as a top retirement location for a variety of reasons:

• TopRetirements.com, February 2013: ranked Lewes 50th and Rehoboth Beach 63rd, in the “100 Best Places To Retire for 2013”; and Delaware as one of the top five states with the lowest tax burdens.
• Lewes a recommended pick by greatretirementspots.com (January, 2012).
• Where to Retire Magazine selected Southern Delaware as a top retirement destination. (October 2012)
• Wide variety of community activities, shopping, and fitness geared toward retirees and active adults.
  
  

And More…

• University of Delaware: U.S. News and World Report “2013 Best College Rankings” ranked UDel 75th for National Universities and 31st Top Public Schools; Kiplinger’s “100 Best Values in Public Colleges, 2013” ranked UDel 29th; and Princeton Review’s “Top 150 Best Value Colleges for 2013” includes UDel.
• High Per Capita Income: Bureau of Economic Analysis, March 2013, ranked Delaware 23rd in highest per capita income at $41,940, with a population 917,092 (2012 US Census estimate).
• AAA Rating: 2000 thru 2012 Delaware state bonds have earned triple-A ratings, the highest-quality rating awarded by major bond rating agencies - Moody’s Investors Service, Standard and Poor’s, Fitch Ratings.
• Bicycle Friendly: The League of American Bicyclists’ 2012 Bicycle Friendly States ranked Delaware as the 10th friendliest state.
• America's Current Favorite Farmer's Markets ™: American Farm Trust ranked Historic Lewes and Rehoboth Beach Farmers Markets among the top 20 farmers markets nationwide. (September 2012)
• Homes’ affordability is one reason Delaware is ranked #5 in 2010 for homeownership rate - 74.7% of residents own their own homes. (Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census)
• Fastest Growing States: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census, ranked Delaware the 10th fastest growing State, with 14.6% increase in population, comparing 2010 Census to 2000 Census % increases in population data.

John Welcome is a Delaware Real Estate Broker, serving the surrounding areas of Sussex, Kent and New Castle County.  As a client, you are his first priority.  Whether you are looking for new homes, existing homes, rental property or to sell your existing home, he can help you find what you are looking for and more.