Wilmington, DE

Since one year ago, real estate sales in New Castle County, Delaware, have continued the same trend which existed at the end of 2011. January listings were up almost 17% compared to one year ago. The good news is that closed sales were up more than 26% and pending sales were up twice that amount, 58%.

Another trend that continued into 2012 was that prices dropped 20%, while days on the market averaged almost 7% higher than the previous year. An anomaly is that single family detached listings were down almost 16%, which reflects what I am seeing with sellers. They are holding their homes off the market that they would really rather sell.

I saw this happen with one of my clients, for whom I did a market analysis showing that they would definitely have to list their house for about $50,000 less than they originally paid for it 3 years ago. They can't afford to do this, and I hope they can hold out for quite a while and hope rental income on the property will ease the pain. It's an awful situation to be in, don't you agree?

CAROLYN ROLAND --YOUR HISTORIC HOMES RESOURCE

February 2012 Historic Homes E News


The Murphy House in Rockland, Delaware has been torn down by the Nemours Foundation as of 4:20 p.m. on Jan 11. In 2008, the State sold the house to the Foundation for $10 with their promise to restore the building. For details on this story see http://actvra.in/r8B

On Saturday, February 18, 2012, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., the John Dickinson Plantation, located at 340 Kitts Hummock Road in Dover, DE 19901, will commemorate the 204th anniversary of the death of American patriot John Dickinson (Nov. 13, 1732–Feb. 14, 1808). The program will feature letters written in Dickinson’s memory by prominent Wilmington physician Joseph Bringhurst. The day’s activities will also include a wreath-laying ceremony at the gravesite of Dickinson’s father Samuel at Noon. Admission to all events is free and open to the public. For additional information, call 302-739-3277

Delaware Tech is presenting An Evening of Mardi Gras on February 18 from 7 to 11 pm at their Wilmington Campus at 3rd and Orange Streets in Wilmington. This fund-raiser is in its 8th year and the proceeds go to the campus Educational Foundation. See http://www.dtcc.edu/mardigras/about.html

Mardi Gras and All That Jazz will be presented from 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.at the Johnson Victrola Museum. Celebrate the sounds of Mardi Gras and New Orleans’ Jazz. Find out how Victor records contributed to this genre and hear vintage Victor recordings on the original talking machines. This is part of the First Saturday events on Saturday, February 4 in the State Museums around the Green in Dover, Delaware. Other programs in the museums including learning about Delaware’s complicated positions regarding freedom and slavery, and its role as a border state during the Civil War. Find out how a brave group of runaway slaves known as the Dover Eight made a daring escape from the Dover Jail. Hear about famous African-American Richard Allen and his connections to the Golden Fleece Tavern.http://www.destateparks.com/park/first-state-heritage/index.asp


The Friends of Rockwood Museum in Wilmington are presenting their 2nd Victorian Ball at the Museum on Saturday, February 25.. Enjoy an evening of popular ballroom dances of the mid- to late-19th century.The costume ball includes historic dance instruction by Tapestry Historic Dance Ensemble at 7pm, music by String Theory, a live string quartet,and entertainment by a visitor from the late 1800s. Victorian costumes and finery encouraged, but not required. The Friends of Rockwood invite you to support their efforts to restore the Museum Conservatory by bidding on a variety of items in the Silent Auction, purchasing special libations, as well as 50/50 chances and having your photograph taken in a Victorian setting. The following video was taken at last year's Rockwood Ball.
http://www.friendsofrockwood.org/

>Please visit Carolyn’s blog/website http://carolynrolandsblog.com/ . And check out http://croland.psre.com/ . Carolyn Roland can be reached at the Hockessin, Delaware office of Patterson-Schwartz, 302-239-3000 or direct 800-771-2332. Email Carolyn at any time with comments or if you wish to be removed from the mailing list at oldhome@verizon.net.

Although we had some light snow in October 2011, last night brought a couple of inches of wet snow in Wilmington. It was pretty icy around 9 a.m., but by noon it had turned to a manageable icy layer with enough water under it to scoop to the side of the driveway. And my lovely South Graylyn Crest neighbor had used his snow blower earlier to do the front sidewalks of about half a dozen houses from his house to mine, so all I had to shovel was the driveway and path to my door.

Then I looked out my back window and saw this lovely sight. I had left a container with Juncus effusus (Big Twister - Twisted Rush) and alyssum for winter interest, and behold--it looked very interesting!