Photos from Kathy Sperl-Bell
The Inn at Canal Square in the heart of Lewes - one of the nicest places to stay on your next visit to Lewes, Delaware.Located in: Lewes, DE
Last week I was getting ready for a buyer client coming to Coastal Delaware to search for a beach house. Not just any beach house; they are looking for one that also has a rental unit on the property. It could be attached or over the garage. It could be an efficiency or a two bedroom. The general idea is to find a property that they can use as a getaway and generate some income during the peak vacation season.
Lots of people want to do this, but this couple has a realistic budget, is well qualified, and really can make this kind of purchase when we find the right property. I went to the MLS and set up the search criteria, but then I discovered that
GARBAGE IN, GARBAGE OUT
For those of you like me who spent (30 years) in the technology business, we know what that term means. For the rest of you, it means PUT IN THE DETAILS SO WE CAN FIND YOUR LISTING!
If your listing has an extra unit that is a legal rental unit, PLEASE PUT THAT IN YOUR LISTING!
If your listing is a FIXER-UPPER, PLEASE MAKE A NOTE!
Even in Coastal Delaware, with a population smaller than most towns or cities around the country, having to look at each and every listing one by one to find those that meet my clients' criteria may cost you a sale!
It's one thing to hear how difficult it is to obtain a mortgage on the news; it's another to experience the reality with our buyers these days.
I have been working with a couple that truly has perfect credit. Based on their credit report and income, my Mortgage Professional could qualify them for over $1 Million! BUT, they cannot put 20% down. They are moving from an area where home prices have remained relatively stable and that's both good and bad. It's good because homes are still selling, but it's bad because they will not have much cash to cover a deposit and closing costs. The new job that is causing the relocation is going to pay extremely well and they want a home that reflects their new position.
THERE IS NO PRIVATE MORTGAGE INSURANCE AVAILABLE!
So, what did we do? We had to stay in a price range that would require very little down and find a home that could qualify for the maximum FHA loan for this area - $375,000! And, it had to be in a convenient location for both the children's new school and the husband's new job. Did we find the perfect home? NO, but we did find a good home in a good neighborhood in the right location for the whole family. It's not the dream home that they will want to find or build in a few years, but it's the best solution in a Buyer's Market and they will do well when they are ready to trade up. They are getting a very good deal.
I think that's the key to today's market. We are at the bottom and those who buy now will do very well over the next 5 - 10 years.
Last week I did something I have never done before -
I attended the Legislative Action Day sponsored by our Delaware Association of Realtors PAC and I'm glad I did. It actually made me feel much better about our state government because here is what I learned -
Many of our State Representatives are small business owners and they do get it!
That's not necessarily true at the federal level where you find career politicians. If you have never participated in your state's efforts to engage your local politicians, I recommend you give it a try. We do have influence and now more than ever we need to use it.
After a full day attending meetings and sitting in on various committees, many of the State Representatives attended a reception at our Delaware Association of Realtors offices where we had a chance to talk more casually. Here I am with Mike Ramone, who represents a district in Wilmington, Delaware, and owns a Fitness Center and Florist Shop. A few minutes later they were laughing when I told them about the time I flew off the back of a treadmill at his Fitness Center, but that's another story!
On a recent walk through town with my husband, I stopped for a chat with John Milton. In 2008, his statue was placed on this comfortable bench in the heart of our newest park.
As our Mayor commented on the town's web site, "When traveling to Milton please stop by and visit our new Town Hall, one that captures the historic atmosphere of the Town and at the same time provides a professional home for conducting our daily business. Stroll along Governor's Walk, which will take you along the Broadkill River, the very river that once thrived with sea captains and shipwrights. Enjoy our water ways, fishing piers, and parks, especially the new Mill Park located along Mulberry Street. A local landscape architect has created this once barren land into a work of art that will be a place for people to gather and enjoy long into the future; a site soon to be home for our namesake "John Milton", forever cast into a life-size bronze statue honoring this famous poet and the paradise lost for those that never discover our great town."
Mill Park, and John Milton, overlook Wagamon's Pond, one of the most popular ponds for fisherman, stocked by U.S. Fish and Wildlife.
Just one of the picturesque scenes in the town of Milton, Delaware, a great place to live.
Saturday May 2, 2009, is the ANNUAL MILTON DELAWARE YARD SALE.
You will find everything from quality antiques to garden items, children's toys, books and more. It's one of the best yard sales and everyone I know in town has been getting ready all week long.
We usually participate, but this year I will be working with real estate clients who are looking to move to Milton. It's a great town in which to live and this is a wonderful time of year to come and see for yourself.
Sunday, May 3, 2009 - FIRST SUNDAY - TOWN-WIDE OPEN HOUSE - 12 NOON - 3 PM!
On the first Sunday of every month, homes for sale in Milton, Delaware will be open from 12 noon until 3 pm. Milton is a great town in which to spend a Sunday in the spring. Our antique shops are open, the parks are full of budding trees and there's good fishing on Wagamon's Pond. If you would like more information about the homes open this Sunday, please call Kathy at 302-542-1203 or start with this home at -
422 Chestnut Street, Milton, Delaware
We'll be happy to tell you about all the homes for sale in Milton and there are some very nice ones right now!
Boomers and Beyond at the Beach in Delaware! We cover all of Sussex County, Delaware from the Atlantic Ocean to the Maryland border - all of Sussex County and most of Kent County.
Delaware is ranked as one of the Top 5 Most Tax Friendly States for Retirees with no Sales Tax and low property taxes. Are low taxes alone enough of a reason to move to Delaware? NO, but we can show you all the other reasons.
If you are considering a move to Coastal Delaware, you need the help of a professional with the knowledge, background and experience to help you make an informed decision. There are as many ways to be a Realtor as there are people.
The way I choose to be a Realtor is to specialize in two disciplines:
• Represent Boomer Buyers from outside the immediate area and help them find the right home in the right community or town for them. And it doesn’t stop there. We will help them negotiate, get inspections done, pick an attorney, get financing and anything else necessary to complete the transaction and begin their new life in Coastal Delaware.
• Represent Boomer Sellers who may need to sell their homes here to downsize or move closer to family and friends elsewhere. It’s not easy selling the family home, but we’ll do our best to make it as stress-free as possible.
I don’t try to be all things to all people. I do focus on Boomers & Beyond at the Beach in Delaware and those who plan to live here at some point in their future. We use the term “beach” loosely these days. After all, Delaware is a small state and in Coastal Delaware, you can’t be more than an hour from the beach no matter where you live!
The beach is more a state of mind and I think that’s why Coastal Delaware appeals so much to Boomers & Beyond.
This is my full time career and I do my best to stay current with trends and technology that help me do a better job for my clients. After 30 years in the technology industry with companies like Wang Laboratories, Compaq Computer Corporation and a smattering of Beltway Bandits, you’d think that would be easy. With technology moving so quickly, however, I’m amazed at how much it has changed the real estate industry and how much there is to learn every day.
I moved to Delaware back in 2000 just before getting into real estate. I met my husband and partner, Bill, shortly after and we have become a great team. During the week, Bill runs our Construction business, Gotcha Covered, a full service remodeling company. He brings a wealth of knowledge to our real estate business and is a resource for our clients during the process of buying or selling a home and long after.
Bill is a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS), which basically means that he understands and applies the principles of Universal Design (UD) to every project and every real estate purchase. UD says that all living space should be designed to be usable by everyone regardless of size, age or ability. When I heard about the Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES) program, it made perfect sense for me to take the classes and earn the designation. For us, it just makes sense to specialize and to become expert at everything Coastal Delaware has to offer Baby Boomers. We hate to be called seniors, so I just use the initials – SRES, but we are thinking about retirement, where we want to live and how we want to live the best part of our lives.
I also pursued the training necessary to become a member of the Council of Residential Specialists (CRS), the organization representing the top 3% of Realtors® who produce over 20% of all real estate transactions. I am an Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR), working primarily with buyers coming to Coastal Delaware from surrounding states. We are surrounded by states with high populations, high incomes and even higher taxes. In 2011, I became a Broker and opened Active Adults Realty.
I look forward to helping you find your next home.
Kathy helped us purchase our retirement home near the beaches in Delaware in 2008. After finding a description of the house on the Internet, we searched for local real estate agents and left a message on Kathy's phone. She called within an hour to discuss our interest and needs. Within a day or two, Kathy went to the property, shot many interior and exterior photos and reported on the condition of the home and its landscaping. She also checked other listings for similar properties for us to see. We soon traveled to Delaware and met Kathy. With all of the information Kathy had provided us, we were able to make a quick decision and write a contract on our dream home. Kathy made all the arrangements for the inspection and several other contingencies, and the closing could not have gone more smoothly. Kathy has since been a great help to us in finding contractors to do minor repairs and additional landscaping. Thanks to Kathy, we are looking forward to spending many enjoyable years in our new home. -Jean & Mike Bower
"My initial contact with Kathy was via E-mail and phone from Florida as I planned a house hunting trip to the Lewes - Milton area. With her assistance, we found a home and neighborhood that fit the very particular needs of a recently retired couple and an aging senior citizen. Kathy immediately impressed me with her grasp of the unique style, age and design of a home that would satisfy the contour of our needs while at the same time meeting our budget. Her knowledge of the market and its trends together with her vast experience and credentials were invaluable as were her guidance, patience and diligence. We are most grateful for our experience with Kathy during the home search as well as before and after the purchase since it was pleasant and professional at every turn. The entire process was certainly complicated by the fact that we were more than a thousand miles away and yet we hardly noticed. Kathy Sperl-Bell has left quite an impression in our minds and a very large footprint upon the real estate market of Sussex County Delaware." - Rick & Maureen Dailey
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