SperlingViews - Magnolia, Delaware

I am a single middle-aged woman looking to relocate to Delaware from Rural West Virginia. I'm looking for a place to build a small home or buy one that I can affordably update. I would like a small-town feel that also has some entertainment available...decent restaurants, theatre, music, shopping (not WalMart), etc. I would like to be in an area that's no more than two hours from D.C. and Baltimore, or the same distance from N.Y. and Philly; preferably the former. I'd like to find a place where newcomers/outsiders are welcomed and treated "friendly" by the locals. I would need to meet people immediately upon taking up residence to help steer me in the right direction when it comes to building/remodeling, etc. Any suggestions on the best area of DE to start looking? What towns fit the criteria mentioned above? What is the cost of home construction in DE? What does land (to build on) cost? What would an updated 3br 2bath house, w/garage and a small yard cost in different areas? Cost to build the same size house? Cost to rent the same size house? Is the housing market much higher near the beach? What are the disadvantages of each area? I hope someone will please respond...I've been through some major, traumatic, life changing events in the recent past and am anxious to get a jump on "starting over". Anything anyone can contribute would be greatly appreciated. My email is jcgreenwell.s@gmail.com if anyone would like to send responses to me via email.[read more...]

I believe Sperling meant to list Magnolia's population as 10,246 --not simply 246. There are more than 246 people on my street alone. I have no clue as to how our crime rate could be a "6". There are a few mobile home parks in certain areas of the town where you hear of occasional domestic disputes, but otherwise we are a sleepy quiet little town which is purely residential with many new upscale home developments. I moved to Delaware from New Jersey after I retired about 7 years ago. If I had stayed in NJ, I would be struggling through my retirement years just to pay taxes and insurance. Here in Magnolia my taxes on a beautful new construction home backing up to a pond and woods are about $1000 a year vs. the $6000 I'd be paying in NJ on a 30 year old condo. We have no sales tax in DE, and my car insurance on a new Acura TL is $700 a year vs. the $1700 a yr. I was averaging for insurance in NJ. I have now purchased a small vacation condo in Myrtle Beach, SC as well, so it's just amazing how my financial status and quality of life life have changed since moving here. Magnolia is just minutes away from the Delaware Bay and beaches, the Cape May Ferry, the huge tax free outlet shopping malls in Rehoboth, Dover Downs (Raceway and Casino), Schwartz Theatre, Spence's Flea market, Byler's Amish Country Store, and a myriad of other wonderful restaurants,attractions and services. Magnolia is as sweet and lovely a town as its name suggests.[read more...]