Retire to Delaware? Anyone live in the state, the good, the bad?

[wheelgun28]

My wife has been looking for places to check out for "retirement" or even most likely probable early semi-retirement. We may even consider this a layover till full retirement.

She loves the shore and Delaware seems to have nice areas that are affordable with low taxes. I see gun laws arent so bad (for now).

Areas shes looked at are Rehoboth beach, Bethany Beach mostly outside the actual beach area for summer sanity sake.

Areas on the bayside seem appealing to me for storms etc.

Virginia Beach is another area but VA has higher taxes and gun laws that seem to be getting worse?

How's life in the Delaware Beach areas? Is one area better than another, areas to avoid?

Were a couple in our 50's no kids.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Delaware has always seemed like a perfect out of the way spot. You have to actually want to go there to get there-no passing through on your way to somewhere else Have never been but I suspect it has the same bucolic feel as does the eastern shore of Mobile Bay (Daphne-Fairhope area). The only thing I know about Delaware is that it is VERY business friendly as witnessed by the incredible amount of business entities headquartered there in the state to take advantage of favorable business climate/tax laws.
Good luck in your quest

 

[Rule3]

Beautiful, if you have the monetary means.
Was there many many moons ago have no idea what it is like now, To upper class for me.

 

[Rule3]

As to guns, here is a link. If that is an issue for you.
It is a MAY issue State. If you apply for a CCW your name gets published and you need 10 residents reference. Read the part about having a gun on your won property? I do not understand it. But Open carry is allowed??


Delaware Concealed Carry Gun Laws Laws: CDWL & CCW Reciprocity| USCCA (Last Updated 05/05/2020)

 

[bigwheelzip]

Never lived there, but visit as a tourist, passed through for scenic detours, and to visit a cousin in Newport VA. Also, have used it as a stopover for big-ticket tax-free shopping as I transit the east coast.
As a visitor, it doesn't seem any different than the other Mid-Atlantic coastal areas. Imagining myself a resident and concealed carrier, your in a tiny state and pretty much denied CC travel through neighboring states, except for the small stretch of PA. border.
A friend moved there from FL, to a senior citizen residence, and he's happy there.
Good luck.

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

 

[ladder13]

Tom
Some nice areas around the beaches, and some not very nice areas elsewhere, as most states.
Taxes are low, no sales tax. Can’t go north or south with a gun without getting into a jam. Think about an evacuation when a storm comes, follow the many signs.
Too cold for me

If you want a beach life, and varying seasons, come down to NC More expensive, but helps keep out the trash, unlike Myrtle Beach.

 

[DWalt]

Hundreds of miles of Gulf beaches in Texas. And the weather (and political climate) is far better. Nothing about that part of the country would attract me.

 

[phulklip]

My wife and spent our summers in a mobile home type campground at the Delaware shore. We spent 11 years there up until 3 years ago when my wife's Alzheimer's got worse. We loved it! We were eight miles inland from Bethney Beach in Dagsboro and close to everything. The state park beaches were clean and ideal for metal detecting. The cost of living was reasonable. We were on the bay and the boating, fishing, clamming, and crabbing was fantastic. There are numerous housing developments 20 - 30 miles inland. You do have to watch for the storms from August on, we only had to evacuate twice. I wish you luck in your future endeavor.

 

[BigBoy99]

With the anti-gun states of MD and NJ surrounding DE, one would expect the policies of MD and NJ to creep across the border and begin to affect DE.

 

[wheelgun28]

Thanks for the info so far!

The thinking is to buy something in that beachie area. I can still commute to the NYC suburban areas (Newark, NJ to Stamford, CT radius) that I work in, maybe two or three days a week. I'd stay over, do what I need to, and go back. I can afford the hotel costs for the days. I would be winding down over the next years until I've had enough or life changes.

My wife can either work remotely or locally if or what she chooses to do.

Rule3 Beautiful, if you have the monetary means.
Was there many many moons ago have no idea what it is like now, To upper class for me.

I can deal with expensive but not snooty "my poop has no odor"
It is a reason we don't really like where we are now.

And getting a permit seems like a pain...

ladder13 Some nice areas around the beaches, and some not very nice areas elsewhere, as most states.
Taxes are low, no sales tax. Can’t go north or south with a gun without getting into a jam. Think about an evacuation when a storm comes, follow the many signs.
Too cold for me

If you want a beach life, and varying seasons, come down to NC More expensive, but helps keep out the trash, unlike Myrtle Beach

I do worry about storms, I don't like the idea of my home being washed away in a day or two notice. I like to think of my home as a fortress, silly I know, but. NC is just a bit to far for this plan, next more, maybe?

DWalt Hundreds of miles of Gulf beaches in Texas. And the weather (and political climate) is far better. Nothing about that part of the country would attract me.

With my time in SA and a trip to Austin Texas, I've been quite pleased. People are super friendly even to a guy with a funny accent. We were considering, ok, more me than my wife looking near San Marcos and New Braunfels area. I had my wife at the Outlet mall and scored big points, but we do miss the water.

The Texas coast, I haven't been to, or even know much about. I know lots of barrier islands and spring breakers. I am sure that there is more to it. It will make a nice trip one day! Perhaps full retirement?

phulklip My wife and spent our summers in a mobile home type campground at the Delaware shore. We spent 11 years there up until 3 years ago when my wife's Alzheimer's got worse. We loved it! We were eight miles inland from Bethney Beach in Dagsboro and close to everything. The state park beaches were clean and ideal for metal detecting. The cost of living was reasonable. We were on the bay and the boating, fishing, clamming, and crabbing was fantastic. There are numerous housing developments 20 - 30 miles inland. You do have to watch for the storms from August on, we only had to evacuate twice. I wish you luck in your future endeavor.

Thanks for the insight!

 

[The Analyst]

Not a very friendly gun state. Low taxes and cleanliness are appealing. Nice beaches but the traffic is brutal during the season. Going inland a little would be less congested. Bethany, Dewey or Fenwick Island areas are less crowded than Rehoboth. A 75 minute Ferry ride from Lewes, DE to Cape May, NJ is a treat and most enjoyable. Lots of neat little shops and restaurants there and throughout the South Jersey shore. It does get cold but overall it is a decent place. You'd like it. All the best in your endeavors.

 

[GaryS]

How far south do you want to go?

My son lived on the Gulf Coast of Alabama for five years. Very 2A friendly, taxes are low as I recall. Weather is good for much of the year, hurricanes and tornadoes excepted.

He was in Baldwin County which is an up and coming area.

Compared to housing prices in the northeast, houses are a bargain down there.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

As a tax attorney, Delaware would not be my first choice.

 

[ladder13]

As a tax attorney, Delaware would not be my first choice.

Tell us more.

 

[DWalt]

Not knowledgeable about DE taxation, but the state/local taxation policies should be a major concern for retirees when making a retirement area choice - income tax, inheritance tax, estate tax, taxation of pensions, taxation of securities income (dividends, interest, cap gains), as well as property taxes.

 

[yaktamer]

Wish I could help, but my one excursion to Delaware was for work. I spent three long days in a small, windowless room reviewing documents at DuPont headquarters. I will say the Philadelphia airport was the worst I have ever been in, hands down.

 

[schutzen-jager]

check carefully - lots of highly toxic areas left by many chemical companies -

 

[WR Moore]

I lived in Delaware for about 3 months in the mid-1980's. The unofficial state motto was "Delaware-a wholly owned subsidiary of Du Pont du Nemours (sp?)". Some very weird speed limits in farm country, enforced with vigor.

The wife's family owned property in the Bethany Beach area for decades. Prices horrendous, weekend traffic a parking lot and if a storm comes the wrong way, not enough free board from high tide. The bay side is somewhat better protected but you'd be far better off not living on that peninsula. Only one road out. Rehoboth no better so far as prices/crowds. Also a very different crowd. Ocean City-party town, Bethany Beach-family oriented, Rehoboth-party town for a very different crowd.

We did some horse shows in Harrington, seemed like a very nice area. But, no beach. State beaches an option.

 

[wheelgun28]

I lived in Delaware for about 3 months in the mid-1980's. The unofficial state motto was "Delaware-a wholly owned subsidiary of Du Pount du Nemours (sp?)". Some very weird speed limits in farm country, enforced with vigor.

The wife's family owned property in the Bethany Beach area for decades. Prices horrendous, weekend traffic a parking lot and if a storm comes the wrong way, not enough free board from high tide. The bay side is somewhat better protected but you'd be far better off not living on that peninsula. Only one road out. Rehoboth no better so far as prices/crowds. Also a very different crowd. Ocean City-party town, Bethany Beach-family oriented, Rehoboth-party town for a very different crowd.

We did some horse shows in Harrington, seemed like a very nice area. But, no beach. State beaches an option.

Yeah this is some of my concerns. We don't want to live in a college partyville nor Provincetown kinda area...

I guess truly the best way to know is to spend some time in the area. Ideally wed be far enough away from the crowd and noise but close enough to visit or offseason.

 

[wheelgun28]

As a tax attorney, Delaware would not be my first choice.

I haven't spoken to my accountant yet. We have lots of questions for him before we leave here. Tax planning moving forward, sell our current home, or rent out it?

While I am sure Delaware isn't perfect, I can't imagine it can be worse than Connecticut, New York, or New Jersey? I see annual property tax at what my monthly payment is here. I am considered to be living in a low tax town

Connecticut was a tax haven once upon a time, no state income tax, low sales tax, low town/city tax. That's all changed now its one of the worst in the nation and heading the wrong way. My section of the county pays a large portion of the state revenue. My town alone puts in a big chunk.

It is unsustainable to live here without full-time work.