Why is everyone moving to Lewes to retire?

[Anonymous]

There was an earlier poster in this thread that talked about good medical care, what good hospital is around Lewes? Is that really where you want to be if you are older with significant medical problems?

[Anonymous]

I assure you, not "everyone" is doing this.

[Anonymous]

My dad is thinking about moving to Delaware from Maryland because Maryland's estate tax is so high, and Delaware doesn't have one.

Seriously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I assure you, not "everyone" is doing this.

Well, about 70% of all the folks I know who have just retired.That is a lot of people. The others that I know have specific reasons that require them to stay such as grandchildren, unwillingness to leave their home, still caring for parents, or a chronic illness that is better managed here or really just don't like the beach area, or theylike the beach aream but not this beach area. Some have moved to Florida, some have moved to the Northern Neck. However, all in all, most are going to Lewes or the environs of Lewes.

[Anonymous]

Delaware has cheap cheap property taxes, no sales taxes and closer to NYC.

But it is all relative. It makes more sense but a cheap older small condo by beach in Florida and live there six months and one day and keep your regular house in retirement.

And cost of living is BS as old folks don't spend money. My two widowed Aunts both live in Manhattan and think it is cheap. Of course it cheap they are both 90 and one has a rental controlled apt and the other a coop she bought 40 years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The retirees don't shop at the outlets, they have lives. Alot are from NJ or PA, take at look at what those states pay in taxes and you will understand why its a good deal. And these folks are happy, which is something I do not run across on DCUM, I guess because you are so sophisticated and worldly. LOL

Oh my GOD!! I love you!! I mean that!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My dad is thinking about moving to Delaware from Maryland because Maryland's estate tax is so high, and Delaware doesn't have one.

Seriously.

MD's estate tax is not "high"-- it's 16% on the value above $3 million (5.5 million as of 2019).

[Anonymous]

There are a lot of like-minded people from the DMV and tri state area. Low taxes. Easy to get back to NY, DC. The beach. The arts. Fishing. Great restaurants (esp in downtown Rehoboth). Place friends and grandkids will want to visit.

But seriously - I get the buy off highway for cheap but really, in-town anywhere (RB, Lewes, Milton) will appreciate best. Milton is wonderful too.

They need a good CCRC down there - none yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There was an earlier poster in this thread that talked about good medical care, what good hospital is around Lewes? Is that really where you want to be if you are older with significant medical problems?

Beebee medical center is in Lewes. My father has had heart surgery there, and had cancer treated there, and they have done a great job with him. There is a cancer center in Lewes also that is good facility as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My parents retired to Lewes. They sold their house in the DC area for a ton, bought a house out there (near the Lowes, so probably one of the cookie cutter neighborhoods you are talking about) for cheap, pay barely anything in property taxes, and their government pension goes far.

They are seriously 15 minutes from everything. Doctors, hospital, beach, stores, etc. There are a bunch of people their age, their house is designed for retirees, etc.

And, to a comment upthread re: traffic on 1, only suckers take the main roads during the summer. When you live there, you learn where to go, at what time, what roads to drive, where to park etc.

Uh there is only one road to the beach (rte 1). There are no back roads, I own 2nd home in Rehoboth and live there all summer.

The PP was talking Lewes, not Rehoboth. I doubt Rehob is much different though in that there are the "main trafficked" roads (such as 1, Rehoboth Ave) and there are other, less trafficked Roads. For instance, you can get off of 1 and take Plantation Rd down through to Airport Rd to avoid the traffic on 1 through Lewes/N Rehob.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's cute. I can take it for 2 days.

I'd be bored out of my mid longer and its way too hot and humid in the summer.

I loathe that trafficked strip between Lewis and Rehoboth with the outlets and tacky shops.

Have you ever been to a beach, anywhere? Its all pretty much tacky shops, everywhere...

(cue MV poster...)

Yea. I would never retire to one of those beaches.

We live seasonally in Maine that is beauty and great temps in the summer. Zero beach tackiness or shit shops way up Coast.

I can't do mid-Atlantic or anything farther South.

Shhh. Don't give away our secret!

[Anonymous]

I know people who retired there and the huge issue is medical care. Beebe is awful so for anything serious you will need to travel elsewhere for care. It's something people didn't seem to consider before retiring there and it's a big issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's cute. I can take it for 2 days.

I'd be bored out of my mid longer and its way too hot and humid in the summer.

I loathe that trafficked strip between Lewis and Rehoboth with the outlets and tacky shops.

Have you ever been to a beach, anywhere? Its all pretty much tacky shops, everywhere...

(cue MV poster...)

Yea. I would never retire to one of those beaches.

We live seasonally in Maine that is beauty and great temps in the summer. Zero beach tackiness or shit shops way up Coast.

I can't do mid-Atlantic or anything farther South.

Shhh. Don't give away our secret!

Where do you go in winter?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I assure you, not "everyone" is doing this.

Yes, it is significant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know people who retired there and the huge issue is medical care. Beebe is awful so for anything serious you will need to travel elsewhere for care. It's something people didn't seem to consider before retiring there and it's a big issue.

So far, people are happy. I know someone going for extensive radiation in Newark, but almost everything was done in the beach area.