Active Adult living has arrived in Coastal Delaware and the amenities are spectacular. Elaborate clubhouses, swimming pools, tennis courts, walking trails, exercise facilities, parties, trips and more! Some, like Heritage Shores, also offer a Public 18-Hole Championship Golf Course, but membership is additional so that only the golfers pay to play.

One of the first questions I hear is "How much are the fees?" Each community will have a different fee structure depending on the exact amenity package; in other words, you get what you pay for. In Coastal Delaware, location of the community, its proximity to the beach resorts and the amenities available all have an impact on your total annual cost. Does it make a difference to your total annual cost whether you own the land your home is on or pay lot rent? I wasn't sure so I decided to research the numbers and put together a spreadsheet to find the answer.

I decided to compare Heritage Shores, one of our first Active Adult Communities, located in Bridgeville, Delaware, to Baywood, an all ages community overlooking Baywood Greens, one of the most popular golf courses in the area. Both communities offer affordable golf course living in Coastal Delaware with many exclusive amenities including: clubhouse, tennis courts, swimming pools, and more. Baywood is located in the popular Long Neck area of Millsboro, Delaware, close to the Indian River, boating and fishing, about 12-15 miles from the beaches at either Lewes or Rehoboth Beach; Heritage Shores is located approximately 30 miles west on Route 13 in Bridgeville, Delaware.

Both communities offer single family detached homes and the estimated costs below are based on actual active listings of homes for sale in each community. At Heritage Shores you can also find attached homes or villas; at Baywood you can find townhouses or condominiums as well.

	Heritage Shores	Baywood
Single Family Home:	$350,000 - $440,000	$260,000 - $400,000
Estimated Annual Costs:
City/Town Tax	$450.00	None
County Tax*	$1,400.00	$600.00
Special Assessment**	$1,040.00	None
Association Fee	$2,520	$12
Lot Rent***	None	$5,100
Sewer & Water****	$360	$360
Trash Pickup	$170	$170
Annual Taxes & Fees	$5,940.00	$6,242.00

 *          At Baywood, the County Tax is calculated on the house only; the land owner pays property tax on the land.

**        Special Assessment by the Town of Bridgeville to cover infrastructure costs of Sewer and Water for the next 30 years. It will increase by 2% per year.

***      Lot Rent is quoted for a particular single family home now on the market for $268,900. Lot Rents vary based on the home, location and year the lease began. Leases are 40 years, assumable and may be extended for another 40 years. Annual lot rent is subject to increase based on Cost of Living index as well as periodic market adjustment as outlined in the lease.

****    Minimum monthly bill for sewer and water plus estimated usage for a home with an outside irrigation system.

The point here is not to favor one type of community or another, but to simply demonstrate that in any community which offers a comprehensive set of amenities there will be a cost. At Baywood, the cost is included in the lot rent; at most Active Adult communities, the costs are covered by a Homeowners Association Fee. Heritage Shores and Baywood offer a good comparison because both include a Public 18-Hole Championship Golf Course within the community, a rarity in Coastal Delaware. The only other comparable community is The Peninsula, a gated waterfront resort community with a private Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course. As you can imagine, both the home prices and the fees are substantially higher.

Numerous other communities targeting the Aging Boomers or Active Adults are being built across Sussex County. The taxes will depend on whether they are in the County or in a particular city or town limits and how particular impact fees or special assessments are being handled. Association fees will vary depending on the exact complement of amenities, but most will range anywhere from $225 - $275/month.

We truly have something for everyone and every budget, but you have to know what you are looking for and the lifestyle you will enjoy.

Translate: