Happy Spring! Last month, we shared with you that after many years of deficient inventory, we were starting to see properties coming on the market more frequently. As we start the month of May, this trend continues as inventory in Sea Colony has more than doubled when compared to the same time last year. Inventory is growing most significantly on the East. 

The real estate market remains firm in Sea Colony. As the chart illustrates, sales activity is up 79% so far this year when compared to the first 4 months of last year. Sales volume is up for both sides of the community. Prices remain stable on the West, but the market is showing some softening on the East. 

As always, if we can offer you any real estate guidance, please call our Sea Colony

Happy Spring! Last month, we shared with you that after many years of deficient inventory, we were starting to see properties coming on the market more frequently. As we start the month of May, this trend continues as inventory in the Bethany-Fenwick market is up 58% when compared to the same time last year.

The beach real estate market remains firm. As the chart illustrates, sales activity is up 14% so far this year when compared to the first 4 months of 2023 and sales volume is up 19%. Properties are taking a little longer to sell with 11 days as the median days-to-contract so far this year, vs. 9 days last year. Meanwhile, prices are stable.      

The busy Summer season is just around the corner, if we can offer you any real estate guidance,

Photo courtesy of Sussex County Property Reassessment

Just in the last week or so, homeowners in Bethany Beach, Fenwick Island and other surrounding towns have started to receive letters from Tyler Technologies regarding the reassessment of their property. The letter asks property owners to review Sussex County's current building information provided, and to make corrections to any inaccurate reporting.  

As a reminder, Sussex County, in connection with Tyler Technologies, is currently undergoing a county-wide reassessment of all real property, resulting in new property values for both residential and commercial property.  The revaluation is being carried out to adhere to a 2020 ruling by the Delaware Chancery Court, which deemed the property taxing

Credit to: Coastal Point, Ellen Driscoll

Boasting a new deep-water entrance, South Shore Marina on the southerly side of the Indian River Inlet bridge has just eight boat slips left available for purchase.

Permitting took three years for the marina entrance to be moved to the west jetty, said Marina Manager Laura Leslie; the $800,000 construction project was necessary to allow for safe entrance.  

Previously, sand deposits had often blocked boat traffic at the mouth of the channel, or caused bent props or grounding. The area was dredged annually, Leslie said, but shoaling continued with each storm event and blowout tide, presenting hazards for boaters and preventing access to the marina.

The marina has been around for 60

Looking for a fun activity for friends and family this Easter Weekend? Check out below for all the currently planned events in and around the Bethany Beach area! We recommend calling to make reservations for brunch, as these spots can fill up quickly.

Easter Brunch, Sunday March 31st, in/near Bethany Beach DE:

Bear Trap Dunes - 10am-2pm
Big Fish Grill - 10am-7pm (Ocean View & Rehoboth)
Bluecoast - 10am-3pm (Bethany & Rehoboth)
Catch 54 - 10am-3pm
Cottage Cafe - 10am-3pm
Northeast - 10am-3pm

Easter Egg Hunts, Saturday March 30th, in/near Bethany Beach DE:

Salted Vines Vineyard - 2-3pm
Frankford Town Park - 12pm
Dagsboro Fire House - 10am

Credit to: Sean Curtis, WBOC

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) plans to hold a public informational session regarding US Wind’s proposed construction that would bring power lines ashore at 3Rs Beach at the Delaware Seashore State Park.

US Wind and Governor John Carney’s Office previously announced negotiations were underway to bring the power lines from offshore turbines ashore at 3Rs Beach, with US Wind paying an annual $350,000 for the land lease.

DNREC says the information session, slated for next Tuesday, will focus solely on the potential lease to allow the underground cables at the beach, including the construction plan and what will be visible following the construction. The meeting will not cover the

March has arrived and we are looking forward to longer light filled days ahead! The Bethany-Fenwick area had a good start to the year for real estate activity. While it is not the frenzy that we experienced in 2021 and 2022, to-date, sales are up considerably when compared to last year.

As the chart illustrates, through the first two months, new contracts were up 34% when compared to the same time last year. Inventory is slowly rising, but remains at historical lows. Sales volume in dollars (based on list price) was up 30%.   Properties that are priced appropriately continue to sell very quickly and the average sale price for properties settled in January and February was down 5% when compared to the same months in 2023. This is due to the fact

Provided by Delaware Department of Transportation

The purpose of the North Bethany Bicycle and Pedestrian Corridor Study is to evaluate alternatives to provide low-stress bicycle and pedestrian facilities along SR 1 between Bethany Beach and the Indian River Inlet Bridge, and to develop a conceptual design and cost estimate for a recommended alternative. These concepts will be developed based on the public feedback received to date and the results of the existing conditions assessment. The potential alternatives may include recommendations for traffic calming, median crossover closures/consolidations, shared use path(s), protected bike lanes, dedicated right-turn lanes, sidewalks, and crossing improvements.

Public Process

Concepts

We are just one month into the year and so far, we are experiencing good buyer activity at the beach! In January, 19 properties went under contract in the Bethany-Fenwick area. This is up nearly 30%, compared to 15 properties under contract during the same month last year, even as we continue to have deficient inventory in most areas.  

During this time of the year, we like to calculate absorption rates to determine whether we are trending in the direction of a buyer’s or seller’s market. We compare the pace of sales over the previous 12 months to calculate how many months supply of inventory is for sale. Generally, a balanced market would have between 6 to 7 months of inventory.  

As the chart illustrates, we remain in a Seller’s Market for

Stay on top of trash, recycling, and yard waste pickup schedules in and around Bethany Beach. Access the schedules for Bethany Beach (zones 1 & 2), Fenwick Island, and South Bethany by clicking on the links below:

Bethany Beach Zone 1 Schedule                  Bethany Beach Zone 2 Schedule                 

Fenwick Island Schedule                                    South Bethany Schedule