REALTOR.com recently shared a list of "The 10 Most Common Defects Found in Home Inspections" - and they are pretty much in line with what we see locally. Another item here at the beach that didn't make this list is checking on crawlspaces. We strongly recommend that our sellers consider getting a home inspection before listing, so they do not encounter any surprises that could delay or even prevent a successful sale. 

If you are thinking of selling your home this spring, consider this list and getting a home inspection in advance. And if you have any questions about how to start the ball rolling to sell your home, give us a call at 302.645.6664 or email us anytime at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.!

Welcome to 36347 Warwick Drive, Rehoboth Beach

Now offered at $529,900

Make this fantastic, never-rented Rehoboth twin home your own now! Truly impeccable taste, classic style, and modern appointments are the backdrop for this spacious, low-maintenance home with 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, attached 2-car garage, and a terrific floor plan that includes a large, open living room with ultra-modern gas fireplace; separate formal dining room with refined decor; and a chic eat-in kitchen with well-placed center island, new stainless steel appliances, double wall ovens, tile back splash, and luxury granite countertops; new ceiling fans; second-floor balcony, elevator rough-in, and more.

Relax on the screened porch overlooking the pond and venture al fresco to the large, custom brick patio. Complete with flatscreen TVs included! Enjoy easy access to Downtown Rehoboth Beach, great restaurants, pristine beaches, and beautiful nature of our Nation's Summer Capital. Look today, start beach life tomorrow! 

(Elevator shaft already in unit, approximate cost of installing an elevator is $20,000.)

Welcome to 106 Lake Drive, Milton

Beautiful waterfront home delivers direct water access, peaceful views, and tons of style. Priced below appraised value, this fantastic value delivers more than meets the eye, including 2 separate parcels: a home and waterfront lot!

House parcel presents unobstructed panoramic views of scenic Wagamon's Pond. Completely remodeled with impeccable taste & decor, home features hardwood flooring throughout, light-filled gourmet kitchen with stainless steel appliances & granite counters, wood-burning fireplace, 1st floor master suite, two-zone Geothermal HVAC & more quality upgrades.

Large detached 2-story garage and an above, huge unfinished room with electric can be finished as a great artist studio, in-law suite, or extra bedrooms! One of the very few homes in Milton with true waterfront access, too: Launch your kayak or cast your fishing rod steps from your door.

Move-in ready, turn-key, and situated on a peaceful no-traffic street. Seller willing to leave most furnishings, too!

Call us for a personal tour and embrace life on Lake Drive!

“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall." 

-          F. Scott Fitzgerald

Welcome, fall! It truly is our “second season” at the beach. We hope you enjoy the still-sunny weather, amazing sunsets, festivals, and restaurant specials! While many of us love summer most of all, fall is a very close second. Historically, fall is also a very busy season in real estate – and this year is no exception.

Last year was our ‘best year yet’ in terms of the number of sales (369!), which was truly mind-boggling. So far, 2018 is shaping up to be on par/slightly more brisk than 2016, which was at that time our ‘best year yet.’ This year is more indicative of steady market growth based on 2016’s results, as 2017 was a (welcome) anomaly!

To give you an idea of current trends shaping this year’s results, which of course represent results for sellers and buyers, we have sold 251 properties so far this year. There is relatively low available inventory in downtown Lewes and on Lewes Beach, so well-priced properties sell quickly. We have also seen several multiple offer situations this summer and fall on desirable, in-town and Lewes Beach homes.

Also competing in the market mix is a new construction/new community boom. If buyers cannot find a move-in ready home, they often look to new construction – and they do not have to look far.

Here is a sample of what is available and on the horizon/still under review in and adjacent to Lewes:

Admirals Chase - The Evergreene Companies has been approved for rezoning of a 7-acre parcel on Gills Neck Road to allow multi-family housing/24 duplexes in 12 buildings with a community pool and clubhouse.  The parcel is next to Breakwater and borders Showfield at the rear.

“The Brittingham Property” - A 30-acre field on New Road on the other side of Canary Creek is under consideration for annexation.  A public hearing was held October 30 and the City seems to be favorably considering annexation.

Fishers Cove – Proposed 18-home subdivision on 12 acres behind Rodney Avenue with lot sizes varying from 11,000 to 34,500 square feet (with most about one-third acre) as well as four open space areas totaling about 2.22 acres, including two wetland areas and one area fronting the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal available for use by community residents.

Governors – Currently Schell’s fastest-selling neighborhood will have 423 total homes, including 287 single-family homes and 136 townhomes on 118 acres with 76 acres of open space. Sales to date: 55 single-family and 29 townhomes.

Groome Church parcel on New Road – under consideration for 293 single-family lots on the 134 acres formerly owned by the Groome Church, however, there are historic/cultural considerations as well as DelDOT requirements still factoring into this plan.

Kings Highway senior-living facility - Yet to be named this 3-story, 220-000 square foot facility will be built by Ocean Atlantic Companies and Vantage Point Retirement Services LLC and will offer 80 independent-living units, 63 assisted-living units, and 63 memory care units on a 9.34-acre parcel. 

Mariners' Retreat - Custom single family home community located along 4th Street in downtown Lewes. The community offers 34 homesites. Site work is being completed and home construction should start in early 2019.

Mitchell Farm - At the corner of Gills Neck Road and Kings Highway the developer plans 362 single family homes and medical buildings.  The medical buildings would be in addition to one already approved by the County.

Showfield II - The second phase of Showfield will have 129 single-family homes on 80.6 acres, divided into a west parcel of 86 units and an east parcel of 43, divided by wetlands and a different parcel. It is an expansion of the adjacent 166-lot development now under construction. 

If you have questions about what is coming on the market or if you are considering selling your home, please feel free to give us a call at The Lee Ann Wilkinson Group. While holidays are approaching, it is still a great time for beach real estate! The market starts all over again “when it gets crisp in the fall.”

Jazz Up Your Weekend!

Don't miss these opportunities to tour several amazing homes this weekend and make your beach life plans. Give us a call for buying, selling, and all that jazz!

9 Houston Avenue, Lewes Beach

Open Saturday and Sunday,October 13 & 14, Noon - 2 p.m.

104 Breakwater Reach, Cape Shores

Open Saturday and Sunday, October 13 & 14, Noon - 2 p.m.

35553 Creekside Drive, Sawgrass at White Oak Creek - Open Sunday, October 14, Noon - 2 p.m.

120 Federal Street, Historic Milton - Open Sunday, October 14, Noon - 2 p.m.

Come for the summer, but stay for the fall!

Don't miss these opportunities to tour several amazing homes over the next few weekends and make your beach life plans!

9 Houston Avenue, Lewes Beach

Open Saturday and Sunday,October 6 & 7, Noon - 2 p.m.

104 Breakwater Reach, Cape Shores

Open Saturday and Sunday, October 6 & 7, Noon - 2 p.m.

35553 Creekside Drive, Sawgrass at White Oak Creek - Open Sundays October 7 and 14, Noon - 2 p.m.

120 Federal Street, Historic Milton - Open Sunday, October 14, Noon - 2 p.m.

Labor Day is usually considered a bookend to summer, but it doesn’t have to be. (For the record, summer technically lasts through Friday, September 21!) Plus, fall really is a great time of year to explore your options for living at ‘the beach’ – which is a broad umbrella term for living where you can easily enjoy access to the perks of beach life. Summer rentals can sometimes make showings challenging to see investment homes and condos for sale, so fall is a bit more flexible all around. 

Locals generally do not want to give away our secrets, but I will tell you that fall is absolutely the best time of year at the beach for so many reasons. Restaurants offer specials and the weather is still great.

Whether you want to sell it all and move from the city to the beach year-round, or if you want to explore a second home for your own getaway or to use as an investment property, there is overwhelming opportunity to do so. And with Maryland’s recent expansion of Route 404 from two lanes to a four-lane divided highway from US 50 to the Denton Bypass, your “road not taken” for fear of traffic just opened up to you!

While traditionally Route 50 led you to Rehoboth Beach as the main destination in “Our Nation’s Summer Capital,” we now actually cast a wide net to include Dewey, the Indian River Inlet area and Bethany to the south, and increasingly Lewes and Milton to the north. Rehoboth Beach has the envious draw of the Atlantic Ocean, boardwalk, beautiful beaches, shopping, dining, and nightlife. But these amenities are accessible from several different communities. When you are searching online for “Rehoboth Beach,” consider broadening your search to include Lewes and Milton.

Both historic towns, Lewes and Milton have been around – well, since the beginning of Delaware! – and have hosted generations of beach lovers. Increasingly, both towns are expanding culinary and shopping options to rival Rehoboth’s great restaurants. At least so far, home prices in these areas have not caught up to Rehoboth Beach. Simply put, you can get more for your money while still enjoying the array of beautiful natural destinations like Cape Henlopen State Park, where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean and which is now connected to Gordon’s Pond in Rehoboth Beach via a five-mile scenic bike trail; Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge in Milton; Lewes Beach on the Delaware Bay; the scenic Lewes-Rehoboth Canal and Broadkill River. The season is unbelievably long here for biking, hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding, bird watching, surfing, crabbing, fishing, and basking in the serenity of beach life.

The appeal of Coastal Delaware is undeniable – but what about the prices? I’ll leave DC real estate to the DC experts, but it is fair to say that house for house, living at the beach is less expensive, especially when you factor in our low property taxes, and investing here is definitely something to consider with your financial adviser. Our clients are a mix of retirees who are moving here full-time or selling a current house here for another (either smaller or closer to downtown); second home buyers who plan to retire here in the future; and increasingly families and couples who look at newer construction neighborhoods in and around Lewes, Milton, and Rehoboth.

As a point of comparison, beachfront property in Rehoboth Beach, depending on the home, is typically in the $4M+ range. We listed an unprecedentedly priced home in Lewes this year for $4.5M; however, we also have beachfront homes in the $2.5M range and one block off the beach can go for $1.5M and less. Lewes is home to several new construction communities which will offer homes in the $500-600Ks. And Milton, just a few miles north, features communities from the high $200Ks to $400Ks. 

Medical facilities and specialties continue to expand here to include a cardiovascular specialty at Beebe Medical Center and a brand new hospital north of Milton in Milford. Our school district is booming and has updated the high school, is replacing the outdated elementary schools and has added an additional one, and is adding a new middle school. The longtime question of “will I be able to live year round at the beach?” can be answered with a resounding “yes,” and you can even still enjoy an often solitary walk on Lewes Beach in the morning. 

Labor Day doesn’t have to be the end of summer!

The welcome mats are out!

Join us in beautiful, centrally located Sawgrass at White Oak Creek in Rehoboth Beach to tour two different, fabulous opportunities to live a coastal lifestyle!

Saturday, May 26, 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.

35553 Creekside Drive

35613 Marabella Lane

Two gorgeous opportunities to live in one of the best-located communites at the beach!

Take a personal tour with us this Saturday, May 12, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. 

35613 Marabella Lane

MLS 731069

35553 Creekside Drive

MLS 730366

See you there!

Prepare for summer!

Join us on Saturday, April 21, between Noon and 3 p.m. to experience the difference craftsmanship and luxury amenities make in your coastal living experience!

Public Open House

Saturday, April 21

Noon - 3 p.m.

24460 Jacks Drive 

The Peninsula

 Offered at $1,295,000

Stunning Award-winner In The Peninsula, Coastal Delaware’s Premier, Amenity-rich Golf Community! Exceptionally Styled Home Is Poised To Host Intimate Gatherings Or A Full House Of Family & Friends. Enjoy Bright Interior Spaces On Both Levels; Dual 1st & 2nd Floor Master Brs W/spa Baths; 2 Chic See-through Fireplaces; 2nd-floor Theater Room / Great Room W/custom-designed Wet Bar & 3 Balconies; Large 1st-floor Deck, & Outdoor Entertaining Spaces, All Wired For Sound. Your Setting Is Ready For Epic Evenings, Panoramic Sunsets & Peaceful Lake Views On The 10th & 11th Fairways.

Or as we say in the real estate business, “FSBO”

Wanting to sell your house on your own and take "the middle man" out of the equation is understandable, but does it work out?

 For Buyers:

According to the National Association of REALTORS®' 2017 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, most buyers search for homes online – and most buyers also use a real estate agent. NAR based the data on random survey responses from a sample of last year’s homebuyers.

Not surprisingly, the 2017 data shows that the internet (95 percent) and real estate agents (89 percent) remain the top two information sources used during buyers' home search. Further, for the third straight year, for-sale-by-owner sales were their lowest share (8 percent) in the survey's history.

Overall, 87 percent of buyers ended up purchasing their home through a real estate agent, and finding the right property to buy and help negotiating the terms of the sale were the top two things buyers wanted most from their agent. Even for those who found the home they purchased online, nearly all still closed on it with the help of an agent (88 percent).

The main reasons buyers cited for using a real estate agent were to understand the buying process and to negotiate sales terms.

And for Sellers:

The National Association of REALTOR® data is helpful to understand buyer feelings about FSBOs, and at The Lee Ann Wilkinson Group, we know and can share first-hand the advantages of working with an agent for sellers.

Wanting to sell a home on your own seems like it could save money and take out the administrative burden of working with a real estate office, but consider the facets of selling that cost you time and money.

Here’s what our office can take off your plate, aside from providing our high-exposure familiar Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices yard sign!

• Pricing. We provide a free comparative market analysis to sellers. We do the research for you on how your home compares to others in value and recent sales data, so it can get priced right – right from the start. This is an enormous time-saver, and anecdotally, we have seen time and again how the right price up front can prove to save you money in the long run because you don’t waste time with an inappropriately priced home, and don’t have to negotiate as much.

• Marketing. Our advertising budget is one of our largest expenses and we have a wide reach – print, broadcast, internet, and of course, the Multiple Listing Service (which is picked up by other sites like Zillow, in which we also have a sizeable investment). Most of all, we give sellers the largest local network of past and referral clients who are either looking to buy or know people who are.

• Showings. Coordinating showings can be a significant administrative task. Inevitably, people want to see homes last-minute, then cancel last-minute. Further, working with a REALTOR® gives you some peace of mind in terms of screening – and buyers are accompanied by a licensed professional.

• Contracts and Qualified Buyers. Contracts and negotiations are our specialty. Of course, foregoing commission is perhaps the chief reason you want to sell on your own, but the residential sales contract undergoes changes and has addendums, inspection forms, etc. And mortgage regulations and qualification criteria change all the time.  For the “fine print” and legal considerations alone, an experienced REALTOR® is invaluable.

In 2017, The Lee Ann Wilkinson Group closed 463 transaction sides – which is a 17% increase in closed transactions over last year, and comprised 369 individual properties.

We sold more than one home per day!

Further, our average sales price increased by 15% compared to 2016. The overall market has shown a decrease in available inventory, and homes are selling more quickly. 

For sellers, these numbers indicate that it is a great time to sell – and using a REALTOR® can help you do it with minimum coordination and maximum return!

Summer may be fleeting, but enjoying the beach doesn’t have to be! On the heels of another great Rehoboth Beach season, hopefully you are planning more fall excursions to enjoy celebrations like annual fall sidewalk sales, tons of 5Ks, the famous Jazz Festival, Sea Witch, and many more.

Fall is also the best time of year to shop for real estate! Up to 75 percent of sought-after in-town inventory within Rehoboth’s City Limits hits the market from mid-August through September, mostly due to the rental market cycle.

How hot is the market now? As a point of reference, earlier this week (as of August 30), there were 78 condos and single family homes for sale in-town Rehoboth, ranging in price from $325,000 to over $4M – depending on the type of property, size, condition, amenities and location. An average “in-town” price is $1.5M for a single family home. You can take advantage of this wide range of options (like our famous local Joe Biden recently did)!

Comparison Shopping

Downtown Rehoboth offers unquestionable appeal with walk-ability, restaurants, shopping, and some of the best beaches in the country. But good news! If these factors are on your list of “Must Haves,” and you want to stay within a tighter budget, you have even more options if you cast a wider net.

The Delaware Beaches extend well beyond the Rehoboth City Limits. You can stretch your dollar if you venture even a few miles north. Five miles puts you in Downtown Lewes and another ten puts you in Downtown Milton – and there are many great communities and options in-between.

Downtown Lewes offers an eclectic blend of charming historic architecture and some brand-new construction, albeit on a much smaller scale than Rehoboth. Lewes was long considered the “year round” town; although that’s changed with more businesses staying open longer in Rehoboth as more people have moved to the area full-time. And much of Lewes East of Route 1 offers easy access to the quiet Delaware Bay Beach. One major recent asset is that the Junction and Breakwater Trail (which starts at the new Lewes Library) and the Gordon’s Pond Trail (between Cape Henlopen State Park and Gordon’s Pond) now connect Lewes and Rehoboth Beaches. Your budget can stretch a bit more in Lewes - and you still have easy access to Rehoboth.

And if you are willing to go another five miles north, Milton and its surrounding communities offer tremendous value, compared to Rehoboth and Lewes, offering increasing dining options and gems like its renovated Milton Theater and Dogfish Head brewery (to name only a few).

So how much do prices vary, really?

Note: due to our unique and often varied zoning, two homes on the same street can vary widely in value.

• Downtown Rehoboth Beach: condos fall in the $300-400K range, a quaint cottage in North Rehoboth can fetch $850K, beach block property garners nearly $1.6M, and totally renovated homes in the beach block are listed at $2.5M. Oceanfront studio apartments are selling in the mid $300s and 2+bedroom beachfront condos are listing at $750K+. If you want 3+ bedrooms facing the ocean, be prepared to spend $1M+. In-town living is among the most expensive around – and can reap the largest rewards in rental income.

• Residential/country club communities near Rehoboth: from $600K - $900K for a traditional four-bedroom home and $1-$2M for a waterfront property

• Historic Downtown Lewes: average home price in-town is around $500K, inching up to $600s - $900K+ on Lewes Beach, and includes some new construction communities. Currently, there are 61 properties listed for sale in the Lewes City Limits, which includes Lewes Beach

• Lewes beachfront community: ranges from $600K - $1.2M a few lots back to $2M bayfront – which is about half of what you would pay for Rehoboth beachfront

• Adjacent to Lewes: Residential communities along Gills Neck Road offer newer construction and amenities like pool and tennis and start around $600K and go up

• Five Points (still East of Route 1): Town Center style living with grocery shopping and community amenities condos start in the low $200s, town homes in the low $300s and single family homes at $400K

• Historic Downtown Milton: average in the low $300s for a turn key historic home, and low $200s for something that might need a little TLC

• Adjacent to Milton: communities along Cave Neck Road average in the high $200s to high $300s, depending on square footage

This is just a glimpse of the many real estate options available at the Delaware Beaches. The bottom line is that now is the perfect time to shop in Rehoboth and surrounding areas with a great selection of condos, cottages, new construction, historic homes, and more.

Call us and make this Labor Day the beginning of your endless summer at the beach!

SAVE $5,000 ON YOUR NEW HOME!

6 Vassar Drive

Rehoboth Beach

MLS 713807

 $299,900

$5K closing cost help available with acceptable contract by 11/30/16!

AND MOVE-IN READY IN REHOBOTH UNDER $300K?

Yes, it’s true! This spacious, updated home has it all: 3 BRs, 2 BA, living room, dining room, open kitchen with breakfast room, and family room. A 2-tier deck overlooks the large, private backyard where you can grill in the great outdoors, entertain family and friends, or just relax and watch the kids or dogs play. Store your beach gear in the shed or garage. Abundant closets with organizers provide lots of storage inside, too. New HVAC! Ask for the list of updates and improvements. Community pool, walk to shopping and dining, and just 4 miles to Rehoboth and Lewes beaches.

For more information about the Delaware Beaches, please contact The Lee Ann Wilkinson Group by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., by phone at (302) 645-6664, or visit our website at www.LeeAnnGroup.com.

As the top selling Realtor in Sussex County for 2015, and the #4 sales group for BHHS nationally, we deliver "Superior Service, Outstanding Results," 7-days-a-week!