101 Questions about Bethany (Wilmington, Dover, Bear: renters, crime, lawyer)

[Caladium]

OK, you guys are starting to spark a real interest in Ocean View. And you know what that means..... I'm going to have a million billion questions!

I don't know much about the Bethany area at all, and am interested in everything and anything you guys want to tell me as far as what it's like to live there year round. Meanwhile, for starters--here are a few questions.


1. What is the area at the northernmost tip of a peninsula in the bay like? I believe it is called Pineshore. A street there is called Quillen, to help identify the area. If you live on a peninsula like this, does it become a real pain to drive all the way around to Rt 1 every time you go to the store (or are there stores up there).

2. Many Bethany homes seem to have geothermal heating. Is this common, and do you like it?

3. What areas in Bethany should be avoided (for any reason).

4. Of the newer developments, are there any that have a lot of unsold properties? Is Bethany Preserve mostly sold?

[DelawareLiz]

I'll try my best to answer.....

1. I am not too familiar with that area really, but I'm thinking there aren't any stores there....but it's very close to route one.

2. I don't have geothermal heating, but my new neighbor next door does. They seem to like it and brag about their low electric bill. I know they paid a lot for it (more than I could afford). It is pretty common around here though.

3. As far as crime or scary areas to avoid in Bethany--there are none. Just keep your car, shed, and house locked and you won't have a problem. Most thefts around here are due to people leaving stuff unlocked--not "smash and grab" thefts or bust open the window thefts. Thieves like to keep it simple here. And really, theft around here is not as common as it is in many other Sussex towns.

I cannot really think of any "bad" housing areas in Bethany--just do your research, be sure to scope the place out on summer weekends, and try to talk to the residents. Your biggest issue will be renters--and I cannot think of one place that bans them. Week-to-week renters can be a real pain in the butt, believe me. Find out if the homeowner's association allows week-to-week renters and if they require background checks. Our association is currently paying a lawyer to revise our renters' regulations--criminal background checks will be mandatory and no week-to-week renters. You typically will not have issues with people who own summer homes given they have a vested interest in my little state. However, sometimes they have some annoying guests or allow their college-age kids to crash the house for a summer weekend.

4. Many newer developments have unsold lots, with Bethany Preserve being one of them. There are some great deals too!!

[Caladium]

Thanks liz. So geothermal is an expensive perk? Many homes that are being sold now seem to mention it and it doesn't seem to have raised the price of the home, so maybe that would be a good feature to look for. I've never known anyone who had that before but I'm all for lower electric bills.

Good news about the crime. Now the big question will be safety as far as pedestrian issues go (since we love to walk so much)--but that I can eyeball easily when we're down there.

Unused lots are great, but empty unsold homes are worrisome, IMO.

More questions--this time, a few about shopping:

1. If you live in Bethany, where do you do your shopping? Grocery shopping and everyday things, not outlet mall shopping or gift items. (In other words, do you have Target, Rite Aid, Sears, K-Mart, or the equivalent?)

2. Do you tend to shop in Ocean City?

3. Are there any relatively nearby malls (besides the outlets in Rehoboth).

[Caladium]

Originally Posted by beachliz

4. Many newer developments have unsold lots, with Bethany Preserve being one of them. There are some great deals too!!

Any thought on the best time of year to find deals? Mid winter--or do you have to look in the summer because that's when everything is listed? I'm presuming that the best deals would be on resales, so that's what we'd want.

[James420]

I work with a guy believe it or not who drives from Bethany to Marcus Hook, PA two hours both ways. He has done it for THREE YEARS and loves it. He sold his house in Bear at the height of the boom and payed off his beach house that he had for 12 years and moved in. He always says its like living at vacation.

Bethany's boardwalk is the one we frequent because its usually a family atmoshere and they have live music often. I'm just a visitor to Bethany but if we were to move down, Bethany/Dagsboro/Ocean View would be our area. Lots of drive on beaches like Savavge Ditch, Keybox, Fenwick/ South Bethany and its close to Ocean City. My reason and only reason for picking that area over Lewes which is awesome in its own right, would be that its closer to OC, MD than Lewes is. I have young kids so right now, my choice might be different than yours.

I think Salsbury has a mall? Or is it Berlin, MD? beachliz would probably know, but I guess going to MD you lose the advantage of tax free shopping. Shopping like Target, Kmart, Sears I think are mostly in Rehoboth although rt 113 is finally adding more shopping opportunities. Also Ocean Downs, the casino in MD is closer than Harrington, I only bring this up since we have never won a nickel at the Delaware Casino's only the one in Ocean Downs.

[nlblueyes]

Closest Target will be Salisbury MD or Dover DE. MD tax was 6% when I left in 2009.
Kmart in Rehoboth.
Sears - above like Target.
Walmart-not sure if one in West OC, but Rehoboth has one.

[DelawareLiz]

Caladium--they offer deals year-round, at least from what I've seen.

We have plenty of grocery stores, drug stores, pet stores, liquor stores, and pizza/sub shops around here for everyday needs. I shop at Food Lion and Rite Aid, and I often order take-out food from one of the local businesses. My only complaint about living here is we do not have a KMart, WalMart, Target, JCPenney, or anything like that. We drive to Rehoboth to shop at WalMart and KMart, but some days it's impossible to get over the IR inlet bridge without a horrible back-up and we wind up turning back around. It won't be nearly as bad once summer is over. I rarely shop in OC due to the distance and traffic, but I do visit that area for dining and entertainment. The nearest mall is Salisbury, about 50 minutes away. My new neighbors are from my hometown of north Wilmington, and the lady was telling me about how she is not used to having to "drive so far to go to a car dealership or to go to WalMart or a mall". It does get annoying at times, but I've just kind of gotten used to it and travel out to the big cities when I need to stop at a few locations instead of just one. We have many smaller stores around town though...just no big box stores.

I avoid the outlets during the summer and during the holiday season....it gets a bit crazy. But, I don't do very well with lots of traffic and crowds so that's just me. There are lots and lots of stores there though, and they offer just about everything.

We have some good restaurants here as well, but none of them are chain restaurants such as Outback, Ruby Tuesdays, etc.

[DelawareLiz]

James--that's one heck of a drive!! Not sure how he copes with that during the summer months; I know I couldn't with all that beach traffic. Oh, and the IR inlet bridge nightmare--yikes!! One lane each way now, and the back-ups can get pretty scary.

Bethany boardwalk is nice--less drama than Rehoboth, and it's just more relaxing in general. Living here is like being on vacation daily. My husband and I are both off for most of the summer, and so far we have gone out and taken beach/boardwalk strolls, long bike rides, kayaking excursions, nice dinners, gone gambling, etc. And summer isn't even halfway over .

[James420]

He pretty much has off every Friday from Memorial day to Labor day, still on Thursadays its busy especially through Churchmans Marsh. I could take the drive for a few months, not years though. Another co worker lives in Pot Nets, once in awhile they ride together when their schedules match up. They both love living at the beach so who can blame em.

[Caladium]

Will the new bridge relieve the traffic backups?

Also, what is/are PotNets? I see that word a lot but I'm not quite sure what it means.