Credit to: Susan Canfora, Coastal Point

Ocean View Town Council members said at their budget workshop on Tuesday this week that they were pleased taxes won’t increase this year, but Town Manager Carol Houck warned that there will likely be a hike next year. “I anticipate a 1-cent increase” through the 2029 fiscal year, “and I don’t foresee our ability to not increase the tax rate” in the 2026 fiscal year, Houck said at the Feb. 27 workshop on the Town’s 2025-fiscal-year budget.

“We have maintained the tax rate for the third year in a row, and getting to the current rate included a 3-cent reduction three years ago. We’re proud of that and all we have been able to accomplish,” she said.

The current property tax rate for the Town is $.2378 per $100

March has arrived and we are looking forward to longer light filled days ahead! The Ocean View area had a firm 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 keeping pace with last year.

As the chart illustrates, through the first two months, 50 properties went under contract in Ocean View compared to 53 during the same time last year. Inventory remains at historical lows and
properties that are priced appropriately continue to sell quickly although the average days to contract is rising. The median sale price of properties settled in January and February was up 7% when
compared to the same months in 2023!

If you are considering buying or selling, please give us a

March has arrived and we are looking forward to longer light filled days ahead! Bear Trap has had a slow 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 in other areas at the beach, but extremely low inventory has suppressed sales in your community.

As the chart illustrates, through the first two months, new contracts were down 33% compared to the same time last year. Properties that are priced appropriately continue to sell quickly and the median sale price of properties settled in January and February was up 26% when compared to the same months in 2023.

If you are considering buying or selling, please give our Bear Trap

We are just one month into the year and so far, we are experiencing good buyer activity in Ocean View and Bear Trap Dunes! In January, 27 properties went under contract in Ocean View, up from 24 sales during the same month last year. In your community of Bear Trap, there were 4 sales, up from 3 last year.      

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.  

We remain in a Seller’s Market for Bear Trap Dunes and Ocean View Real Estate. If you are

We are just one month into the year and so far, we are experiencing good buyer activity in Ocean View! In January, 27 properties went under contract in Ocean View. This is up compared to 24 sales during the same month last year, even though there is 15% less inventory available.    

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.  

We remain in a Seller’s Market for Ocean View and Bethany Beach real estate. If you are looking for Ocean View DE homes

Happy New Year!  We hope you and your family had a safe and healthy holiday season.  As we look back on the 2023 real estate market, you might recall that the first few months were much slower when compared to 2021 and 2022. Inventory shortages continued to play a role in the slow down and interest rates rose to their highest level in more than 20 years. There was some rise in activity later in the year and we are hopeful this positive momentum carries into 2024.  

In December, there was good news for the real estate market when the Federal Reserve held their key interest rate steady for the third time and suggested that there could be rate cuts in 2024. This news has us optimistic about the year ahead for real estate in Bear Trap Dunes.  If you

Happy New Year!  We hope you and your family had a safe and healthy holiday season.  As we look back on the 2023 beach real estate market, you might recall that the first few months were much slower when compared to 2021 and 2022. Inventory shortages continued to play a role in the slow down and interest rates rose to their highest level in more than 20 years. Sales picked up in the Fall and the positive momentum carried through the end of the year.  

In December, there was good news for the real estate market when the Federal Reserve held their key interest rate steady for the third time and suggested that there could be rate cuts in 2024. This news has us optimistic about the year ahead for Ocean View Real Estate!  If you have any questions,

The Coastal Point recently announced that two dredging projects are set to begin around the new year. The first will begin at the Southern end of the Assawoman Canal, and the DNREC’s project on White Creek is expected to be completed by spring.

Credit to: Coastal Point

Coastal Point

DNREC officials announced this week that two dredging projects in southern Delaware are set to begin around the new year. Dredging is to start at the southern end of the Assawoman Canal, and when the canal portion is completed (anticipated for early February 2024), DNREC-contracted dredge crews will move into White Creek resuming a project that is expected to finish by late winter or early spring.

DNREC is aiming to improve navigability on what officials said are

 As we look back at the first 3 quarters of 2023 compared to recent years, the Ocean View real estate market remained firm, even as interest rates rose to levels that we have not experienced in more than 20 years.

The continuation of inventory shortages coupled with pent up buyer demand has kept values stable. Inventory of properties for sale in Ocean View was flat on October 1 when compared to the same day in 2022.

If you are exploring your options as a buyer or seller of Ocean View real estate, we always welcome a conversation. Please message us on the website or give us a call at our real estate office in Ocean View: 302-541-5207.

As we look back at the first 3 quarters of 2023 compared to recent years, the Bear Trap real estate market slowed considerably. Even as interest rates rose to levels that we have not experienced in more than 20 years, the primary factor that contributed to the slowdown was the continuation of inventory shortages.

Last Fall, we experienced a slight uptick in inventory, but as the chart illustrates, that has not been the case so far this year. Inventory in Bear Trap was down 40% on October 1 of 2023 when compared to the same day in 2022.

History tells us that real estate as a long term investment is very strong and the ability to have immediate use and enjoyment of a home asset is something that we hear often from buyers, especially in today’s