Credit to: Construction Dive, Emma Penrod

• The Department of the Interior on Tuesday approved the construction and operations plan, or COP, for the 2-GW Maryland Offshore Wind Project, clinching the final federal permit developer US Wind needs from the department to begin construction.

• The permit clears the way for the construction of more than a hundred wind turbines off the shore of Maryland and Delaware, and will help build the U.S. offshore wind supply chain, according to the Oceantic Network, a trade association that represents the offshore wind industry.

• The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management this week also issued a Record of Decision finalizing a list of environmental measures expected to

Credit to: Sussex County

Sussex County Delaware has completed a revaluation of all real property in anticipation of the 2025 Tax Roll and property owners have been receiving notices in the mail which contain their new property assessments. Your new tentative assessment is based on 100% of the current assessed value of your property, as of July 1, 2023.

THE NOTICE IS NOT A TAX BILL. The Tax Rate will change; therefore, DO NOT multiply your new tentative assessed value by the current tax rate. The new tax rate will be determined by the County, Municipality & School District for the 2025 tax bill.

The 2025 assessments have been developed using recent valid market sales and economic data. The previous assessment was NOT a factor in determining the

Last month, we shared with you that real estate sales had been strong through the first 3 quarters of the year. This carried into October as 9 properties in Sea Colony went under contract last month. This is up 29% compared to 7 sales in October of 2023. As the graph illustrates, the median sale price for properties on both the East and West have risen in 2024.  During this time of Thanksgiving, we are grateful that so many of you look to our group for real estate guidance and expertise. We wish you all a healthy and very joyful holiday! If you are considering a purchase or a sale, it is never too early to have a conversation. Please reach out to our Sea Colony experts:

Gail Phelan                    Chris Housman
(302) 233-4909               (302)

Credit to: Coastal Point, Kerin Magill

Costumes, candy and yoga with puppies? Yes, please.

Wags, Witches & Warlocks is Bethany Beach’s Halloween event, but it means so much more for a local organization. The Bethany Beach Halloween event has been a successful fundraiser for the Brandywine SPCA for more than a decade, according to organizers. This year, Wags, Witches & Warlocks takes place on Saturday, Oct. 26, with registration beginning at 9 a.m. Since 2018, the event has been organized and sponsored by the Leslie Kopp Group, a Bethany Beach real estate business. Shannon McDowell, marketing and brand manager for the business, said this week that the office is full of animal lovers, so the decision on the Halloween event was an easy one. “We all

Credit to: WBOC, Tiffani Amber

As Hurricane Milton barrels through the South, the Brandywine Valley SPCA (BVSPCA) is getting ready to lend a helping paw to dogs and cats from the hurricane-affected areas. The organization is trying to make space in their already overcrowded shelters to welcome these furry evacuees, expecting many new furry friends in the coming days.

Once these dogs and cats reach safety, they will be distributed among the six BVSPCA locations across multiple states.

Timarah Hammeck, a staff member at the BVSPCA Dover Campus, stated that this is the least they can do to support animals during this critical time. "We are in the process of taking dogs out of Florida and surrounding states that are being impacted by the

Last month, we reported that the Sea Colony real estate market had picked up some in August. Unfortunately, that momentum was not as strong in September. During the month, 6 properties went under contract. This compares to 7 sales during the same month last year.

Through the first 3 quarters of the year as a whole, the market has been strong for sellers of all property types and locations in Sea Colony. While it is taking just a few days longer for properties to sell, the median sale price on both the East and West is up considerably.   If you would like to discuss the current environment in more detail, we always welcome a conversation.

Please call our Sea Colony Experts: Gail Phelan (302) 233-4909 and Chris Housman (302) 853-0192

This

Light traffic, cooler temperatures, and warm ocean breezes make September our favorite time of the year to live at the beach. This is also a special month for me, personally, as it marks 35 years since starting my career in real estate at the beach. I am extremely grateful to have earned the trust of so many of you over the years and together with Christi Arndt, Gail Phelan, Chris Housman, and the group, we will continue to offer the highest level of guidance and expertise in real estate well into the future!

After a flurry of activity in July, the beach real estate market slowed some in August when compared to the last year. During the month, 7 properties went under contract in Sea Colony. This compares to 9 during the same month last year. As the

Real estate activity in Sea Colony has remained strong when compared to last year.   After a firm Spring market that was fueled by increased inventory and more buying options, we experienced a nice flurry of activity in June and July. During those 2 months, 15 properties went under contract in Sea
Colony (versus 10 during the same time last year).

As the chart illustrates, both the number of sales and sales volume in dollars are up year-to-date. Inventory has increased 156% when compared to the same time last year, creating more competition for sellers. Meanwhile, properties continue to sell quickly with 12 days as the median days-to-contract.

So far this year, our Sea Colony Specialists have participated in nearly 30% of property sales in Sea

This is the time of year when we calculate absorption rates in order to understand whether we are trending in the direction of a buyer’s or seller’s market at the beach. We compare the pace of sales over the previous 12 months to determine how many Months Supply of Inventory is for sale.

Generally, a balanced market would have 7 months of inventory while more would be a buyer’s market and less a seller’s market. Both Sea Colony East and West continue to stay well under a balanced market due to good buyer activity. While inventory is growing (especially on the East), it remains a seller’s market.

If you would like to discuss the market in more detail as a buyer or a seller, please call our Sea Colony Specialists.

Gail Phelan              

We are thrilled to announce that The Leslie Kopp Group is once again the Presenting Sponsor of the Annual Beach & Bay Cottage Tour, now in its 32nd year! This year's event offers the opportunity to experience the tour both in-person and virtually.

Photo courtesy of Beach & Bay Cottage Tour

By purchasing a Virtual Only ticket for $35, you can explore all 10 homes on the tour from the comfort of your own home. When you purchase an In-Person ticket $50, the Combo Ticket grants you access to visit 6 pre-selected homes in-person, as well as virtual access to every single home. Virtual tours will be available from Sunday, July 14th to Sunday, August 4th, while in-person tours will take place on Wednesday, July 24th & Thursday, July 25th.

Tickets are