GayRealEstate USA

Around the Nation: Residential Real Estate Update - Delaware

By Jeff Adolph

State-by-state

Located in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States and on the Atlantic Coast, Delaware has a state total population of 843,524 and is ranked as America's 45th largest state.

The economy of this state consists of industrial and agricultural products with banking, automotive manufacturing, education and state government being the largest employers.

Delaware's income tax is bracketed with six levels and these range from 2.2%-5.95%. While the state does not tax consumers sales tax it does impose a business sales tax, and businesses and occupational licenses are taxed at .096%-1.92%. On average Delaware homeowners pay around $250 per $50,000 of home value in property tax, annually.

New Castle

The median home price in this region is $200,000 with buyers getting 95-100% of their asking price. Typically, homes are on the market for 30-60 days and there are currently more buyers than sellers.

The market trend in this area is decreasing with prices down by 5%. First home buyers are representing the greatest activity with them purchasing townhouses.

Newark

This area is similar to New Castle with prices down by 5%, however this region has an increasing market trend with homes in all prices in good supply.While first time buyers represent the area of greatest activity there are also many people looking to up-size or downsize their property.

Sellers are realizing 95-100% of their asking price and the median home price in this area is around $225,000.

LGBT Real Estate Facts: There are approximately 1,868 same-sex couples residing in Delaware making it the 47th gayest state. The zip codes with the highest population of same-sex couples are 19971 Rehoboth Bay, 19720 New Castle, 19702 Newark and 19805 Wilmington. -- gaydemographics.com

Main Story Source: House Hunt (2008) Real Estate Market Trends; available online at http://www.househunt.com

Picture Source: newcastle.com and nycgetaways.com 

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Have Your Say On the LGBT Political Front - August 19th 2007

By Jeff Adolph

LGBT Politics

In a national first, the Democrats are challenging the Republicans by staging a debate that is dedicated to the LGBT community and will answer many of the issues facing Lesbians, Gays, Bi-sexual's and the Transgendered across the nation.

The leading candidates for the Democratic  nomination for presidency will actively involve themselves in this debate on August the 9th, which is being telecast by LOGO, a gay cable network. Alternatively, you may view proceedings on http://www.logoonline.com/ if you are unable to access the network.

Participants in the debate will include Hilary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards (pictured above), with the moderators being singer Melissa Etheridge and Joe Solmonese, Human Rights Campaign's president.

If you would like to actively participate by lodging questions for the candidates to answer you may do so by logging on to LOGOonline.com as well as on HRC.org.

Source: Demorcrats to Hold Gay Debate (2007) available online at www.wweek.com

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AARP Magazine's Top 5 Retirement Cities

By Jeff Adolph

Retirement Localities

Resort living on an annual basis within close proximity of loved ones is what many are seeking later in life, in a community that offers them a lifestyle to be enjoyed rather than just accommodate them in their twighlight years.

'Florida and Arizona are nice, but it's so far away, said a retiree, 'people aren't willing to move so far away anymore...'

AARP magazine have tried to make finding the best retirement location for you a little easier by researching a plethora of localities and then offering you the findings. These were based on 'weather conditions, recreational opportunities, access to health care and transportation, and the costs associated with living, and buying in the region.

As the article in the July/August edition of AARP stated, 'we hired a team of researchers to come up with the cheapest states to live in as a retiree, based on income, property, and sales taxes.'

Rehoboth Beach was amongst the top 5, which includes the notorious CAMP Rehoboth, an organisation devoted to bringing the gay and heterosexual community together in a unified existence by embracing diversity and love wholeheartedly.

As the mission statement declares, 'CAMP Rehoboth was founded in 1991 to help foster understanding among and within various 'groups,' to nurture the growth of Rehoboth Beach, and build bonds with its related communities. CAMP Rehoboth continues to grow in many directions, and has become an important part of the Rehoboth community...not only the gay and lesbian community, but the whole community as well.'

Temperatures: The average temperature range is between 41 and 68 °F, with approximately 96 sunny days annually.

Benefits: residents enjoy super-low property taxes, no tax on food, goods and entertainment, with taxpayers 60 and older enjoying a $12,500 investment and pension income exclusion. The area has beautiful coastal areas and boardwalks, with over 50 restaurants and exclusive boutiques.

Housing Costs: $40,000 - $1.5 million

Cities within 3 hours Drive: Philadelphia and Washington D.C

As a local resident stated, 'Where else would I be able to know the mayor, the chief of police, and be able to be on the beach so much? In Washington there were a lot of things to do, and I did a few. In Rehoboth there are not so many things to do—and we do them all.'

The other top retirement cities that are listed are:

• Charleston, South Carolina
• Saint George, Utah
• Memphis, Tennessee
• Las Cruces, New Mexico

Retirement is all about enjoying a quality of life and creating a lifestyle that suits your needs, and budget, and Rehoboth Beach may just be a suitable location to soak up the sunshine as your hair fades to gray...

Sources: CAMP Rehoboth (2006) available online at http://www.camprehoboth.com/

Mahoney, S (2006) Dream Towns available online at http://www.aarpmagazine.org/lifestyle/dream_towns.html/page=3

© 2006 Jeff Adolph GayRealEstate USA