Buyers flock to under-the-radar state for affordable beachside homes, easy living and financial perks

Daily Mail​

11-05-2025

Savvy buyers are flocking to Delaware for its beautiful beaches and smart investment opportunities.
With low property costs and no sales tax, many people are finding that it's a low cost way of life they are loving.
The First State is the latest place to see a surge in newcomers. Most of them are coming from high-cost spots in the tri-state area where people are being priced out, like New York City and many towns in southern New Jersey.
Local realtor Robert Blackhurst says he has 10 houses under contract right now — and three of them are under contract with New Yorkers.
'It's definitely a lot cheaper,' Blackhurst told DailyMail.com.
'You can literally buy in the nicest neighborhood in Delaware for a little over one million — a huge single-family house with a yard, beautifully done, everything.'
The median home price in Delaware is $389,974, compared to the national average for the first quarter of 2025 which is $416,900.
And residents stand to make a profit if they choose to rent out their property, even including the maintenance required to keep it up.
'The cost of handyman jobs is almost nothing here relative to New York or North Jersey,' Blackhurst said.
'I have tons of people who've made lots of money with me buying rental properties here.'
Converting a home into an Airbnb works too. Many people who already live in the area purchase a second home by the beach in order to make a profit.
'If you're at the beach, go the Airbnb route,' Blackhurst said.
'But up north, the city of Wilmington is better for long-term rentals. You can get great returns and it's way less work.'
Blackhurst says Wilmington is Delaware's best-kept secret, with its thriving downtown, rich cultural scene and low crime rate. It's also a short drive from Philadelphia.
'It's 20 minutes from Philly, and Wilmington has a pretty bustling little economy,' he told DailyMail.com.
'A lot of banks are incorporated in Delaware, so we've got Chase, Bank of America, and a ton finance, biotech, and pharma employees.'
The food scene is getting noticed too.
'The restaurant scene has improved significantly in the past five to 10 years,' Blackhurst said.
'We even had one get a James Beard award — Bardea Steak.'
Bardea is so hot, it takes weeks to land a reservation there to dine on Beef Croquette and Scottish salmon.
Beach life is another draw.
Parts of Delaware's gorgeous seaside shores have been overlooked for some time.
'At the beach, you can definitely get some really nice seafood. Rehoboth, Dewey, Bethany, they're all beautiful, clean, and just a couple hours from D.C. or Philly.'
Delaware native Joe Biden and his wife Jill have a beachside home in Rehoboth.
Rehoboth Beach in Delaware at dusk is a highlight for many people who live in the area
Delaware also has zero sales tax and a very low property tax, so it's a dream for retirees on a budget.
'We get people that are already retired and looking for lower property taxes,' said Blackhurst.
'You can get a single-floor rancher for $300,000 and pay just around $2,000 a year in property taxes,' he said. 'It's nothing.'
Young professionals and investors are discovering Delaware too.
'My sister and her husband are both dentists in New York right now.
'They're moving to Delaware — just down the street from me — because they want more bang for their buck,' Blackhurst said.
Investors stand to make a profit most of the time, he added.
'You can buy a really good-condition duplex or quadplex for, say, $400,000 and make $4,000 a month in rent. The property taxes are negligible.'
Overall, Blackhurst says Delaware is a super friendly place where everyone is willing to lend a hand.
'Delaware is really straightforward,' he said.
He said he helps people find the right home that will appreciate in price, and even set them up with a handyman.