Bay Forest Beach Blog

If you are looking to relocate and can’t decide where, look no further than Bay Forest in coastal Delaware! It is no secret that Delaware has some of the best tax benefits in the country, but it is actually #2 on the list of Best States to be a Taxpayer  (published by WalletHub). Keep reading to see why Delaware is the ideal location to buy and own a new home!

WalletHub’s analysts used a detailed methodology to determine which states are the most tax friendly for residents. The methodology was based on 4 types of taxation including real estate tax, vehicle property tax, income tax, and sales and excise tax. After all of these factors were calculated for each state, Delaware ended up in the #2 spot on the list for the best states to be a taxpayer.

There are a few simple reasons why Delaware is so taxpayer friendly; a factor many look at when deciding where to live. In DE, a large portion of the taxes are put on corporations rather than individual homes and people. This allows for the state to have some of the lowest rates in the country, specifically, 44% below the national average tax burden. Additionally, the real estate taxes in this state are among the lowest in the country.

In the article, experts weigh in on whether or not taxes will make or break a homebuyers decision on where to live. The conclusion: Property tax is not usually a deciding factor, especially with a major move, but when considering sales tax and local income tax, both can make a large impact on the overall cost of living. In fact, it is mentioned in the report that when the overall cost of living is factored in with all of the taxation methods, Delaware jumps to the #1 spot for the best state to be a taxpayer.

At Bay Forest in Bethany Beach, Delaware, we have many options for brand new beach homes including single-family homes and villas. Just 3 miles to the beach, our masterfully planned community contains a wealth of first class amenities and community spirit. Visit the NVHomes sales office today to discover the many benefits of living in Delaware, and why Bay Forest is such an amazing community!

Recently, Delaware beach towns have been rising up on the charts as one of the most sought after vacation spots in the country.  Specifically, the town of Bethany Beach, was named a “Top Value Getaway for Fall 2015”, one of the “Best Secret Beaches on Earth”, and one of the “10 East Coast Beaches Making a Splash”. According to delmarvanow.com, numbers measuring Sussex County's tourism are trending upwards in 2015. Additionally, communities like Bay Forest are seeing a growing interest in new home buying from people all over the East Coast.

The amazing weather during the last summer season put forward the best conditions to visit the beach and look for a new beach home. Current gas prices have also incentivized visits to the beach, saving travelers a decent chunk of change. During the past few seasons, Sussex County has seen more interest from New Jersey and New York residents, partially due to the effects of Hurricane Sandy on the Jersey shoreline.

The executive director of Delaware’s Department of Tourism, Linda Parkowski, said that she expects upward tourism trends to continue, largely due to the popularity of Sussex County’s coast, which is also being known as the “culinary coast”. With the tourism and real estate markets both on the rise in the county, chefs and owners are looking at the area to open food businesses similar to that of  “what you would see in larger cities at affordable prices.” Bethany Beach and Dewey Beach are both attractive locations for these entrepreneurs to open up shop.

Not only are the summer months becoming more and more popular, but the fun meter in Sussex County does not drop when the temperature does. Many of the local areas, including Bethany Beach, continue to hold community events and festivals well through the fall and into the winter months. At Bay Forest in Bethany Beach, we are proud to bring our residents year-round activities, events, and amenities. With the continued growth of our new Phase III neighborhoods, there are amazing opportunities to buy a new home in Bay Forest this season! Stop by and visit us today to check out new beach homes from both of our amazing builders.

Looking to create a fresh, new look for your beach home this fall? Be sure to consider these beachy bedroom basics:

A Soothing Seaside Color Palette: Fresh, cooling hues of blue create the perfect base for any seaside space—as you can see here in our Seabrook model home! The soft blues and muted mint tones, reminiscent of the sandy beaches and cool blue ocean at Bethany Beach create a serene, truly beachy feel in any bedroom.

Coastal-Textured Bedding: Everyone knows that beautiful bedding leads to a good night’s sleep! As you can see here in our Seabrook model, by adding a few coastal textures or nautical prints to your bedding you’re sure to sleep soundly in your beautiful new beach home.

Sea-Inspired Accent Pillows: Looking to accentuate your coastal bedding? Throw a few sea-inspired accent pillows into the mix to make any room feel cozy—and undeniably coastal, as you can see here in our Ashford model!

Seaside Artwork: Add few pieces of seaside-inspired artwork to heighten the coastal feel of any bedroom! The possibilities are endless—there are just so many different types of seaside, nautical and coastal artwork out there, you’re sure to find the perfect piece to match your style.

Classic Coastal Accents: Of course, no coastal home could be complete without a few coastal accents! Pick and choose a few of your favorite coastal motifs to place around the house, or display a collection of your favorite sea shells in a new and unique way, for example—by encasing in an all-glass lamp as you can see here in our Ashford model!

For more beach home design and coastal decor inspiration, be sure to check out Bay Forest’s beautiful collection of coastal homes on Facebook, Pinterest and Houzz!

With peak beach season winding down, many spend the autumn months redecorating their beach homes in fun, festive ways. The true beauty of decorating a coastal home? There are just so many ways to do it! Bay Forest’s stunning selection of new beach homes feature spacious, open layouts, so decorating your new home is sure to be a breeze.

This fall, bring the coastal comforts and ocean breezes of the beach into your Bay Forest home, with a few lessons learned from the beautiful coastal designs of our model homes here at Bay Forest:

The Soothing Seaside Space: What could be more classically coastal than a soothing, seaside-inspired space like the family room pictured above from our Seabrook model? We think you’ll agree—this one is a no-brainer. Nothing says seaside quite like  coastal blue and soft green hues, paired with neutral tones (such as tans and light browns). A room with a soothing, cool color palette is sure to create a tranquil atmosphere with a serene, “beachy” feel. If you are unsure of how you want to decorate your new coastal home, you simply cannot go wrong with an iconic seaside style!

The Classic Coastal Kitchen: There’s no question that a crisp, white color palette is a no-brainer for any quintessential beach home, especially when paired with classic coastal cabinetry to add a refined sophistication to the space! A clean, white color palette is a clear choice for many, as its fresh, classic look is sure to perk up any room—as we can see here in our Monocacy model’s kitchen. After all, what could be better than an easy breezy atmosphere in your new beach home?

The Neutral Yet Nautical Family Room: Enhance the natural elegance of your new home at Bay Forest with a primarily neutral-toned color palette, paired with a variety of seaside accents and coastal motifs. Coastal spaces like this family room,  found in our Ashford model flawlessly celebrates the organic beauty of the sea in a unique, distinct way. There’s no question that this stunning coastal home offers a distinct twist on a classic beach home style!

The Beachy-Bold Loft: Cozy lofts like this beachy-bold space found in our Monocacy model home offers yet another classic coastal style, with its vibrant splashes of color and bold, fresh look. To achieve a beachy-bold look, fill your home with bold and bright accents and a few seaside-inspired statement pieces, pulled together with a clean, white backdrop. An emphasis on bright corals and vibrant blues and greens is sure to enhance your home’s coastal feel!

The Sea-Worthy Study: A coastal-inspired space painted in white exudes unmistakable elegance and sophistication, it’s sure to take your breath away! Creating this look is sure to be a breeze—simply incorporate a few of your favorite nautical knick-nacks into the decor of your coastal home’s study to accentuate the sea-worthy feel of the space.As you can see from this study found in our Seabrook model, you simply cannot go wrong with a white space properly adorned with nautical decor!

The Relaxing Reading Nook: On a quiet Saturday morning, or after a long day at the beach, who wouldn’t love to relax with a good book? Cozy coastal reading nooks like this from our Ashford model home are ideal for just that!

Looking for more coastal decor inspiration? Check out the stunning decor from our beautiful new beach homes here at Bay Forest on Pinterest and Houzz!

With the housing market on the rise in 2015, it’s no wonder why new home sales are booming here in Sussex County, Delaware! At Bay Forest, we are meeting the demand with a great selection of new homes from our two amazing builders, NVHomes and Main Street Homes. Check out some of the many benefits of buying a new home in Bay Forest:

More reasons to entertain:

New homes have more open floor plans to go along with today’s popular home trends. This creates a better flow of space throughout the house so everyone can mingle when hosting guests.

Customize:

There is nothing better than moving into a new home with a clean slate. With a new home at Bay Forest you will be the first one to pick the furniture, wall colors, décor, and the first to use the new home appliances. Check out our Houzz page for some design inspiration!

More outlets:

With all of the commonly used technology out there today, we need more outlets to charge our devices. New homes come with more outlets than older homes do, to keep up with advances in technology.

Low maintenance:

New homes need less maintenance and repairs than older homes because there is not any wear and tear on the home yet. New homes also have the latest advances in home building for a long lasting structure.

Building a community:

When you choose to buy a new home at Bay Forest, you are among neighbors who are new to the community as well. It is easy to build lasting relationships with people in a new community!

At Bay Forest, one of our favorite times of the year is the fall season! The weather is perfect, the tourists have left until next summer, and it is the perfect time to enjoy this amazing community. We have created a fall bucket list for our residents at Bay Forest!

Decorate coastal inspired pumpkins – Down at the beach, we do our fall decorations a little different. Instead of carving your pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns or ghosts, use shapes of shells and sandcastles! If you want to get really crafty, glue small seashells onto your pumpkin or paint a beachscape.

Attend a clubhouse event – If you didn’t already know, Bay Forest has its own calendar of scheduled weekly activities. Fall is the perfect time to take advantage of these activities like yoga, cards, or happy hour!

Picnic on the beach – At Bay Forest, we are just 3 miles from Bethany Beach! Pick a day where the wind is tame and the tide is low to enjoy the empty beach with your family. Pack blankets, a football, food, and apple cider to have an amazing fall picnic on the beach.

Support local businesses – Local businesses are still open in the shoulder season here at the beach! While restaurants and stores can get crowded in the summer, the fall brings an amazing local energy to the town. Meet your neighbors and get to know the area without tourists!

Walk the boardwalk – The serenity of the boardwalk in the fall is ideal for a nice peaceful walk. Take a slow walk down the boards and breathe in the crisp ocean air.

Visit fall markets – The markets in coastal Delaware aren’t just for the summer season! Lots of local farmers markets stay open through the fall months to bring you the best fall produce like, apples, pumpkins, squash, and more!

Bring in the aromas – Bring some smells of autumn into your home by lighting candles, baking apple pie, or simply cracking open a window. Another easy trick is to put all of your favorite spices and fruits into a pot of water and heat it on the stove.

Expand your seashell collection – Looking for seashells is a great way to get out onto the beach and have some fun. Plus, there are not as many people on the beach to find the good ones before you do! Make it a contest to see who can find the largest or most unique seashell.

Do you ever think, “I wonder what it would be like to live at the beach all year round?” Well, with a new home in Bay Forest at Bethany Beach, you could find out how great it is! Here are some sure signs that you were meant to live at the beach:

1. You’re a beach baby

When you hear the words “weekend” or “summer”, the beach immediately comes to mind. You vacationed at the beach when you were a kid, and you are just as excited about it now as you were then. Summer for you means the surf, sand, and sun, and if you lived in Bay Forest at Bethany Beach, everyday would feel like a vacation.

2. Your home décor is already coastal

If you don’t live at the beach yet, your home suggests otherwise. You can’t help but buy anything with a beachy flare, whether it’s a distressed drift wood frame, or a painting of a sunset. The colors of your home are light and bright, a reflection of the relaxed and fun atmosphere in any beach town.

3. You love to entertain

They say that owning a home at the beach means you will suddenly have more friends. While this may not be true all of the time, you bet that homes at Bay Forest were meant for company. With amazing designs from two great builders, you are sure to find your dream home to entertain friends and family!

4. You like being involved in many activities

Whether you like to meet friends for a tennis match, take a dip in the pool, or join your neighbors for happy hour, at Bay Forest, you can do this all in one place. With a full schedule of weekly activities and endless options to socialize, you will never be without something to do!

5. You wait all year for that summer sun, but any sun will do