Magnolia, Kent County

Magnolia: One of the best places to live in Delaware in 2013

“Magnolia is very up and coming,” says Todd Stonesifer of Re/Max Horizons in Dover. Thanks to a building boom that started in the late 1990s, the area is chock-a-block with new and new-ish subdivisions. Many still offer opportunities to buy brand new. That means you pick all your amenities, warrantied construction provides you with peace of mind, and you don’t have to buy someone else’s past. He and Dee Henderson-Hake of the Dee and Doreen (Lucas) Team at Keller Williams in Dover favor the area around Irish Hill Road, where even established neighborhoods such as Pinehurst still offer sites for new construction. Robin Hill, a mile to the east, offers 18 half-acre homesites and a variety of styles at prices from $180,000 to $225,000. On nearby Woodleytown Road, Laureltown offers homes ranging from $400,000 down to first-time purchase range, so it’s possible smart buyers can gain equity from the start, Stonesifer notes. Unlike subdivisions in New Castle County, which can number more than 200 homes, Kent County communities often peak at 60 units, making for tightly knit neighbors. Outdoor recreation abounds at places like Killens Pond State Park and, for anglers, Bowers Beach on Delaware Bay. The Walmart and Texas Roadhouse on U.S. 13 in Camden are the gateway to more shopping and dining in Dover. Milford is also a hub of shopping and dining, though to a lesser degree. See also Fox Hall and Fox Hall West in West Dover for value, quiet, Capital district schools and proximity to major employers in Dover. “It’s a little older, so it’s a little less expensive,” says Lydia Quinones Ragonese of Patterson Schwartz in Dover.

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