This has been a slow year for sales at Heritage Shores. Of course, it has been a slow year for sales everywhere when compared to 2005 when the first homes were sold and occupied in this community. Even compared to 2007, when there were 77 homes sold at Heritage Shores, 2008 has provided a great opportunity for buyers.

When times get tough, builders get creative. In good times, premium lots can command a big premium. In lean times, those premiums disappear and upgrades can be negotiated. Because of that, many buyers believe they can get a better deal by negotiating with the builder rather than by looking at resale homes in the same community. In a new community a resale is only a couple of years old and may be in a prime location that is not available with new construction in the current phase.

Looking at the actual year-to-date sales at Heritage Shores, I found the following statistics:

• Four (4) new attached homes sold at an average sales price of $293,754
• One (1) attached resale was sold at $229,900
• Fourteen (14) new single family homes sold at an average sales price of $368,336
• Four (4) single family resale homes have sold at an average sales price of $328,750

What do these numbers indicate? You might be able to find the best opportunity in a resale home. To find out which is best for you, have your Buyer Agent show you resale homes as well as new homes in any community you’re considering.

Last year the wood working shop opened at the Heritage Shores Club. I’m told it has every imaginable tool so we should expect to see some wonderful pieces on display at residents’ homes. To help hone their skills, Del Tech is offering a wood carving class at the clubhouse for Heritage Shore’s residents only.

There is a Geneaology group that meets monthly and an active walking group; both combine field trips with lunch at their destinations. And then there are the Ladies who lunch at a different restaurant each month, traveling to towns all around Delmarva.

For the holidays, a digital storybook class is helping residents create holiday gifts and in January, there will be a Fiber Arts Exhibit of the handwork made by members of that group. This exhibit is open to the public, so mark your calendar to visit the Clubhouse between January 6 and 8, 2009.

Every week another resale goes under contract at Heritage Shores. Some are under contract with contingencies, others are simply awaiting financing approval or home inspections, but one by one the resale homes are being purchased in great locations and at terrific prices by fortunate buyers. Homes on golf course lots without a lot premium, homes that back to an agricultural preserve on which no homes will be built and homes in nice neighborhoods and completed streets. For those in a position to buy, this is the year to do so, at Heritage Shores and anywhere in Coastal Delaware.

Do you like to dance? On occasional Sundays, there is a Cocktail Mixer at the Heritage Shores Clubhouse with music provided so you can dance the night away. The event is complimentary and there is a cash bar available. I understand there are serious dancers and everyone has a great time.

If you don’t dance, there is always something going on. There are Trivia nights, bingo nights, movie nights and parties for every occasion. On the agenda this month is the annual Halloween Party.

If you’re going to buy a home in a new home community, you’ll always get the best deal from the builder, right? Not necessarily. Sometimes a resale might be priced lower than a comparable new home and it may be in a better location without the premium price. At Heritage Shores, for example, the single family homes may back to the golf course or agricultural preserve or they may back to other homes. The most desirable lots are on a cul-de-sac with a view of a pond or the golf course or both. If the builder has a premium lot like that available, it will come with a premium price. Even if the builder is offering incentives or upgrades, you can probably do better with a resale home in a great location.

How can you be sure which is the best for you? Discuss it with your Realtor. Contact your Realtor before you go to any new home community. Get a recommendation from friends or a Realtor in your home town. Ask them to refer you to a local Realtor who can help you evaluate the cost and benefits of buying a to-be-built home from the builder or a resale home in the same community. If you are ready to buy and a model you like is available as a resale, that is probably the best choice. If, however, you have a home to sell before you can go to settlement, your Realtor may recommend looking into a new home for delivery in 12 to 18 months.

What’s your retirement plan? Do you like to stay busy and meet new people? If you are moving to a new area and you love golf, one of the best ideas is to get involved in the golf community. Become a Marshall or a Starter and see how fast your circle of friends will grow. What better way to get to know the course itself and meet people that may be looking for someone to play with on a regular basis. Your friendships will extend beyond the golf course and you’ll feel right at home in no time at all.

I arrived at the Heritage Shores Club a little early for an appointment and decided to sit outside on the Veranda and enjoy the view. I could see golfers in the distance but all I could hear was the quiet buzz of an early spring day. After just one year, the golf course has filled in and looks like a mature course. That is probably due to the mild winter we had with no hard freeze. Makes me wish I were waiting for a tee time instead of a business appointment!