background

I first became interested in covering the reluctance of real estate agents to show property in Middlesex Beach when on Saturday, September 26, 2020 Tim Switzer and Jane Switzer, who own the property at 1 Dune Road, solicited the board to waive the restriction of performing work on their property on Saturdays prior to the date whereby work on Saturdays is permissible.

At one point in her presentation Jane Switzer took HOA president Margie Cyr and the board to task for what she framed as an "unreasonable" adherence to policies and rules on the part of the board. Switzer went further, admonishing the board for cultivating what she characterized as the "poor" reputation Middlesex Beach has amongst the greater resort community, and in particular with seasoned real estate agents due to the infighting between the board and the community members.

Taking Switzer's statement in isolation, one could rationalize the accusation as retaliation against the board for what the Switzers regard as interference towards their end goal of erecting a house on the property at 1 Dune Road to replace the original structure that they had since torn down. Given the Switzers purchased the property through the Leslie Kopp Group on May 16, 2018 for reportedly 1,150,000.00 dollars, it is unclear why the Switzers are going through the trouble of a tear down and build back up project as they have listed the property, for which the evolving building is being constructed on, for sale.

In fact Switzer's opinion corroborated that of another residential member of the community. In response to a broadcast e-mail message, dated August 4, 2020, the owner of a property on the ocean side, who wishes to stay anonymous, writes saying:

What in the heck is going on? MBX used to be cool relaxed place. everybody got along. the board appears to be out of control. MBX is getting a reputation among the real estate community as not such a great place to buy given the current state of the HOA.

There is no relation between the Switzers and the anonymous ocean side property owner.

On the event that I came in receipt of a broadcast e-mail message, marketing the real estate services of a local agent, just a few days after the board meeting on September 26, 2020, I decided to investigate the claims that had reportedly been festering in the community for considerable time.

I promptly contacted the real estate agent behind the broadcast e-mail message. As she wishes to stay anonymous, I will refer to her as Janice. Janice is not her real name.

Janice told me that a number of real estate agents are reluctant to show property in Middlesex Beach due to the infighting in the community. When pressed, Janice said real estate agents fear negative feedback from the buying party once they learn that the board and members of the community are at constant odds with each other.

Janice has worked in Delaware real estate for over two decades. Janice reported gross year-to-date sales of over 8 million dollars.

objective

Neither Janice nor the ocean side property owner volunteered any names of real estate agents, who are reluctant to show property in Middlesex Beach.

My objective is to determine whether the claims have merit or not. Either there are real estate agents that as buying agents are reluctant to show available property in Middlesex Beach, or there are not. If there are, I want to know why.

I also want to cover the builders and whether there are any builders, who are reluctant to take on projects in Middlesex Beach. If there are builders, who are reluctant to take on projects in Middlesex Beach, I want to know that as well.

the top six real estate agents

To determine whether Janice's claim, that a number of real estate agents are reluctant to show real estate in Middlesex Beach, is true, to determine if the claims by community members, that Middlesex Beach has a "poor" reputation amongst the community of real estate agents, are true, I elected to investigate the top six, local real estate agencies. I assume that the top six local, real estate agencies account for over 90% of all home sales in the local area. If Janice's claim, that real estate agents are reluctant to show properties in Middlesex Beach, is true, then presumably I will find at least one agency in the top six agencies that show a lack of sales in Middlesex Beach when compared to other neighboring communities over a considerable period of time.

Leslie Kopp owns and operates the Leslie Kopp Group. Kopp's agency has a total of eleven real estate agents, not including herself. Zillow credits Kopp with 216 sales in the past 12 months. On November 9, 2020 Kopp reportedly sold the property at 4 Bridge Road for 635,000.00 dollars.

Vicki York owns and operates Vicki York at the Beach, Realty. York's agency has a total of eleven real estate agents, not including herself. Zillow credits York with 81 sales in the past 12 months. On July 24, 2019 York reportedly sold the property at 20 Addy Road for 930,000.00 dollars. York, who is on record as both the selling agent as well as the buying agent, reportedly listed the property on January 7, 2015 for 899,900.00.

Suzanne MacNab operates a local Re/MAX affiliate. MacNam reportedly has one staff real estate agent, not including herself. Zillow credits MacNab with 58 sales in the past 12 months. MacNab has not effected any recent sales in Middlesex Beach.

Sarah French owns and operates Long and Forest affiliate, Christie's International Real Estate. French is credited with 28 sales in the past 12 months. French has not registered a recent sale in Middlesex Beach.

Ann Raskauskas, who owns the property at 32 Dune Road, owns and operates Bethany Area Realty. Raskauskas' agency lists a total of two real estate agents. Zillow credits Raskauskas with 17 sales in the past 12 months. On September 25, 2020 Raskauskas reportedly sold the property at 53 Dune Road for 2,300,000.00 dollars. If you recall in his letter undated, however, delivered on April 3, 2019 or thereabouts Marty Shecter illustrated the property at 53 Dune Road to rationalize the need for a rental tax levied against vacation rental property owners.

Barbara Carlson works for Keller Williams Realty. Carlson's agency lists a total of two real estate agents. Carlson is credited with 16 sales in the past 12 months. Carlson's fellow real estate agent, Sandy Greene, is the listing agent for the property at 1 Dune Road. Carlson has not registered a recent sale in Middlesex Beach.

Christi Arndt of the Leslie Kopp Group

Christi Arndt, is a sales manager and licensed realtor with the Leslie Kopp Group. Arndt, herself, has been in real estate for over eighteen years. I spoke to Arndt a number of times to get her opinion on whether there is indeed a reluctance on the part of real estate agents to show property in Middlesex Beach. I also asked Arndt if she could comment on whether the absence of sales in Middlesex Beach by Vicki York's agency over a stretch of one-and-a-half years could be demonstrative of a reluctance on her part to show property in the private community.

As the interview has yet to be transcribed, click here to watch the interview with Christi Arndt, starting at the 12:10 minute mark of the video.

Vicki York of the Vicki York at the Beach agency

Vicki York, is a licensed realtor with the Vicki York at the Beach Realty. I spoke to York to get her opinion on whether there is indeed a reluctance on the part of real estate agents to show property in Middlesex Beach. I also wanted to know why for approximately one-and-a-half years, York has not participated as either the selling agent, nor the buying agent of a property sold in Middlesex Beach.

As the interview has yet to be transcribed, click here to watch the interview with Vicki York, starting at the 30:24 minute mark of the video.