Question 1

How many absentee-owned homes are in New Castle County, DE?

Accepted Answer

New Castle County, DE currently shows 65,086 absentee-owned properties as of May 2026, with concentrations in Wilmington proper and the I-95 corridor towns (Claymont, New Castle city, Newark).

Question 2

Why are out-of-state investors heavy in New Castle County?

Accepted Answer

Delaware's LLC-friendly tax framework means many regional investors hold portfolios under Delaware entities regardless of where the properties sit. 11,933 of 65,086 absentee-owned properties in New Castle County, DE (18.3%) have out-of-state mailing addresses.

Question 3

Is Wilmington a good market for investors?

Accepted Answer

For operators who focus on older row-home and detached single-family stock, Wilmington behaves similarly to Philadelphia's North and West neighborhoods — meaningful absentee concentration, 43,014 tax-delinquent properties countywide, and active direct-mail response. The trade-off is a smaller total market than Philadelphia PA.

Question 4

What's the median home value in New Castle County?

Accepted Answer

New Castle County's median home value is $0, with a median gross rent of $0. The county's rent-to-price ratio runs more favorably than neighboring Chester County PA for most investor strategies.

Question 5

Should a Pennsylvania investor consider New Castle County?

Accepted Answer

Yes — geographic proximity plus Delaware's tax framework make New Castle County, DE a natural adjacency for Pennsylvania-based operators. As of May 2026, 65,086 absentee records, 59,629 active cash buyers, and 135,084 fixer-upper-flagged properties give the county enough investor infrastructure to support cross-border operations.