Kelsey & Ben + Sarah
Buyers: Kelsey & Ben - Married Couple
Current Home: Philadelphia, PA
Beach House Hunting In: Bethany Beach, Delaware
Beach Home Budget: $550-$600k. Stretch budget $650k.
For Kelsey and Ben White, buying a beach house has never been a spontaneous dream. It's been part of "the plan." Together for sixteen years after meeting as student athletes at Temple University, the two are planners in every sense of the word. Every year they sit down together to create detailed life goals, complete with categories, milestones, and even midyear reviews. Shortly after buying their first home in Philadelphia, they made their next major goal official: own a beach house. For nearly a decade they've carefully saved, planned, and worked toward making that dream a reality, proving that while they're incredibly pragmatic, they're also deeply committed to building a life filled with meaningful experiences.
Although Kelsey grew up vacationing along the Jersey Shore and Ben spent summers in the Outer Banks, everything changed when they discovered Bethany Beach. Drawn in by its quiet charm, walkable downtown, family friendly atmosphere, and surprisingly large gathering of Bernese Mountain Dogs they stumbled upon during one visit, they instantly knew they had found their place. To them, Bethany isn't just another beach town. It's their sanctuary. A peaceful escape where life slows down, phones stay tucked away, and they can trade the fast pace of Philadelphia for long days by the water, neighborhood coffee shops, and evenings spent strolling into town with their dog.
Their personalities balance each other perfectly. Ben, a financial advisor, naturally gravitates toward budgets, long term value, and making sure every number adds up, while Kelsey, who works in pharmaceutical advertising, dreams about how a house will feel, how friends and family will gather there, and the memories they'll create within its walls. Together they're thoughtful, direct, and refreshingly honest, approaching every decision as a true partnership. Whether they're debating reverse floor plans, outdoor showers, or walking distance to the beach, every decision is made together, blending logic with emotion until both agree they've found the right fit.
For this couple, a beach house represents something much bigger than real estate. After navigating several incredibly difficult years marked by profound family loss, they see this home as a fresh chapter and a place filled with hope. Their dream is to create a welcoming gathering place where friends, family, future children, nieces, nephews, and loved ones can return year after year to make lifelong memories. They're not buying an investment property to maximize rental income. They're building a legacy, a home where summers are measured by beach days, mini golf, sunsets, and the people they love most.
The Agent - Sarah Shoemaker
Sarah Shoemaker is Bethany Beach through and through. Having moved there at just eight years old, she's one of the rare realtors who can truly say she grew up in the town she now calls home. Young, energetic, and deeply connected to the community, Sarah jokes that in Bethany there's only "one degree of separation" because everyone knows everyone, from fellow agents to plumbers, roofers, and local business owners. She prides herself on being more than a Realtor, describing herself as a "coordinator for your beach life," helping buyers not only find the right home but become part of the community. Honest to a fault, Sarah will happily tell clients when a house isn't the right fit, even if it means walking away from a sale. When she's not showing homes, she's often working right from the beach with her two young daughters nearby, or surfing with her husband, proving that she doesn't just sell the Delaware beach lifestyle, she lives it every single day.