Apartment Acquisitions · Dover
Sell Your Commercial Property In Dover, DE
Own a commercial apartment building of five or more units in Dover? We purchase multifamily properties around Downtown Dover, Camden, and the rest of Kent County, and we review every deal against a clear buy box.
- Clear feedback on your deal, typically within 48 hours
- 5 to 100+ units, stabilized or distressed, listed or off-market
- Owners, agents, and brokers welcome — every conversation is confidential
We buy:Tired landlordsEstate & trust sales1031 exchangesDeferred maintenanceHigh vacancyPartnership splits
Where We Look: Downtown Dover · Camden · Wyoming · Magnolia — Kent County, DE
The Dover Market
What Drives Rentals In Dover
Most Dover households rent: the Census Bureau counts 8,198 renter-occupied homes out of 15,428, or 53.1% (ACS 2020–2024). Median gross rent is $1,344 against a median household income of $60,199, and 57.2% of renter households spend 30% or more of income on housing, a higher share than in Wilmington.
Apartments are a large part of the city. Buildings with five or more units hold 5,647 of Dover's 16,448 housing units, about 34%, and the median home was built in 1983, nearly four decades later than Wilmington's 1946 median.
For owners, two local details stand out: Dover still taxes on its own city assessment until it moves to Kent County values in fiscal 2028, and every rental needs an annual city permit.
Dover Air Force Base
The base's FY2018 economic impact statement counted 4,201 military members, 5,885 civilian employees and 10,711 dependents, with a $352 million annual payroll.Record enrollment at Delaware State
Delaware State University reported 6,623 students in fall 2025, its largest student body ever and up 31.7% since 2020, with more than 1,900 new freshmen and transfers.A renter majority in the capital
ACS 2020–2024 data show 8,198 of Dover's 15,428 occupied homes are rented, 53.1%, with 5,647 housing units in buildings of five or more units.Our Buy Box
What We Buy In Dover
Asset Type
Multifamily, 5+ Units
Apartment buildings and income-producing residential.
Size
5 – 100+ Units
Sweet spot: 15–25 units.
Condition
Stabilized To Distressed
Value-add, mismanaged, and high-vacancy properties welcome.
Deal Types
Listed Or Off-Market
Direct-to-owner, pocket listings, portfolios.
Local Market Data
Dover Apartment Market
Figures gathered October 2026 from public market data.
Who rents in Dover
Dover has 39,837 residents and 15,428 occupied homes, 8,198 of them rented (ACS 2020–2024). Two institutions shape the renter base. Dover Air Force Base reported 4,201 military members and 5,885 civilian employees in its FY2018 economic impact statement. Delaware State University enrolled a record 6,623 students in fall 2025. State government offices in the capital add a steady base of public-sector workers.
Rents and affordability
Median gross rent is $1,344 and median household income is $60,199. About 57.2% of renter households spend 30% or more of income on rent and utilities, and 1,947 households, nearly a quarter of renters, spend half or more. The city median sits below HUD's two-bedroom FMR but above the one-bedroom figure. HUD's Kent County Fair Market Rents dipped slightly for FY2026.
| Unit size | FY2025 FMR | FY2026 FMR |
|---|---|---|
| Efficiency | $1,173 | $1,158 |
| One-bedroom | $1,181 | $1,165 |
| Two-bedroom | $1,492 | $1,470 |
| Three-bedroom | $2,080 | $2,044 |
| Four-bedroom | $2,278 | $2,285 |
Source: HUD Fair Market Rents, Dover, DE MSA.
The apartment stock
Of 16,448 housing units, 6,593 are detached houses and 5,647, about 34.3%, are in buildings of five or more units. Attached homes add 2,449 units, two- to four-unit buildings 945 and mobile homes 814. Within the apartment stock, the 10-to-19-unit band is the largest group at 2,596 units, followed by 1,238 units in 5–9 unit buildings, 1,127 in 20–49 and 686 in properties of 50 or more. The median home was built in 1983.
Property taxes in Kent County and Dover
Kent County's new values took effect for fiscal 2025, its first reassessment since 1987 (MilfordLIVE), and the county now levies 5.72 cents per $100, down from 36 cents (Delaware Public Media). State law requires a new county reassessment at least every five years (§ 8306). The city is a separate step: Ordinance 2026-09 has Dover adopt county values in fiscal 2028, with city reassessments every five years from fiscal 2029.
Landlord rules
Every Dover rental needs an annual rental dwelling permit, priced for apartment buildings at $200 for the first three units and $50 per additional unit. Statewide, deposits are capped at one month's rent on leases of a year or more and must be returned within 20 days (Title 25). Delaware has no rent cap; HB 455 died in committee in 2024.
What this means if you own a building here
On a sale, Delaware's realty transfer tax totals 4%, with 1.5% going to the local government (Division of Revenue). Expect buyers to model the city tax line on Kent County values ahead of the fiscal 2028 switch, and to check that permits are current. Skyline Capital Investments buys 5+ unit buildings in Dover and Kent County; estimate your building's value or request an offer.
Before You Sell
Dover Seller Checklist
Before you sell commercial property in Dover, DE, here is what we look at first.
More about selling in Delaware →Investing in Dover? See apartment syndications in Dover →
- Kent County's reassessment took effect for fiscal 2025, its first since 1987, and the county then cut its rate from 36 cents to 5.72 cents per $100 of assessed value.
- Dover Ordinance 2026-09 moves the city onto Kent County's assessed values starting in fiscal 2028 and sets city reassessments every five years beginning in fiscal 2029, replacing the values the city sets today.
- Dover's rental dwelling permit costs $200 for the first three apartment units plus $50 for each additional unit every year, and each permit requires zoning and code enforcement sign-off.
- Delaware has no statewide rent cap; a 2024 bill to limit renewal increases to 5% died in committee, and deposits are capped at one month's rent on leases of a year or more.
Seller Guides
Selling A Building In Dover
Learn More
Taxes & Rules For Dover Property
The Delaware rules that shape any deal in Dover: what a sale costs in tax, how buildings are taxed, what landlords must follow, and how to defer gains.
Dover Seller FAQ
What is the average rent in Dover, DE?
The Census Bureau's ACS 2020–2024 estimate puts median gross rent in Dover at $1,344 a month, including utilities. HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Dover metro, which is Kent County, are $1,165 for a one-bedroom and $1,470 for a two-bedroom, both slightly lower than in FY2025.
How are apartment buildings taxed in Dover?
Kent County taxes all property at 5.72 cents per $100 of assessed value for fiscal 2026, on values from its recent reassessment. The City of Dover currently uses its own assessment for city taxes and, under Ordinance 2026-09, will adopt Kent County values starting in fiscal 2028.
Does Dover have rent control?
No. Delaware has no statewide rent cap, and House Bill 455, which would have limited renewal increases to 5% in most years, died in a House committee in 2024. Landlords follow the Residential Landlord-Tenant Code, including a 7-day written demand before a nonpayment filing.
What share of Dover residents rent?
About 53%. The ACS 2020–2024 estimate counts 8,198 renter-occupied homes out of 15,428 occupied homes. About 57% of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent and utilities, and 1,947 households, nearly 24%, pay half or more.
Will you buy a Dover property that needs work or has high vacancy?
Yes. We regularly evaluate value-add, mismanaged, and distressed multifamily properties and underwrite them as they are today — no repairs or lease-up required before selling.
Do you work with Dover brokers and agents?
We do. Agents can bring us listed or pocket-listing deals in Dover, and we keep every conversation confidential.
Who buys occupied rental property in Dover?
We do. Skyline Capital Investments is a commercial real estate buyer of 5+ unit multifamily, and we buy apartment buildings with tenants in place, including properties with below-market rents.
Do I need a broker to sell my apartment building in Dover?
No. You can work with us directly, or your broker can bring the deal to us. Either way, conversations stay confidential.
Submit A Deal
Selling A Building In Dover?
Ready to sell commercial property in Dover, DE? Start with the short form below.
Send the address, unit count, and asking price if you have one. We keep every conversation confidential.
