Observations from a Viera Florida Realtor

From the "Little House" to the "Outhouse" by way of the "Big House"

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:39:15 -0600

This morning I read a post by Brandi Wells about equity I want a house with equity!... It got me to thinking of this post I had written on another blog about how some lost real money over the past several years by spending the real equity in their older, little houses.

The big house is not incarceration in the literal sense. But rather it is the bigger house some folks purchased several years ago when they tried to beat the big run up in home prices here in Brevard County, Florida.

Amazingly many people sold the old homestead to buy a bigger house.

This is not an attempt to affix blame on anyone.

The prices were escalating at such a rapid pace. The feeling was you had to jump in while you could still afford that “big house.” Thus, many cashed out for a nice profit.

Then they invested that nice profit.

And now, after the past few years, the mortgage is equal to what they owe.

At least they are not upside down.

But the lost real money (not imaginery paper equity), has vanished....like toilet paper in the outhouse!

Buying a house is a big decision. If you are a first time home buyer there are opportunities in this market. But have a plan before proceeding.

If you are a first time buyer in Brevard County Florida and have questions, I am available to answer your questions.

This article was originally posted on my blog Florida Homes for Sale.

Gary L. Waters, Florida licensed real estate agent, Century 21 Baytree Realty, Rockledge, Florida serving Florida's Space Coast including the cities and communities of Melbourne, Viera, Rockledge, Suntree, Merritt Island, Cocoa Beach and the surrounding region. Whether your interest lies in a 55+ community such as Heritage Isle, a golf course community such as Baytree National Golf Links or water front, give me a call!

Read my blog Florida Homes for Sale and Moving to Brevard County, Florida.

Interest rates have only one way to go…

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:05:36 -0600

Here in the Brevard County Florida area (Melbourne and Viera) home prices are really attractive. On top of that the lower (historically low) interest rates make the bargains even more enticing.

How long will interest rates stay low? Not forever that is sure. Joe Harris of Morgan Financial provides us with a good explanation of where we are and will be heading.

Thanks, Joe.

Via Joe Harris (Morgan Financial):

Let me make a statement, and I hope you truly digest what I am about to say: the interest rates on mortgages here in Brevard County, Florida are about 1/8% off of their lowest levels in history. That means that if you qualify for a mortgage, you could potentially get a better rate on your loan than just about anyone in history. With interest rates and home prices as low as they are, and with the first time homebuyer tax credit extended into 2010, people should be lining up to buy homes. However, these rates have only one way to go, and we are headed there soon.

One of the biggest factors in our low rates right now is not the Fed's decision to keep the overnight rate as low as it is, rather it is from their decision to continue to purchase mortgage backed securities in the many Billions of dollars per week. When this purchase program ends, the demand for Mortgage Backed Securities will be less, therefore the price will decrease, and the yield (or interest rate) will increase.

Another factor that is keeping rates low, has been the low threat of inflation. While inflation is not happening right now, there are many concerns of inflation coming once the economy starts to improve. We are already seeing signs of inflation as the Core CPI (Consumer Price Index) came in higher than expected, and a little higher than this time last year. It is inevitable that when you dump as much into the economy as we have, and when the cost of money is as low as it is that we will see inflation. In inflationary times, bonds are not as attractive because they become devalued.

So, with Inflation around the corner, and the Fed finishing their Mortgage Backed security purchasing program coming to an end in 2010, interest rates are going to increase. The increase in interest rates will affect buyer's purchasing power, as well as their cost of money. I have said it before, and I will say it again: Now is the time to buy! Rates are low, but rising; home prices are down, but will go up; sellers are generous, but they will be greedy. Please take advantage of this opportunity, before it goes away. If you are currently renting, talk to a professional to see if you can buy; if you know someone who is renting, encourage them to see if they can buy.

Read my blog Florida Homes for Sale and Moving to Brevard County, Florida.

Hey, You. Yes, you. Call me!

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:35:51 -0600

It has got to say more than..."Hey, you! Yes, you! Call me!"

I received an inquiry yesterday from someone who had found me on ActiveRain. This person was in search of information on 55+ communities in Viera, Florida - specifically Grand Isle and its sibling Heritage Isle.

(Actually both communities were developed by Lennar Builders although a couple of other builders including Burgoon Berger and Tiffany Homes were also involved in the Heritage Isle undertaking.)

After playing phone tag I finally got a chance to discuss the 55+ communities in Viera. We also discussed Indian River Colony Club in Viera but that was dismissed pretty quickly as IRCC is an entirely resident owned not for profit corporation with more expense for the owner.

After obtaining her contact information I promised to mail her some information about the communities. She will be making a trip here soon to look further.

As I was about to hang up she let me know that she would only be working with me as her real estate agent in Viera, Florida.

The reason, in her words, "I provide information and don't just say ..."Hey, you! Yes, you! Call me!"

That means a lot because here on ActiveRain when someone contacts you there is tangible proof that your efforts are not fruitless!

Read my blog Florida Homes for Sale and Moving to Brevard County, Florida.

55+ Communities in Melbourne, Florida

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 09:51:49 -0600

Is it a 55+ community in Melbourne, Florida or a 55+ community in Viera, Florida?

It is Heritage Isle - Brevard County, Florida's premier 55+ community and it is located in the planned unit development of Viera. And the mailing address is indeed Melbourne, Florida.

So, either way - it is the same place!

Right now there are about 25 active single family units for sale and about a dozen condo units on the market. That is plenty of choice for anyone looking for a new home in Heritage Isle!

Prices range from about $145,000 to almost $400,000. Plenty of choice in that range although most homes can be found in the $200-230,000 range. Also, there is still a chance to purchase new construction in Heritage Isle.

If you are just starting your research on Florida 55+ communities here are a few links to previous articles I have written.

Heritage Isle - the premier 55+ gated community in Brevard County, Florida

There is a difference between 55+ community living

How does one choose a 55+ community?

For information on Heritage Isle, Grand Isle or Indian River Colony Club in Viera, Florida, contact me at agent@moving2brevard.com or call me directly at 321-693-3850.

This post was orignally posted at:

55+ Communities in Melbourne, Florida

Read my blog Florida Homes for Sale and Moving to Brevard County, Florida.

I have come to expect some scary things....

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:53:40 -0600

As I walk every morning I have come to expect to see some some scary things. I am amazed at times over what people will (or will not wear) when they take the trash out in the early morning hours. I wonder if they forgot that the time change last week makes it daylight earlier!

One man around the corner always calls my dog a bulldog although he is a Boston Terrier!

And then there is older gentleman down the street who I fiirst met as he was shuffling down the driveway to get his newspaper.

I offered to bring it to him but he snarled in a friendly way instead.

Now I see it as my challenge to circle the block before he makes it down the drive and back in the house - a race I usually win!

Just as he declined my offer of assistance so do many FSBO (for sale by owner) sellers.

Some folks are independent and want to do everything for themselves. I can understand this for some FSBO sellers. Some do succeed - 15% according to some surveys.

Some eventually decide it is not worth the hassle and call a real estate professional.

In the Viera, Rockledge and Suntree areas of Brevard County, Florida I have been fortunate to work with several FSBOs. I have some FSBO reference materials which I gladly give them in the interim.

If they need me, I am there - just as I will gladly walk the gentleman's newspaper up the drive to him if he asks.

If you are buying or selling a home or condo in Brevard County, Florida, call. If you are a "FSBO" in Viera, Suntree or Cocoa Beach - anywhere in Brevard County - call me!

Read my blog Florida Homes for Sale and Moving to Brevard County, Florida.

My 900th post and nothing to say....

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:22:42 -0600

This is not my 900th post on this blog but it is a summary of my 900th post on one of my other blogs. This is nothing but plain old selfish self promotion here....

I saw a new listing with an obviously overly inflated price a couple of days ago. The MLS entry read "This is not a short sale." My thought "then it darn well better be a dream!"

My posts are sometimes characterized as having very little humor or sarcasm with lots of information or very little information with lots of humor or sarcasm. [I guess they reflect who I really am!]

More importantly though is I have generated lots of business from these blogs. They are part of my marketing efforts as a real estate agent in Brevard County Florida.

This is post number 900 on this blog! I have been trying to think of something really intriguing to write.

Then I got a headache.

Then I thought..maybe a few of my older posts were ready for new life.

Like If you don't care if your home sells, who will? where I said "I can not overemphasize this point.....buyers will know how much you care about your home. Your presentation as someone who takes pride in your home will influence your potential buyer."

Or in a May 2007 post titled A market report for the pessimist where I summed it up as "My simple market report? Homes for sale - Bunches; Homes Sold - Not a lot; Opportunities available - Bunches."

And way back in March of 2006...around the ides of march (the 15th) I discussed Curb appeal is everything where I revealed (it really is not a secret) that "I have never sold or bought a home without going inside. If the yard is a potential cover for "Junkyard Monthly," get your act together."

So although this 900th post is not a home run (Go Phillies!) I hope it will kindle your interest if you are relocating to Brevard County Florida, selling or buying a Brevard County Florida home, or retiring to Viera, Florida.

Read my blog Florida Homes for Sale and Moving to Brevard County, Florida.

This Brokerage Has 750 Listings…..So they must be the best! (Part 1)

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 08:51:37 -0500

It is not the size of the stadium but rather the quality of the team that determines success.

In real estate it is a small team..your agent and you the buyer or seller!

It is football season so it creeps in on all I say! Go Gators!

Via Ruthmarie Hicks (Keller Williams Realty):

Does size really matter? Do the number of listings or the size of the brokerage have anything to do with the ability of the agent to market and sell a home successfully? Is it the brokerage or the agent that is the determining factor?

What Does the Brokerage Bring to the Table?

One of the biggest issues I encounter on listing presentations are questions regarding the brokerage itself.   Most questions revolve around marketing. What does the brokerage do in terms of marketing for the listing?

I think that most sellers assume that since the brokerage is “big” and has capital behind it, that they are the ones spending big bucks on marketing the home. But this is rarely the case.   Many big-box national brokerages build on that confusion and perpetuate the myth that their brokerage “brand” makes a significant difference in selling a home for top dollar. They also tout their “marketing package” in terms of the amount of support they offer. Some actually stress that the number of agents in the brokerage somehow makes that brokerage better or somehow more able to move the property.   With all the hype and misinformation out there it is small wonder that sellers are confused.

I would challenge these large brokerages who claim that their numbers speak for themselves to enumerate exactly WHAT they do to justify their claims? And while they are at it, I would like to have some hard numbers to back up their success stories. I haven’t seen any of them come up with any marketing advantage that holds up under scrutiny. Most of the time they appear to be blowing smoke. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not slamming big brokerages. That would be rather foolish since the brokerage that I am currently associated with is quite large. What I am trying to do is cut through the hype.

Follow the Advice of Deep Throat:

Who actually sells the listing? The agent or the brokerage? To figure that out you have only to listen to the words of “Deep Throat” in All the President’s Men.   He told Robert Redford to “Follow the money!”

If a brokerage has hundreds of agents, it is likely that they have close to 1000 listings. Brokerages are business to make money on sales. For a big brokerage like this – the listings are a numbers game. Throw 1000 up against a wall and maybe half will “stick.” So how important is your individual listing going to be to that brokerage? Answer: not very.

But what about the agent? Most agents have just one to two listings at a time. Top producers can have as manay as 20-30. Agents are paid on commission. If the property doesn’t sell – all the work they did is down the drain….and there is a lot more to than sticking a sign in the ground. When a listing fails to sell an agent is out usually well over 150 hours of time AND they are generally out a good deal of marketing money as well. Do you think that agent cares if your home sells? You better believe it.

Take Home Lesson: Look to the AGENT to market and sell your home.

Stay tuned for part 2 – where some major marketing myths will be revealed.

Further Reading:

Mirror, mirror on the wall…who’s the fairest listing agent of all…Part 1:

Mirror, mirror on the wall…who’s the fairest listing agent of all…Part 2

© 2009 Ruthmarie G. Hicks http://thewestchesterview.com. All rights reserved. Initial post

This Brokerage Has 750 Listings…..So they must be the best! (Part 1)

Read my blog Florida Homes for Sale and Moving to Brevard County, Florida.

Hiring your Brevard County Florida Real Estate Agent

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:21:03 -0500

The things that grab your attention may not always be as they appear - even when it comes to real estate agents.

When you are ready to sell your Brevard County, Florida house or condo, interview several real estate agents.

Some may have pretty dazzling web sites and blogs.

Some may have an attractive photo on their print advertising. Some may be blessed with a silver tongue.

But, in the end, do they walk the walk? Is there a personal connection?

In the end choosing a real estate professional to work with you (yes, it is a team) is more than choosing the one with the pretty face.

Would this guy be your choice to lead you into your new fitness regimen?

After all, he is on the Internet, is advertising, is available, calls himself a personal trainer so he must be qualified!

If you are choosing a real estate professional to market your home in Brevard County, Florida, call me and lets talk.

I may not have all the glitter, the pretty face, the most dazzling of blogs but I get the job done with hard work.

Results are what you seek!

Read my blog Florida Homes for Sale and Moving to Brevard County, Florida.

Short Sale Quiz....Only one question.

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:21:58 -0500

This should be a question on the "exam on life..." Which of these statements is the most true?

I am from the government and I am here to help.
I am from your mortgage lender and I am here to help.
Happy Hour...get two drinks for the price of one.
A short sale is a quick and painless process to sell or buy a house.

OK, this is not really a test question however comma.... Have you ever run into a person who insisted on saying "however comma" when they speak? I have and they are sooooo irritating.....

I had a client once tell me that what I write gives them a chuckle as well as occasionally some good information. Useful information should be delivered with a good delivery system. Joel Osteen has figured this out just as Publisher's Clearinghouse has it down!

Back to the question....

If you are over 16 and slightly aware of the real world you will know that 1 and 2 are rarely true. Statement 4 is definitely not the case as a short sale requires patience.

A short sale requires a buyer who is willing to possibly wait for months for a response. A short sale requires a mortgage lender to act and, more importantly, act favorably to a short sale offer. So, the obvious response is 1.

If a short sale is a consideration given your current situation, give me a call or drop me an email. If you do not live in Brevard County, Florida I have contacts to whom I will be happy to refer you.

Read my blog Florida Homes for Sale and Moving to Brevard County, Florida.

Price Reduced - Now Only $750K - Prime Commercial/Industrial Site Brevard County Florida

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:22:36 -0500

The price has been reduced on this ideally situated commercial and industrial site in Brevard County Florida. This prime location in Rockledge, Florida, consists of 4.79 acres comprised of two adjoining properties at 480 Barnes Blvd.

One parcel of 2.52 acres in city limits zoned industrial has office, warehouse, walk in cooler and retail store in front. The second parcel of 2.27 acres is zoned agricultural and is outside of city boundary. Currently this property is being operated as a commercial nursery.

With 580 feet of Barnes Blvd frontage (will be four laned), already a major local route with access to Interstate 95 and US 1, a traffic count over 10,000 daily can give your enterprise lots of exposure!

The possibilities really are endless. This is located near the border of the planned unit development of Viera, one of the most desirable residential communities in Brevard County, Florida.

Businesses nearby include Walgreen's Drugstore (CVS where are you?), a Publix Supermarket, Starbucks, restaurants, a golf course, and more.

This property is offered for $750,000 which is well below the appraisal price. For additional information on this property please contact me at 321-693-3850 or by email to agent@moving2brevard.com.

Read my blog Florida Homes for Sale and Moving to Brevard County, Florida.

Grand Isle - 55+ Active Lifetsyle living in Florida

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:54:05 -0500

Grand Isle is one of Brevard County Florida's most desirable 55+ communities.

This gated community, located in Viera (Melbourne, Florida), is ideally situated near major transportation routes, convenient to the beaches, Patrick Air Force Base and Orlando (45 miles).

Also you will have several golf courses (including the Viera East Golf Course, Turtle Creek Golf Course, Duran Golf Club, Baytree National Golf Links), shopping, restaurants and medical facilities nearby.

The new Viera Hospital is under construction now and there are plenty of physician and denatl offices nearby.

If a 55+ lifestyle with clubhouse, pool and plenty of activity is in your plans, take a look at Grand Isle.

Currently there are six single family homes listed for sale within the gates of Grand Isle. Prices range from a low of $160,000 (2 bedroom 2 bath) to a high of $319,000 ( a 4 bedroom three bath).

Between September 15, 2009 and today there have been five properties that sold in Grand Isle. The lowest selling price was $186,500 and the highest price was $232,500.

Although the development is not quite as large as the "other 55+ community in Viera" - Heritage Isle, Grand Isle offers clubhouse, pool, tennis and many of the same amenities. Not everyone wants a development with over 1,000 properties such as Heritage Isle!

For information on Florida retirement living, please give me a call at 321-693-3850 or email me at agent@moving2brevard.com.

Read my blog Florida Homes for Sale and Moving to Brevard County, Florida.

A Little Bit of Faith Goes A Long Way

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 07:40:04 -0500

We are not perfect, well most of us that is to say. Here is a post from Sandy Shores of Melbourne Florida that demonstrates what it means to adapt to what seems to be limitations. Sometimes a wall is not an obstacle.

Via Sandy Shores, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL, Brevard County Real Estate & Investing (M & M Real Estate Inc. www.SandyShoresMelbourne.com):

This story was emailed to me this morning and it absolutely touched my heart.

This dog was born on Christmas Eve 2002. *He was born with 2 legs.

He could not walk when he was born.

His mother did not want him, because he was different than the rest of her beautiful pups.



His first owner did not think that he could survive and was thinking of 'putting him to sleep'. But, he was blessed when he met Jude Stringfellow, who fell in love with him and took him under her wing.

She was determined to teach this precious little dog to walk by himself.

So she named him 'Faith'.




In the beginning, she put Faith on a surfboard to let him feel the movement.

She used peanut butter on a spoon as a lure to reward him for standing up and jumping around.

Jude's other dog encouraged Faith to walk by himself.

Amazingly, after only 6 months, with the love and devotion given to this sweet, determined little animal, Faith learned to balance on his hind legs and to jump to move forward.

After further training in the snow, he began to walk like a human being.


Faith loves to take walks now.

No matter where he goes, he attracts a crowd of people.

He is quickly becoming famous on the international scene and has appeared in various newspapers and on TV shows.

There is now a book entitled 'With a Little Faith' being published about him.

He was even considered to appear in one of Harry Potter movies.



His owner, Jude Stringfellow has given up her teaching job and has plans to take him around the world to show that even without a perfect body, one can have a perfect soul.

With determination, anything is possible.


In life there are always obstacles that we must overcome.

Faith overcomes them everyday.



We should each be thankful for every day set before us.

Faith is the continual demonstration of the strength and the wonder of life.

Faith's owner is hoping that her story will be spread across the world. So, we can all have a little bit of Faith and see that nothing is impossible, especially when someone believes in you! Love goes a long way!

*FOOTNOTE: I wanted to do additional research on Faith, as I was so taken with the story of this woman that chose to adopt this helpless little pup. It seemed to me she looked like a little girl dog. I did find that Faith is a female dog. And, she was actually born with 3 legs, the front one was deformed, so it had to be removed.

Read my blog Florida Homes for Sale and Moving to Brevard County, Florida.

Pink...Even the NFL was in the game!

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 18:32:59 -0500

Today was Sunday...during football season. So, like millions of others I watched National Football League games. And one thing that stood out was the pink!

Pink towels, pink gloves, pink sweatbands, pink ribbons painted on the field. There was no way to get away from the pink. Even pink visors on the coaches hats!

This is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the NFL did their part. What about you? There are lots of ways you can contribute...Check them out.

By the way guys, it is not an issue for women only!

Read my blog Florida Homes for Sale and Moving to Brevard County, Florida.

Tell me it just ain't so....

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 08:43:08 -0500

Tell me it just ain't so....

Sometimes we wake up to a new reality. The truth is reality has not changed, only our perception.

Friday evening our cable system went out for an hour or so. For whatever reason all the stations froze - except for one. It was as if I were a child agin with no choice of channels (clue - 1960s).

Anyway, the only program on the one channel was wrestling! Yippee! A long long time ago I believed wrestling was the real deal.

While out for my early morning walk, I was thinking about how some of the homes in my area were bought several years ago for a lot more money than they are worth today.

Some thought they were buying an investment. Some who were taking out all these HELOCs (home equity line of credit) thought they were using their investment wisely.

Now, reality has set in...

A house should not be viewed as just another (or primary in some cases) investment. A house should not be used as a bank where you borrow unwisely against your home.

Life is a great teacher - even if the lesson is a difficult one to accept!

Read my blog Florida Homes for Sale and Moving to Brevard County, Florida.

Real Estate Agents Working Together. This is For All of YOU!

Sat, 03 Oct 2009 08:21:55 -0500

This post contains some excellent advice for real estate agents and other folks who blog for business. And is that not what we do it for - at least one of the reasons?

Via Lisa Hill (Daytona Beach Real Estate) (Adams Cameron and Company):

Lisa Hill's Real Estate Blog; "The Smart Choice" for all your real estate needs

OK real estate bloggers; This post is for the sole purpose of helping YOU with your real estate web site's Search Engine Optimization. Yep. You heard right. I'm writing this real estate post, just to help our real estate web site's get better results in the search engines.

There are real estate buyers who need helping finding a house, condo, townhouse, or whatever meets their needs, in YOUR area of expertise! Speaking of which... what is your area of expertise? Where in the world do you work? (literally)

There are also real estate sellers who need your expert advice in helping them to sell their house, condo, townhouse, or whatever type of real estate they need to sell. Can they find some helpful information on your web site? Then they need to know about it! So once again I ask, "where in the world do you work"? (literally)

Have any of you figured out yet how this post can help you? If you haven't, here's what you need to do. In the comment section of this post. (Only this one!) I'm telling you to violate every "rule" of blogging netiquette, and tell me (and your potential real estate buyers and sellers)....

where you work

any awards and/or designations you may have earned

the types of real estate in which you specialize

any other areas of expertise you'd like to share

and embed "deep links" into your web site, within your paragraph-style comment.

In case you still don't get it, take another look at what I've written in this post. I've loaded it with key words and search phrases. It will help you to use some of these key words in your comment! And you'll now have links to YOUR web site, from a blog location that is not your own. It's like having someone else give you an SEO boost.

For you newbies out there... whether you're new to Active Rain, or to blogging in general, feel free to use this post as a guide to how you write your own (although I DO NOT claim to have all the answers!). The very first sentence mentions real estate twice. The paragraph itself mentions it 4 times. The only thing you would need to do differently on your own blog posts is to include the specific area(s) where you work. Location and vocation are important to have in the very beginning, and in closing as well. Can I assume that a call to action is a given?

My second and third paragraphs address real estate buyers and real estate sellers. I do this in my posts because I've created an individual page for real estate buyers, and another one for real estate sellers on my web site. I then include links to these individual pages (deep links). Deep links give you one more little bump in your SEO. One more area where you should focus your attention is to hover your mouse over each of the links in my post. What do you see? You should find more search phrases and key words that MATCH the link, and contents of the page to which those links are pointing.

And that pretty much sums things up here. This mini-lesson in SEO is to help you understand why this post is helpful to you if you phrase your comment, and the links in it properly. Just don't forget, at any other time, what I'm asking you to do is considered rude and inconsiderate! So don't do this anywhere else! But for the purposes of this post; in the interests of promoting community spirit, education, and general SEO, just follow the guidelines herein as you post your comment =)

Good luck in all your real estate endeavors. As REALTORS®, you already know the value of your services. You have valuable real estate knowledge and expertise that the public will never have. Now let's get your web sites out there for your potential customers to find! After that, it's up to you to turn those inquiries into happy, lifetime clients =D So let's see those comments; packed with search phrases, keywords, deep links, your areas of expertise, you places of business, and those deep links into your web sites. Good luck!

**Want to keep this ball rolling? Re-blog and pay it forward! =D

This information is provided by Lisa C. Hill, Daytona Beach Native and REALTOR® with Adams Cameron & Co., REALTORS®. For all your real estate needs, make a Smart Choice and contact Lisa Hill.

Click here ---> to search for real estate in Daytona Beach, Port Orange, Ponce Inlet and all of Volusia County.

Click here ---> to view my Featured Real Estate Listings.

www.DaytonaBeachRealEstateSales.com

*All content is owned by Lisa Hill and protected by U.S. copyright laws, with exception of the little copyright logo at the beginning of this sentence.

Read my blog Florida Homes for Sale and Moving to Brevard County, Florida.

In a declining market prices decline....don't tell the banks!

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 08:54:08 -0500

I posted the below excerpt on my other blog Florida Homes for Sale yesterday about a most timely topic - short sales.

I stated.....

"I guess the more appropriate question is...do banks care if that short sale offer goes through to closing?

In a declining market prices decline....don't tell the banks!

They still think Washington will provide a golden egg!"

Banks must not care about making money because they delay decisions on short sales until the selling price in the neighborhoods are lower than the offer they are supposed to be considering.

Read my blog Florida Homes for Sale and Moving to Brevard County, Florida.

Viera Florida Condo - only $65,000!

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:45:23 -0500

Newly listed for only $65,000! This 1998 built 2 bedroom 2 bath condo is ideally situated in Brevard County, Florida's very popular planned unit development of Viera.

Located in the The Greens at Viera East, this 1,092 square foot ground floor is very livable! With open parking outside your front door, a short walk across the parking lot to the clubhouse, pool, and the fitness center provide conveniences most look for in their Florida condo!

All appliances stay, including the washer and dryer! With several golf courses nearby (including the neighboring Viera East Golf Course), as well as 15 minutes to the beaches and Patrick Air Force Base, 45 minutes to Orlando, this location is ideal! Close to excellent schools, medical facilities, restaurants and more!

This is a short sale which means any offer must be approved by the lender.

If you are interested in condo living in Florida, Viera deserves a look!

This unit is also available for rent at $795 monthly or $850 a month for short term rental

(furnished).

Read my blog Florida Homes for Sale and Moving to Brevard County, Florida.

October | Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 07:43:46 -0500

Fighting Breast Cancer is a very important cause that has a way of going un-noticed until you or someone you know has been affected. Click on the link mentioned and help a great cause - and it will only cost you the time it takes to click a link! . Prevention and early diagnosis are key to successful treatment and management.

Via Florida Real Estate Trainer | Daytona Beach After School Training | Midori (CENTURY 21 Sundance Realty):

October | Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Please I encourage you to reblog this or even forward this post to your friends and loved ones.

This disease touches so many and changes lives forever..we can do the same but in a positive way!

Help Fight Breast Cancer...the reality is there is a good chance someone you love will be affected by this disease.

You never know...by following the instructions you might save a human life!

SPREAD THE WORD!

Please tell ten friends to tell ten today! The Breast Cancer site is having trouble getting enough people to click on their site daily to meet their quota of donating at least one free mammogram a day to an underprivileged woman. It takes less than a minute to go to their site and click on 'donating a mammogram' for free (pink window in the middle).

This doesn't cost you a thing. Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate mammogram in exchange for advertising.

Here's the web site! Pass it along to people you know.
http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/

Midori Miller is licensed in the State of Florida, BK645709 and currently hangs her real estate license with CENTURY 21 Sundance Realty. Midori is also a real estate trainer and an ActiveRain Ambassador and specializes in short sales for Daytona Beach real estate sellers. If you are in the market to buy or sell real estate in Daytona Beach, Florida..please contact us!

Read my blog Florida Homes for Sale and Moving to Brevard County, Florida.

Main Street Masters of Art in Historic Downtown Melbourne October 3 & 4, 2009

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 12:45:33 -0500

Want to spend sometime with some very talented artists?

Come on down to Melbourne Florida next weekend for the Main Street Masters of Art Celebration being hosted by Melbourne Main Street.

The flyer in the graphic came out of my newspaper...so the wrinkle is real!

With about 50 booths set up on East New Haven Avenue, you will have plenty to see.

Not only will there be art but also a car show, entertainment both days, wine tasting, a kids play area and more.

Of course, several fine restaurants and pubs such as Meg O'Malley's Restaurant & Irish Pub, Matt's Casbah, Vapor Hookah Bar, Off the Traxx and a few others will provide plenty of options for food and drink. Hours for the festival each day is 10 to 5:00 p.m.

So, what you doing next weekend?

Read my blog Florida Homes for Sale and Moving to Brevard County, Florida.

Obviously it has been a problem....

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:49:59 -0500

Sometimes one must wonder.... I guess here in Florida if it is green and flat it is golfable (not sure that is a word!

Community Park of Rockledge provides soccer, trails, bike paths, a skateboard park/course, a playground, pavillion and more.

But it does not provide golfing. Residents are encouraged to use the nearby Turtle Creek Golf Course or Viera East Golf Club!

Read my blog Florida Homes for Sale and Moving to Brevard County, Florida.

Only 69% of those signs mean the house is for sale....huh?

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:36:59 -0500

Have you ever driven through a neighborhood and seen all those real estate signs in front of seemingly every other house?

It probably happens every day in most parts of the United States if you are in the real estate market as a buyer or real estate professional.

But not all of those houses are for sale....

In Brevard County Florida there are 5330 single family homes that are either actively for sale, under contract with contingencies or under contract and awaiting closing. Sounds like a bunch of homes for sale.

Now assume there is a "For Sale " sign in front of each of these properties. How many are actually actively for sale?

Drum roll, please.....

How does 69% sound???

Out of 5,330 properties only 3,681 are actively for sale.

This was really brought to my attention today when a client called me to say she had found the neighborhood she really likes. We had looked at one house in the subdivision earlier this week.

She said there were lots of other signs in the neighborhood.

The neighborhood of Capron Trace in Viera did have 7 properties in the MLS system but only one was active. Six of these properties were under contract!

Point made.....

Just because there are signs out front doesn't mean it is on the market!

Read my blog Florida Homes for Sale and Moving to Brevard County, Florida.

First Time Home Buyer Program: Step 1

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:34:42 -0500

The first time home buyer program will expire on November 30, 2009 if the Congress does not extend the benefit.

Thus, we are nearing what I would call the crunch time to get a deal done.

That is the message I am sending out to first time home buyers on all of my blogs including Florida Homes for Sale.

Many first time home buyers don't know the ropes. (I wonder if that is why we call them first time home buyers!)

The first step in the process is to get qualified for a mortgage. Many have banking institutions that they say they will contact. Sometimes they do not know anyone or ask for recommendations.

Sometimes I provide lender names and phone numbers.

Most of the time I give the contact information to the lender representative so they can be proactive.

I really get disappointed when the buyer prospect calls me back to say the lender representative did not call them.

If you are a first time home buyer in Brevard County Florida, call me. Lets get started as time is running out on the first time home buyer tax credit program.

Read my blog Florida Homes for Sale and Moving to Brevard County, Florida.

Grand Isle, Viera's "other" 55+ community

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 08:09:17 -0500

In Melbourne, Florida's planned unit development of Viera, you will find the choice of several 55+ communities.

On the west side of I-95 is Heritage Isle with its continuing new development and impressive facilities.

Many times the "forgotten" 55+ community in Viera East is Grand Isle.

Grand Isle is a gated community providing its residents with the Florida lifestyle including a very nice clubhouse/rec room , community pool , exercise room , hot tub/spa , jogging trail , shuffleboard , tennis courts and more. Of course, Grand Isle offers exterior/lawn maintenance.

Grand Isle is not as large as its younger sibling, Heritage Isle. Both were developed by developer/builder Lennar Homes.

As of today there are 8 active listings in Grand Isle ranging from $160,000 for a 2 bedroom 2 bath single family home to about $320,000 for a 4 bedroom 3 bath home.

In the past six weeks 5 properties have gone under contract with another two deals closed. Not bad for a small 55+ community with limited properties for sale! The two that closed sold for $180,000 and $243,000, very reasonable in this market.

For information on 55+ communities in Brevard County, Florida, please contact me at 321-693-3850 or email agent@moving2brevard.com. Gary Waters, Florida licensed real estate agent, Century 21 Baytree Realty, Rockledge, Florida.

Read my blog Florida Homes for Sale and Moving to Brevard County, Florida.

What people see when you price too high....

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 07:52:56 -0500

I am not one to use fancy words, long running sentences. I prefer to be more direct. So, here it goes....

This is your house when it is priced right.....

This is your house when it is overpriced.....

Get the picture? When you price too high no one even sees it!

Call me if you are considering selling your Brevard County, Florida home!

Read my blog Florida Homes for Sale and Moving to Brevard County, Florida.

Prime Commercial Real Estate Rockledge Florida $795,000

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 13:23:06 -0500

Prime location in Rockledge, Florida, 4.79 acre total plot consists of two adjoining properties at 480 Barnes Blvd.

One parcel of 2.52 acres in city limits zoned industrial has office, warehouse, walk in cooler and retail store in front.

The second parcel of 2.27 acres is zoned agricultural and is outside of city boundary. Currently this property is being operated as a commercial nursery.

This property consists of 580 feet of prime commercial property on street that will be four laned. Front of property has already been purchased for the road construction which will lead to this becoming a major thoroughfare (traffic count over 10,000 daily).

The possiblities are endless. This is located near the border of the planned unit development of Viera. The location is within a couple of miles of direct access to Interstate 95 and U.S. Highway 1 is just east a mile or so.

Businesses already nearby include Walgreen's Drugstore (CVS where are you?), a Publix Supermarket, Starbucks, restaurants, a golf course.

This property is offered for $795,000 which is well below the appraisal price. For additional information on this property please contact me at 321-693-3850 or by email to agent@moving2brevard.com.

Gary Waters, Century 21 Baytree Realty, Rockledge, Florida, serving Florida's Space Coast.

Read my blog Florida Homes for Sale and Moving to Brevard County, Florida.