Murph's Blogs

Homebuyer Tax Credit Extended - Some Military Personnel Extended Till 2011

John S Murphy *Patrick AFB Specialist* (RE/MAX Elite) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:23:14 -0600

The President signed the bill to extend the homebuyers tax credit. The bill not only included an extension but also added credits for "non first time homebuyers".

The $8000 first time buyer credit was extended to purchases made from January 1st, 2009 - April 30th, 2010. The original expiration date was November 30th 2009. The credit is available to individuals that did not own a principle residence in the United States 3 years prior to the purchase of a home.

The new provision in the bill includes a credit for people that have lived in their former home for an extended period. If you purchase a new home and have lived in your previous home consecutively for 5 of the previous 8 years, you would be eligible for a credit of $6500.

One of the most important parts of this new bill is that the first time homebuyers credit for military personnel that have extended duty service outside of the US for at least 90 days from 12/31/08 - 5/1/2010 is extended another year until April 30th 2011.

So those of you PCSing to Patrick AFB, from overseas, in the next few, years will be able to take advantage of this tax credit.

The income limits on the tax credits are $125,000 - single and $225,000 married.

The government has added some anti-fraud provisions - you'll need to include you closing statement with your tax return.

John S Murphy is a full-time REALTOR® with RE/MAX Elite in Melbourne, FL. He is also the creator of www.AmericanAirmanhomes.com, a website that specializes in PCS, DOD, and Civilian relocations to Patrick Air Force Base, FL. --- Doing a home search? Visit his website and search the entire Brevard County MLS.

John S Murphy
REALTOR®
e-PRO®
Certified Distressed Property Expert
(321) 626-0247

Viera, FL - Brevard County's Newest Town

John S Murphy *Patrick AFB Specialist* (RE/MAX Elite) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:35:35 -0500

This article is part of "The Patrick AFB Online Relocation Package".

Many families PCSing to Patrick AFB, end up finding their home in Viera. I think some of the main reasons are that Viera has a lot to offer and it is within a reasonable commute time to the base (15-25 minutes).

Viera is a master plan community that started home building in the early 90's and is still building today. Currently Viera has about 19,000 residents and when it is completed will cover about 22,000 acres. It has a large variety of homes starting just under $100,000 up to $1,000,000+ all within a few miles of each other. The various neighborhoods cater to many different lifestyles and the whole area is anchored by a central commercial / government area. A great amount of green space has been left with interconnecting walking trails, as well as five community parks and a huge 125 acre Viera Regional Park.

Viera doesn't have its own zip code yet, so when looking for homes online, understand the Viera is split in half with the southern part being in Melbourne (32940) and the northern part being in Rockledge (32955).

The schools that service Viera have a great reputation. There are three elementary schools (1st-6th), two middle schools (7th-8th), and Viera High School that opened in 2006.

In 2005 an outdoor shopping complex - The Avenue Viera opened with many national as well as local stores. It's become very popular and is a great place to shop, dine, or see a movie. Viera is also home to two public golf courses and a great local zoo. The Washington Nationals use Space Coast Stadium for thier spring training and the rest of the time it's the home of the Brevard County Manatees (Single A).

Viera has a top notch VA Outpatient Clinic and in 2011 the 100 bed acute care Viera Hospital will open.

Schools:

Quest Elementary
Manatee Elementary
Ralph Williams Elementary
Kennedy Middle School
McNair Middle School
Viera High School

Recreation:

Brevard Zoo
Duran Golf Club
Viera East Golf Club
Viera Regional Park
Space Coast Stadium - Washington Nationals Spring Training Site

Shopping:

The Avenue Viera
Super - Target
Wal-Mart Super Center

Health-care:

Viera Hospital
VA Clinic

As you can see Viera has a lot to offer and is very close to the base, and that is why so many families end up settling here.

VIERA MASTER PLAN

New Listing - 1701 Sun-Gazer Drive, Viera, FL 32955

John S Murphy *Patrick AFB Specialist* (RE/MAX Elite) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:35:28 -0500

This is a really nice waterfront home in the heart of Viera FL.

3 Bedroom / 2 Bathroom
Concrete block construction - 1996
1873 square feet - under air
.14 acre lot - Waterfront (excellent views)
2 car garage
Viera Schools (All "A" rated)
Very near the community pool
New roof - 2005
15 minutes from Patrick AFB

Offered at $195,000

Patrick AFB Relocation: How about a free $8000?

John S Murphy *Patrick AFB Specialist* (RE/MAX Elite) — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:57:10 -0600

This article is part of "The Patrick AFB Online Relocation Package".

Wow!!! For those of you PCSing to Patrick AFB in 2009 there is a huge benefit that just got passed in the stimulus bill: $8000. The fully refundable, $8000 (or 10% of the purchase price, up to $8000) is a tax credit for first time homebuyers that purchase a home between January 1, 2009 and November 30, 2009.

Here are the details:

What is a first time homebuyer?
Someone who has not owned a principle residence in the past three years. So many of you coming from overseas who have owned a home in the past, but have been living on base for three years will still qualify.

Are there income limits?
Yes, $75,000 for singles and $150,000 for couples.

Will I have to pay this back when I sell the home?
If you stay in the home for three years you do not have to pay it back, anything less and you will have to pay it back. So this is a gift, a grant, free money. Well not exactly free the taxpayers are paying for it.

Here are some typical scenarios:

1. At the end of the year you typically owe $7000 in taxes, and from your withholding they have taken $7000. When you file your 2009 taxes, you will get a check for $8000, which you can use for whatever you want: furniture, clothes, vacation, etc.

2. At the end of the year you owe $7000 in taxes. From your withholding they collected $8000. In this scenario you would usually get $1000 refund check. With this tax credit you will get a refund of $9000.

3. You owe $7000 in taxes. They withhold $6000. In this scenario you would normally have to pay $1000. With the tax credit you will get a refund of $7000 ($8000-$1000).

This money can not be used for a down payment, but will be refunded from your taxes. All you need to do to get this credit is claim it on your 2009 tax return.

With interest rates hovering around 5% (at the time of writing this), prices falling into affordable ranges, and this generous tax credit, this just might be the time to buy a home.

John S Murphy is a full-time REALTOR® with RE/MAX Elite in Melbourne, FL, and the creator of AmericanAirmanHomes.com, a website that specializes in Military PCS, DoD, civilian, and retired military relocations to and from the Patrick AFB area in Florida. Please feel free to visit the website where you can search the entire Brevard County MLS.

Patrick AFB Relocation: Disney's Armed Forces Salute 2009

John S Murphy *Patrick AFB Specialist* (RE/MAX Elite) — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:14:43 -0600

This article is part of "The Patrick AFB Online Relocation Package".

Once again this year Walt Disney World is offering their Armed Forces Salute. It is a great deal for active and retired US Military. Disney World is only an hour trip from Patrick Air Force Base, and it is a deal that many service members should explore.

Here are the details from the Disney Website:

"Through December 23, 2009, each active or retired member of the U.S. military may obtain one complimentary 5-day "Disney's Armed Forces Salute" ticket with Park Hopper® and Water Park Fun & More options. This ticket is valid for five days of admission into the four Walt Disney World® theme parks, plus a total of five visits to a choice of a Disney water park, DisneyQuest® Indoor Interactive Theme Park or certain other attractions. During this offer period, active or retired U.S. military personnel (or their spouses, but not both) may also make a one-time purchase of up to a maximum of five 5-Day "Disney's Armed Forces Salute Companion" tickets (one theme park per day) for $99 per ticket, plus tax, for family members (including spouse) or friends. Although this ticket for family members and friends does not include either the Park Hopper® or Water Park Fun & More options, this ticket can be upgraded to add either such option, or both, for an additional $25, plus tax, per option. Actual prices may be less. All tickets and options are non-transferable and must be used by December 23, 2009.

Activated members of the National Guard or Reservists (with orders showing active status after January 1, 2008) and active or retired members of the United States Coast Guard are also eligible to participate in this offer."

Tickets and more information can be obtained from the ITT office at Patrick AFB. Building 415, Phone:(321) 494-5158

Patrick AFB Relocation: 2009 BAH Rates

John S Murphy *Patrick AFB Specialist* (RE/MAX Elite) — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 16:16:35 -0600

This article is part of "The Patrick AFB Online Relocation Package".

The new Patrick AFB BAH rates for 2009 are now available. There was a slight increase over last year and with the possibility of interest rates dropping to all time lows in the near future, 2009 might be one of the best buying opportunities in years.

2009 BAH Rates - Patrick Air Force Base

Rank	With Dependents	W/O Dependents
E-1 through E-4	$ 1108.00	$ 831.00
E-5	$ 1184.00	$ 962.00
E-6	$ 1463.00	$ 1097.00
E-7	$ 1538.00	$ 1154.00
E-8	$ 1620.00	$ 1239.00
E-9	$ 1728.00	$ 1326.00
W-1	$ 1464.00	$ 1098.00
W-2	$ 1571.00	$ 1238.00
W-3	$ 1671.00	$ 1334.00
W-4	$ 1749.00	$ 1482.00
W-5	$ 1840.00	$ 1556.00
O1-E	$ 1554.00	$ 1184.00
O2-E	$ 1656.00	$ 1306.00
O3-E	$ 1763.00	$ 1463.00
O1	$ 1216.00	$ 1031.00
O2	$ 1457.00	$ 1158.00
O3	$ 1667.00	$ 1363.00
O4	$ 1878.00	$ 1545.00
O5	$ 2025.00	$ 1559.00
O6	$ 2042.00	$ 1671.00
O7+	$ 2066.00	$ 1704.00

Patrick AFB Relocation: Is A No Down Payment VA Loan A Good Idea?

John S Murphy *Patrick AFB Specialist* (RE/MAX Elite) — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:57:42 -0600

This article is part of "The Patrick AFB Online Relocation Package".

Many, if not most of my clients decide to use their VA benefit and go with a VA loan and for many reasons it's a great idea. Also many decide to do a 100% financing VA loan (no down payment) and I think that is a great idea too, but one that involves some risk.

One of the biggest advantages of a VA loan is that you can still do 100% financing. With all of the recent problems is the mortgage industry, 100% financing which was readily available a few years ago in many types of loans is no longer an option.

Another advantage is that there is no PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance) that gets added to your home payment. Typically PMI can cost between one half to one percent of the loan, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association of America. On a $150,000 home with 10% down the PMI can range anywhere from $56.25 to $112.50 per month added to your payment.

Although there is no PMI with a VA loan there is what is called the "VA Funding Fee". This paid by the veteran upfront so they contribute to the cost of their benefit. For discussions here will use the regular military rates for first time use of the benefit. Reserves and National Guard funding fees are a little higher.

- For 100% financing the funding fee is 2.15%

- For 95% up to 90% financing the funding fee is 1.5%

- For 90% financing or more the funding fee is 1.25%

The funding fee does not have to necessarily come directly out of the veteran's pocket. It can be paid by the seller through negotiation ,as long as all the seller total contributions don't exceed 4%. Most typically it just gets added to the loan. Here are some examples of this scenario:

$150,000 purchase price:

- 100% financing: $150,000 x 2.15 % = $3,225 (funding fee) so the veterans' total loan will be $153,225 ($150,000 + $ 3225).

- 95% financing: $150,000 - $7500 (5% down payment of $150,000) = $142,500. $142,500 x 1.5% = $2138 (funding fee) so the veterans' total loan will be $144,628 ($142,500 + $2138).

- 90% financing: $150,000 - $15,000 (10% down payment of $150,000) = $135,000. $135,000 x 1.25% = $1688 (funding fee) so the veterans' total loan will be $136,688 ($135,000+$1688).

The logical next question is should I do 100% or should I put money down. That depends on many factors, but the main ones are how long will you be staying in the home and does your house payment work into your BAH. Most of my clients will only be here at Patrick AFB for 3-5 years and under that scenario, 100% makes a lot of sense. Here is why:

Let's use the same $150,000 purchase price, you will need to sell the home in five years, and we'll use a 6.5% interest rate on the loan. The interest rate can be higher or lower, but we'll use this one for illustration purposes.

            - 100% financing your monthly payment (P&I -just Principle & Interest) will be $968.49.

            - 95% financing your monthly payment (just P&I) will be $914.21.

            - 90% financing your monthly payment (just P&I) will be $863.96.

It looks like if you put down 10% you will be "saving" saving a lot of money, and if you plan on staying in the home for a long time you definitely will, but first you need to have $15,000 in available cash. The difference in the payment is $104.53 a month (100% vs. 90%) that that translates into $6271.80 over the five years. But you had to shell out $15,000 in cash to get the $6271.80 in savings and many of my clients prefer to hold onto their cash to use for other things. This is a personal decision and you have do what is best for your lifestyle.

Here is the one huge caveat with the above scenario. For obvious reasons a 100% VA loan has a lot of attractive qualities. But if you are staying in your home for a short period of time, there is risk. Under the above 100% scenario after 5 years (if you made all your payments and no extra payments) you will still owe $143,435. Assuming that the home's value stays the same, you will have $6,565 in equity at that point. ($150,000 (market value of the home) - $143,435 (balance of loan after five years) = $6,565)

Now you need to sell the home. The total costs for you to sell will be around 8% (estimate) of the selling price, which includes Realtor fees and other closing costs. In any scenario in order for you to break even, the home needs to appreciate at least 8% over those 5 years. If it doesn't appreciate that much or the home depreciates you will be digging into your equity. If the costs exceed the equity in your home you will have to pay the difference out of your pocket at the close of the sale. So the more equity you have, the better position you are in. If the home appreciates more than the 8%, then anything above that is money going into your pocket. Congratulations you have just made money in real estate, Mr. or Mrs. Monopoly.

So you can see there is definite risk involved, especially in the current market. The value of homes in the area has decreased dramatically since their highs of 2005. Are we at the bottom (we are closer to the bottom than we are to the top) and how much would a home purchased now appreciate in 5 years? If I had the absolute answers to these questions, I'd be a very rich man or be hosting a show on some cable business channel.

Patrick AFB Relocation: Insuring Your Home

John S Murphy *Patrick AFB Specialist* (RE/MAX Elite) — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:32:28 -0600

This article is part of "The Patrick AFB Online Relocation Package".

There are many myths about buying homeowners insurance in Florida. I've had many clients tell me that they have heard that it is very expensive and that you might not even be able to get insurance.

First, I can equivocally state that if you decide to purchase a home in the area you will be able to get it insured.

Now, is homeowners insurance expensive on the Space Coast? Well that's a relative question. Compared to other areas of the country it is, but due to various legislative actions and other factors, rates have fallen over the past few years.

There are many factors that go into how the insurance companies come up with local rates, but here are some of the highlights:

Age of home - Newer the better (updated building codes)
Type of construction - Concrete block is better than Frame construction
Distance from the water (Ocean and River)- Further the better (due those pesky hurricanes: BTW we don't get that many)
Pool or no pool - Pool home will be more expensive
Other various wind mitigation factors are a plus - hurricane shutters, shape of the roof (a hip roof (pyramid) is best), how the roof is strapped to the walls, etc.

Buying home insurance is just like everything else, you need to shop around. I know many in the military have great trust in USAA and they should. One thing I suggest is to get a quote from USAA and check into a few local companies to see where you can get the most reliable and best deal. In my experience sometimes USAA has the better deal and sometime they don't. So I can't stress enough; you need to shop. I have seen new homes on the mainland with rates as low as $600-$700.

One thing I suggest you have done is a wind inspection. The inspection will cost around $100 and the inspector will check various items, roof, window coverings, etc. After you receive the report you can give it to the insurance company, and if certain factors are met, many insurance companies will reduce your rate. The home inspection company that I like to use, includes this service in their regular home inspection at no extra charge.

Finally, I also suggest purchasing flood insurance. Flood insurance is a separate policy from your homeowners, but can be obtained from the company where you purchased your insurance. You are required to have flood insurance if your home is in a high risk area. There are some areas in Brevard County that are considered high risk and others are not. But if it is not required, I still suggest purchasing it anyway, just for piece of mind and it is only a few hundred dollars a year for non-high risk. It doesn't matter where you purchase your flood policy, because it will cost the same since the rates are set by the government (FEMA -National Flood Insurance Program).

Rest assured you will be able to get insurance for your new Florida home and it is not as costly as you might have heard. Just remember to SHOP AROUND.

Patrick AFB Relocation: What is a Short Sale?

John S Murphy *Patrick AFB Specialist* (RE/MAX Elite) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:31:50 -0500

This article is part of "The Patrick AFB Online Relocation Package".

When looking for a home on the various online home search sites, you will inevitably come across the term "short sale". I have had many clients contact me and ask what that term means. Many of my PCSers are under the impression that a short sale will take a "short" time to complete and since they are very interested in getting into a home quickly, because they will be staying in temporary housing or a short term rental while they look for their home. The truth is that the term short sale has nothing to do with the time that it will take to complete the sale, and if it did, it should be renamed - an excruciatingly long, bang my head against the wall, sale.

Simply put the "short" in short sale refers to that bank getting shorted on what is owed to them at the completion of the sale. The seller of the property owes more on their home (loan balance and sales costs) than it will sell for in the current market.

An Example:

The sellers can sell their home for $175,000 in the current market, but they owe $200,000 (mortgage loan balance) plus $10,500 in selling costs. So in order to complete the sale the bank has to agree to take a loss of $35,500 ($200,000 + $10,500 -$175,000 = $35,500). Why would a bank do this? This type of sale is less damaging to the bank's bottom line. An outright foreclosure is much more expensive for the bank and will probably result in a bigger loss. Also the property will be abandoned and will certainly deteriorate over time resulting in a lower price. While the sellers and their agent are negotiating a short sale with their lender, they are able to stay in the home and will continue to maintain the property. These can be difficult transactions to complete with a lot of extra paperwork and it requires the sellers to prove to their lender that there is a financial hardship.

It sounds like a great deal, huh? We'll it can be if you have the patience and don't need a home right away. No one has given me a definitive reason why these deals take so long. I've heard the banks are just overwhelmed with these types of deals, that the banks are just dragging their feet, to government conspiracies. Whatever the true reason is, the overwhelming majority of these deals take months and months to complete, if at all.

The Bottom Line: After being confronted with these facts, I have very few clients PCSing to Patrick that want t persue this option. Many just want to get settled and their belongings are in storage and that could get costly for this type of wait. But, with about 19% (as of 9/30/08) of the current homes for sale in Brevard County falling into the short sale category, and if you have a place to stay for a while, or want to rent for six months or longer, one of these short sales might be an attractive option. Just be prepared to wait and wait and wait....

Patrick AFB Relocation: How Much Are My Property Taxes?

John S Murphy *Patrick AFB Specialist* (RE/MAX Elite) — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 08:41:24 -0500

This article is part of "The Patrick AFB Online Relocation Package".

One question that I will inevitably get asked when showing homes to a customer is, "What are the property taxes going to be on this property"? It seems like there should be an easy and straightforward answer. After all, the listings on the local MLS and national websites have the current property taxes displayed prominently. One would assume that the taxes would be around that figure. That could be a very expensive assumption.

Due to various constitutional amendments and laws, I feel Florida has created one of the most convoluted and confusing tax systems in the US. Any experienced Realtor can give you a very rough estimate on the spot, but allow them to do a little research and the real pros will be able to give you a pretty accurate estimate. If you want to know more about this subject please read on. But let me warn you, this is not for the novice or those that become bored easily. These will be precious minutes of your life that you will never get back.

Ok, you have been warned, let us proceed with caution.

First a few terms you need to become familiar with:

Mill - One one-thousandth of a United States dollar.

Millage Rate(Tax Rate) - Is set by the local communities and currently ranges from 15.08 to 20.49 in Brevard County and is multiplied by the taxable value / 1000 to come up with the property tax.

Homestead Exemption - is a special property tax exemption on your primary residence, not on a second home or investment property. Currently the exemption is $50,000 for all non school related taxes and $25,000 for school taxes (I'll explain this in more detail later). New home owners must file for this exemption at the latest between January 1st and March 31st in the calendar year following the purchase of their home. After filing for the exemption, as long as there are no changes to the deed or eligibility status, the exemption will automatically renew every year.

Save Our Homes (SOH) - Florida amended its constitution in 1992 with an amendment known as Save Our Homes. What it did was to put a "cap" on the annual increase of the assessed value of a homesteaded property at a maximum of 3% or the Consumer Price Index whichever is lower.

Market Value - As the local property appraiser's website states, "Market value is the most probable selling price, based on the actual sales of similar properties, less the typical costs of sale." This number is not what the home will sell for, and in my experience has very little to do with real world costs and values, since this number is figured out once per year and market conditions typically change throughout the year. It is a starting point for figuring out the property tax.

Assessed Value - From the property appraiser's site, "The assessed value may be less than the market value if the property is a residential property having homestead exemption and is therefore protected by the "Save Our Homes" Constitutional assessment limitations." What ????? I go into more detail later.

Taxable Value - "The taxable value is the assessed value less any applicable exemptions" (Homestead, and a few other special exemptions, I won't go into). This is the value that they multiply the millage rate to come up with your property tax.

So why would the current property tax listed on the MLS be different than what you will eventually pay. It depends on two factors: How long has the seller lived in the house and if it is the primary residence of the seller.

First Scenario:

If the seller has been living in the house for many years their assessed value is artificially low. Why? Because of the Save Our Homes amendment of 1992. As the value of property in Brevard County shot up, especially between 2003-2005 (72%), their assessed value could only go up 3% a year. If this is their primary residence, they also have their homestead exemption applied to the assessed value to come up with the taxable value. When the house is sold, the home is reassessed at the market value and then the assessed value and market value will be the same. If you plan on using the home as your primary residence you can file for a homestead exemption and then your taxable value will become the assessed value minus this exemption. In this scenario you taxes will be higher than what is listed on the MLS.

Second Scenario:

If the home is not a primary residence of the seller and you plan on using it as your primary residence, more than likely the taxes will be lower than what is listed on the MLS. Why? Because the seller has not had the Save Our Homes protection and the assessed value has fluctuated naturally with the market. Also, since the seller cannot use the homestead exemption on the property and you will qualify for the exemption, your taxable value will be lower than the sellers.

Has your head exploded yet? If it hasn't, the next paragraph definitely will cause cranial detonations.

In January of 2008 the people of Florida made another change to their constitution with Amendment 1. One part of the amendment was to "double" the homestead exemption from $25,000 to $50,000. I believe that many homeowners thought that it would make a big difference in their tax bills. But the devil is in the details. It did provide a $50,000 exemption on parts of the tax bill that are not school related and kept the $25,000 exemption on the school portions. The unfortunate thing is that the school portion of the tax bill makes up the majority of the property tax bill. So in reality people are only saving a few hundred dollars. Silly, silly Floridians.

There are other things I won't go into like, Non Ad Valorem taxes and "portability" because if you are still reading this, anything more might push you over the edge.

This is just a thumbnail sketch of a multitude of scenarios that can take place. As complicated as this appears, a true Real Estate Professional, given a little time, can give you an accurate tax estimation for your new home.

Patrick AFB Relocation: A Shopping Trip To Viera

John S Murphy *Patrick AFB Specialist* (RE/MAX Elite) — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:01:56 -0500

This article is part of "The Patrick AFB Online Relocation Package".

By no means am I a shopper and I would rather stick needles in my eyes then to spend an afternoon at a "mall", but close to Patrick AFB is a new outdoor shopping complex called The Avenue- Viera. It is located on the west side of Viera and about twenty minutes from the base and if I have to spend an afternoon at a mall, this is the one.

There are over 80 stores and restaurants that cover the expansive outdoor complex that opened just a few short years ago. It has a park like setting with fountains, extensive landscaping, and benches. For those that enjoy the shopping thing it is a very nice experience that has become a favorite of the locals.

Located in The Avenues is the Rave Movie Theater. It shows first run movies in stadium style theaters with 48 inches of legroom between each row!

I can guarantee that when you arrive you will be making a few trips to The Avenue. There is nothing like doing your holiday shopping in shorts and a t-shirt.

Patrick AFB Relocation: A Trip To The Beaches

John S Murphy *Patrick AFB Specialist* (RE/MAX Elite) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:01:21 -0500

This article is part of "The Patrick AFB Online Relocation Package".

One of the best things about a relocation to Patrick AFB is the 72 miles of coastline. The beaches here are some of the best in Florida, and directly across from the base are some of the nicest beaches in Brevard County.

The Brevard County Parks and Recreation Department runs 13 ocean beach parks as well as 42 beach access sites. In addition to these parks many cities run their own beach parks too. Many of these parks have restrooms, showers, picnic areas, and playgrounds.

The Cocoa Beach Pier is a very popular location for surfing, tourists and locals alike. It can get very busy on the weekends, but if you want to be around a young active crowd, that is probably the beach for you. Cocoa Beach is also home to the world famous Ron Jon's surf shop, open 24 hours a day every day. As a side note, and for those of you old enough to remember, Cocoa Beach is also the fictional home of Major Nelson and Jeannie from the "I Dream of Jeannie" sitcom of the mid sixites. There is a street named "I Dream Of Jeannie Lane" at Lori Wilson Park in Cocoa Beach.

At the very southern end of Brevard County (about 40 min from the base) is the Sebastian Inlet State Park. It's a beautiful park and they boast some of the best surfing on the east coast. In fact, they have surfing competitions about every month.

Whatever your desire, busy or secluded, there is a beach area to fit your desires. Just make sure to bring your sunscreen.

Brevard County Beach Parks:

Cherie Down Park
Lori Wilson Park
Robert P. Murkshe Memorial Park
Bonsteel Park
Canova Beach Park
Coconut Point Park
Howard E. Futch Memorial Park at Paradise Beach
Irene H. Canova Park
Juan Ponce de Leon Landing
S.P.R.A. Park
Seagull Park
Spessard Holland North Beach Park
Spessard Holland South Beach Park

Patrick AFB Relocation: * FREE * Discover The Space Coast - DVD

John S Murphy *Patrick AFB Specialist* (RE/MAX Elite) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 15:26:29 -0500

This article is part of "The Patrick AFB Online Relocation Package".

I am very excited to offer a new FREE premium offer on my website: The "Discover The Space Coast" DVD. It is a professionally done video tour that is over thirty minutes in length. It will take you on a tour of the areas surrounding Patrick Air Force Base, highlighting shopping, schools, parks, and various local points of interest.

The areas of Melbourne, Palm Bay, Viera/Suntree, Indialantic, Melbourne Beach, Satellite and Indian Harbour Beaches are all covered. It truely is a fine production and almost a must have for those of you PCSing to the area. It will give you a good "feel" for each of the areas and might help you to decide where you want to live.

Click Here to request your TOTALY FREE copy.

*Photos from Video courtesy of CC Video, Melbourne FL

Patrick AFB Relocation: A Trip To The Kennedy Space Center

John S Murphy *Patrick AFB Specialist* (RE/MAX Elite) — Wed, 28 May 2008 16:14:40 -0500

This article is part of "The Patrick AFB Online Relocation Package".

One of the "must do" things while living in Brevard County is to visit the Kennedy Space Center. It is located in the northern part of the county, but is a very short trip for anyone living in the area. It is a very popular attraction that draws around 1.4 million visitors from all over the world every year and is a source of great pride for people living on the "Space Coast". In my opinion there is just too much too see here in one trip. So consider purchasing an annual pass, for only $12 more than the standard admission.

The Space Center sits on the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge and takes up only a small portion of its 140,000 wild acres. Your tour will probably start at the Visitors Complex that was built in 1967 for Astronauts' and NASA employees' families to view space center operations. Here there are a number of museums, The Rocket Garden, IMAX Theater, The New Shuttle Launch Experience, Shuttle Plaza, Astronaut Memorial, as well as many shops and places to eat. From here you can take on of the buses (included in admission) for a tour of the other parts of the Space Center.

The first stop will be the LC-39 Observation Gantry, where you can go to the top and get great views of launch pads 39A and 39B, the Vehicle Assembly Building, as well as the launch pads that the military use at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

The second stop is the Apollo / Saturn V Center where you get to see close up, a real Saturn V rocket! You also get to experience a multi media recreation of the Apollo 8 launch, and you can eat lunch next too a real moon rock.

The third stop is the International Space Station Center. Here you can walk through full scale mock-ups of the actual modules that are part if the ISS. You can also overlook one of the clean rooms where people are preparing the Space Station's components for their delivery.

For an extra cost The Space Center offers 2 special Guided Tours:

NASA Up Close : this tour takes you through everything from launch preparation to liftoff, you will get "up close tour" of the Shuttle Launch Pads and The VAB.
For the space history buff, nothing can beat the Cape Canaveral: Then and Now Tour. This tour will take you to the Air Force Space & Missile Museum and some of the historic launch pads. When you look at these old locations, you come to realize how far we have come. I have personally taken this tour and would highly recommend it.

And don't forget the newest attraction the U.S. Astronaut Hall Of Fame. It is located about 6 miles from the visitor center and has many interactive adventures for the entire family.

The Kennedy Space Center is a great place to visit and something all Americans can be proud of. It opens at 9 AM and admission is $38 for adults and $28 for kids 3-11.

Patrick AFB Relocation : A Trip To Cocoa Village

John S Murphy *Patrick AFB Specialist* (RE/MAX Elite) — Thu, 22 May 2008 15:41:50 -0500

This article is part of "The Patrick AFB Online Relocation Package".

Cocoa was originally called Indian River City, but In October of 1895 the town of "Cocoa" was incorporated. The restored historic downtown is bordered by the Indian River and still has many older and original buildings. The downtown is a mix of many different businesses, highlighted by the great restaurants, specialty stores, antique and art galleries, as well as the Cocoa Village Playhouse. You can stoll along the river as well as take the kids to the playground. Walking down the quaint alleys and streets will give you a window into what costal Florida was like long ago and before the space program and Mickey.

Cocoa Village has live jazz every Friday during lunch and various events throughout the year: craft shows, a fantastic fireworks show over the river on the 4th, and a huge Mardi Gras celebration. It is a great place to shop, eat, and be merry.

Please visit the Cocoa Village website for a directory of restaurants, shops, businesses, as well as a calendar of events.

Patrick AFB Relocation: A Trip To The Brevard Zoo

John S Murphy *Patrick AFB Specialist* (RE/MAX Elite) — Fri, 16 May 2008 11:53:45 -0500

This article is part of "The Patrick AFB Online Relocation Package".

The Brevard Zoo is one of the unique gems of the area and a must see. It's a small but very clean and an attractive place to spend an afternoon with the family or just to take a leisurely stroll. The highlight of your trip will undoubtedly be the world class Giraffe exhibit, where you can get a great up close view as well as feed these gentle animals.

The zoo was a true community project that came to fruition when it opened its doors in 1994, and has been a source of community pride since its creation. Over 16,000 people joined together to help build the zoo back in 1992.

The zoo has five separate and distinct exhibit areas, as well a train ride around Australia and Africa.

La Selva (South American Rain Forest)
monkeys, jaguars, tapirs...
Wild Florida
alligators, otters, bald eagles... as well as kayaking in the Florida Wetlands
Australia /Asia
Kangaroos, wallabies, dingos...
Expedition Africa
giraffes, rhinoceroses, lemurs.. and an African kayak adventure
Paws on Play
This interactive area is getting a complete makeover and should be done in the winter of 2009.

Prices to visit the zoo are reasonable: $11.50 for adults, $8.50 for children 2-12, and free for children under two. You can become a member of the zoo and for $75 get a family membership for the year. (unlimited admission).

The Brevard Zoo is a true treasure for the Space Coast and I highly recommend a visit. To find out more please visit the Zoo's website.

Patrick AFB Relocation: A Trip To Historic Downtown Melbourne

John S Murphy *Patrick AFB Specialist* (RE/MAX Elite) — Mon, 12 May 2008 12:37:21 -0500

This article is part of "The Patrick AFB Online Relocation Package".

The Village of Melbourne was officially created in 1888, although it was know as "Melbourne" eight years earlier, when the area needed to establish a post office. The first postmaster, Cornthwaite John Hector, spent most of his life in Melbourne, Australia and it appears that the name finally was decided by the drawing of straws.

Until 1893, when the railroad arrived, most of the commerce in the area was done by boat, but after the arrival of the railroad, many businesses moved away from the lagoon and closer to the train depot. The town changed dramatically in 1919 when a fire destroyed a large portion of the town and in 1969 the towns of Melbourne and Eau Gallie,to the north, consolidated to become one "Melbourne". Beautification and redevelopment of the downtown area began in 1980.

Historic Downtown Melbourne:

Today, Historic Downtown Melbourne and its tree lined streets is a unique array of specialty shops, restaurants, theaters, and art and antique galleries. It's a great place to spend a day dining and shopping - real and window. On the second Friday of every month, the downtown area has "Friday Fest" a Family Street Party from 6 to 10pm. There are arts and craft vendors, live music, and great food as well as beer and wine.

Downtown Melbourne is also home to the Henegar Center For the Arts. A community theater whose centerpiece is a 493 seat theater designed by a Tony Award winning set designer.

It's a fun place to spend an afternoon and evening. You can check out all the shops and restaurants by visiting the Melbourne Main Street Website.

Patrick AFB Relocation: Private Schools

John S Murphy *Patrick AFB Specialist* (RE/MAX Elite) — Thu, 01 May 2008 09:12:24 -0500

This article is part of "The Patrick AFB Online Relocation Package".

Brevard County not only has a collection of great public schools, it is also home to a number of equally great private schools. The following list is a very representative sample of what Brevard County has offer.

Baptist:

Brevard Christian School
1100 Dorchester Ave
Melbourne, FL 32904
(321) 727-2038
K-12

Merritt Island Christian School
140 Magnolia Ave
Merritt Island, FL 32952
(321) 453-2710
PK-12

Palm Bay Baptist Academy
2601 Emerson Dr. SE
Palm Bay, FL 32909
(321) 723-3773
K-12

Wade Christian Academy
4300 N Wickham Rd
Melbourne, FL 32935
(321) 259-6788
PK-12

Catholic:

Ascension Catholic School
2950 N. Harbor City Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32935
(321) 254-1595
PK-8

Divine Mercy Catholic School
1940 N Courtenay Pkwy
Merritt Island, FL 32953
(321) 452-0263
PK-8

Holy Name of Jesus School
3060 N. Highway A1A
Indialantic, FL 32903
(321) 773-1630
PK-8

Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School
420 Fee Ave
Melbourne FL 32901
(321) 723-3631
PK-8

Our Saviour Catholic School
5301 N Atlantic Ave
Cocoa Beach, FL 32931
(321) 783-2330
PK-8

St. Joseph Catholic School
5320 Babcock Street NE,
Palm Bay, FL 32905
(321) 723-8866
PK-8

Saint Mary's Catholic School
1152 Seminole Drive
Rockledge, FL 32955
(321) 636-4208
PK-8

Melbourne Central Catholic High School
100 East Florida Avenue
Melbourne, FL 32901
(321) 727-0793
9-12

Episcopal:

Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy
5625 Holy Trinity Drive, Melbourne FL 32940
50 West Strawbridge Avenue, Melbourne FL 32901
(321) 723-8323
PK-12

St. Mark's Academy
2 Church St
Cocoa, FL 32922
(321) 639-5771
PK-6

Jewish:

Brevard Jewish Community School
5995 N. Wickham Road
Melbourne, FL 32940
(321) 757-0832
PK-6

Lutheran:

Trinity Lutheran School
1330 S. Fiske Blvd
Rockledge, FL 32955
(321) 636-5431
PK-7

Military:

Florida Air Academy
1950 South Academy Drive
Melbourne, FL 32901
(321) 723-3211
6-12

Non-Denominational:

Atlantic Inclusive Academy
460 Sail Lane
Merritt Island, FL 32953
(321) 455-2212
K-12

Calvary Chapel Christian School
2955 Minton Road
West Melbourne, FL 32904
(321) 729-9922
PK-8

Community Christian School
1616 Ferndale Ave.
Melbourne, FL 32935
Phone: (321) 259-1590
K-12

Presbyterian:

Covenant Christian School
720 Emerson Dr NE
Palm Bay, FL 32907
(321) 727-2661
K-12

Patrick AFB Relocation: Brevard County Golf Courses

John S Murphy *Patrick AFB Specialist* (RE/MAX Elite) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 08:43:19 -0500

This article is part of "The Patrick AFB Online Relocation Package".

Breavrd County is home to some great year round golfing. Below are some of the golf courses in the central parts of Brevard County, closest to the base.

Manatee Cove

861 Marina Rd, Patrick AFB, FL 32925 - (321) 494-7856

18 Hole
Par 72
6947 Yards
Military

Baytree National Golf Links

8207 National Drive, Melbourne, FL 32940 - (321) 259-9060

18 Hole
Par 72
7043 Yards
Designed By Gary Player
Semi-Private

Duran Golf Club

7032 Stadium Parkway, Viera, FL 32940 - (321) 504-7776

18 Hole
Par 72
7151 Yards
Public

Viera East Golf Club

2300 Clubhouse Drive, Viera, FL 32955 - (321) 639-6500

18 Hole
Par 72
6720 yards
Public

Suntree Country Club

One Country Club Drive, Melbourne, FL 32940 - (321) 242-6230

36 Hole
Par 72
6945 Yards
6980 Yards
Private

Indian River Colony Club

36 Freedom Dr, Melbourne, FL 32940, (321) 255-6050

18 Hole
Par 72
6647 Yards
Private

Crane Creek Reserve

475 W. New Haven Avenue, Melbourne, FL 32901 (321) 674-5716

18 Hole
Par 71
5886 Yards
Public

Mallards Landing

2750 Lake Washington Road, Melbourne, FL 32935 - (321) 255-4606

18 Hole
Par 72
6955 Yards
Public

Turtle Creek Golf Club

1279 Admiralty Boulevard, Rockledge, FL 32955 - (321) 632-2520

18 Hole
Par 72
6326 Yards
Public

Rockledge Country Club

1591 S Fiske Blvd, Rockledge, FL 32955 - (321) 636-3160

18 Hole
Par 71
6436 Yards
Private

Palm Gardens

2630 Minton Road, Melbourne, FL 32904 (321) 723-3182

9 Hole
Par 30
1706 Yards
Public

Cocoa Beach Country Club

Tom Warriner Boulevard, Cocoa Beach, FL 32932 - (321) 868-3361

27 Holes
Par 72
Public

The Savannahs

3915 Savannahs Trail Merritt Island, FL 32953 - (321) 433-4470

18 Holes
Par 72
6507 Yards
Public

Spessard Holland

2374 Oak Street, Melbourne Beach, FL 32951 - (321) 952-4529

18 Holes
Par 67
5155
Public

Patrick AFB Relocation : Brevard County Quick Facts

John S Murphy *Patrick AFB Specialist* (RE/MAX Elite) — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 08:45:55 -0500

This article is part of "The Patrick AFB Online Relocation Package".

Brevard County Florida is truly a great place to live. Over a half million people call it home and enjoy its weather, parks, beaches, and lifestyle. I have provided some population data and quick facts that will give you a good feel for the local demographic makeup.

Brevard County, FL
Florida's 10th most populous county

County Seat:Titusville

Area by Square Miles: 1018

Population: 552,109 - 2007 Estimate (b)
Persons per square mile: 542 -2007 (b)
Persons per household: 2.35 - 2000 (a)
Median Age: 41.4 - 2000 (a)
Total Households: 232,821 - 2007 Estimate (b)

Persons under 18 years old: 20.2% - 2006 (a)
Persons over 65 years old: 19.9 -2006 (a)

White Persons: 86.4% (a)
Black Persons: 9.7% (a)
American Indian and Alaska Native Persons: .4% (a)
Asian Persons: 2.0% (a)
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: .1% (a)

Median Residential Home Sold Price: $191,900 - 2007 (c)
Median Condo Sold Price: $175,000 - 2007 (c)
Per Capita Personal Income:$31,800 - 2005 (b)
Median Household Income: $41,135 - 2004 (a)

Unemployment Rate: 4.4% - 2007 (b)

High School Graduate or higher: 86.3% (a)
Bachelor's degree or higher: 23.6% (a)

Average Temperature-January: (F) 72
Average Temperature-July: (F) 91
Annual Precipitation (inches): 65

State Income Tax Rate: No State Income Tax
Sales Tax: 6%

Commute Time (minutes): 25

Some of the Cities and Towns in Brevard County:

Cape Canaveral
Cocoa
Cocoa Beach
Grant - Valkaria
Indialantic
Indian Harbour Beach
Malabar
Melbourne
Melbourne Beach
Palm Bay
Palm Shores
Rockledge
Satellite Beach
Titusville
Viera
West Melbourne

There is a lot of useful information at the Brevard County Website too.

(a) US Census Data
(b) Florida Legislature Office of Economic and Demographic Research
(c) Brevard County MLS data

Patrick AFB Relocation : Places Of Worship - Central Brevard County

John S Murphy *Patrick AFB Specialist* (RE/MAX Elite) — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:50:03 -0500

This article is part of "The Patrick AFB Online Relocation Package".

This is a comprehensive list of the various places of worship throughout the central part of Brevard County. Although extensive, it is by no means complete.

Anglican / Episcopal:

All Saints Church
Phone: 321-632-7634
4797 Curtis Blvd, Cocoa, FL 32927

Holy Trinity Episcopal Church
Phone: 321-723-5272
50 W. Strawbridge Ave, Melbourne, FL 32901

Hope Episcopal Church
190 Interlachen Road, Melbourne, Florida, 32940
321-259-5810

Prince of Peace Church
Phone: 321-253-9102
6895 Murrell Rd, Melbourne, FL 32940

St Mark's Episcopal Church
Phone: 321 636-3781
4 Church Street, Cocoa, FL 32922

St Paul's Anglican Church
Phone: 321-259-1130
7200 N Wickham Rd, Melbourne, FL 32940

Assemblies of God:

First Assembly of God-Melbourne
Phone: 321-254-3266
801 Masterson St, Melbourne, FL 32935

Lighthouse Assembly of God
26 West Fee Avenue
Melbourne, Florida 32901

Merritt Island Assembly of God
Phone: 321-454-4263
165 N Grove St, Merritt Island, FL 32953

First Assembly of God
Phone: 321-632-5228
3757 N Cocoa Blvd, Cocoa, FL 32926

River of Life Assembly of God
Phone: 321-452-6990
1890 N Courtenay Pkwy, Merritt Island, FL 32953

Baptist:

Beacon Baptist Church
Phone: 321-242-3061
3185 Aurora Rd, Melbourne, FL 32934

Bethany Baptist Church
Phone: 321-727-2495
1100 Dorchester Ave, West Melbourne, FL 32904

Calvary Baptist Church
Phone: 321-254-8802
2980 N Wickham Rd, Melbourne, FL 32935

Central Baptist Church
Phone: 321-723-3681
2503 Country Club Road, Melbourne, FL 32901

Eau Gallie First Baptist Church
Phone: 321-254-2339
1501 W Eau Gallie Blvd, Melbourne, FL 32935

First Baptist Church of Cocoa
Phone: 321-636-2868
750 Brevard Ave, Cocoa, FL 32922

First Baptist Church of Cocoa Beach
Phone: 321-783-2844
830 S Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931

First Baptist Church Melbourne
Phone: 321-723-0561
3301 Dairy Road, Melbourne, FL 32904

First Baptist Church Merritt Island
Phone: 321-453-2144
140 Magnolia Ave, Merritt Island, FL 32952

First Baptist Church of South Brevard
Phone: 321-259-1723
4300 N Wickham Rd, Melbourne, FL 32935

First Baptist Church Port St John
Phone: 321-636-5455
3900 Fay Blvd, Cocoa, FL 32927

First Free Will Baptist Church of Melbourne
Phone: 321-254-7282
938 Lytton Rd, Melbourne, FL 32934

Greater St Paul Baptist Church
Phone: 321-636-7178
213 Stone St, Cocoa, FL 32922

Harbor City Baptist Church
Phone: 321-254-8879
2711 N Harbor City Blvd, Melbourne, FL 32935

Island Community Church
Phone: 321-453-4656
1000 N Banana River Dr, Merritt Island, FL 32952

Lake Crest Community Baptist Church
Phone: 321-254-9860
4050 Lake Washington Rd, Melbourne, FL 32934

New Hope Church
Phone: 321-254-7621
2676 Post Rd, Melbourne, FL 32935

New Hope Fellowship
Phone: 321-632-1911
417 Pineda St, Cocoa, FL 32922

Northwest Baptist Church
Phone: 321-638-0890
1720 Cox Rd, Cocoa, FL 32926

Riverside Baptist Church
Phone: 321-773-2527
3333 N Riverside Dr, Indialantic, FL 32903

Space Coast Seafarer's Ministry
Phone: 321-783-0007
8907 N Atlantic Ave, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920

St James Missionary Baptist Church
Phone: 321-254-3191
1835 Bunche St, Melbourne, FL 32935

Victory Baptist Church
Phone: 321-632-6148
242 Capron Rd, Cocoa, FL 32927

Zion Orthodox Primitive Baptist Church
Phone: 321-632-6120
715 S Fiske Blvd, Cocoa, FL 32922

Catholic:

Ascension Catholic Church
Phone: 321-254-1595
2950 N Harbor City Blvd, Melbourne, FL 32935

Blessed Sacrament Church
Phone: 321-632-6333
5135 N Highway 1, Cocoa, FL 32927

Chapel of the Holy Family (Latin Mass)
Phone: 321-255-4724
3385 N Wickham Rd, Melbourne, FL 32935

Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church
Phone: 321-773-2783
3050 N Highway A1A, Indialantic, FL 32903

Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Comunity
Phone: 321-723-3636
1626 Oak Street, Melbourne, FL 32901

Our Saviour's Catholic Comunity
Phone: 321-783-4554
5301 N Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931

St John the Evangelist Catholic Church
Phone: 321-637-9650
5655 Stadium Pkwy, Viera, FL 32940

St Mary's Catholic Church
Phone: 321-636-4327
1136 Seminole Dr, Rockledge, FL 32955

Church of Christ:

Eau Gallie Church of Christ
Phone: 321-242-0202
1079 Sarno Road Melbourne, FL 32935

Melbourne Church Of Christ
Phone: 321-723-8233
810 Hollywood Blvd, West Melbourne, FL 32904

Church of God:

Praise Cathedral Church of God
Phone: 321-723-4861
840 Hollywood Blvd, West Melbourne, Florida 32904

St John Church of God In Christ
Phone: 321-636-0305
750 Bernard Ave, Cocoa, FL 32922

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints:

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Phone: 321-254-4000
1145 Creel St, Melbourne, FL 32935

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Phone: 321-254-8111
7700 Lake Andrew Dr, Melbourne, FL 32940

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Phone: 321-639-699
1801 Fiske Boulevard Rockledge, FL 32955

Disciples of Christ:

First Christian Church Of Melbourne
Phone: 321-723-6831
2010 S. Babcock Street, Melbourne, Florida 32901

Lutheran:

Advent Lutheran Church At Suntree
Phone: 321-259-8515
7550 N Wickham Rd, Melbourne, FL 32940

Ascension Lutheran Church
Phone: 321-773-1815
1053 Pinetree Dr, Indian Harbour Beach, FL 32937

Christ Lutheran Church
Phone: 321-783-3303
7511 N Atlantic Ave, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920

Faith Lutheran Church
Phone: 321-452-4080
280 E Merritt Island Cswy, Merritt Island, FL 32952

Faith Viera Lutheran
Phone: 321-636-5504
5550 Faith Dr, Rockledge, FL 32955

Grace Lutheran Church
Phone: 321-986-9689
5455 N Courtenay Pkwy, Merritt Island, FL 32953

Hope Lutheran Church
Phone: 321-242-1610
2955 Pineda Causeway, Melbourne, FL 32940

Lutheran Church of the Resurrection
Phone: 321-783-0852
525 Minutemen Cswy, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931

Messiah Evangelical Lutheran
Phone: 321-636-0777
400 Lucerne Dr, Cocoa, FL 32922

St Timothy Lutheran Church
Phone: 321-259-3443
1903 Croton Rd, Melbourne, FL 32935

Trinity Lutheran Church
Phone: 321-636-5431
1330 Fiske Blvd, Rockledge, FL 32955

Methodist:

Emmanuel United Methodist Church
Phone: 321-254-0010
2800 W Eau Gallie Blvd, Melbourne, FL 32935

First United Methodist Church of Port St John
Phone: 321-631-0183
1165 Fay Blvd, Cocoa, FL 32927

First United Methodist Church of Cocoa Beach
Phone: 321-783-8990
3300 N Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931

First United Methodist Church of Cocoa
Phone: 321-636-4811
825 Forrest Ave, Cocoa, FL 32922

First United Methodist Church of Melbourne
Phone: 321-723-6761
110 New Haven Avenue, Melbourne, FL 32901

Georgianna United Methodist Church
Phone: 321-452-7523
3925 S Tropical Trl, Merritt Island, FL 32952

Grace United Methodist Church of Merritt Island
Phone: 321-452-4484
65 Needle Blvd, Merritt Island, FL 32953

Greater Mount Olive AME
Church Phone: 321-459-0213
1212 N Tropical Trl, Merritt Island, FL 32953

North Merritt Island United Methodist Church
Phone: 321-452-7180
6355 N Courtenay Pkwy, Merritt Island, FL 32953

Rockledge United Methodist Church
Phone: 321-632-7387
1935 Fiske Blvd, Rockledge, FL 32955

Satellite Beach United Methodist Church
Phone: 321-777-0116
450 Lee Ave, Satellite Beach, FL 32937

St Mark's United Methodist Church
Phone: 321-773-0721
2010 N. Highway A1A, Indialantic, FL 32903

Suntree United Methodist Church
Phone: 321-242-2585
7400 N. Wickham Rd, Melbourne, FL 32940

Nazarene:

First Church Of The Nazarene
Phone: 321-723-3745
2745 S. Babcock Street, Melbourne, FL 32901

Harbor City Church of the Nazarene
Phone: 321-242-8852
4031 Aurora Road, Melbourne, FL 32934

Non Denominational:

Calvary Chapel of Melbourne
Phone: 321-952-9673
2955 Minton Rd, Melbourne, FL 32904

Calvary Chapel of Merritt Island
Phone: 321-453-6779
3500 N Courtenay Pkwy, Merritt Island, FL 32953

Church On the Rock
Phone: 321-724-5433
4028 S Babcock Street Melbourne, FL 32901

Freedom Christian Center
Phone: 321-631-1000
7250 Lake Andrew Dr, Melbourne, FL 32940

Jesus Is The Key
Phone: 321-724-8434
1701 S. Babcock Street Melbourne, FL

Promiseland Church
Phone: 321-254-5777
1855 Lansing St, Melbourne, FL 32935

Tabernacle Church of Melbourne
Phone: 321-259-2024
1619 Ferndale Ave, Melbourne, FL 32935

The Church At Viera
Phone: 321-259-3454
2005 N. Wickham Road, Viera, FL 32940

Presbyterian:

Cocoa Presbyterian Church
Phone: 321-636-9602
1404 Dixon Blvd, Cocoa, FL 32922

Eastminster Presbyterian Church USA
Phone: 321-723-8371
106 N. Riverside Dr, Indialantic, FL 32903

Faith Presbyterian Church
Phone: 321-452-1715
1900 S Tropical Trl, Merritt Island, FL 32952

Grace Bible Presbyterian Church
Phone: 321-784-5740
100 Church Ln, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920

Merritt Island Presbyterian Church
Phone: 321-452-5689
600 S Tropical Trl, Merritt Island, FL 32952

New Life Church PCA
Phone: 321-631-2836
5445 Village Dr, Viera, FL 32955

Northside Presbyterian PCA
Phone: 321-255-0701
1400 Lake Washington Rd, Melbourne, FL 32935

Palmdale Presbyterian Church USA
Phone: 321-254-4163
684 N. Harbour City Blvd, Melbourne, FL 32905

Pineda Presbyterian Church
Phone: 321-259-1330
5650 N Wickham Rd, Melbourne, FL 32940

Presbyterian Church of the Good Shepherd USA
Phone: 321-723-3994
810 W. Florida Ave, Melbourne, FL 32901

Riverside Presbyterian Church
Phone: 321-783-6085
3400 N Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931

Rockledge Presbyterian Church USA
Phone: 321-636-0811
921 Rockledge Dr, Rockledge, FL 32955

Trinity Presbyterian Church - USA
Phone: 321-777-2047
638 S Patrick Dr, Satellite Beach, FL 32937

Orthodox:

St Katherine Greek Orthodox Church
Phone: 321-254-1045
5965 N Wickham Rd, Melbourne, FL 32940

Seventh Day Adventist:

Seventh Day Adventist Church of Melbourne
Phone: 321-723-3848
210 W. New Haven Ave, Melbourne, FL 32901

Unitarian:

Unitarian Universalist Church of Brevard
Phone: 321-725-6125
2185 Meadowlane Ave, West Melbourne, FL 32904

Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Phone: 321-632-0992
1261 N Range Rd, Cocoa, FL 32926

United Church Of Christ:

Cocoa Beach Community Church
Phone: 321-783-3961
126 South Atlantic Avenue, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931

CrossRoads Community Church
Phone: 321-259-3356
2436 Croton Road, Melbourne, FL 32935

Hope United Church of Christ
Phone: 321-636-0250
2555 Fiske Boulevard, Rockledge, FL 32955

Synagogues:

Chabad Jewish Community Center
Phone: 321-777-2770
1190 Highway A1a, Satellite Beach, FL 32937

Congregation Beth El
Phone: 321-779-0740
2185 Meadowlane Ave, Melbourne, FL 32904

Kol Mashiach Messianic Synagogue
Phone: 321-255-2557
1621 Lake Washington Rd, Melbourne, FL 32935

Temple Beth Sholom
Phone: 321-254-6333
5995 N Wickham Rd, Melbourne, FL 32940

Temple Israel of Brevard County
Phone: 321-631-9494
7350 Lake Andrew Dr, Melbourne, FL 32940

Mosques:

Islamic Society of Brevard County
Phone: 321-984-4129
550 E Florida Ave., Melbourne, FL 32901

Masjid Al Furqan
Phone: 321-392-4040
190 Grant Road, Merritt Island, FL 32952

Patrick AFB News and Events

John S Murphy *Patrick AFB Specialist* (RE/MAX Elite) — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:12:08 -0500

Patrick AFB News And Events Blog

Why Call Your Blog "Space Junk"? Well, what is space junk? It is objects orbiting the earth, that no longer have any useful purpose. After very little and not too careful consideration, it seemed to be the obvious choice. This blog is going to be about news, events, and real estate issues as well as other "junk" tailored to the military moving to the Space Coast and Patrick AFB Area, and those already living here. Hopefully these articles will serve some useful purpose, but if they don't ... look out for the debris.

Here you will find all the articles is in one place. This is a work in progress and will continue to have more information added on a regular basis. If you have an idea for an article, let me know.

Latest:

It Doesn't Take A Rocket Scientist - But It Helps If You Are One. - 03/28/08 10:28 AM
There Really Are Rocket Scientists:
I was afforded a great opportunity this past week. Being a member of the Military Affairs Council from the Cocoa Beach Chamber of Commerce, we were privileged to have our March meeting at the Morrell Operations Center (MOC) at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The Morrell Operations Center ...

More Property Tax Relief For Deployed Patrick AFB Personnel ... FL House Votes Yes. - 03/25/08 09:13 AM
Is More Property Tax Relief On The Way For Veterans?
Recently, The Florida State House passed Tax relief for Florida's veterans. What this bill would do is to exempt Patrick AFB military personnel and all military from Ad Valorem property taxes on their Florida homesteaded property while they are doing duty outside ...

It Doesn't Take A Rocket Scientist - But It Helps If You Are One.

John S Murphy *Patrick AFB Specialist* (RE/MAX Elite) — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 10:28:26 -0500

There Really Are Rocket Scientists:

I was afforded a great opportunity this past week. Being a member of the Military Affairs Council from the Cocoa Beach Chamber of Commerce, we were privileged to have our March meeting at the Morrell Operations Center (MOC) at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The Morrell Operations Center was until recently know as the Range Operations Control Center, and it was renamed after General Jimmey R. Morrell, who was the first commander of the 45^th Space Wing.

For those who don't know what happens at the MOC, it is the base of all the launches on the Eastern Range. It handles the launches and the command and control systems for the range, and tracks and monitors the performance of the rockets and space shuttles. It was truly a fascinating experience.

We were given a Wing Mission Briefing by vice commander Col. Butler, followed by a tour of the Center. We were able to sit at the actual consoles that are used during the launches, which was pretty cool, and we were briefed by a few officers who are actual "rocket scientists" that talked about their mission, upcoming launches, securing the site for launches, and safety to the public. Sitting there, I really wished I was one, for no other reason than I could use the "rocket scientist" line. 2008 looks to be a busy year, with over 20 launches scheduled at this point.

I always knew that weather was important to the launches; things have to be almost perfect. After the briefing by the 45^th weather squadron, I got a new appreciation for it. Various weather conditions can affect the launches, and the one I found most interesting is lightning. Being that Florida is the "lightning rod" for the U.S. It has more lightning strikes than the rest of the country. Obviously lightning could damage the vehicle, and it is very important to take that into account when launching rockets, when considering both natural and the phenomenon of triggered lightning. I was amazed by all the protocol it takes to get a rocket off the ground. It's a wonder it ever happens, but with these great dedicated men and women it does.

If you ever get a chance to visit the MOC, don't pass it up. I know that these tours are rare and I really want to thank all of those involved for their knowledge and gracious hospitality. For me it was a very special event.

Military Relocation To Patrick Air Force Base

John S Murphy *Patrick AFB Specialist* (RE/MAX Elite) — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 08:25:54 -0500

Welcome to Patrick Air Force Base, FL - Florida's Space Coast - Brevard County

Moving to the Patrick AFB area is a great move. Brevard County is a great place to live and work, but a PCS move is never easy, especially if you have never been here before. There is a lot of information that you need to gather and decisions you need to make. Thanks to the Internet, this information is widely available, but it is in a thousand different places. What I have done here , is try to put together a comprehensive collection of articles and information in one place to help you with your move. If you would like to search for homes, you can search the entire Brevard County MLS on my website. Hopefully all of this will make your search a lot easier. This is just the beginning and a work in progress. If you have any suggestions for future content, please let me know.

Patrick AFB - Brevard County FL - Real Estate Market Report *** UPDATED 10/1/09 ***

Recent History For Home Values In Brevard County FL, "Florida's Space Coast": The median home price in Brevard County, like almost everywhere else, has declined since its highs in 2005. It had to - from 2003 to 2005, the median single-family home price shot up 72%* in two years. That was "silly appreciation" and ...

How about a free $8000?

Wow!!! For those of you PCSing to Patrick AFB in 2009 there is a huge benefit that just got passed in the stimulus bill: $8000. The fully refundable, $8000 (or 10% of the purchase price, whatever is larger) is ...

Homebuyer Tax Credit Extended - Some Military Personnel Extended Till 2011 11/6/09

The President signed the bill to extend the homebuyers tax credit. The bill not only included an extension but also added credits for "non first time homebuyers".The $8000 first time buyer credit was extended to purchases made from January 1st, 2009 - April 30th, 2010. The original expiration date was November 30th 2009. The credit...

Patrick AFB Relocation: *** FREE *** Discover The Space Coast - DVD

I am very excited to offer a new FREE premium on my website: The "Discover The Space Coast" DVD. It is a professionally done video tour that is over thirty minutes lin length. It will take you on a tour of the areas surrounding Patrick Air Force ...

2009 BAH Rates

The new Patrick AFB BAH rates for 2009 are now available. There was a slight increase over last year and with the possibility of interest rates dropping to all time lows in the near future, 2009 might be one of the best years for buying opportunities.

Patrick AFB Housing and Base Guide

WELCOME TO PATRICK AFB FLORIDA, BREVARD COUNTY! Patrick AFB is located on one of the outermost barrier islands in Brevard County FL. The whole area is colloquially know as the "Space Coast". The base is located just south of the world famous Cocoa Beach and just north ...

Patrick AFB Area School Guide and Rankings

Brevard County Schools:Brevard Public Schools are top notch. They are second in the state for graduation rate and have a significant number of Grade "A" schools. Brevard Public Schools are also first in Florida in: The percentage of student enrollments in dual enrollment courses. Performance in science research, Odyssey of the Mind, and ...

Patrick AFB Relocation: Private Schools

Brevard County not only has a collection of great public schools, it is also home to a number of equally great private schools. The following list is a very representative sample of what Brevard County has offer.

Viera, FL - Brevard County's Newest Town

Many families PCSing to Patrick AFB, end up finding their home in Viera. I think some of the main reasons are that Viera has a lot to offer and it is within a reasonable commute time to the base (15-25 minutes).Viera is a master plan ...

How to Finance Your New Patrick AFB Area Home

You have decided to live off base. Now how are you going to finance that new home? A VA loan seems to be a logical choice... But not always. Here are some of the advantages of a VA Loan:
No downpayment is required,No monthly mortgage insurance premium to pay. There is a limitation on ...

Is A No Down Payment VA Loan A Good Idea?

Many, if not most of my clients decide to use their VA benefit and go with a VA loan and for many reasons it's a great idea. Also many decide to do a 100% financing VA loan...

P atrick AFB Relocation : Brevard County Quick Facts

Brevard County Florida is truly a great place to live. Over a half million people call it home and enjoy its weather, parks, beaches, and lifestyle. I have provided some population data and quick facts that will give you a good ...

How Much Are My Property Taxes?

One question that I will inevitably get asked when showing homes to a customer is, "What are the property taxes going to be on this property"? It seems like there should be an easy and straightforward answer...

What is a Short Sale?

When looking for a home on the various online home search sites, you will come across the term "short sale". I have had many clients contact me and ask what that term means.

Insuring Your Home

There are many myths about buying homeowners insurance in Florida. I've had many clients tell me that they have heard that it is very expensive and that you might not even be able to get insurance.

Patrick AFB Relocation : Places Of Worship - Central Brevard County

This is a comprehensive list of the various places of worship throughout the central part of Brevard County. Although extensive, it is by no means complete.

Patrick AFB Relocation: Brevard County Golf Courses

Breavrd County is home to some great year round golfing. Below are some of the golf courses in the central parts of Brevard County, closest to the base.

Patrick AFB Relocation: Disney's Armed Forces Salute 2009

Once again this year Walt Disney World is offering their Armed Forces Salute. It is a great deal for active and retired US Military. And since Disney World is only an hour trip from Patrick Air Force Base, it is a deal that many service members should explore.

Patrick AFB Relocation: A Trip To The Beaches

One of the best things about a relocation to Patrick AFB is the 72 miles of coastline. The beaches here are some of the best in Florida and directly across from the base are some of the nicest beaches ...

Patrick AFB Relocation: A Trip To The Kennedy Space Center

One of the "must do" things while living in Brevard County is to visit the Kennedy Space Center. It is located in the northern part of the county, but is a very short trip for anyone living in the area.

Patrick AFB Relocation: A Trip To Historic Downtown Melbourne

The Village of Melbourne was officially created in 1888, although it was know as "Melbourne" eight years earlier, when the area needed to establish a post office. The first postmaster, Cornthwaite John Hector, spent most of his life in Melbourne,

Patrick AFB Relocation: A Trip To The Brevard Zoo

The Brevard Zoo is one of the unique gems of the area and a must see. It's a small but very clean and an attractive place to spend an afternoon with the family or just to take a leisurely stroll. The ...

Patrick AFB Relocation : A Trip To Cocoa Village

Cocoa was originally called Indian River City, but In October of 1895 the town of "Cocoa" was incorporated. The restored historic downtown is bordered by the Indian River and still has many older and original buildings. The downtown is

Patrick AFB Relocation - A Shopping Trip To Viera

By no means am I a shopper and I would rather stick needles in my eyes then to spend an afternoon at a "mall", but close to Patrick AFB is a new outdoor shopping complex called The Avenue ....

More Property Tax Relief For Deployed Patrick AFB Personnel ... FL House Votes Yes.

John S Murphy *Patrick AFB Specialist* (RE/MAX Elite) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 09:13:34 -0500

Is More Property Tax Relief On The Way For Veterans?

Recently, The Florida State House passed Tax relief for Florida's veterans. What this bill would do is to exempt Patrick AFB military personnel and all military from Ad Valorem property taxes on their Florida homesteaded property while they are doing duty outside of the US in designated military operations. This would come in the form of a credit that is calculated by the amount of time deployed. The exact amount and method of this credit has yet to be established. The measure was passed unanimously by the Florida House, but has yet to been voted on by the Senate. There was a similar bill that passed the house last year, but didn't go anywhere in the Senate. Hopefully with the large tax reform measure that passed last year, the Senate will vote on this joint resolution. This would be an amendment to the state constitution that would require a 60% affirmative vote from the electorate in the November 2008 general elections. If passed, the bill would take effect for the 2010 tax year.

The idea behind the bill has been credited to Michael Waldrop, a former Army Reserve Infantry Captain. Michael had been lobbying lawmakers in Tallahassee for tax relief for veterans, while he was stationed in Afghanistan. Waldrop was and adviser to the Afghan army, and is a recipient of the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.

The related bill in the Florida Senate is SJR 2384; it has been introduced, but has not yet had a committee hearing. You can contact your Florida State Senator and ask them to support this bill. You can find your State Senator, by going to the Florida State Senate website and entering your nine digit zip code.

I think this is a really small measure that we, the residents of Florida, could adopt. We all know that are taxes are too high, and we should all get more tax relief, but I think for those men and women doing their difficult and dangerous jobs overseas this is the least we can do.