Low Interest Loans to Brevard County FL Residents - 03/31/10 04:13 PM

The Brevard County FL Housing Finance Authority will be making $20 Million in low interest mortgage loans to qualifying Brevard County residents. The 2010 Home Ownership Program money is being provided through a federal stimulus program.
Brevard County FL buyers will be eligible for interest rates of 4.99% for 30 year fixed loans and $5000 in down payment assistance money.  For first time homebuyers if they get a home under contract before April 30 they are eligible for the First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit of up to $8000.  They must close on the home prior to June 30 to qualify … (8 comments)

Another One of Those Dreaded Letters in the Mail - 03/30/10 11:52 AM

It came in the mail yesterday, a letter from the insurance company on one of our rental properties. Those letters that I dislike so much.
It read,
"Dear Mrs. Shores,
State Farm Florida and the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) reached a settlement in December 2009 allowing State Farm Florida to maintain a property insurance presence in your state. The settlement allows State Farm Florida to stabilize its financial condition through a reduction in property policies over the next year."
And, for the bad news...
"Unfortunately, your policy is one of the property policies being non-renewed. In the next … (13 comments)

Don't Forget to Head on over to Ron Jons - 03/28/10 01:27 PM
It's Spring Break here in Brevard County Florida. Time to hit the beaches for some sun and fun. No trip to Brevard County Beaches would be complete without a trip to world famous Ron Jon Surf Shop.  I think that anyone that has heard of Cocoa Beach, Florida has heard of Ron Jons.
I marvel at how gigantic the store has become.
Ron Jon has become the World's Most Famous Surf shop. The multi level store, which is open 24 hours a day,  is over 52,000 square feet. And sells beach wear, surfboards, bikinis, and anything else you can think of … (13 comments)

Do You have Unwanted Guests Living in Your Home? - 03/27/10 08:15 PM

We often say that, "In Florida, it's not if you have termites, it's when you get termites." 
Termites cause billions of dollars worth of damage each year.
The soil here in Florida is conducive to termites. 
There are three types of termites, subterranean, drywood and dampwood termites.  Subs and drywood termites can cause the most damage and are typically found here in Florida.
The best way to find out of if your home has termites is to call a certified, licensed pest control company.  They will be able to tell you for sure if you have them.
Look for these things,
… (13 comments)

Customer Service with A Smile, While They're Trying to take People's Hard Earned Money - 03/26/10 04:59 PM

When I need an oil change or new tires on my van, I always send my husband. But, today I couldn't. He was out on a job, I knew I was taking a day trip today. And, I had been so busy I kept forgetting to get two new back tires.
So, first thing it was off to the tire store. I'm a price shopper, and I took the van to the place with the most competitive prices, where we've previously bought tires.
I talked to the nice fellow at the front desk, had done my homework, and knew what … (16 comments)

Short Sales and Foreclosure Resource Certification - 03/24/10 07:26 PM

Today I attended the Short Sales and Foreclosure Resource Class to become certified in helping buyers and sellers with these types of properties.  The class was offered locally here through the Women's Council of Realtors.  It was from 9;00 AM to 5:00 PM.  The class offered comprehensive information in dealing with short sales and foreclosures.
We had an excellent speaker that made the information interesting.
The class stressed the importance of the Realtor in helping sellers and buyers in dealing with distressed properties.
It examined the options available to distressed homeowners, such as mortgage modifications, refinancing, short sales and … (5 comments)

Thinking About An Investment Property? Work the Numbers First - 03/22/10 07:34 PM

Today many buyers are looking for "that perfect deal".  We've seen deals in various price ranges. 
Investors have gotten back in the market. Some are looking for houses to use as rentals, while others are flipping properties for profit.
Many investors are looking to buy properties that need work, so they can build sweat equity.  Some will buy a house that needs a new roof, or a new A/C, one that needs flooring or a new kitchen, perhaps a coat of paint or new bathrooms. Each investor may be looking for something a bit different. However, they are all looking … (14 comments)

Just Waiting on that Next Meal - 03/21/10 05:56 PM

All rights reserved. Indian River Lagoon in Melbourne, Florida. Copyright 2010
This photo cannot be reproduced without the express written permission of Sandy Shores, REALTOR.
 
Sandy Shores REALTOR®, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate
Brevard County Real Estate and Investing
I specialize in Residential, Investment & Relocations. 
We have a team of professionals to facilitate your Short Sale.
I buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.
… (16 comments)

Brevard County Market Report for February 2010 - 03/20/10 02:21 PM
According to the Melbourne Association of REALTORS® statistics are as follows:
There are:
4879 residential listings for sale
1528 rental listings available
1498 condos for sale
 376 townhouses for sale
 117 income producing properties for sale
2582 vacant parcels for sale
For all properties, including single family residential, condo, townhouse and vacant lots:
There were a total of 937 new listings.
There were 291 sold listings.
Average sales price was $142,127.
Highest price sold was $1,825,000.
Lowest price sold was $ 3,350.
Average days on the market were 148.
For February 2010 for single family residential units:
There were 642 new listings.
… (6 comments)

Brevard County Fair is In Town - 03/20/10 01:45 PM

The second annual Brevard County Fair began yesterday, March 18 and runs through March 27.  It will be held at the Wickham Park Pavilion on the Brevard Community College Campus. 
The fair has fun for all ages.  There will be carnival rides, music, and singing.  There will be a horse expo, a 4H competition and a poultry show. And what's a fair without a chili cookoff?
It promises to be a great time for the whole family.
The fair will also host several seminars including  a gardening expo, cooking with herbs, and catching fish. 
Fair hours are 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM Monday … (10 comments)

What Makes a House a Home? - 03/18/10 11:33 AM

When you buy a property, you are buying a house.  A building made from bricks or blocks, wood and nails.  It is the people that move into the house that make it a home; their home. 
We grow together and raise a family in our home. Often times we get married and have our first child in our home. We watch that baby take her first steps and say her first words in that home.   We share the joy of our accomplishments, and in turn we comfort each other in sadness and sorrow. That home becomes so much more than … (22 comments)

Wearing No Green On St. Patrick's Day Meant Being Pinched As A Kid - 03/17/10 01:21 PM

I sat down at my desk this morning and realized that I didn't have any green on. Uh-oh, so I headed back to my closet to change my shirt.  Come on, you've got to wear green on St. Patrick's Day. Everybody does, don't they?  No green on St. Patricks Day, coming from a long line of Irishmen in my family, now that's a sin. 
I remember a couple of years ago when I was still in school, if you didn't have green on you got pinched by all of your classmates. "Oh, but, I'm wearing green underwear," I'd joke. Prove … (7 comments)

Study Finds that Only 22% of Consumers Would Use the Same Realtor Again - 03/16/10 07:13 PM

I recently worked with clients that hired me to professionally market their home for sale.
As with many owners in our area, they had high hopes their home would bring top dollar.  Their figures and my figures on what we each felt the house would bring in today's market did not match. My figure was considerably less than theirs.  As we discussed the current market, they were not happy and they told me so. This is a big pill for sellers to swallow, and for some it takes longer to swallow than for others. Often it's an education over … (52 comments)

These Bring Back the Memories - 03/15/10 04:05 PM
This weekend my daughter, Stephanie and I headed over to the car and motorcycle show at Calvary Chapel in Melbourne.  We spent a a lot of time admiring some of the gorgeous cars that were there. We would have loved to take a spin in a couple of these beauties.
Several of the cars we saw reminded me of cars that we had while growing up, like the VW van.  But ours was lime green and it was a full size van. My mom used to drive it.
  For years when my Dad was younger, he was a mechanic.  He … (8 comments)

Looking at Houses When It's Raining Can Tell A lot About a Property - 03/12/10 10:18 AM


Yesterday, I headed out to show properties to a new buyer. The weather forecast was 100% chance of rain.  We both brought our umbrellas.  After looking at a couple of houses the clouds grew dark and the wind began howling.  Then, the sky completely opened up. It started pouring.
I always recommend that buyers look at or take a drive by a property they are considering, during or right after a hard rain to see if there are water problems.  They should also drive by at different times of the day and sometime on the weekend, if at all … (18 comments)

Set Those Clocks Forward this Weekend - Spring is in the Air - 03/11/10 11:30 AM

The weather is getting warmer and Spring is right around the corner. It's my favorite time of year.  The bees are buzzing and the birds are chirping.
This weekend we get to Spring forward by turning our clocks ahead one hour.  We get an extra hour outside in the  evenings to do the things we enjoy.  It gives us more time to see properties while it's still light out.  And, it gives us an extra hour of daylight to get outside to take in that regular exercise.
The weather is warm, but not too hot, and the humidity is relatively … (21 comments)

Brevard County Students will Begin FCAT Testing Today - 03/09/10 09:34 AM

Students in Brevard County schools will start FCAT testing today. The math and reading parts of the test will be administered to grades three through ten.  Fifth, eighth and tenth graders will also be required to take the science portion of the test.
The FCAT, Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test is used to determine whether schools are teaching the required course materials.  It is an assessment of accountability and it measures each school's grade.  It is also used to determine whether a child will be promoted to the next grade.
Brevard students have historically received top scores on the FCAT, compared … (7 comments)

'I Could Have Bought that Property for Nothing 20 Years Ago!' - 03/08/10 04:53 PM

Yesterday, I was at the Strawberry Festival and got to talking with some people. We talked for awhile and the conversation turned to real estate.  One of the men began discussing a piece of property he regretted not purchasing.
"You know, I could have bought that piece of property 20 years ago for cheap.  And, I mean really cheap."
"Well, why didn't you?," I asked.
I chuckled. That wasn't the first time I've heard someone use that expression. And, I know it won't be the last.
When people say they could have bought a property years ago, why didn't … (18 comments)

A Look at the Bigger Picture - 03/07/10 01:23 PM

I have a friend that truly believes that the universe aligns itself so that everything that happens to us, happens for a reason. Often times these events occur so that we can learn something from them. They come at inconvenient times in our lives.  But, later we gain a better understanding of why they happened when they did.  Ironically, the timing was because there was a bigger and better plan set out for us, that we were unaware of.
We are all a part of a plan, a bigger master plan. A plan that we may not know where or … (16 comments)

Cancer Took Her Life, But Her Spirit Remains Alive in our Home and In our Hearts - 03/05/10 10:33 AM
It's been a year ago, today.  Sometimes it feels like an eternity, with so many memories and so many tears shed.  It's been an extremely difficult time for my husband; the passing of his mother that he was so close to. They had a wonderful relationship. But, I can remember every tiny little detail about her last day, as if it were yesterday. And, I imagine that day will always stay with me. 
Dawn Shores was a phenomenal woman. A person like no one else I've ever met in my life. My daughters are having an incredibly difficult time this … (16 comments)

Bank Owned Properties - Buyers, Do Your Homework First - 03/04/10 07:40 PM

Bank owned properties... It seems that they are cropping up all over.  There are some good deals out there.  But, they are a bit different than other properties being offered for sale.  These properties are offered in AS IS, where is condition.  The utilities are not on. They are sold with no disclosures, or warranties from the bank/seller.
Some are cash only properties.  Some won't qualify for any type of financing. A property that has some type of damage; structural, roof, electrical may be advertised as cash only. 
Often a buyer gets one shot at getting one of these properties and that's … (11 comments)

A Great Old Song from the 1980's - 03/04/10 11:29 AM

Silent Lucidity by Queensyrche
Hush now, don't you cry Wipe away the teardrop from your eye You're lying safe in bed It was all a bad dream Spinning in your head Your mind tricked you to feel the pain Of someone close to you leaving the game of life So here it is, another chance Wide awake you face the day Your dream is over... or has it just begun? There's a place I like to hide A doorway that I run through in the night Relax child, you were there But only didn't realize and you were scared It's … (6 comments)

Charming 2 Bedroom, 2 Bath Condo for Rent - 03/03/10 06:34 PM
… (5 comments)

Short Sale Lenders - Well Qualified Buyers are Getting Tired of Waiting - 03/02/10 08:24 PM
We have a buyer that has an offer to purchase in on one of our short sale listings.  This is the second buyer for this property.  The first one walked because the process was taking too long (as so many short sales do).  The second buyer completed his home inspection and termite inspections.  He received his formal loan commitment.  But, when it came time to do the appraisal, the  house did not appraise for the contract price approved by the short sale lender.  The reason: the short sale lender has taken so long on this transaction, the seller's short sale VA appraisal was over 120 … (15 comments)

Just Posted on Facebook - 'Went out to Dinner, then Movies' - So, Please Rob Me - 03/01/10 08:17 PM
We see these postings on Facebook and Twitter everyday. I've been guilty of it myself. Are we posting too much information on our current whereabouts?  For some, it's everyday practice, updating their whereabouts on their social networking sites everytime they change locations.  Some have the need to "stay connected" no matter what.  But, at what cost? 'Heading out for the weekend, back on Monday.'
'On my way to the movies to see Shutter Island, can't wait.'
'Disney in the morning.  Magic Kingdom here we come.'
Are we too connected, posting too much information on social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook and … (20 comments)

 
Sandy111 Rainmaker_large

Sandy Shores Broker-Associate, Melbourne /Palm Bay, Brevard County FL Real Estate

Melbourne, FL

More about me…

M & M Real Estate Inc. / Florida's Space Coast

Address: Melbourne, Palm Bay, Indian Harbour, Satellite Beach, Suntree, Viera, Rockledge, Titusville, Cape Canaveral FL

Office Phone: (321) 733-6080

Cell Phone: (321) 253-4545

Email Me

Melbourne Real Estate and Brevard County FL Real Estate and Investing. _________________ Sandy Shores on Zillow Sandy Shores…


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