Brevard County Real Estate News, Sandy Shores Melbourne FL Realtor

What Kind of Plant is This?

2009-07-09T16:03:58Z

A couple of months ago my neighbor brought me this green plant, with little prickles along the edges of the leaves. She said that everytime she walked past the plant or tried to water it she got scratched by it. So, she asked if I wanted it. Being a plant lover myself, I was happy to take it. I love outside plants, and typically I can keep them alive and thriving. But, don't give me an inside plant, I'll have it dead in 2 weeks.

Well, I noticed that this plant began blooming one flower at a time. They started out like the first picture and as the weeks have progressed the flowers have been blooming these beautiful purple and pink buds. And, even the color of the flower has changed to pink. (I know the lighting on these two days was a bit different -one picture was taken when it was sunny and the other when it was pouring rain.) They are really gorgeous. I have done some research, but have not been able to find out what type of plant and flower this is.

Does anyone have any ideas?

This article is authored by

Sandy Shores REALTOR®, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate

Brevard County Real Estate & Investing

I also buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.

Free Summer Saturday Nights

2009-07-08T15:40:46Z

The other night my family and I decided to take advantage of our local zoo special, Free Summer Saturday Nights. On Saturdays from 5:00 to 9:00 PM in July and August the Brevard Zoo will have free admission. I wanted to go and have a look and see the animals.

It was a very mild evening, with cool temperatures, but I was surprised that there weren't a lot of animals out this evening.

This guy was taking an early evening siesta. But, we didn't see any of the other alligators or crocodiles.

This little monkey was all over the place. He was putting on a show for the audience that had gathered in front of his cage to catch a glimpse of him.

Now my favorites are the giraffes. They are so grand, and tall, too. Our timing was perfect, as the zoo keepers were feeding Jojo and Stephanie.

The momma giraffe was very friendly and curious.

Although the baby giraffe, just 14 months old was very timid and shy.

My teenage daughter, Stephanie was laughing each time the zoo keeper called for Stephanie, the baby giraffe.

After about the 6th picture of the giraffes, my camera died. It just stopped working. I had just finished charging the battery. This was the second camera in 10 days that did this. So I took out my new cell phone and started taking pictures. I got some great close ups of the momma giraffe, but I have to figure out how to load them or send them to my computer.

This article is authored by

Sandy Shores REALTOR®, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate

Brevard County Real Estate & Investing

I also buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.

Don't Always Assume on Those Short Sale Listings

2009-07-08T13:51:27Z

This morning I went to check on one of my short sale listings. The owners moved last week, so the home has been vacated. I always make it a point to check my vacant listings regularly, to be sure there are no problems, and to be sure the doors are locked and the lights are off.

When I walked into the kitchen, I noticed the blinds blowing in the breeze. Huh? How can that be, when the air conditioner wasn't currently running? Uh oh, there was a broken window.

A new pane of glass will need to be put in that window.

Often times we see short sales or foreclosures with windows that get boarded up to protect the home from the weather/rain. However, in many cases FHA or VA will not allow their buyer to purchase a home with broken or boarded up windows, because the short sale or foreclosure lenders are not favorable to doing repairs on these properties. So, often times the house will not pass an FHA or VA inspection.

NOTE: On every short sale and foreclosure, for a buyer, I always ask the lender to do the needed repairs. And often, they won't agree to it. However, I will say that on a couple occasions the lenders have done regular repairs and some necessary FHA repairs. One lender fixed some broken windows, one put a stove in and another gave a credit to the buyers for an A/C repair. We don't always know what they'll agree to do, until we ask.

So, the key here is to never assume they'll do nothing.

This article is authored by

Sandy Shores REALTOR®, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate

Brevard County Real Estate & Investing

I also buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.

3012 Chica Circle, West Melbourne, FL 32904

2009-07-08T13:29:42Z

Sandy Shores, Realtor | M & M Real Estate, Inc | 321-253-4545

3012 Chica Circle, West Melbourne, FL

2005 Built situated in area of well maintained homes. This home is being offered as a short sale.

3BR/2BA Single Family House

offered at $134,950

Year Built	2005
Sq Footage	1,865
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2 full, 0 partial
Floors	1
Parking	2 Car garage
Lot Size	5,662 sqft
HOA/Maint	$19 per month

DESCRIPTION

Stunning home! Eat in kitchen with breakfast bar! Beautiful master suite w/garden tub and separate shower! Light & bright! Neutral colors! Living, dining,family room w/ office area. Rented security system! Inside laundry room! City water and sewer. Sprinkler system! Termite bond w/ pest defense tubes in walls! Great central location just minutes to beaches, shopping, schools, churches, the mall and I-95!
Directions: From 192, south on Dairy Road to right (West) on Tortuga (into Fairmont subdivision) then left (south) on Chica. Follow around to 3012
Stunning home! Great central location!

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

• Central A/C	• Central heat	• High/Vaulted ceiling
• Walk-in closet	• Tile floor	• Family room
• Living room	• Office/Den	• Dishwasher
• Refrigerator	• Stove/Oven	• Microwave
• Laundry area - inside

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Great Location!	Eat in kitchen
Kitchen w/ breakfast bar	Living room
Family room, den	15 min. to beaches

Contact info:

Sandy Shores, Realtor

M & M Real Estate, Inc

321-253-4545

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Jul 8, 2009, 9:55am PDT

Brevard County School Information

2009-07-06T14:18:17Z

It's that time of year when we receive so many inquiries about the quality of our schools here in Brevard County Florida. We have a number of excellent schools to choose from, and often times buyers make their home purchase decision based on which school district they would like to live in.

There is so much information available online regarding schools. The Brevard County School Board Website is a great place to start your search. There you will find the Brevard Public School Scorecard, where you can input the school of your choice, and view their rankings and see how well they did in key areas.

Type in a street address and find out which school the area is districted for.

Or visit the school page of my site and you can perform your own search, find a preschool, private schools, homeschools, or you can compare different schools.

Whether you are considering a home purchase or are already situated in a home, check online for help in answering your questions about our local schools.

This article is authored by

Sandy Shores REALTOR®, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate

Brevard County Real Estate & Investing

I also buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.

Happy 4th of July!

2009-07-04T16:41:55Z

Tonight in celebration of the 4th of July, here in Melbourne there will be a street party held in old Eau Gallie, at Eau Gallie Boulevard and Highland Avenues. There will be food, art, music, face painting and even a human flag.

Fireworks will begin at 9:00 PM at Front Street Park. The fireworks will be shot over the Indian River Lagoon. A free shuttle bus will pick people up at the Melbourne Auditorium.

There will also be hundreds of incredible boats anchored on the river. This is always a sight to see.

Hope you enjoy the festivities and have a safe and wonderful 4th of July!

This article is authored by

Sandy Shores REALTOR®, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate

Brevard County Real Estate & Investing

I also buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.

Busch Gardens in Tampa Florida

2009-07-03T15:15:18Z

My family and I just came back from a visit to the West Coast of Florida, about 2 hours and 20 minutes from our home in Melbourne. Busch Gardens opened more than 42 years ago and is the home of Anheuser Busch and the World Famous Clydesdale Horses. I hadn't been to Busch Gardens in 25 years.

It rained the entire drive over to Tampa, and the prediction was that there would be 80% chance of rain for the day. But, we had already prepaid for the hotel and the park. So, we figured we would just get a little bit wet.

There are 4 steel roller coasters; Sheikra, Scopion, Montu and Kumba and one wooden one, Gwazi. There are 3 water rides, a couple of children's sections in the park. There is a full day of things to do there.

There are some great shows that you shouldn't miss: Katonga, Dance to the Music, Creative Critters, Pirates 4D.

There were so many gorgeous sights to see and the grounds are impeccably maintained.

Busch Gardens sits on 335 acres and is Florida's largest zoo.

It is home to hundreds of species of animals, and birds,

Many are on the endangered species list.

We visited the re creation of King Tut's tomb.

We saw the World Famous Clydesdale horses that pull the Budweiser beer wagon.

This underwater sleeping hippo reached up every 3 to 5 minutes for a breath of air.

Sheikra was the first vertical drop roller coaster in the United States.

It is tied for being the tallest coaster.

This is at the top of floorless Sheikra.

Passengers are held at the top for 3-5 seconds, hanging over the edge.

Then they take a 90 degree, 200 foot drop.

No thanks, I don't like huge drops, so I just watched and took pictures.

All of the animals were out, because it was such a cool day.

The girls always love the Carousel.

Feeding time for the African Elephants.

This lion was trying to stay out of the rain.

The park is also home to Montu, the largest and fastest inverted steel roller coaster in the world. This was the only roller coaaster that I went on. But, I had to be a trooper and go on at least one of them.

I'm not much of a coaster fan, but my husband, oldest daughter, and the 2 friends we brought with us, can't get enough of them.

On our first day in the park we got pretty soaked. It rained alot. The rides had to be shut down frequently throughout the day due to inclement weather. The park had to be closed early so we asked for rainchecks. The park extended our tickets until the end of the year, for unlimited admission. We were tickled!

We headed back the following day, for a much better day, with the sun peeking from behind the clouds. It stayed nice and cool all day, with just a few sprinkles of rain.

We will get back over to Busch Gardens a couple more times before the end of the year.

If you plan a trip to Busch Gardens, and have never been there before, there's a lot to see. So spend a couple of days there.

Busch Gardens was one of the most beautiful theme parks I have ever visited.

And the animals were magnificent.

This article is authored by

Sandy Shores REALTOR®, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate

Brevard County Real Estate & Investing

I also buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.

Brevard Zoo is Hosting Summer Saturday Nights

2009-06-30T18:30:41Z

Every Saturday night in July and August admission will be free to the Brevard Zoo after 5:00 PM. The zoo will stay open until 9:00 PM, these nights. Many animals will be on exhibit. Some are taken in at night. The train ride will remain open, as well as kayaking. And there will be live bands playing.

July Free Nights will be July 4, 11, 18, 25.

August Free Nights will be August 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29.

The bands that will be playing are -

7/ 4: Overtime - Classic Rock Blend From 60’s-90’s
7/11: Jimbo and the No Shows - Acoustic/Rockabilly/Alternative
7/18: Invisible ink - Rock/Alternative/ Southern Rock.
7/25: Brevard Symphony Orchestra Brass Quintet

     8/ 1: CocoLocos Band- Island Music
   8/ 8: Ben Wilson- Solo Folk/Folk Rock/Comedy
   8/15: Rod MacDonald- Folk Music
     8/22: HairPeace- Acoustic
     8/29: Pan Sharks- Steel Drum Band

I love the Brevard Zoo, so I'll see you at the free Summer Saturday Nights.

This article is authored by

Sandy Shores REALTOR®, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate

Brevard County Real Estate & Investing

I also buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.

Brevard County Tax Collectors Office will NO Longer Accept VISA Cards

2009-06-30T10:09:06Z

I just finished reading an article that the Brevard County Tax Collectors office will no longer be accepting VISA cards to pay your tax bills. The decision came on May 4. VISA charges a $2.00 of 2.95% convenience fee (whichever is higher) to it's third party vendors.

The Clerk of Courts office will continue accepting Mastercard, American Express and Discover Credit cards and they will also accept Mastercard debit cards.

Marion, Osceola and Walton county tax collector offices will also no longer be accepting VISA payments.

The burden of these added "swipe" fees to small business is being passed on to the consumer in the way of higher costs of goods. Small business owners are getting fed up with the added fees and calling for credit card reform.

This article is authored by

Sandy Shores REALTOR®, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate

Brevard County Real Estate & Investing

I also buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.

Identity Theft is on the Rise

2009-06-30T09:13:58Z

With identity theft on the rise, it’s important to protect yourself.

The FTC had over 9 million reports of identity theft last year. This can take the form of someone else using your personal information, such as your name, address, credit cards, checks, or social security number to commit fraud.

Here are some pointers on helping to prevent identity theft:

1) Your personal checks should have limited info on them.

Don’t put your full first name on your checks, use your first and middle initials and last name on them. Use a different address than your home address. Do not include social security or drivers license number. When paying bills only write the last digits of the account you are paying.

2) On you credit cards sign the back of them. Also, write the words, SEE ID. So, the clerk must ask for ID to accept the card.

3) Go through your wallet and see exactly what you are carrying.

Leave all but two of your cards at home. Take copies of the front and back of everything in your wallet and keep it in a file, in case your wallet is stolen. Then, you can call the police immediately if you are robbed. Be sure to contact all 3 of the main credit reporting agencies immediately, so they can place a fraud alert on your name.

4) Pull a copy of your free annual credit report every year at

http://AnnualCreditReport.com/ to be sure there is not erroneous information on your Experian, Equifax and Transunion reports.

5) Shred everything with your name on it that you would normally throw in the trash.

This article is authored by

Sandy Shores REALTOR®, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate

Brevard County Real Estate & Investing

I also buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.

This Was One of the Most Mesmerizing Experiences I Have Ever Had

2009-06-27T16:38:39Z

Yesterday, my family and I drove up to Cape Canaveral Florida to visit a client that I had helped in purchasing a beautiful riverfront condo a month before. We went straight down to the boat docks by the gazebo hoping to get a glimpse of the manatees playing. We saw at least 6 of them. Knowing that they love fresh water we turned the hose on to attract them, hoping to get some pictures. These sea cows, known as gentle giants live in shallow waters in our lagoons.

We we absolutely mezmerized at what we saw.

In the 35 years I have lived in Brevard County I have never seen anything like this before.

All of these pictures were taken in the backyard of my client's new riverfront condo here in Brevard County Florida.

These guys loved the fresh water from the hose. They couldn't get enough of it.

They were circling and snorting and doing somersaults right in front of us.

They were so close we could reach out and touch them.

They just loved laying on their backs and taking in the fresh water.

My friend, Tony, indicated that the manatees are very active early in the morning. They love playing and and having fun in the water. Later in the day they usually are resting.

He has indicated that he can stand on his balcony and watch the porpoises jump, also.

Now this is what I call heaven.

Such an incredible sight to see.

My teenage daughters absolutely loved watching these playful, fun loving creatures.

These guys aren't afraid of people.

My client, who has become a great friend of mine, has told us that anytime we want to visit, we are more than welcome to come to watch the manatees.

He absolutely loves his new home, as he says that everyday he feels like he's on vacation.

This article is authored by

Sandy Shores REALTOR®, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate

Brevard County Real Estate & Investing

I also buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.

In Real Estate Investing, Pigs Get Fat, and Hogs Get Slaughtered

2009-06-26T10:42:42Z

I remember when I first got into the real estate business in 1996, my broker and I were discussing real estate investing. He told me that people sit, waiting for that one great deal, and in the meantime they miss out on the good deals. Because of their inactivity they may never end up buying anything.

He has been in real estate for over 50 years and has been investing in commercial, residential and mobile home parks.

We hear it everyday, is the market going down? Have we hit rock bottom? Has the market started heading back up? Does anyone really know for sure? Hindsight is always 20/20. We do know that prices are at early 2000 levels. But, what does it all really mean anyway? Do all these questions just paralyze us into doing nothing, not making a decision to buy or to sell? The reality is that no one really has the answers to any of these questions. We are all attempting to make an educated guess based on a market in which none of us have ever experienced.

I started buying rentals in 1996 and continued buying in 2005. I have bought in different types of markets, as I have kept my eyes and ears open and been able to scoop up some good deals.

But, often in real estate investing, when everyone else is buying, it's a good time to sell.

And, when everyone is selling, it's a good time to buy.

Investors getting into the market, thinking they are going to make a killing are usually the ones that lose their shirts. Investors that are a bit more realistic, with the thought that they can make a comfortable profit, are often able to do just that... make a handsome profit.

What are your goals in buying? Are you hoping to flip a property today? Are you going to hold it for a period of time and use it as a rental? These are all factors that must be considered.

Do your homework first. If the numbers don't work on paper, they aren't going to work at all. Don't fall in love with an adorable house that you think would make a great rental because it's brand new and beautiful. It may turn out to be a terrible rental property. Rental houses aren't always gorgeous. Very often they are clean, small and affordable. See what the demand in your market is. Be smart and research first.

And remember in real estate investing, Pigs Get Fat and Hogs Get Slaughtered.

This article is authored by

Sandy Shores REALTOR®, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate

Brevard County Real Estate & Investing

I also buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.

Renting to Multiple Occupants Can Be Sticky

2009-06-25T17:48:42Z

I received a call from a young man on a house that I currently have available for rent. I always ask a series of questions when a prospective tenant calls on a property.

I asked how many people would be occupying the property. He told me 3.

Is there one person that earns enough money to cover the monthly rent?

He indicated that the rent would be split three ways and each occupant would pay their portion to the landlord.

Unfortunately, I don't care for situations like this. As a landlord, I do not want to collect money from 3 different people living in the same house. Sometimes one party has their money and one of the other parties or both of other two don't. I want one check, from one person, covering the entire monthly rent. They can work out the money amongst themselves and figure out who owes whom what money.

What happens if one of the occupants decides to move out? Then, the other two don' t have enough to cover the rent? In turn, they have to sublet the house to someone else so they can pay the bills. This can turn into another precarious situation.

Years back I purchased a rental, with the tenants in place, on a month to month lease. They were roommates. When I went to pick up the rent, one occupant would have half of the rent, but the other wouldn't have her half. This went on for another month. It was like pulling teeth. Neither wanted to be responsible for pulling together the rent and paying in one lump sum. I told them they needed to have it figured out by the following month. They could bicker amongst themselves over the money. They did begrudgingly figure it out, and I received one check from then on for the rent.

Be careful when renting a property, that you know exactly who will be paying the monthly rent. Stipulate in your lease who the responsible party will be that pays the rent. Otherwise, you may be treading on thin ice.

This article is authored by

Sandy Shores REALTOR®, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate

Brevard County Real Estate & Investing

I also buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.

Tax Credit for First Time Homebuyers

2009-06-24T14:46:12Z

There are so many great reasons to buy a house today. Interest rates are low, inventory is plentiful and prices are at early 2000 prices. There are some great deals available today.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act offers an $8000 tax credit for first time homebuyers that purchase between January 1, 2009 and December 1, 2009. There are some stipulations on how the credit would apply to each homebuyer.

Buyers can claim the credit on their federal income taxes.

Individuals are eligible for the credit with an adjusted gross income of up to $75,000. It increases to $150,000 if filing jointly.

If the buyer(s) stays in the house for longer than 3 years they don't have to repay the money.

I am attaching a link provided by the Florida Association that outlines the benefits and more details of the tax credit.

I am also attaching a link that outlines how the tax credit can be used towards the purchase of your home, using an FHA loan. It cannot be used for your 3.5% down payment, however it may allow a buyer to put down a larger down payment.

With incentives such as the First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit, there's no reason to wait to buy a home.

This article is authored by

Sandy Shores REALTOR®, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate

Brevard County Real Estate & Investing

I also buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.

Brevard County Properties for Sale

2009-06-23T14:04:44Z

According to the Melbourne Area Board of Realtors

There are currently 4758 single family homes available for sale.

There are currently 1635 condos for sale.

There are currently 441 townhouses for sale.

There are 2884 vacant parcels of land for sale.

There are 885 commercial properties for sale.

There are 142 income producing properties for sale.

There are 2078 rentals available.

This article is authored by

Sandy Shores REALTOR®, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate

Brevard County Real Estate & Investing

I also buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.

Enjoying the Beginning of Summer at Brevard County Beaches

2009-06-22T11:05:06Z

Yesterday, was the first day of Summer and it proved to be a beautiful one. Melbourne's temperatures reached 96 degrees, with humidity figured in, it was a sweltering 109 degrees. There was about 50% humidity.

We had the perfect solution, as did a few other people. We headed for Spessard Holland in South Melbourne beach.

It was quite warm, but the ocean water was cool and refreshing.

We spent a good bit of time out in the water, as my daughters are learning to surf.

We also did some fishing, but unfortunately caught nothing.

It was one of those days where you had to be really careful not to get fried from the sun, as there was a bit of a haze in the sky.

This is when people inadvertently get too much sun, without realizing it.

When we get these hot, humid temperatures it so important to get plently of fluids, to remain hydrated.

This article is authored by

Sandy Shores REALTOR®, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate

Brevard County Real Estate & Investing

I also buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.

Happy Father's Day

2009-06-21T16:45:13Z

I love Bill Cosby during his stand up comic routines. Have you ever read his book entitled Fatherhood? It is an absolute classic. It is absolutely hilarious. If you have never seen him do a stand up routine, take the time to go see him. He's great - and all of his jokes are clean.

On this Father's Day, I pulled out his book, to go back to some of my favorite parts.

'When a man has children, the first thing he has to learn is that he is not the boss of the house. I am certainly not the boss of my house. However, I have seen the boss's job and I don't want it...."

"Before we were married, my wife was a stunningly beautiful woman. Today she is a stunningly beautiful woman whose mouth droops and who has conversations with herself."

"It doesn't make any difference how much money a father earns, his name is always Dad-Can-I?"

"No matter how calmly you try to referee, parenting will eventually produce bizarre behavior, and I'm not talking about the kids. Their behavior is always normal...but you will find yourself strolling down the road to the funny farm."

"People who have no children say they love them because they are so truthful. Well, I have done extensive fieldwork with five childred and can tell you as scientific fact that the only time they tell the truth is when they are in pain."

"No matter how much the pressure on your spinal cord builds up, never let these small people know that you have gone insane."

'If the American father feels bewildered and even defeated, let him take comfort from the fact that whatever he does in any fathering situation has a fifty percent chance of being right."

"No matter what you tell your child to do, he will do the opposite."

"I am never as happy as I deserve to be on Father's Day. The problem is my presents...instead of buying them for myself; and so I get soap-on-a-rope. ...I have 5 children, so each gets $20. They go to the store and get two packages of underwear, each of which costs $5 and contains three shorts. They tear them open and each kid wraps one pair of shorts for me. Therefore, on this Fathers Day I will be walking around in new underwear and my kids will be walking around with ninety dollars change."

Happy Father's Day!

All of these quotes were taken from Bill Cosby's book, Fatherhood.

So Many Parks to Visit, It's So Hard to Decide

2009-06-20T16:09:42Z

My teenage daughters are ready to visit a couple of theme parks sometime during their Summer vacation. We have visited all of the Disney Parks: the Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Epcot and Animal Kingdom over the years, multiple times. My girls favorite is the Magic Kingdom, as the park is filled with rides. They love Space Mountain, their famous roller coaster. They also enjoy Thunder Mountain, another roller coaster. Splash Mountain is a water ride with one big drop. My favorite of the theme parks is Epcot, as there is so much culture there.

The parks are only 45 minutes away from us, in Orlando, so it's a quick jump in the car and short drive over. In Orlando we can also visit Sea World, Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios, Wet 'n Wild, Aquatica, or Disney's Blizzard Beach and Disney's Typhoon Lagoon and Wonderworks.

This year we are thinking that we will head over to Tampa, on the west coast of the state, to visit Busch Gardens. This is just over a 2 hour drive. Busch Gardens has a lot of roller coasters. They are running a special where you pay one admission, and that gives you 2 days in 2 parks. The first day you can go to Busch Gardens and the second day you can visit Tampa's water park, Adventure Island. We haven't been to either of these parks yet.

We are in such a great central location here in Brevard County, it's hard to decide where to go. And it's great because they're all in our own backyard!

This article is authored by

Sandy Shores REALTOR®, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate

Brevard County Real Estate & Investing

I also buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.

Brevard County Schools Did it Again!

2009-06-19T15:50:37Z

Brevard County Schools took third place in the state, with 84% of schools receiving a grade "A".

The scoring is based on scores that students get on the FCAT, the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test. "A" rated schools are awarded $75 per student.

All of Brevard County Middle Schools earned an "A" for the fourth year in a row.

St. John and Gilchrist County took 1st and 2nd place in the state.

We love to pass this information along to potential homebuyers, as we receive so many inquiries as to the quality of our local schools.

Another great reason to consider living in Brevard County Florida!

This article is authored by

Sandy Shores REALTOR®, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate

Brevard County Real Estate & Investing

I also buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.

99 Cent Bowling this Sunday

2009-06-19T12:52:41Z

The Brunswick Harbour Lanes will have 99 cent a game bowling this Sunday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. This is a great way for a family to spend some quality time together. A family of four can bowl 4 games for less than $20.00! What a great deal!

When they aren't running this particular special, normally, if you arrive on a Sunday morning before 10:00 for bowling, then all the games you play are 99 cents a game. You really can't beat it.

Currently bowling shoe rentals are $3.99 + tax. That drives the cost of bowling up. My husband and I already had our own bowling shoes. I went to the local thrift store, and was able to pick up 3 pair of bowling shoes for $1.00 a pair. Two pairs looked like they had never been worn.

So, head on over to Brunswick Harbour Lanes for 99 cent bowling. You'll have a great time!

This article is authored by

Sandy Shores REALTOR®, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate

Brevard County Real Estate & Investing

I also buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.

The Sunshine State is Still a Favorite for International Buyers

2009-06-17T11:08:19Z

We are still hearing that International Buyers favor Florida's location, climate and low prices to other locales in the United States.

International Buyers are actively purchasing Florida real estate. And others are keeping an eye on the market to determine when they feel the time is right to jump in. Many buyers are purchasing their second/vacation/investment homes for cash. Some are staying in the property for several months, and then renting their furnished units for the period of time they go back home.

The National Association of Realtors indicates that 25 percent of these international buyers are Canadian, 21 percent are Europeans, and just over 20 percent are British.

This article is authored by

Sandy Shores REALTOR®, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate

Brevard County Real Estate & Investing

I also buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.

Market Report for Lake Washington Area of Melbourne Florida

2009-06-16T14:48:12Z

In the Lake Washington Area of Melbourne:

There are currently 122 homes for sale. These include single family, as well as mobile homes.

There are currently 41 properties under contract. Some of these have been under contract for several months, as they are short sales, pending lender approval.

There have been 72 homes that have sold in 2009.

$ 1 - $ 250,000 58 properties 11 of these were foreclosures 14 of these were short sales

$ 251,000 - $ 500,000 12 properties 1 of these was a foreclosure 4 of these were short sales

$ 501,000 - $ 750,000 1 property

$ 750,001 - $1,000,000 0

$1,000,000+ 1 property

Some of these sold properties remained on the market for as many as 462 days, 673 days, 722 days, 938 days.

Our Lake Washington market has become quite active. And, we are seeing many homes selling, with multiple offers.

This article is authored by

Sandy Shores REALTOR®, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate

Brevard County Real Estate & Investing

I also buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.

Foreclosure Filings are Down

2009-06-15T14:41:31Z

Brevard County foreclosure filings were down for May 2009. There were 770 filings last month. April had 851 and in March there were 963. To date 2009 has seen 4297 foreclosure filings. In 2008 we had 9228 for the year. These numbers are for filings only. They don't indicate the total number of foreclosures.

Are the numbers down because more owners have been able to short sale their properties? A short sale is when a bank or mortgage company agrees to take a lesser amount than the outstanding balance of the mortgage. The property is sold because of a financial or economic hardship. We are finding that many lenders are receptive to a short sale as it costs them considerably less than a property that goes into foreclosure. Some are even opting for a deed in lieu of foreclosure.

Foreclosure filing fees in Florida increased on June 1 from $295 up to $1,900. The amount is determined on the price of the home.

The Melbourne Association of REALTORS estimates that one quarter of home sales today are short sales.

NOTE: It is recommended that a seller contact an attorney, legal counsel or an accountant prior to doing a short sale to determine how a short sale will effect their individual situation.

This article is authored by

Sandy Shores REALTOR® , Melbourne FL Real Estate

Brevard County Real Estate & Investing

Palm Bay Florida Real Estate News

I also buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.

3012 Chica Circle, West Melbourne, FL 32904

2009-06-15T13:32:29Z

Sandy Shores, Realtor | M & M Real Estate, Inc | 321-253-4545

3012 Chica Circle, West Melbourne, FL

2005 Built situated in area of well maintained homes. This home is being offered as a short sale.

3BR/2BA Single Family House

offered at $139,888

Year Built	2005
Sq Footage	1,865
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2 full, 0 partial
Floors	1
Parking	2 Car garage
Lot Size	5,662 sqft
HOA/Maint	$19 per month

DESCRIPTION

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Central heat	High/Vaulted ceiling
Walk-in closet	Tile floor	Family room
Living room	Office/Den	Dishwasher
Refrigerator	Stove/Oven	Microwave
Laundry area - inside

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

3012 Chica Circle	Living & dining rooms
Family room	Office/den/study area
Kitchen w/ breakfast bar	Eat in kitchen

Contact info:

Sandy Shores, Realtor

M & M Real Estate, Inc

321-253-4545

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Jun 10, 2009, 11:45am PDT

May 2009 Market Statistics Reports for Brevard County Real Estate

2009-06-13T14:15:02Z

According to the Melbourne Association of REALTORS here in Brevard County Florida, Real Estate Statistics for May 2009 are as follows:

For single family residential units:

There were 531 new listings.

This is a decrease of 26.96% from May 2008 of 727 new listings.

Year to date in 2009 there have been 2952 new listings.

Year to date in 2008 there were 4118 new listings.

There were 298 sold listings.

This is a 1.32% decrease from May 2008 of 302 sold listings.

Year to date in 2009 there are 1409 listings sold.

Year to date in 2008 there were 1282 listings sold.

The average sale price in May 2009 was $169,939.

This is a 10.44% decrease from May 2008 of $189,750.

Average days on the market for May 2009 were 123 days.

This is a 9.82% increase from May 2008 of 112 days.

For all properties, including single family residential, condo and townhouse:

There were 781 new listings.

There were 373 sold listings.

Average sales price was $162,940.

Average days on the market = 137

Types of financing used:

103 conventional financing

148 cash

88 FHA

26 VA

7 Owner financing

This article is authored by

Sandy Shores REALTOR® , Melbourne FL Real Estate

Brevard County Real Estate & Investing

Palm Bay Florida Real Estate News