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Melbourne, FL Real Estate News

By Sandy Shores FL Realtor®, Melbourne Real Estate, Brevard County Real Estate, Florida's Space Coast
(M & M Realty of Brevard Inc.)
I once read an article that indicated that 50% of buyers call an agent from the for sale sign in the yard. Are those stats still correct today? So, are you using brochure boxes/home information tubes outside of your listings? Some of those calls are going to the clients buyer's agent. Does it depend on the listing? The area? The price range? As a SELLER, would you like to see your agent use them? Over the years I have heard varying views on this question.   I. personally, do not use home information tubes outside of my listings. I do not care for them.   I have found myself at the kitchen table with many sellers on their expired listings. In my listing presentation I have a section which addresses outside flyers.  I don't use home information tubes as I don't want a sheet of paper stand...
Comments 33
By Sandy Shores FL Realtor®, Melbourne Real Estate, Brevard County Real Estate, Florida's Space Coast
(M & M Realty of Brevard Inc.)
I got a call the other day from a man that indicated he was "good friends" with my seller over on 12345 Main St. here in Melbourne Florida. He indicated that he had looked at my seller, 'Bob's' house for the second time in a week and he wanted to buy it. I smelled skunk. RED FLAG #1 - I have known my seller for years. And he's very conscientious. Why was this 'buyer'  calling me and Bob hadn't called to tell me this ahead of time? Not like Bob, at all! AND, I know I had not made any appointments this past week for showings on this particular property. He told me that after speaking to Bob, inside of his house for 45 minutes today, he and 'Bob' had come to terms on a sales price. I smelled skunk! RED FLAG #2!  Again, not like Bob! "Are you working with a REALTOR?, " I asked.  figuring I...
Comments 30
By Sandy Shores FL Realtor®, Melbourne Real Estate, Brevard County Real Estate, Florida's Space Coast
(M & M Realty of Brevard Inc.)
According to the Melbourne Association of REALTORS here in Brevard County Florida Statistics for October 2008:   For single family residential units: There were 561 new listings. This is a decrease of 27.61% from October 2007 of 775 new listings. Year to date there were 7516 new listings.   There were 226 sold listings. This is a 1.80% increase from October 2007 of 222 sold listings. Year to date there are 2672 listings sold.   The average sale price was $192,766. This is a 9.17 decrease from October 2007 of $212,226.   Average days on the market were 138. This is a 12.20% increase from October 2007 of 123 days.   For all properties, including single family residential, condo and townhouse: There were 910 new listings. There were 280 sold listings. Average sales price was $175,198. Aver...
Comments 9
By Sandy Shores FL Realtor®, Melbourne Real Estate, Brevard County Real Estate, Florida's Space Coast
(M & M Realty of Brevard Inc.)
The Ascension Fall Festival is being held here in Melbourne Florida this weekend. There is food, fun, games, live entertainment, dancing and singing. The City of Melbourne Dancers performed their tap, ballet and hip hop routines. This is one of my favorite events to attend because my girls, Sam and Stef have been dancing at the festival for many years. Tonight, they performed their new hip hop dance and a sit down tap routine (you think tap dancing is hard standing up, try it while sitting down!) We had a great time playing games, seeing and spending time with friends, and eating good food.          
Comments 9
By Sandy Shores FL Realtor®, Melbourne Real Estate, Brevard County Real Estate, Florida's Space Coast
(M & M Realty of Brevard Inc.)
Investors always ask what kind of property they should buy. Many start the business thinking that a multi unit building is their best bet.  My recommendation to them is to start with a single family house. I do not invest in small multi family complexes.  I prefer single family houses for rental units.  I have had many investors that have experienced the best and worst of both types of properties.   I find that single family properties are easier to buy, sell, rent, own and manage than multi family units. Single family units typically: (the following comparison is single family vs. small 4-10 unit multi family complexes)  >are easier and cheaper to buy  >are easier to get financed. Often times owner financing or creative financing is required.  >require less money down, because they are...
Comments 19
By Sandy Shores FL Realtor®, Melbourne Real Estate, Brevard County Real Estate, Florida's Space Coast
(M & M Realty of Brevard Inc.)
Kennedy Space Center has begun the countdown clock to the shuttle Endeavour liftoff on November 14, 2008 at 7:55 PM. This is one a just a few manned, night launches. There will be 7 astronauts on board. It will be a 15 day mission to the International Space Station. If the mission is a success, if will double the number of astronauts the station will ba able to hold in the future. If you have never had the opportunity to see one of these it is well worth it.  It is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Living here in Melbourne Florida, I am able to stand in my driveway and see the breathtaking views of the liftoffs. NASA is carefully watching the weather report as they are indicating that a front is in the forecast that could bring in inclement weather.  This mission has previously been scr...
Comments 8
By Sandy Shores FL Realtor®, Melbourne Real Estate, Brevard County Real Estate, Florida's Space Coast
(M & M Realty of Brevard Inc.)
There are currently over 300 empty homes here in Melbourne Florida, due to foreclosure. Some of these are causing real headaches for Code Enforcement officials. Overgrown yards, unsecure muck filled pools, and rodents are becoming a real issue on some. The number of complaints on these homes has quadrupled in the past couple of years.   Officials are trying to track down the banks/owners of these properties to try to rectify the situations. Some lawns are becoming so overgrown that the city is posting a warning and is then is mowing the grass and charging the owners. The city is trying to determine if they should implement additional laws to try to alleviate some of these problems.
Comments 11
By Sandy Shores FL Realtor®, Melbourne Real Estate, Brevard County Real Estate, Florida's Space Coast
(M & M Realty of Brevard Inc.)
Well, as many of you know, I have had my eye on gas prices for quite some time now (as so many others have too).  I love to see that they have still been going down and I hope that they continue on the decline.  Here's what I have found in Melbourne Florida over only a three week period of time! I took this picture today at 3:00 PM at my favorite station, close to my home.  Today is November 10, 2008>   At 4:00 today I drove back by and the price had gone down.  What's interesting about this is that I have been out with customers most of the day.  I have been all over town and the average price for gas around here now is $2.25 to $2.29.  Today, in my travels I did not see any stations that were even close to this low price... But, I also noticed this, which was the case the last time I ...
Comments 28
By Sandy Shores FL Realtor®, Melbourne Real Estate, Brevard County Real Estate, Florida's Space Coast
(M & M Realty of Brevard Inc.)
Yesterday, my teenage daughters and I were at the mall here in Melbourne Florida.  Our favorite store to stop by is the pet store.  We love to see the new puppy in the window.  Every one of them tugs at our heart strings.As we were admiring this little American Bulldog, having an adventurous dream, a store employee asked if we needed help.  My quick response was, "No thank you, we're just looking."Each time we go to the store, we find ourselves 'just looking'.I  thought of the current real estate market.  Now, more than ever, savvy buyers are spending more time  JUST LOOKING!  I remember, in the past, we would show a buyer several homes for sale.  They would look at their favorites a second time, and typically within a day or two they'd write an offer to purchase.Today, that has changed...
Comments 31
By Steve Neville
(Aamerican Property Management and Sales)
  Melbourne, Palm Bay Fl, expanding local infrastructure.   Officials from Palm Bay and Melbourne are partnering to help get funding from the federal government for the long-awaited St. Johns Heritage Parkway   (PressMethod) - The proposed parkway -- an $84.5 million project -- would skirt along the southern and western edges of Palm Bay, as well as the Melbourne area west of Interstate 95.   Per Palm Bay City Council member Milo Zonka and Melbourne City Council member John Thomas "Each city has its own respective transportation priorities, and this proposal is not meant to deter either city from its pursuit of funding for those projects.   "We believe, however, it is important for Brevard County's two largest cities to come together on these two critically important interchanges and pa...
Comments 0
By Steve Neville
(Aamerican Property Management and Sales)
  Worlds third-largest commercial aircraft manufacturer opening plant in Melbourne Fl
   The worlds third-largest commercial aircraft manufacturer behind Airbus and Boeing, is opening an assembly plant at Melbourne International Airport. 

   (PressMethod) - 
Flying High: Brazilian company Embraer, the world's third-largest commercial aircraft manufacturer behind Airbus and Boeing, is investing close to $50 million to open its first U.S. assembly plant at Melbourne International Airport. 

   The facility will handle Phenom 100 and Phenom 300 executive jets and is expected to create 200 skilled positions with an average annual salary of $50,000. 

The company, which received about $12 million in local and state incentives, is encouraging its manufacturing suppliers to move to the area a...
Comments 2
By Sandy Shores FL Realtor®, Melbourne Real Estate, Brevard County Real Estate, Florida's Space Coast
(M & M Realty of Brevard Inc.)
I have been following gas prices here in Melbourne Florida for sometime now.   Here's what I found yesterday, November 3, 2008> I was so tickled the other day, because I was able to fill up my van for just under $45.00.  It cost nearly $70.00 for a fill up back when prices were over $3.50 a gallon.     Here are the prices at the same station on October 26, 2008>   And here are prices over on the beachside in Melbourne Beach Florida on October 17, 2008> I hope that gasoline continues on the downward trend.   I know that in some parts of the Midwest some are boasting prices below $2.00 a gallon.  Now, I'll admit, I can't wait to see prices around here in Brevard County Florida drop that much. Does this drastic reduction in prices sound familiar?  How about the tech stock market bubble whi...
Comments 32
By Sandy Shores FL Realtor®, Melbourne Real Estate, Brevard County Real Estate, Florida's Space Coast
(M & M Realty of Brevard Inc.)
Don't we always hear the old saying that... Hindsight is 20/20? Hindsight allows us the experience of seeing things crystal clearly, since they've already happened! We can always look back at what happened in the past. Simple concept, right? Why isn't our vision as clear in predicting or seeing the future?   Simple again, because it hasn't happened yet. And, often times we fear the unknown. But, doesn't looking back into the past, often help us to SEE things in the future? I mean, if we really want to, that is.  For some, maybe they don't want to see what is going to happen. I know that we are living in complicated times today. And, I know that we are in the process of many changes to our economic structure. But essentially, to a certain extent,  doesn't history repeat itself?  Isn't th...
Comments 18
Homes sales for new homes have increased 12% over last year in the coastal areas of Volusia and Brevard counties according to Florida Association of Realtors®, and third generation home builder, Stanley Homes, has helped lead the way by recording 13 new home sales in Melbourne Florida area within the last 60 days. Why are homes selling?National sales for new home averages have increased by 2.7% overall which is great news for the housing industry, and everyone benefits. The price of sales prices have increased too benefiting sellers who need to get the best price for their home, and for buyers who want the most value for home prices that have been adjusted for the current housing market. What has been selling?For Stanley Homes mostly custom home plans starting from the affordable Mid $2...
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By Sandy Shores FL Realtor®, Melbourne Real Estate, Brevard County Real Estate, Florida's Space Coast
(M & M Realty of Brevard Inc.)
  A couple of days ago I met my new tenant at one of our rental houses here in Melbourne Florida.  She was bringing me the balance of the move in money.  It was time to have her to sign the lease and I was giving her the keys to her new house. While she was reviewing the lease, I walked through the house, and took pictures inside and outside, being careful to include all the rooms.  We swapped money for keys, she signed her new lease and as I was leaving she was already moving items in. I think they will be happy there. The house is just minutes from her job. I am always happy to be able to help a nice family find a comfortable home to live in.  For me, I hope it will be another long term tenant/landlord relationship. When I got back to my home office, I copied all of the photos to a C...
Comments 111
By Stanley Homes
(Stanley Homes)
Choosing the Right New Home There are lots of reasons families make a decision to purchase a new home ...... change in family size, job transfer, retirement, tired of renting, shorter commute to work, closer to family or simply the desire for a newer, larger or smaller home.  Across the country, the top three reasons people change their living situation is wanting a larger home, buying a first home or relocating to a new area for retirement or work.  Whatever your reason for moving - whether it's your primary home or a second home - how do you know when you've found the right house for you and your family.  Lots of factors come into play:  What do I want my monthly payment to be, what part of town do I want to live in, how do I want my new home to live. Once you've determined the price ...
Comments 0
By Sandy Shores FL Realtor®, Melbourne Real Estate, Brevard County Real Estate, Florida's Space Coast
(M & M Realty of Brevard Inc.)
I just came back from an appointment with a tenant moving into one of our rental houses. I was happy to get a new tenant, that I think I'll get along quite well with.  She told me that she has seen For Rent signs all over town.  We have still seen an overabundance of houses for rent in our area of Melbourne Florida, right now. I am still watching gas prices daily, and look what I found just 2 minutes down the street from me...I was tickled... Now this is the cheapest gas I have found, to date.  So, I pulled in, and look what else I found... So, I went around the other side of the pumps...AND THE STATION WAS COMPLETELY SOLD OUT!  That shouldn't have been a surprise to me. Just 9 days ago, this was the cheapest price I could find here in South Brevard County... So, how much further do you...
Comments 59
"Lower prices for new homes in Melbourne combined with interest rates that are lower than a year ago make buying a new home more affordable than in the past and a better investment" says Jason Stanley, third generation home builder and President of Stanley Homes in Melbourne. Although qualifying guidelines are tougher today than in the past few years, there are many great loan programs with attractive interest rates available if you want to buy a new home in Melbourne. Interest rates fluctuate daily, but are currently under 7%. "FHA loans are great for families who have less than 10% for a down payment," according to Stanley.  "Someone can purchase a Stanley Home for as little as 3% down."  The FHA maximum loan amount in Brevard County is $291,250.  For homes over $300,000, conventional...
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By Sandy Shores FL Realtor®, Melbourne Real Estate, Brevard County Real Estate, Florida's Space Coast
(M & M Realty of Brevard Inc.)
West Shore Junior Senior High School will be holding their NATIONAL MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY at Paradise Beach Park located between Melbourne and Eau Gallie Causeways. It will be held on Saturday October 25 from 4;00 to 7:00 PM. It will be a beach cleanup and a picnic. West Shore students and their families are invited to attend.  There will be free hot dogs, fun, games, bingo and a silent auction.  Students and parents can earn community service hours by attending. Be sure to bring a covered dish and a canned food item per person for the South Brevard Sharing Center. Be sure to let the school know how many family members will be attending this get together. See you Saturday!
Comments 7
By Sandy Shores FL Realtor®, Melbourne Real Estate, Brevard County Real Estate, Florida's Space Coast
(M & M Realty of Brevard Inc.)
The Ginter Building is a historical piece of Melbourne Florida History.  It is located in the old Downton Eau Gallie section of Melbourne on Highland Avenue.  It is one block from the Indian River Lagoon.  It was built in the 1920's and still stands today.  Today, the Ginter Building houses a chocolate shop and a hair salon.
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