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.)
Oh, I wish I were an Oscar Mayer Wiener, Oh, that is what I'd truly love to be... Cause if I were an Oscar Mayer Wiener, Then, everyone would be in love with me.' Is that how it goes? I'm trying to remember the song.  We used to sing it when we were kids. Did I get it right? Well, the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile is coming to Brevard County.  Today it will be coming to Melbourne Florida.  It will be at the Wickham Road Wal Mart at 8500 N Wickham Road from 1:00 to 6:00 today. On Friday it will be in Merritt Island Florida at Wal Mart at 1500 E Merritt Island Causeway in Merritt Island from 1:00 to 6:00. On Saturday, July 26 it will be at Patrick Air Force Base from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The 2 drivers of the Wienermobile are on the road for a year. Both drivers graduated from Hot Dog High in M...
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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.)
      Here in Melbourne in Brevard County Florida we have had tremendous amounts of rainfall, every afternoon.  Some storms are bringing 2-3 inches of rain a day. Thank goodness, because we really need it.       I have noticed that there are mushrooms, or wild fungi, sprouting up in clumps in various spots all over town. I wondered if they were dangerous.  I just recently found out that some wild mushrooms or wild fungi are idenitifed as fairy rings, with white tops.  These are indeed poisonous.  They are the #1 cause of accidential poisoning here in Florida. Not all mushrooms that grow in your yard are poisionous, but it is best to stay away from all of them.     Mushroom picture courtesy Florida Today News.
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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.)
The Craft Fair is Coming to Melbourne Auditorium here in Melbourne Florida on July 26-27. It will be an indoor, air conditioned craft show.  It is sponsored by Buckler Craft Fairs.  Hundreds of exhibitors will display their crafts. This will be a great time for those of you that love these types of bazaars and shows. There is something for everyone! Some of the displayed items will include: Stained glass, pottery, arts and crafts, ceramics, quilts, needle work, folk art, unique gifts and home decor items.   Here is a coupon to get discounted craft fair tickets. http://www.bpcraftfairs.com/coupon.html Visit my website at www.SandyShoresMelbourne.com.
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Living in a Stanley Homes custom home may mean you’re just miles short of being an astronaut on NASA’s next space exploration.   Okay, so maybe that’s overstating it just a bit. But being a third generation homebuilder in Melbourne, FL, the team at Stanley Homes has become experts on living in Space Coast and making the shuttle launches a big part of their lives. Stanley Homes Communities are within view of each shuttle launch, so the team there has witnessed the spectacle many times. The group has recently come up with a list of tips for community members; these are suggested activities to make the shuttle launch an even more enjoyable experience from Stanley Homes.     Invite friends over – Since not everyone is lucky enough to live in such close proximity to NASA, many people have ne...
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1. Take one capful  and hold in your mouth for 10 minutes daily, then spit it out.   No more canker sores and your teeth will be whiter without expensive pastes. Use it instead of mouthwash. (Small print says mouth wash and gargle right on the bottle)  2. Let your toothbrushes soak in a cup of "Peroxide" to keep them free of germs.  3. Clean your counters, table tops with peroxide to kill germs and leave a fresh smell. Simply put a little on your dishrag when you wipe, or spray it on the counters.  4 After rinsing off your wooden cutting board, pour peroxide on it to kill salmonella and other bacteria.  5. A 50-50 mixture of peroxide and water, applied to the feet will kill foot fungus. 6. Soak any infections or cuts in 3% peroxide for five toten minutes several times a day.   7. Fill a...
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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.)
Here in Melbourne Florida located in Brevard County many buyers are still sitting on the fence...not sure what to do.  What should I do, they ask?  Should I buy now? Should I rent?  Should I wait?  Is the market going to continue on the decline?  When is the market going to change? All of these are excellent questions...if only we knew exactly how the market was going to respond. My question is, What are you waiting for?  If prices decline, but interest rates begin to go up due to the recession, with fear of inflation, then what were you waiting for?  It may just be a wash.  Lower prices + higher rates = Unnecessary money paid out in rent, because they waited, and could have owned? I did a little research myself to see if homes today truly are affordable here in Melbourne Florida locate...
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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.)
Here in Melbourne and Palm Bay Florida in Brevard County for a couple of months we were faced with horrible fires.  We just weren't getting enough rain to saturate the ground.  But, over the past month we have received very heavy thunderstorms each afternoon, bringing buckets full of rain.  Today, we are looking at an 80% chance of rain due to a slow moving storm system hanging over our area.  We are also feeling the remnants of Tropical Storm Bertha. At this time of year, we love the rainfall, as July is typically our dry time, making us suspectible to brush fires. Afternoon Thunderstorm Rolling In      
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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.)
Buyer Incentives, Are they Effective?  Free car, free boat, free furniture...just buy this house. Catchy idea...or is it?  Here, in Melbourne Florida the Brevard County Real Estate Market, sellers and REALTORS have again shifted gears.  Their goal is to keep pace with our competitive, ever changing real estate market.  So, some are advertising buyer incentives.  They are offering something of "value" to entice a client to buy a specific home.  Today, REALTORS know they must do everything to make their property listings appear "different" from similar homes offered for sale.  So, they're advertising free sailboats, cars, furniture and more.  Some builders have been offering free swimming pools.  If a buyer likes a house, and the builder is offering a free pool, that may be enough of an e...
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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.)
I love the zoo. The Brevard Zoo is located here in Melbourne Florida and is about 10 minutes from my home and just minutes off the Wickham Road exit of I-95. I love going to see all of the exotic animals, riding in the canoes and my favorite thing has to be seeing the new babies that are born at the zoo. Currently the Brevard Zoo here in Melbourne Florida has new red wolf babies.  This baby has beautiful piercing blue eyes.* They also have a new baby Chilean pudu or better known to us as a tiny deer.*   The Brevard Zoo's mission is to provide top care to the animals. To provide opportunities for it's guests to experience nature.  They provide learning experiences for Brevard County Public schools, through field trips.  They support research projects locally and abroad. *These pictures ...
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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.)
Okay, I have been a landlord here in Melbourne Florida located in Brevard County Florida since 1996.  Owning several rental properties, I have pretty much seen and heard it all, until last week! My tenant here in Melbourne Florida called me to tell me that she needed to talk to my husband and me.  So, we took the time to go to see her.  Let me start by saying she is a very,very sweet lady.  I like her very much and she has been a great tenant.  She takes care of the property and pays her rent on time.   She said 'I have been afraid to tell you this because I was afraid you would think I am crazy!' I couldn't imagine what she had to tell us.  'Well, she continued, 'your house is haunted.  You have ghosts here!'  What did you say?  She went on to tell us that our rental house has had ghos...
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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.)
Well, I almost fell out of my shoes the other day when I opened the mailbox.  I couldn't believe my husband was getting an invitiation to his 30 year class reunion at Satellite High School here in Brevard County. We've lived in Melbourne Florida for nearly 40 years, now.  30 years have passed already? Are you sure?  No, it can't be... I had to stop and think for a minute...1978..2008, okay, I'll bite. The numbers added up.  Now, I must admit, he graduated a couple of years earlier than I did.  But, still....unbelievable!  It has been 30 years since high school graduation?  It seems like yesterday.  Where does time go?  How did we get here? We started reminiscing about the past, with our teenage daughters.  We decided to go to the reunion website...and through the photo albums on the si...
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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.)
Well, here I am again...bragging about Brevard County Schools.  So often, buyers ask me about the quality of schools here in Melbourne Florida.  Parents and caregivers are always interested in knowing their children will be attending top rated schools within a community. I am always pleased to sing praises of our Brevard County School System.  Here in Brevard all schools received at least a grade of an A or B, for the first time in 10 years! 90% of Brevard's 91 schools received A's!  This is the third year in a row that all 12 of Brevard's middle schools received an A! Brevard County Schools with a letter grade A were tied for second best schools in the state!  Incredible! We are absolutely tickled with this news! This year more schools earned grades of A's or B's in Florida than in pre...
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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.)
Today, the same question keeps coming up with owners that are interested in selling their homes.  If I can't sell it, should I rent it?  Well, every situation is different.    There are so many factors an owner must take into consideration today,,, and some of these must be answered with the help of a REALTOR... What is the reason you are selling? Are you up to date on the mortgage payments? Can you continue to comfortably make payments on the home? And for how long? When did you purchase the home?  Did you buy at the peak of the market in 2005? What necessary items must be addressed to make the home market ready? Are you in a position to realistically price the home to sell as soon as possible? Are you willing to make your home the most competively priced home in your area in order to ...
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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.)
I love watching the sunset, especially when I can see a view like this only 3 miles away from my home. I take my bike along a beautiful scenic road to this breathtaking spot. These pictures were taken at Lake Washington Park in North Melbourne, Florida here in Brevard County Florida, off of Lake Washington Road.
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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.)
 Today, in various parts of the country, home sellers are having a difficult time moving their homes off the market as quickly as they would like to.  Some areas are experiencing an overabundance of homes on the market.  So, sellers are offering buyers incentives, such as paying a buyers closing costs and/or prepaids, offering painting, carpeting or remodeling allowances or throwing furniture into the sale.  Some owners are agreeing to owner financing or holding the mortgage for the new buyers.  But, what happens when all of these incentives still don't bring a buyer? Well, what about house swapping?  Some homeowners are now opting to swap their property with another owner/family. These swaps are handled much in the same way as a regular sale. Appraisals, inspections, and surveys are be...
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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.)
Happy 4th of July!  It truly doesn't get any better than this!  Today is the day to celebrate our country's independence and be proud of the fact that we live in such a great country!  But, it is also time to spend time with our family, go the beach, barbeque and later watch the fireworks! Well, here in Brevard County Florida we have some great spots to spend the day fishing.  But, always the reminder: the fish run at high tide, so that's the best time to go!  So, today we decided to spend the afternoon on South Melbourne Beach located at Spessard Holland Beach.  When we picked up bait from the local bait shop, the owner told us that a father and son had already caught 40 fish today!  We were astonished! The weather was beautiful, not too hot, the skies were a bit overcast and the surf ...
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By Teri Eno, Melbourne FL Homes
(RE/MAX Alternative, Melbourne FL)
Patriotism is alive and well in Melbourne, FL.  Our annual Independence Day barbeque is such a treat.  We're fortunate to enjoy a location directly across the river from our city's annual fireworks display.   We have front row seats to the biggest show in town on the 4th of July!  Friends gather to enjoy the warm summer evening, good food and great music.  When the fireworks begin our music turns to patriotic favorites.   All ages sing along as they watch the show.  The crowning moment of the evening comes when the entire group jumps to its feet for the National Anthem.  This demonstration of pride and patriotism sends chills up my spine.  What a joyous reminder of pride in our country and our freedoms.  I'm so proud to be an American.  Happy Independence Day!
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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.)
I love living in beautiful Melbourne Florida in Brevard County, because we have such gorgeous beaches. We only live 10 minutes away. Today, my family and I decided to go surf fishing on Melbourne beach Florida.  The sky was a bit overcast, the waves may have been a bit too high for a good day of fishing, but the breeze was beautiful and it wasn't real hot. We figured we would give fishing a try anyway. It seems that my 13 year old daughter typically does quite well fishing.  But, when I catch something it is usually a boot, a plastic or paper bag, seaweed, a blow fish or the like. And today was no exception.  I felt the pull on my line, and when I first started reeling it in I thought it was a stingray because of the motion in which it was trying to swim.  But, the tail puzzled me at b...
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By Dennis Handa
(Florida Real Estate Network)
Melbourne Historically, the place that gives this entire area its “name” is Melbourne, the oldest and best-known community on what Floridians call the “Space Coast”. Melbourne is right in the center of a long north-south corridor – coastal Brevard County – that is sandwiched between the St. Johns River Basin to the West and the Atlantic Ocean. It stretches from Palm Bay and other smaller communities in the south through Melbourne, West Melbourne, and Melbourne Village in central Brevard to Viera, Cocoa and Titusville in the north. And it includes a half dozen beach communities on one long, fabulous barrier island stretching from Sebastian Inlet to Cape Canaveral. This “greater Melbourne” is one of the most rapidly growing residential areas in Florida, and it currently boasts the fifth ...
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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.)
Is this it?  Is this the turn in the market that we have been warning buyers about? Are interest rates heading up?  Is it truly time for buyers to get off the fence and take that step to buy NOW before rates go up? This week the Federal Reserve opted not to cut the Fed Funds Rate again.  In the past, a cut in the Fed Funds rate often times was followed by a drop in mortgage interest rates.  However, that has just not always been the case, recently, as there has been so much money lost in all sectors of the banking and real estate industry.  We have seen rates sometimes fluctuating on a daily basis. But, what about the Fed's decision this week?  The Fed has been aggressively cutting interest rates, hoping to avoid recession.  They opted to not cut the Fed funds rate at all. What does thi...
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