Melbourne Real Estate News, Brevard County Florida by Sandy Shores Melbourne FL Realtor

I have seen the current economy take it's toll on some of my tenants here in Brevard County Florida.  A couple have been laid off. Some have had hours cut at work, Some have lost their jobs.  Good things happen to good people.  Some have less than desirable spending habits.  Regardless, of what the issue is...some rents, from some tenants, are becoming a bit more difficult to collect.

So, we have been setting up payment plans with our own tenants. Some can afford to pay $200 a week, while they've got the money in their hand, rather than wait to gather a full $800 for the month.  Some cannot get the full amount together, as it is a bit too tempting to have that all at once, and they're afraid they'll spend it. Some are better with their finances than others.  In some situations, depending on the individual tenant, I will agree to take payments, that suit their lifestyle, that will work best with their pay periods.

Let me qualify this by saying I will NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES ACCEPT PARTIAL PAYMENTS FROM A TENANT IN MOVING INTO A PROPERTY I HAVE.  I also will not accept partial payments from a tenant that has not rented from me for a period of time. I must know them and feel comfortable with setting up such an arrangement. I will also say, in taking payments I will not allow one month to flow over into another month.

However, landlords must be cautious, as in some states, if you accept a partial rent payment from a tenant, and they do not come up with the rest of the rent, you cannot begin eviction proceedings until the beginning of the next rent payment due date, ie; after the first of the next month (or whatever due date your lease specifies). So, you can lose time in an eviction. And, time is of the essence to a landlord in an eviction.

First, check the laws in your state before agreeing to partial payments. Accepting partial payments can put you in a precarious position, if you're not careful. For me, I only set up a payment plan with tenants that  have been renting from me for over 2 years. BUT REMEMBER, THIS IS NOT ALWAYS THE BEST OPTION FOR EVERYONE! Do your homework FIRST!

Fortunate for me, I have not yet had to evict a tenant that is on a payment plan. (There's a first time for everything in the rental business, I know.) It may sound a bit ironic, but I have found that the ones that set up a payment plan are not the ones getting evicted. It's the ones that don't care, that don't bother to set up a plan, that don't or can't pay.

As a landlord or property manager, have you noticed a shift in the market with your tenants?

Do you take payments from your tenants?

This article is authored by Sandy Shores, Melbourne FL REALTOR.

South Brevard County, Florida Space Coast.

We are hearing that there are new scams cropping up daily.  It seems that every difficult situation, becomes more difficult with the threat of someone 'trying to help' or 'trying to bailout' the person in trouble. And, often times these are scammers trying to take your hard earned money right out of your hands.

Well, now we are hearing that with all the recent bank closures, past customers are receiving official looking letters indicating that they should discontinue sending their credit card payments and mortgage payments to the previous address in which they were mailing them, and mail them to a new post office box address.

STOP before you do this! 

These letters are not always legitimate.  Some of these phony letters are providing phony addresses.

Often times it's fraud. 

Check with the old lender and check with the new lender before sending anything at all. 

BE SURE YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHERE YOUR MONEY IS GOING!

This article is authored by Sandy Shores, Melbourne FL REALTOR.

South Brevard County, Florida Space Coast.

Yesterday, my daughters and I headed out to Lake Washington here in Melbourne Florida.  We try and catch the sunset every chance we can, because no two sunsets are ever the same. 

We watched as the airboats came screeching in - you can hear them for miles around.

And we watched the crowds gather to catch a glimpse of the miracle of the sun fading into the horizon.

We live only 5 minutes from Lake Washington, so often we get on our bicycles and ride there.

We felt blessed to have been fortunate enough to have caught such an incredible sunset this particular evening.

This article is authored by Sandy Shores, Melbourne FL REALTOR.

South Brevard County, Florida Space Coast.

It never fails.  I take only a few weekend trips away during the year, and usually one summer vacation for a week.  Not much time away, really.  Under normal circumstances, I am available to my buyers, sellers and soon to be customers.  The phone may not ring for a couple of days at a time, as much as I hate to admit.

But, plan a trip out of town for just two days, and everyone needs something THAT very weekend! (Now, mind you, I'm not complaining.  Customers are great! Without them, I wouldn't be in the real estate business. They put food on my table.)

WHY? Why does this happen everytime I'm going away for a couple of days? 

AND usually, they don't want to wait! That want to see me during the time I'll be gone.

Do they just know that I'm leaving?

Do they just want to test my loyalty to them?  Hmmmmmmmm....interesting.

I have never taken a weekend trip, nor a week long trip without FIRST being SLAMMED with phone calls of people needing me during the period of time that I will be gone. I usually find myself asking if they can wait till I get back.  When they say they can't wait...I've had other agents fill in for me, while I'm gone, which I really don't care to do.

Years ago, I resolved myself to the fact that I would not let my business negatively effect my family time.  And, I don't. So, sometimes it takes me 5 days to prepare to get ready to go away for 2 days. UGH!

Does this happen to you?

This article is authored by Sandy Shores, Melbourne FL REALTOR.

South Brevard County, Florida Space Coast.

Well, I was back at the pet store today, looking for another bag of dog food for my boxer, Bailey.  At the beginning of the month I bought a 40 lb bag from another store, after I broke a bag all over the floor of the store.  It wasn't a pretty sight.

My boxer has a very sensitive stomach and once I find the proper organic food for him, I stay with it.  But, after a short period of time, it seems that they discontinue making that kind.  I don't know why, but they do. So, the most recent bag I bought was the closest thing I could find to what Bailey used to eat. But, it made him sick.

So, I was headed into a different pet store, Pet Supermarket, to find a dry food with no animal by products in it, and no dried beet pulp. I had previously narrowed down the brands and I knew that I would only be reviewing the labels of a couple of different brands.

I wasn't in the store for 2 minutes, before an employee asked if he could help me.  I told him I wanted a holistic/organic dry food and if he could just show me what they had, then I would read the labels myself.  The employee, Lee, walked me through the bags of food, and read each label with me.  He was very patient with me.  We spent 20 minutes reading labels.

I picked an organic brand.  And then Lee told me, if this food does not agree with your dog, within 10 days of purchasing it, bring the unused portion back, and we will exchange it for something else.  Well, I was tickled.  This was perfect for me, as my dog cannot eat many types of food.

Often times I find that stores today have forgotten that the customer is supposed to be #1.

I walked out of the store feeling satisfied.  The customer service I was provided was A+.  And, their customer satisfaction policy obviously was A+ also. It was nice and refreshing switch from some of the stores we visited over the holidays!

Hopefully, Bailey is 100% satisfied also!

This article is authored by Sandy Shores, Melbourne FL REALTOR.

South Brevard County, Florida Space Coast.

There are so many reasons to love living here in Melbourne Florida. My daughters and I like to walk across the Eau Gallie Causeway as often as we can, for beautiful views of the Indian River Lagoon. It takes about 35 minutes to go from one side to the other and back again. It would probably take less if I hadn't been stopping to take so many pictures.

We just came from from our walk and it is nice a cool outside, the weather couldn't be more perfect.

This article is authored by Sandy Shores, Melbourne FL REALTOR.

South Brevard County, Florida Space Coast.

It is at this time of year that we don't eat right, don't get enough sleep and let our exercise program fall by the wayside. 

So, my question is, What Are You Doing For You?

When was the last time you went to the doctor and had a checkup?

When was the last time you had blood work done to see if you are healthy? See if your glucose levels are correct? If your cholesterol is okay? If your blood work is indicating that you are healthy?

Did you know that some healthcare facilities offer low cost health screenings?

I just had blood work completed to check on protein levels, iron, glucose, lipids, cholesterol and more. It was a complete blood history for only $30.00 at a local health care lab, with a 20 page summary outlining my current state of health based on the findings.

Do you currently exercise at least five days a week?

Are you a smoker?

Do you drink?

Do you eat healthy?

This is the time of year to get focused and concentrate on what you are going to do for you in the upcoming year.

No better way to start 2009 than on the right foot; eating right, staying healthy, exercising and losing that extra weight.

Best wishes!

This article is authored by Sandy Shores, Melbourne FL REALTOR.

South Brevard County, Florida Space Coast.

From our family to yours...

Thanking all of you for such a wonderful year here on Active Rain. 

I have learned so much here.

I have met so many wonderful people. So, many here have touched my heart.

I thank you for everything you all have shared and I thank all of you for allowing me to be a part of your lives.

I appreciate so much having a place where I can share my thoughts, my views, my experiences and sometimes my frustrations. 

I thank all of you who come to visit my blog and take time to share your comments on my posts. This helps give me greater insight and helps to broaden my thinking.

I love it here on Active Rain. Active Rain is like no other networking site that I have been a part of. I feel so blessed to be here!

I wish all of you a beautiful Christmas!

-Sandy Shores

This year, for Christmas I am reflecting on the year past, as I always do. I am looking at my successes, as well as my failures.  After all, we learn from our mistakes, not from our successes.  It is from those that we must adapt our way of doing things, so as not to follow a negative pattern.  We must move forward and leave those mistakes behind.

This year has been a trying year, full of many ups and downs. This is one of those years that at one point I felt as if I was being 'tested' to see how much I could endure.  Our family has faced terminal illness, long term marital breakup and struggling economic times (as so many other families have). 

We have learned to adapt, adjust, have grown stronger and learned to stand taller. For every downside, there is an upside. For every negative there is a positive. 

ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING DURING THE DOWN TIMES!

We must remain focused on the bright light at the end of the tunnel, to get through trying times.  We must look at the big picture and not get stuck on the little things that mean nothing.

Because, sometimes life gets in the way of living.

It is through the difficult times that we can find ourselves easily pulling away from each other.  But, we must realize that during these times we need each other more than ever.  Our families have been there for us, with us, and beside us through thick and thin and they always will be.

I am so blessed with a family where we can share our strength and be each other's support systems. 

When one of us has lost our focus and fallen, at one time or another, we have learned to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and move ahead without looking back, with the help of the family. 

We must remember to "Bloom Where You Are Planted."

So, for all of you on this holiday season, I wish you and your family all the best.

And remember, when the going gets tough, the tough get going. 

"Merry Christmas to All and to All A Good Night"

This article is authored by Sandy Shores, Melbourne FL REALTOR.

South Brevard County, Florida Space Coast.

My 16 year old daughter, Stephanie wrote a letter to her Grandpa this Christmas.  This is the first year that Grandpa will not be able to be here spending Christmas with us.  So, Stephanie wanted to let him know how much he means to her.

She knows that he takes the time to read my blogs. So, she thought it would be special to express her feelings here... just one more reason that I love being here on Active Rain! We can reach out and touch the ones that are near and dear to us!

Dear Grandpa,

I thought I would take the time to write to tell you how wonderful I think that you are.  I know that there is not a single grandpa in the world like you.

How did I get so lucky?

Over the past 16 years I have learned so much from you.  You have taught me so many things while working at the rental houses we own.  I enjoy it when you, Dad, Mom, Sam and I work together to get a house ready for the next tenant.  There are so many things to get done and you help me learn how to do things I never knew how to do before.

I can't imagine having grown up without you in my life. 

Grandpa, you are amazing and wonderful in so many ways.  I love you more than words can express.

Merry Christmas, Grandpa. I miss you!

Love, Stephanie

This article is authored by Sandy Shores, Melbourne FL REALTOR.

South Brevard County, Florida Space Coast.