Melbourne Real Estate News, Brevard County FL Real Estate by Sandy Shores REALTOR®

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 few days you will receive an "official" non-renewal notice on your property policy.  You have a minimum of six months from the date of the non-renenwal notice before the property policy is non-renewed..."

We had heard that this was coming.

A couple of years ago, State Farm cancelled policies on the beachside.  I don't have any rentals near the beach, they are on the mainland.  However, they also cancelled everything that was within one mile of the Indian River Lagoon.  So, we had 6 rental policies cancelled. We had to find insurance elsewhere... more expensive insurance.

I'm hoping that this will be the last one of these letters that I receive.

FOOTNOTE:  A week later, I received 5 more cancellation letters on my rentals. UGH!

Sandy Shores REALTOR®,Melbourne 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.

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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 that you might need for a day in the sun. This location includes a resort called the Ron Jon Cape Caribe Resort.

Ron Jons has stores throughout the world including Canada and Mexico. It's Florida locations can be found in Sunrise, Key West and Panama City Beach Florida.  They have one in Myrtle Beach South Carolina.  They also operate stores in various airports including Orlando International, Miami International and Tampa International. Ron Jon is also located in Cozumel, Mexico.

Ron Jon is a tourist attraction in and of itself. It has become so popular that over 2 million people from around the world visit it each year.  Now that's pretty amazing!

Ron Jon has community events with bands, music and often big name surfers.

Ron Jon is located at the corner of Highway A1A and State Road 520. It's hard to miss.

A visit to Cocoa Beach isn't complete without a trip to Ron Jons.

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.

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,

Termite tubes - These thin mud tubes can often be found coming up from the ground at the base of your home.  The termites tunnel their way through the tubes and congregate in a moist, damp environment somewhere in or around your home. Subs need moisture and can be found anywhere there is a source of moisture.  We see them along the base of homes, in windowsills and frames, in shower stalls behind tile, and under kitchen and bathroom sinks.

Swarmers - these are typically the drywood termites. In the springtime often you'll find small winged termite bodies laying on the floor or around windowsills.  They are looking for a place to build a colony.

Wood-Some old rotted wood, laying around your home, may be full of termites.  You can see the hollowing out of the wood. 

Dirt around baseboards or windowsills - often you can find termite "dirt".  They usually carry bits of dirt with them.   

Check your mulch - Mulch is conducive to termites. Pull your mulch back away from your home.

For more information on termites check here.

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.

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 the price should be.  I asked what the "out the door price" for two tires would be.  He gave me the price.  Great.  They would be finished in an hour. Great. And they would do a 21 point inspection for free. Great again.

I left my van, which I know my husband never does. He likes to watch to see what they're doing.

I got a call in 45 minutes from the nice fellow at the front desk.  He told me they had found some problems with my van.

Here it comes, I thought.  This is the reason I don't like to take my vehicle in to these places.

He told me that 'while we've got your van up on the rack, your front tire is starting to show wear so we should go ahead and align your tires.'

And, since I was getting on the road today, I needed to get brakes, today. The computer was indicating they were in the caution/danger zone. 

Hmmmm.

"Where do I need brakes?"  'On the front.' 

"What does it need?" 'It needs new brake pads and new rotors.'

My van is 3 years old and has less than 35,000 miles on it.   I'm no mechanic, but I did grow up around people rebuilding cars, motorcycles, vans, boats, you name it. So, I do know a little something about them. And, I know what bad brakes feel like and I hadn't heard the brakes chirping or squeaking.  When I was much younger, I remember driving cars where we almost had to slam our foot through the floor board, like Fred Flinstone to get the car to stop.

"How much?" I asked.  'New brakes are $169. New rotors are $79 each.' 

"What about labor?" I didn't let him answer. "I have to make a call and I'll call you back."

I called my friend of 35 years with an automotive repair shop.  He does all of my automotive work for me (except tires and oil changes).   He told me what I suspected, it would be highly unlikely that I would need new rotors at this point. If there was a problem it was likely that the rotors could be re machined at $16 each. He told me to bring the van in and he would take a look at it.

I called the tire place back, and asked the nice fellow, "did you say that I need new rotors?"  He didn't hesitate, 'Oh, my mistake, I misunderstood the guy in the garage.  I couldn't read his writing. You don't need rotors.'

 Unbelievable!

"Just put the tires on my van,  I'm on my way to pick it up."

I went in, paid the quoted price for my tires and left. 

I wasn't going to waste my breath trying to argue with a place that does business like that.

I wondered, how many people don't question these guys when they bring their car in for a set of tires and they walk out with things they don't need?

It makes me nauseous.

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.

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 deed in lieu of foreclosure.

I was shocked to hear that over 50% of homeowners that went into foreclosure last year did not know about the options and the programs that were available to them.

Attendees today took a test at the end of the day, and are required to watch 3 webinars within the next couple of days to receive their certification.

When I finish with the program I feel that it will be a tremendous help in helping homeowners of distressed properties.

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.

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.

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.

This is an increase of 15.68% from February 2009 of 555 new listings.

There were 228 sold listings.

This is an 14.61% decrease from February 2009 of 267 sold listings.

The average sale price in February 2010 was $137,888. 

This is a decrease of 7.74% from February 2009 of $149,548.

Average days on the market were 131, a 24.76% increase from February 2009 of 105 days.

Types of financing used for single family, condos, and townhouses:

  67 conventional financing

142 cash

 55 FHA

 13 VA

  0 Exchanges

  2 Owner financing

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 that can facilitate your Short Sale.

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

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 through Thursday, 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM Friday, 12 Noon to 11:00 PM Saturdays and 12 Noon to 10:00 PM on Sundays

Prices for fair admission are $8.00 (includes rides) Sunday to Thursday and $10.00 (includes rides) Friday and Saturday

See you at the fair!

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

Brevard County, Florida's Space Coast Real Estate & Investing

I specialize in Residential, Investment & Relocations. 

We have a team of professionals that can help facilitate your Short Sale.

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

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 just a building with four walls. It holds those precious moments for us; the good times, as well as the bad.  We learn to grow. It becomes a part of who we are.

Every home has a different smell, a different "feel" to it. Some are warm and homey, while others may seem cold and uninviting to an outsider. But, it's the place that we come back to (even if just in our memory).  Where we sit down and rest our head at the end of a long day. Where often times our pet greets us at the door. It's a place where we can be ourselves. It's a place where we can share our lives with those that love us.

So, often we see people that have become emotionally attached to their homes, because of all of the memories it holds. 

Today, I can still remember the warmth and love I felt when we went to my Grandma's home. The holidays were my favorite.  I could smell the big juicy turkey cooking in the oven, and the apple pies cooling on the stove. We would run across the street and play in the sand and stick our toes in the icy cold water of the ocean.  Grandma would  squeeze us as tight as she could (sometimes I thought I was going to break) and she would pinch our cheek till it turned a rosy red.  She would tell us not to forget how special we were. Today, the house is gone, replaced by a 5 star high rise hotel and parking lot, overlooking the gentle waves of the ocean lapping at the shore. But, I still remember the love I felt while being at Grandma's home. 

It's the love and the people in it that make a house a home.

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

Brevard County, Florida's Space Coast Real Estate & Investing

I specialize in Residential, Investment & Relocations. 

We have a team of professionals that can help facilitate your Short Sale.

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