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

The Brevard County Property Appraiser TRIM - Truth in Millage notices arrived in our mailboxes last week.  These proposals give  property owners the taxable value of their property.  They also provide an estimated value of taxes and proposed millage rates.

Often owners ask us how their taxes were determined. The property appraiser goes out to a property at least once every five years to determine a Brevard County property's appraised value. There are various ways of determining the value of a parcel. And, the appraisers website has a number of appraising tools accessible to the public.

It's important when you get your TRIM notice to double check to be sure that you are getting the property exemptions that you are entitled to.  Do some research and double check to be sure they are all accounted for.

Some owners are unhappy with fair market value noted on their proposed tax bill.   If you feel that the Brevard County Property appraiser has made an error in the market value of your property as of January 2010 contact the appraiser's office. 

Contact numbers for the Brevard County Property Appraiser are as follows:

Melbourne    321-255-4440

Palm Bay     321-952-4574

Viera           321-690-6880

Titusville      321-264-6700

Other areas  321-633-2199 x 6703

If the appraisers office cannot resolve a situation over value of your property an owner has until September 17, 2010 to file a petition of value.

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Last night was Satellite High School's pre season kickoff game and what a game it was! Friday night high school football is one of my favorite pastimes.   The Satellite Scorpions wiped the field with the Gateway Panthers.

In the past, Satellite High School football hasn't really been known for having a strong team. Although, last year was a much better year than they had in a long time.  Come on, what do you want?  The school is right across the street from the beach.  So, there are a lot of students that live to surf.

This year, the Scorpions have a number of new players from neighboring schools.  And, are we proud to have them on the Scorpion team.

Satellite High Scorpions beat the Gateway Panthers 48-7. The Scorpions played a strong offensive and defensive game.  The panthers scored their 7 points with less than a minute left in the 4th quarter of the game.

Funny, each time a touchdown is scored the cheerleaders have to drop and do the number of pushups on the scoreboard.  Well, there was a lot of fudging going on!  When the girls had to drop to do 35 push ups, it was interesting.  The remainder of the evening the Scorpion Cheerleaders shifted to doing jumping jacks.  We loved it - seeing the football team doing so well!

If last night was indicative of what we're going to see from the Satellite High School Football team, then it's going to be a phenomnal year!

Go Satellite High School Scorpions and Satellite Varsity Cheerleaders! You're all amazing!

A couple of days after I wrote this post, I received an email from Andrew Disney, Satellite's coach that is bringing life back into the Satellite High Scorpion Football Team.  He wrote:

Sandy,

Thanks for your kind words on your website supporting the Scorpions!

I hope to see you at a game soon.

Go Scorps!

Andrew Disney

Head Football Coach

Satellite High School

www.satellitefootball.com

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On Friday I woke up knowing that I had a dentist appointment.

I had 2 cavities that needed fillings.  Okay, so it had been a couple of years since my last visit.  One was very small and it was filled in no time.  But, the other cavity was in a tooth that I've had problems with over the years. "If you continue having problems, the next time it will be a root canal and a crown," the dentist said.  Uh oh, those dreaded words.

He pulled out a 6 inch needle.  Why do they always tell you to shut your eyes? I kept mine open.  Oh "it will feel just like a bee sting."  Great.  When was the last time you had a bee sting you on the inside of your mouth, not once, but twice? My mouth felt like it grew 3 sizes. He started the drill.  I cringed as he drilled and drilled and drilled some more.  With a mirror, a drill, a suction tube, a water hose and 2 hands in my mouth I was trying to swallow to keep from gagging.  But, he kept on drilling.  My fists were clenched tightly around the arms of the cold chair. And the sound of the drill was echoing in my head. After about 5 times of trying to gasp for air, from the water going down my throat, he stopped. Thank goodness.  Any longer he may have been wearing my breakfast in his lap. "I have to swallow," I said, "I was about to gag."  "What's the matter," he laughed, "don't you swim?"   "Sure I swim, but I don't swim while taking in gulps of water." I swallowed a couple of times and caught my breath. Ready for the next mouthful.

Finally, after what seemed like forever, he was finished. It couldn't have come soon enough. "Now this is a very big filling that was falling out, so it's going to be sensitive for a week or so."  Okay, I thought, just get me out of here.

The nice lady at the front desk told me to wait at least an hour before eating. She said with the numbness I could chew into the side of my mouth, without even realizing it. Okay, that's fair warning enough. So, I walked out of the dentist looking like a squirrel with nuts packed in my cheeks, ready for a long winter.

I tried to eat lunch, but I couldn't tell if I was chewing my ham sandwich and I sure couldn't swallow it.  I spilled my water down the front of my shirt several times, because I couldn't seem to keep my mouth on the glass.   So, I sat, at my desk, wiping the spittle from my chin, waiting for the numbness to fade. It was nearly 5 hours.

Thank goodness my outside appointments were earlier in the day.

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Brevard County Florida is located in the east central area of Florida halfway between Jacksonville and Miami. On the Atlantic Coast, we have some of the most beautiful beaches around! Brevard County Florida is 70 miles long, with 1557 square miles. 539 miles are home to the St. Johns River, the famous Indian River Lagoon and Banana Rivers, and our eastern edge major waterway, the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. 

Brevard County Florida's location can't be beat! John F. Kennedy Space Center is in our own backyard. Residents come from all over the world to view the breathtaking Cape Canaveral rocket launches and the NASA Space Shuttle launches. We also boast the Astronuat Hall of Fame where you learn all about the astronauts and the missions they took.  

Cruise ships set sail right here out of Cape Canaveral.  We are also home to The Maxwell C. King Center for the Performing Arts which features shows that come to us from all over the world. Don't forget to visit World Famous Ron Jon's Surf Shop right here in Cocoa Beach.

So, bring the family to visit Brevard County Florida.  There's something to do for everyone.

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According to the Melbourne Association of REALTORS® statistics are as follows for South Brevard County FL Real Estate:

Currently there are:

5286 residential listings for sale

1430 rental listings available

1417 condos for sale

 390 townhouses for sale

 109 income producing properties

2470 vacant parcels for sale

For all South Brevard County FL Real Estate, including single family residential, condo, townhouse and vacant lots:

There were 944 new listings.

There were 311 sold listings.

Average sales price was $141,125.

Highest price sold was $1,325,000.

Lowest price sold was $ 1,500.

Average days on the market were 119.

For July 2010 for single family residential units:

There were 689 new listings.

This is an increase of 20.88% from July 2009 of 570 new listings.

There were 256 sold listings.

This is an 30.43% decrease from July 2009 of 368 sold listings.

The average sale price in July 2010 was $138,134. 

This is a decrease of 15.70% from July 2009 of $163,869.

Average days on the market were 107, a 7.00% increase from July 2009 of 100 days.

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

159 cash

 81 conventional financing

 63 FHA

 16 VA

  0 Exchanges

  2 Owner financing

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I specialize in Residential, Investment and Relocations.

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Have you ever had one of those days where you felt like you'd been to H--- and back? 

Well, I've been there. And, here it is... it really exists...

And this is what Hell looks like in the Cayman Islands...

Hell is a series of black limestone formations in West Bay, Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands.  It is a very interesting place to visit as the formations stretch about the length of half a soccer field.  While we were viewing the rock formations one of the locals told us that many of the formations were well over 4 and 5 feet tall, until the Islands were hit with some of the storms that came through in 2004 and leveled them. What a shame!  It must have really been a sight to see!

There are different stories on how Hell got it's name. Some say that if you throw a rock into the middle of the limestone formations it has an odd echo as if it falling down the peaks and valleys all the way down to Hell.

Another version of the story is that a local official proclaimed one day, that 'this is what hell must look like.'

Hell is a favorite tourist spot as we all stopped to drop postcards to our friends, with the postmark of Hell on them.

Sandy Shores Realtor, Melbourne FL Real Estate

Brevard County Real Estate and Investing

I specialize in Residential, Investment and Relocations.

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I was out showing houses to investors today, when my buyer stumbled upon this outside electric meter inside a bedroom closet. Obviously, the bedroom was an addition to the property.  We wondered who stayed home each month to allow the meter reader to come in to read this electric meter.  We had never seen anything quite like it.

Sandy Shores Realtor, Melbourne FL Real Estate

Brevard County Real Estate and Investing

I specialize in Residential, Investment and 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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To kick off the new school year on Saturday, August 14 the Satellite Varsity Cheerleaders will have a car wash from 9:00 to 2:30. 

It will be held at Taco Bell at the corner of Scopion Ct and Highway A1A. 

Donations are $5.00.

The car wash is being held to help the girls defray costs of traveling to competition and to help pay for their competition uniforms.

So come on out on Saturday and get your cash washed.

We'll see you there!

Go Scopion Cheerleaders!

Sandy Shores Realtor, Melbourne FL Real Estate

Brevard County Real Estate and Investing

I specialize in Residential, Investment and 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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Summer vacation is officially over.  Monday was the first day back to school for Brevard County students. 

I know that many weren't ready to end their summer fun. 

My girls were looking forward to getting back into a regular routine.  And, oh what a routine it is, between dancing, cheerleading, bowling, hitting the gym for powerlifting and the track team I know that time will absolutely fly.

The older they get it seems the quicker time goes. 

This year my oldest daughter will be driving to school.  I have already seen the change it's brought to my life.  I love it and so does she! It's been incredible, because it frees me up to do so many more things.

So here's to another terrific year of school!

Here Stef and Sam were having fun trying on hats at Ron Jon Surf shop in Cocoa Beach.

Sandy Shores Realtor, Melbourne FL Real Estate

Brevard County Real Estate and Investing

I specialize in Residential, Investment and 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 no secret that the market has declined in our area.  It's down from the over inflated prices at the peak of the market in 2005-2006.  And, often that can be a very large pill to swallow for many homeowners. Many had their life savings invested in their homes and they have watched the value plummet over a period of years.  We have seen a bit of stabilization in the market.  But, a house is only worth what a ready, willing and able buyer is willing to pay for it, and not a penny more.

And, today buyers can be  tough.

Education is key in dealing with owners that are considering selling their home.  And, sometimes it takes longer to convince sellers that they are holding onto to yesterday's prices.  I understand their frustration.  But, a house has to appraise at today's value, based on comparable sales within the area.  It it doesn't appraise, 98% of the time it's not going to closing. The lender will refuse to do the mortgage and buyers and sellers will not be exchanging keys.

So, as a Realtor, going out on listing appointments, it's common to hear the justifications as to why an owner feels that their house is worth more than similar homes in the area.

Some people play the lottery.  Some gamble in Vegas. Some lose money in the stock market.  And, some may blow money on frivilous purchases, but people don't want to lose money on the sale of their home.  It's human nature.  And, you can't blame them.

We hear a seller's views on the sales prices of homes in their area:

Mine is bigger and newer than the one down the street.

I have top of the line appliances.

Oh, they had that big dog that barked all the time and scared people, so they took a huge loss.

We put so much more money into ours than they did.

That house down the street was a mess.

Do you know how much this carpeting cost us?

But, my house faces east, and that one faced north. And, we all know that east is better for the ocean breezes..

They never did anything to that house.

But, I paid extra for my window treatments.

Oh, they were getting a divorce, so they gave their house away.

But, I have a nicer fireplace than they did.

But, I have 20 year paint on my house.

But, I just finished putting $10,000 in landscaping out front.

That house was a hideous color.

Theirs sold so low because they were both smokers.

That house in the front of the neighborhood, and everyone drives past it. That's why it sold low.

Oh, they never kept their grass and bushes trimmed.

The neighbor has had his on the market for 9 months at $250,000.  I want to get what he's getting.

Oh boy, if I were a seller in this market, I can imagine how many of these things I might be saying.  It's tough.  We all want the most out of our property that we can get.

Realtors don't create the market. We can only interpret it. 

But, in today's market don't get caught chasing the market.  A seller will get less money on a property if he starts too high on his list price. Some think 'price high, they can always make an offer.'  Well, unfortunately, they don't always make an offer. 

Homes priced realistically are more likely to get an offer close to market value than homes priced high.  If a house gets stale on the market after several months, nobody wants it and then buyers wonder what's wrong with it.  And believe me, smart buyers are doing their research today and they know exactly how long a house has been sitting on the market.  The price later has to be slashed to get it to market value or below and many times the sellers take a beating on the price. 

What does a large retailer do when merchandise isn't selling?  They eventually slash the price to get it off the shelves. 

It's not any different with real estate.

Sandy Shores Realtor, Melbourne FL Real Estate

Brevard County Real Estate and Investing

I specialize in Residential, Investment and 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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