Florida Homes and Condos for Sale: November 2009

Purchasing a home is not something one usually does every year or two.  So when it is time to buy or sell real estate it is probably a good time to make a list and stay on top of it. 

This is where your real estate agent comes in as most agents are really good with these lists!

Take jolly ole St. Nick as we approach the Christmas season. He has been doing this Christmas thing for years yet he is still "making a list and checking it twice!" {Had to get that in, please!}

The process of buying or selling a home is filled with opportunities to miss something. You do not get to the closing table by happenstance. It is a planned thing.

So, when you get ready to sell or buy that home in Brevard County, Florida, call me.  I have a great little list and I know some pretty good elves.  Enjoy the holidays.

You do not want to get caught wondering what you forgot!

If you lose your hard drive or drop your laptop, in this age, the salesman down at Best Buy may not have to twist your arm too badly to take that new bundle of joy home.

The same can be said for that Blackberry or I-phone... as one can not be without a phone!

Even a plumber can sell a repair pretty easily if your plumbing is backed up because your little helper decided to toss something down the toilet!

It is also a function of the REO/bank owned and short sale market in your local area as well.

The local area may be as narrow as your neighborhood such as Capron Trace in Viera Florida or as wide an entire city or county.

Real estate really is local!

Even in a buyer's market an appropriately priced home will sell!

If you are considering selling your home in Viera, Suntree, Rockledge or Cocoa Beach, Florida, call me to discuss how I may assist you.

This morning I read a post by Brandi Wells about equity I want a house with equity!... It got me to thinking of this post I had written on another blog about how some lost real money over the past several years by spending the real equity in their older, little houses.

The big house is not incarceration in the literal sense. But rather it is the bigger house some folks purchased several years ago when they tried to beat the big run up in home prices here in Brevard County, Florida.

Amazingly many people sold the old homestead to buy a bigger house.

This is not an attempt to affix blame on anyone.

The prices were escalating at such a rapid pace. The feeling was you had to jump in while you could still afford that “big house.” Thus, many cashed out for a nice profit.

Then they invested that nice profit.

And now, after the past few years, the mortgage is equal to what they owe.

At least they are not upside down.

But the lost real money (not imaginery paper equity), has vanished....like toilet paper in the outhouse!

Buying a house is a big decision. If you are a first time home buyer there are opportunities in this market. But have a plan before proceeding.

If you are a first time buyer in Brevard County Florida and have questions, I am available to answer your questions.

This article was originally posted on my blog Florida Homes for Sale.

Here in the Brevard County Florida area (Melbourne and Viera) home prices are really attractive. On top of that the lower (historically low) interest rates make the bargains even more enticing.

How long will interest rates stay low?  Not forever that is sure.  Joe Harris of Morgan Financial provides us with a good explanation of where we are and will be heading.  

Thanks, Joe.

It has got to say more than..."Hey, you! Yes, you! Call me!"

I received an inquiry yesterday from someone who had found me on ActiveRain.   This person was in search of information on 55+ communities in Viera, Florida - specifically Grand Isle and its sibling Heritage Isle.  

(Actually both communities were developed by Lennar Builders although a couple of other builders including Burgoon Berger and Tiffany Homes were also involved in the Heritage Isle undertaking.)

After playing phone tag I finally got a chance to discuss the 55+ communities in Viera.  We also discussed Indian River Colony Club in Viera but that was dismissed pretty quickly as IRCC is an entirely resident owned not for profit corporation with more expense for the owner.

After obtaining her contact information I promised to mail her some information about the communities.  She will be making a trip here soon to look further.  

As I was about to hang up she let me know that she would only be working with me as her real estate agent in Viera, Florida.

The reason, in her words, "I provide information and don't just say ..."Hey, you! Yes, you! Call me!"  

That means a lot because here on ActiveRain when someone contacts you there is tangible proof that your efforts are not fruitless!

Is it a 55+ community in Melbourne, Florida or a 55+ community in Viera, Florida?

It is Heritage Isle - Brevard County, Florida's premier 55+ community and it is located in the planned unit development of Viera. And the mailing address is indeed Melbourne, Florida.

So, either way - it is the same place!

Right now there are about 25 active single family units for sale and about a dozen condo units on the market. That is plenty of choice for anyone looking for a new home in Heritage Isle!

Prices range from about $145,000 to almost $400,000. Plenty of choice in that range although most homes can be found in the $200-230,000 range. Also, there is still a chance to purchase new construction in Heritage Isle.

If you are just starting your research on Florida 55+ communities here are a few links to previous articles I have written.

• Heritage Isle - the premier 55+ gated community in Brevard County, Florida

• There is a difference between 55+ community living

• How does one choose a 55+ community?

For information on Heritage Isle, Grand Isle or Indian River Colony Club in Viera, Florida, contact me at agent@moving2brevard.com or call me directly at 321-693-3850.

This post was orignally posted at:

55+ Communities in Melbourne, Florida

As I walk every morning I have come to expect to see some some scary things.  I am amazed at times over what people will (or will not wear) when they take the trash out in the early morning hours.  I wonder if they forgot that the time change last week makes it daylight earlier!

One man around the corner always calls my dog a bulldog although he is a Boston Terrier!

And then there is older gentleman down the street who I fiirst met as he was shuffling down the driveway to get his newspaper.

I offered to bring it to him but he snarled in a friendly way instead.

Now I see it as my challenge to circle the block before he makes it down the drive and back in the house - a race I usually win!

Just as he declined my offer of assistance so do many FSBO (for sale by owner) sellers.

Some folks are independent and want to do everything for themselves.  I can understand this for some FSBO sellers.  Some do succeed - 15% according to some surveys.

Some eventually decide it is not worth the hassle and call a real estate professional.

In the Viera, Rockledge and Suntree areas of Brevard County, Florida I have been fortunate to work with several FSBOs. I have some FSBO reference materials which I gladly give them in the interim.

If they need me, I am there - just as I will gladly walk the gentleman's newspaper up the drive to him if he asks.

If you are buying or selling a home or condo in Brevard County, Florida, call.  If you are a "FSBO" in Viera, Suntree or Cocoa Beach - anywhere in Brevard County - call me!

This is not my 900th post on this blog but it is a summary of my 900th post on one of my other blogs.  This is nothing but plain old selfish self promotion here....

I saw a new listing with an obviously overly inflated price a couple of days ago. The MLS entry read "This is not a short sale." My thought "then it darn well better be a dream!"

My posts are sometimes characterized as having very little humor or sarcasm with lots of information or very little information with lots of humor or sarcasm. [I guess they reflect who I really am!]

More importantly though is I have generated lots of business from these blogs. They are part of my marketing efforts as a real estate agent in Brevard County Florida.

This is post number 900 on this blog! I have been trying to think of something really intriguing to write.

Then I got a headache.

Then I thought..maybe a few of my older posts were ready for new life.

Like If you don't care if your home sells, who will? where I said "I can not overemphasize this point.....buyers will know how much you care about your home. Your presentation as someone who takes pride in your home will influence your potential buyer."

Or in a May 2007 post titled A market report for the pessimist where I summed it up as "My simple market report? Homes for sale - Bunches; Homes Sold - Not a lot; Opportunities available - Bunches."

And way back in March of 2006...around the ides of march (the 15th) I discussed Curb appeal is everything where I revealed (it really is not a secret) that "I have never sold or bought a home without going inside. If the yard is a potential cover for "Junkyard Monthly," get your act together."

So although this 900th post is not a home run (Go Phillies!) I hope it will kindle your interest if you are relocating to Brevard County Florida, selling or buying a Brevard County Florida home, or retiring to Viera, Florida.