For those of you looking for a Space Coast run, here are a couple of fun ones for you.The 2015 Turtle Krawl will be held on September 12th between 7:30 and 8:30am. ( TurtleKrawl.com )This run is a fun 5k that is held in Indialantic  and starts in James Nance Park then meanders through Indialantic By the Sea...ending up back by the park.All proceeds benefit the Sea Turtle Preservation Society so come on out and show your support!The Publix Florida Marathon and 1/2 Marathon will be held February 6th and 7th 2016 in Melbourne, FL( TheFloridaMarathon.com ) and will include a 5k and an 8k. This is a Boston Marathon qualifier race. This is a difficult course that takes you on waterfront and over bridges!Go to the websites I included for both runs and register! Both are great events with great... 09/09/2015

This stunning home located on the Indian River with breathtaking panoramic views of the Intracoastal Waterway has closed for $1,050,000.   Completely re-built in 2013, this gorgeous home has 4 bedrooms and 3 and a half baths with over 3,400 square feet.        My buyers, immediately connected with this home and the way that it was designed and decorated.   If Here's to many happy years sitting on the dock, sipping wine and watching the dolphins play off the end of the dock. If you have any questions about any of the great homes available on Florida's beautiful Space Coast, please do not hesitate to call me at 321-626-5868.  I would love to help you find your dream home too! 09/03/2015

OK, I admit it, I absolutely love sushi. I love rolls, sashimi, unagi and even fresh, sweet uni. So, I thoroughly enjoyed my dinner on Saturday night at Toyo Sushi and Asian Grill  in Suntree. The word TOYO  means "plentiful" in Japanese. I was introduced to Toyo Sushi and Asian Grill  by  three of my Buddhist friends that are Japanese and frequent this place often. Keiko and Joanie said the bento boxes that they ordered were wonderful. The tempura looked fabulous and Keiko assured me it was authentic.                                                                                Marie and I sampled many of the different sushi items on the menu. The maguro was fresh and supple. The samon skin roll was SO flavorful that at first Marie and I thought that there was bacon in the roll! The i... 08/11/2015

Living in Florida on the Space Coast, we have some obvious attractions. Two of the top attractions are boating and fishing!If you live here and own a boat you will be able to get out on our rivers and ocean whenever you have free time, but if you are visiting or do not have a boat at your disposal the answer...Easy Boat Rental!Easy Boat Rental is a locally owned business that has a fleet of boats available for day rentals...all at prices starting at only $150! Boats are available for both river or offshore boating.Call owner Brian Barber at 321.446-1227 for a reservation. He makes it easy to get out on the water and come back with a big load of fish...or just a fun day boating out on water! 07/27/2015

 This home, located on the Indian River was expertly constructed with classic finishes and is impeccably maintained. The home was completely rebuilt in 2013.      857  Indian River Dr was thoughtfully designed and totals more than 3,500 square feet. This completely redone riverfront home has 4 bedrooms, 3 full baths, and a half bath in the pool cabana. Custom millwork is featured throughout, and scenic river views are realized from most rooms.      We watched dolphins play in the river just off the dock when we were there. Just some of the many amenities that is stunning home offers are hurricane impact resistant windows, 2 tank less water heaters, a complete sound system, two A/C units, a mini split A/C in the garage and a new metal roof.      My buyers are relocating from Sidney, Aust... 07/23/2015

You should consider the hiring of an agent as a job interview...why should you hire that agent to work for you?I would like to apply for the job here on the Space Coast:Here are my qualifications:1. I have been in sales for 33 years: I have learned in that time how to properly negotiate a win-win scenario for my clients...without making the person on the other side of the transaction feel as if they just got taken for a ride. Remember, once we have arrived at an acceptable price we have inspections and closing to worry about. When everyone leaves the closing table feeling good I will be satisfied. I have a full understanding of all contracts and addenda so nothing will get slipped by you!2. I am an Internet and Online Real Estate Expert: Approximately 95% of all buyers go to the Interne... 07/16/2015

Today, sellers want top dollar for their homes and often not all buyers want to pay their price. I can't say that I blame either one of them.  But,  you can bet there’s someone out there that is willing to pay more than you for a house.The real estate market is cyclical, so it’s ever changing. We’re always adapting and changing with it. When the inventory is low, prices increase. And, we end up in multiple offer situations with several buyers going after the same house. I recently wrote an article about Brevard homebuyers not having much time to make a decision on a house. And, that’s true. The good houses go first… sometimes in days, sometimes even in hours of hitting the MLS.Remember, it only takes one buyer to purchase one house. And, often there is a buyer out there that is willing ... 07/15/2015

This morning I had breakfast with a friend and we were talking about the importance of having balance in our lives. That’s something I’m not very good at. When I’m not working, we are working on one of our rental houses or we have a project going on at home. That’s just something we’ve always done.  My friend reminded me that when we work hard, it's important to have some down time, too.  So, I was thinking of the options of things we have available to do in our area.Brevard County Florida is home to the St. Johns River, the Indian River Lagoon and Banana Rivers and the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.  We are an hour away from Orlando, with all it's theme parks: Walt Disney World Park & Resorts, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Disney's Epcot Center, Universal Studio... 07/10/2015

Brevard County Real Estate Market Report – May 2015 In May 2015, there were 3727 active listings on the market, a decrease of 20.00% from 4656 in May 2014.There were 1518 new listings on the market in May 2015. This is down by 4.0% from May 2014 of 1581.There were 1288 new pending sales. This is up by 5.5% from May 2014 of 1221. There were 1238 closed sales. This is up by 1.1% from May 2014 of 1225.The average sales price was $194,682. This is an increase of 18.47% from 2014 at $164,330.The median sales price in May 2015 was $160,000, compared to $130,000 in 2014, an 23.08% increase.The average number of days on the market was 68, compared to 85 in 2014.  This is a 20% decrease.Homes sold for approximately 94% of original list price in May 2015.There was a 3.3 month supply of homes for ... 07/09/2015

I had an appointment to meet an investor at a bank owned property that had just come on the market.  As I waited for my buyer to arrive, there was a parade of potential buyers and Realtors looking through the house. I suppose the enticement was the very low advertised price. The house was a bank owned property and it needed considerable work. There was a poorly constructed addition at the back of the house and there was rotten wood all the way around. The outside stucco was unprofessionally done and was riddled with stair step cracks. One corner of the house was sagging. When we got inside we saw that the house needed to be gutted. The roof was leaking in various places and the ceilings were sagging.  There was no kitchen or bathroom and no flooring. It needed a new electric panel and a... 07/07/2015

Home buyers decide whether or not to look inside a house based on the exterior appearance. What they see when they drive by, or when they arrive for a showing sets the tone for that first impression. It often determines if a buyer even wants to go inside for a closer look.Back in the 1980's, before I was a Realtor, I was in the market to buy a house. The agent pulled up to a house that was rundown, unkempt and showed years of deferred maintenance. There were chickens, barricaded by wire fencing, roaming the overgrown front yard. I wasn’t in the market for an investment property or a fixer upper. I told the agent I had no interest in looking at the interior. She insisted I would fall in love with the house once I got inside. I told her no thank you.If a buyer doesn’t like the outside of ... 07/06/2015

It’s time for those holiday festivities this weekend and a lot of people are looking forward to having some much needed time off. But, not everyone is excited about the July 4th.  Some pets are scared on Independence Day. More pets run away on the 4th of July than any other time of year. Too much activity and noise can cause severe anxiety for some pets.During the 4th of July festivities try and keep your pet safe and comfortable.Keep pets inside if at all possible, away from the noise of the fireworks. This will keep your pet from getting injured by stray fireworks and it will keep him away from the noise. He’ll have less chance of bolting or running away. Turn on some soft music or the television in the house, to cause a slight distraction from the noise of the fireworks. Spend time w... 07/03/2015

Congratulations, Jeannine on the sale of your gorgeousDeer Lakes pool home with soaring views of the lake.The breathtaking sunsets were my favorite!I hope that when I am 85 years old, I am as sharp, directand energetic as you are. You are amazing!Thank you for hiring me to sell your home. It was a pleasure working with you! 07/01/2015

  The National Association of Realtors indicates that 45% of homes listed for sale across the country sold within 30 days on the market.The survey indicates that houses in Florida sold within 46 to 60 days.*In May 2015, homes were on the market for an average of 40 days.  This is the shortest market time since May 2011.The homes that sold in 30 days were in Colorado, Texas, Washington, Idaho and Kansas.The homes that took the longest to sell were in Alabama, West Virginia, Mississippi and Arkansas at 90 or more days on the market.*This seems interesting to me, as we are seeing buyers flocking to homes at certain price points the first few days on the market.  And, often we are in multiple offer situations. When priced right, homes here are gone in the first week.   06/29/2015

 I was googling a search online this morning and found an article I had written in November 2008 about buyers ‘just looking’ at homes for sale.  I had written that the number of homes currently in the Brevard County real estate market was plentiful. Buyers could look at a house multiple times and take their time in making a decision on whether they would make an offer to purchase it.Well, today, times have changed. Our inventory of homes available for sale is currently down. Today, buyers don’t have the luxury of looking at a home over the course of a couple of weeks. The good homes are gone in the first week… sometimes even in the first couple of days. We are seeing multiple offers on homes, at varying price points. And often, homes are selling for more than their advertised list price... 06/29/2015

 In real estate, mortgage interest rates are always a hot topic. Interest rates have been hovering above 4.00%. The projection is that they are going up. When interest rates go up, that affects a consumer’s buying power.  Higher rates often mean a lower purchase price of a home, as lenders look at the debt to income ratio of a borrower. Debt to income ratio is the percentage of a consumer’s monthly gross income that goes towards paying debts in comparison to their monthly income.The interest rate on my mortgage is currently 5.875%.  I remember refinancing to get that rate. It wouldn’t benefit me to refinance again, to get a lower rate now, as I anticipate having it paid off within 18 months.  I wouldn’t be able to recoup the cost of the refinance in just the 18 months I take to pay if o... 06/25/2015

 Yesterday, we headed out for a trip to the Tampa Amphitheater at Tampa Fairgrounds to see the Tesla, Styx and Def Leppard Concert.  Tampa is just over 2 hours away, on the west coast of Florida. We arrived at the concert in the middle of a terrible lightning storm, that hung over the fairgrounds for over an hour. The first band, Tesla, cancelled their show, as the weather was showing no signs of subsiding. We waited in the van until the lightning passed.  Here in South Brevard we’re fortunate to be located in an area that is central to some great venues that showcase very talented artists.Maxwell C King Center for the Performing Arts and the Wickham Park Pavilion in Melbourne are just 5 minutes from us. At the King Center we’ve been fortunate enough to see Peter Frampton, Dennis DeYoun... 06/24/2015

 Come On, Jump in for a Swim The weather here has been a sweltering 90 degrees, with high humidity.  I can feel the sweat rolling down my back when I’m outside in the middle of the day. It’s hard to find a place to cool off.  It seems like the air conditioner never clicks off, trying to keep the inside temperature comfortable. We’ve been swimming in the pool, at the end of these blistering days, to cool off. The water temperature is great! I remember when my girls were younger and they were in the pool all the time. They were like two little fish. During the Summer it seems like they lived in their bathing suits. Our backyard was filled with kids. Their skin would be shriveled like raisins from swimming so long. We’d practically have to drag them out, to get them to take a break to eat.... 06/23/2015

  Melbourne FL Real Estate Market Watch ReportThere are currently 476 homes (single family, half duplex, condo & townhouses) available for sale in Melbourne Florida compared to 514 in August 2014.Here's the breakdown,Under $100,000                -   79, compared to 123 in August 2014  $101,000 -  $200,000      -   134, compared to 162 in August 2014 $201,000 -  $300,000       - 123, compared to 125 in August 2014 $301,000 -  $400,000       -   63, compared to 53 in August 2014 $401,000 -  $500,000        -   37, compared to 18 in August 2014 $501,000 -  $750,000       -   19, compared to 18 in August 2014$751,000 - $1,000,000     -    17, compared to 10 in August 2014$1,001,000+                        -   4, compared to 5 in August 2014Prices ranges from $49,900 for a 2 bedroom 2 bath ... 06/22/2015

I was headed out to an appointment and found this guy in the garage 2 feet from my van.  At first nearly jumped out of my skin. It surprised me. I think I scared the snake, too. Then, I grabbed a broom and gently guided him outside. He slithered into the bushes and disappeared.Occasionally, we see a snake, here.  Usually they are outside in the bushes or hanging out in the garden.  They like basking in the sun. There are approximately 46 snakes native to Florida and most of them are not aggressive.  The best advice when you see a snake is to leave it alone. They don’t typically attack unless provoked.I have a friend that can identify snakes. When he sees one he usually scoops it up and relocates it to a safer place. Isn’t there a rhyme, “when red touches black a friend of jack, when re... 06/20/2015