This morning when I got up I headed to the Farmers Market to pick up some fresh produce, my favorite.  Everything looked so good.  And, the prices were reasonable too. The Eau Gallie Farmer's Market is open every Saturday from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the corner of Eau Gallie Blvd and Highland Avenue in Downtown Eau Gallie.  It is located just a block from the Eau Gallie Pier overlooking the Indian River Lagoon.   I couldn't help but think how fortunate we are, here in Melbourne Florida, on this gorgeous December day. There wasn't a cloud in the sky. Melbourne FL Real Estate Search for Melbourne FL Homes for sale Brevard County Real Estate Photos Visit Sandy Shores, Melbourne Real Estate Agent, Google Profile page I specialize in Brevard County Real Estate - Residential, Investment & Reloc... 12/04/2010

The holidays are upon us and what better way to get into the festive mood than heading over to Historic Downtown Melbourne for some Candlelight Shopping every Saturday night until Christmas Shops and restaurants will be open from 5:00 to 9:00 PM On December 4th come and enjoy the festivities:  "Father Christmas" and Cookie the Clown  Kids can get airbrush tattoos  Kids Airbrush Tattoos & More  Take a Horse & Carriage Ride with a loved one  Rebecah & Rachel Waldorff will be playing the Violin & Flute  Kindred Spirits - Celtic Folk  Brian & Gary will be featured on Drums & Keyboard (Melbourne Arcade)  Catch the glimpse of a Bagpiper. What do they wear under those skirts?  Calvary Chapel of Sebastian Carolers will be performing  Come and ride the "Sunshine Express" Kids Train Rides ($1.00 ... 12/03/2010

I never get tired of watching a sunset at the end of a beautiful day.  Every one is different than the last and will be different than the one the following day. This picture was taken at Lake Washington in Melbourne Florida. Melbourne FL Real Estate Search for Melbourne FL Homes for sale Brevard County Real Estate Photos Visit Sandy Shores, Melbourne Real Estate Agent, Google Profile page I specialize in Brevard County Real Estate - Residential, Investment & Relocations. We have a team of professionals to facilitate your Short Sale. I also buy, sell, rent, own and manage Melbourne Real Estate & Investment Property. 11/29/2010

This picture was taken at the Indian River Lagoon in Melbourne Florida. The clouds were incredible shades of pink and light blue.  The pink from the sky reflected perfectly on the water. It was a gorgeous. Melbourne FL Real Estate Search for Melbourne FL Homes for sale Brevard County Real Estate Photos Visit Sandy Shores, Melbourne Real Estate Agent, Google Profile page I specialize in Brevard County Real Estate - Residential, Investment & Relocations. We have a team of professionals to facilitate your Short Sale. I also buy, sell, rent, own and manage Melbourne Real Estate & Investment Property. 11/27/2010

As I've been working today, trying to get things done before the holiday weekend I am reminded that it's time to give thanks for all that we have in our lives. It's time to remember all of life's wonderful blessings. My life has changed in so many ways over the past couple of years.  There have been some incredible highs, as well as some heart wrenching lows.  The tough times have given me more strength and resolve.  They have helped me learn to become more determined and more resilient and to move forward no matter what.  I have lost loved ones, but life must go on.  They say for every low, there is an equal and opposite high. The wonderful times have brought incredible joy to my heart.  I have grown and I have become, what I hope to be, a better person.  I have gained so much.  I hav... 11/24/2010

This picture was taken in Melbourne Florida. Melbourne FL Real Estate Search for Melbourne FL Homes for sale Brevard County Real Estate Photos Visit Sandy Shores, Melbourne Real Estate Agent, Google Profile page I specialize in Brevard County Real Estate - Residential, Investment & Relocations. We have a team of professionals to facilitate your Short Sale. I also buy, sell, rent, own and manage Melbourne Real Estate & Investment Property. 11/20/2010

A house is only worth what a ready, willing and able buyer will pay for it. Some buyers are throwing out low ball offers, and hoping they will stick; that they'll get a seller to take their price.  And, sometimes they do. Turnabout is fair play. At the peak of the market in 2005-2006, sellers were naming their outrageous price, and selling their homes within days for top dollar, often above asking price, AS IS, agreeing to do no repairs.  So, now buyers have shifted gears due to the drop in the market values. However, it can be quite a contrast between what a buyer is willing to pay and what the current market value of a property is.  'But, this is all I want to pay for a house.'  I understand the sentiment.  A buyer wants to purchase a house within their budget.  However, that does no... 11/19/2010

I've read so much about other areas of the country where there is excess inventory of homes available for sale.   We get regular calls from buyers that hear that Brevard County is the place to come to scoop up those great real estate deals.  "I'm looking for a steal."  Now I can't blame them, who doesn't love a great deal? Brevard County property values have dropped to early 2000 prices.  Our median price is down to $100,000.  There are deals to be found.  But, sometimes you have to be patient and have time to look.  Our biggest pool of buyers are looking below the $100,000 price range. And, the next largest group is looking up to $160,000. Houses over $250,000 are taking longer to sell.  And, when the list prices go up over $400,000 those houses can linger on the market. This week I h... 11/17/2010

At this time of year, turning the clocks back one hour always throws me off a bit.  The daylight dwindles at 5:30 and darkness begins setting in.  It feels later than it really is.  I shift my schedule so that I can get more done during the daylight hours. It's difficult to meet folks out at a house after they get off of work, as they really can't "see" the outside of it. So, many appointments shift to the weekends. In the evenings it's too dark to take the dog to the park for "me" time; my 45 minutes of solitude. Exercising gets shifted to indoors.  Although, Bailey the Boxer, isn't too keen on that. All appointments and activities have to be rearranged and tweaked a bit, to accomodate the early darkness that falls upon us.  But, the temperature outside is perfect. Mornings are when w... 11/10/2010

I was out showing houses with buyers in Melbourne FL this weekend. And, it was downright nippy!  We had a bit of a cold snap here. The temperatures got down in the 40's on Saturday night. Too cold for me.  We all brought our jackets. We looked at 10 houses and with the cold weather and jackets, the conversation kept turning to closets.  I think we opened nearly every closet, in every house we toured. Some were large, but some were very, very small.  "Why don't they build these houses with more closet space?"  My buyer liked the closet that was the size of a large bathroom.  But, we kept wondering, were the closets that small, or was there just too much "stuff" in them?  Many of them were overstuffed and it made them appear much smaller than they really were. Before a house goes on the ... 11/08/2010

Kingsmill, located just off of Lake Washington Road is a quiet, well maintained community of over 300 houses built between 1986 and 1988.  It is situated between Parkway Drive and Aurora Road, just west of Wickham Road in Melbourne Florida.  Kingsmill is just minutes to shopping, dining, churches and schools.  Publix grocery store is within walking distance.  Access to I-95, US 1 and the causeways to the beach are within 5 minutes. View Larger Map The west end of the community boasts custom built homes by Joyal and Tiffany Builders.  Several of the homes are situated on half acre sites.  The other homes in the neighborhood were built by Maronda Homes.  Kingsmill association fees are approximately $140 per year, per house.  This covers maintenance of the common grounds, the 2 parks, and ... 11/03/2010

It seems that I'm always running to get somewhere.  There never seems to be a spare minute in the day to stop and catch my breath.  There's not enough time.  But, yesterday morning on my way to an appointment, I decided to make time.   I think sometimes we forget to take in the beauty that's all around us.  This guy was so busy grooming, he didn't seem to mind how close I was.  I drive by this fountain a couple of times a week. It is surrounded by a beautiful park.  I walked around the lake, taking in the gorgeous weather we have been having. There were kids playing on the playground, ducks swimming and people feeding dozens of birds. It was so peaceful and serene. And, as for this grumpy guy... he was on a mission. He never stopped moving.  He was my reminder that it was time to get t... 10/21/2010

I recently went to meet with a seller that has an interest in putting his house up for sale in Melbourne FL.  I asked him to walk me through the property and tell me what he could, so I would get a better "feel" for the house.  When we finished our tour and sat down at the kitchen table he looked at me and told me that he didn't have to sell. He continued, 'the difference between me and other sellers is that I don't have to sell. I'm not going to give my house away.  I can wait.' This isn't the first time I've heard these words and it won't be the last. I think that many sellers feel like this.  I remember when I sold my house 10 years ago, I didn't want to "give" my house away, either. Sellers today are smart, and they pay attention to what's going on in the market.  Many are aware th... 10/20/2010

Currently the majority of real estate buyers in Melbourne Florida are paying cash. Is cash still king?  Does it matter if the buyer is getting a mortgage to purchase a home?  Or does cash make a purchase easier?  A buyer purchasing a home with a mortgage has to be preapproved for that mortgage. They typically are required to get a termite inspection, most get a home inspection, the house must appraise for the purchase price and a survey of the property boundaries is usually required.  Those buyers have to jump through the hoops that the lender requires of them.  And, today some of these hoops can be quite stringent. A cash buyer does not have to worry about a mortgage.  They have the option of whether they get a home inspection and/or a termite inspection. No appraisal or survey is requ... 10/19/2010

This picture was taken at the pier at the corner of Riverside Drive and the 192 / Melbourne Causeway overlooking the Indian River Lagoon in Melbourne. Melbourne FL Real Estate Search for Melbourne FL Homes for sale Brevard County Real Estate Photos Visit Sandy Shores, Melbourne Real Estate Agent, Google Profile page I specialize in Brevard County Real Estate - Residential, Investment & Relocations. We have a team of professionals to facilitate your Short Sale. I also buy, sell, rent, own and manage Melbourne Real Estate & Investment Property 10/15/2010

If you are a car buff then head on over to the VW car show in Melbourne Florida. Sunday October 10, 2010 It's from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. At the Wickham Park Pavilion, Next to BCC & the King Center 3865 Wickham Road Melbourne Florida They are expecting over 150 VW's. Now this is an event after my own heart.  I learned to drive on an old volkswagon hatchback.  It was a stick shift - 4 on the floor.  I remember one of my driving lessons with my Dad sitting next to me in the passenger seat (he made me terribly nervous).  I was making a left turn into a busy intersection and let up on the gas to push in the clutch, to change gears.  I threw the clutch - the clutch rod snapped. The car came to a clunking halt, in the middle of all lanes of traffic. I was horrified, being all of 15 years old at... 10/09/2010

According to the Associated Press, Florida is seeing an influx of international buyers scooping up attractive real estate deals for cash.  The number of investors from England, Italy, France, Canada and Venezuela are higher than ever.  The vast majority of the properties being purchased are down in the Miami area. Here in Brevard County we are also seeing international buyers taking advantage of our central location, beautiful climate and our great Melbourne FL real estate prices. Some other parts of the country are also enjoying the purchasing power of these international buyers, including parts of California, Las Vegas, Washington and D.C. So Realtors, if you haven't done so already, now would be a great time to brush up on that foreign language you learned in college. You'll need it... 10/08/2010

This is one of my favorite times of year.  It's been absolutely gorgeous outside. The temperature is perfect  with no humidity.  I turned the air conditioning off and opened the doors and the windows. I love the clean, fresh, crisp air. I didn't want to get out from under my warm, toasty blankets this morning.  We woke up to a cool 59 degrees today here in Melbourne.  To me it was a bit chilly. This is the time of year when all of the fall festivals are held.  And, the Oktoberfest is just around the corner, with rides, games, beer and brats.  (I think I'll skip the beer, though.)  I love getting outside every chance I can to enjoy the perfect weather we are having.  Soon, it will be time to run out and pick out a Halloween pumpkin.  I like the tall skinny ones. So much to look forward ... 10/06/2010

There seems to be no lack of good clean affordable rental housing here in Melbourne Florida. Our rental market in Melbourne Florida has been a bit on the soft side. The phone isn't ringing like it used to, and some of the calls are coming from less than desirable prospects.  So, where are all the prospective tenants?  Over the last couple of years we have seen many owners doing short sales to sell their homes, selling for less than what they owe on their mortgages. Or, we have seen people losing their homes to foreclosure. So, logic would have it that many folks would be looking for a rental property to live in.  But, that just doesn't seem to be the case.  According to the US Census Bureau from 2005 to 2009 more than 3.8 million people moved in with their families. Today, we are seein... 10/05/2010

It's time to get your house on the market to sell it, but there are a number of items that haven't been fixed since you've lived there.  "Oh what the heck, just leave it for the guy who buys the place.  He can do it."  Well, not so fast.  That decision may cost you thousands.  If you don't feel like or can't do the work yourself, hire it out to someone who can. There are alot of people eager to work for $10 an hour to get that clean up done for you. (Be sure to get the proper work done by a licensed professional.) Ten years ago I was approached by a seller that asked me to buy his house from him. He was an acquaintance I had known throughout the years.  He knew that I liked the neighborhood where he was living.  We discussed comparable sales, but he wanted to just walk away from the pro... 09/24/2010