In case you've not heard about the fun new group WORDLESS WEDNESDAY, it's time to high-tail it on over and see what you're missing.  The entries are, in many cases spectacular!!!  The rules are different so read Rich Dansereau's mission statement for this exciting new group.  The main thing is that you post a photo that you took yourself.  Let the picture speak for itself.  We'll learn all about it through the comment section.  It's still early in the day, so dig out your favorite photo, post your entry, visit with your friends and enjoy the sounds of silence. 11/26/2008

 Photo taken by Gail MacMillan, all rights reserved and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of Gail MacMillan, Home Sweet Home Florida Realty Inc., Titusville FL.  Permission usually granted with a link back tomy website and/or blog, providing site is appropriate for all ages.  Thank you for respecting my creative expression and not plagiarizing.  11/25/2008

My good buddy Russell Lewis (although I'm groaning) tagged                me with the Bookworm MeMe...so I guess I'd better play along.   I wouldn't want to be known as "the one who didn't play" ;-) Today seems to be a day of dedication to my father who passed away Nov 29, 1984. I guess that accounts for why he's very much on my mind these days. Jason Crouch posted his "Turn off that Song" which got me going through Dad things...and one of them I had out, is among his favorite books:                                                          The RUBAIYAT  of  OMAR KHAYYAM It doesn't have pages, it's simply a collection of short poems, so I've chosen #56                                   XLVI For in and out, above, about, below, "Tis nothing but a Magic Shadow-show, Play'd in a Box whose ... 11/20/2008

OK everybody, listen up ~ This may be bad but I guarantee you'll be ROTFLYAO.  Good grief, I'm laughing again just thinking about it....ahahahahah A little historyMy father fancied himself a proper Scottish laddie, meaning I grew up in a household where there was always a party going on.  Music, singing, dancing...you get the picture!  My dad played the Mandolin, Banjo and Guitar...I think he gave up on the Violin (probably wasn't raucus enough.  He was a great entertainer, everybody loved him for his kind and gentle nature (well..most of the time).  Oh, I did inherit something...his sense of humor...hehehehehe You wouldn't believe me if I told you how many times I had to sit through this song, along with recitations of Robby Burns with some Omar Khayyam thrown in.  My dad had a passion... 11/20/2008

Hello Titusville FL - Your Public Library is ONLINE...and it's a WINNER          Brevard County deserves a great big hand for the fantastic job they do of bringing all their library services to us online. The website is extremely well organized, very user friendly, and brings a wealth of information to us with a few clicks of the mouse. The "Websites by Subject" section is broken down into 20 areas of interest with links to just about anything you could possibly need to research including an exhaustive database on Genealogy. You will need your library card to access the databases. The organization via links is among the best I've seen anywhere. - They carry thousand upon thousands of books- Have a pretty impressive media section- Have an area dedicated just for kids- Offer computer clas... 11/19/2008

  Photo taken by Gail MacMillan, all rights reserved and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of Gail MacMillan, Home Sweet Home Florida Realty, Titusville FL.  Permission usually granted with a link back providing site is appropriate for all ages.  Thank you for your understanding.  Also check Creative Commons. 11/18/2008

OPENING NIGHT - This Friday - 8:00 p.m. Come on out and listen to the lively, witty, often sassy music of one of the most adept composers of our time ~ Stephen Sondheim. This promises to be great musical entertainment with tunes you're sure to remember.  Broadway at it's best right here in Titusville FL.  Play dates are:Nov 7,8,14,15,21,22 & Nov 9,16 at 2:00 p.m.Titusville Playhouse - Emma Parrish Theater301 Julia Street, Titusville 32781321-268-1125 Box Office: Open Mon.-Fri. - 9:am-5:pm Will call opens one hour before show time. Tickets may be reserved with VISA, MasterCard or Discover Home Sweet Home Florida Realty, Inc. At Home With Diversity (AHWD)Certified Residential Specialist (CRS)e-PRO Internet Certified (e-PRO)Graduate Realtor Institute (GRI)Titusville, Florida Cell: 321.544... 11/06/2008

This report covers all of Titusville - MLS areas 102, 103 and 104 starting near HWY 46 to Kings HWY on the south end.  Let's see how it compares to the last report I researched on Sept 6th.  As you can see from these numbers, there are more REO's (bank owned) closing than short sales (pre-foreclosure). There are currently 795 activelistings in Titusville119 short sales - 61 REO's There are currently 73 properties under contract21 short sales - 18 REO'sThere have been 377 closings this year19 short sales - 62 REO'sThere have been 230 closings in the past 6 months11 short sales - 47 REO'sSimply stated it will take 20.74 months to absorb the inventory of properties for sale at the current levels.  This is virtually unchanged from the last report. Links to previous reports for comparison:H... 11/06/2008

MLS Area 104 - State Road 50 (Cheney Hwy) to Kings Hwy - Nov 4, 2008 109 active listings priced from $66,500 to $749,000  *15  short sales    5 REO's (bank owned)23 properties are under contract ranging in price from $72,500 to $875,000*3 short sales are under contract  3 REO's 64 houses have closed since January 1, 2008*6 were short sales  7 were REO's42 houses have closed in the past 6 months (used for Absorption Rate)*4 short sales closed in past 6 months  6 REO's have closed in the past 6 months The Absorption Rate Formula would indicate the market taking 15.57 months to absorb the current inventory of homes in MLS Area 104.  This is justever so slightly less robust than the last 2 reports, but better than Feb. and May.This is a great time to buy Titusville FL real estate.  Prices h... 11/04/2008

MLS Area 103 - Garden St. to S.R. 50 (Cheney Highway) - Titusville FL  Nov 4, 2008 This is the third market report for this area. If your listing is in MLS 103 you will have to be patient and work with your agent to get the pricing right.  Read on for absorption rates, there's not been much improvement. In MLS Area 103 Currently there are: 477 active listings priced from $11,000 - $1,100,000125 listed from $  19,900 - $100,000  205 listed from $100,001 - $200,000   59 listed from $200,001 - $300,000    42 listed from $300,001 - $400,000   16 listed from $400,001 - $500,000    17 listed from $500,001 - $600,000       4 listed from $600,001 - $700,000     3 listed from $700,001 - $800,000    4 listed from $800,001 - $900,000    2 listed at $949,000 and $1,100,000 70 are short sales31 are ... 11/04/2008

MLS Area 102 - State Road 46 to Garden St. - Titusville FL - Nov 4, 2008 201 active listings priced from $39,900 to $695,000 *31  short sales   23 REO's17 properties are under contract ranging in price from $39,900 to $199,900.  Judgingby the contract date on the MLS 1or 2 of these appears to be lease/purchase.*6 short sales are under contract  6 REO's are under contract 114 houses have closed since January 1, 2008  70 houses have closed in the past 6 months (used for Absorption Rate)*0 short sales have closed in past 6 months    1 short sale has closed in 2008   18 REO's have closed in the past 6 months  26 REO's have closed in 2008 The Absorption Rate Formula would indicate the market taking 17.22 months to absorb the current inventory of homes in MLS Area 102.  This is justabout the ... 11/04/2008

  In case you missed it, here are some pictures of the USS New York, the warship partially built from 24 tons of scrap steel from the ruins of the World Trade Center.  This is a new class of warship designed for special missions which include anti-terrorist operations - how appropriate!  I may be from the Peace and Love generation, but for me there's no cheek turning when it comes to 9/11. Some of the details:  It will carry a crew of 360 sailors and 700 combat-ready Marines to be delivered ashore by helicopters and assault craft. Steel from the WORLD TRADE CENTER was melted down in a foundry in Amite, LA to cast the ship's bow section. When it was poured into the molds on Sept 9, 2003, 'those big rough steelworkers treated it with total reverence, recalled Navy Capt. Kevin Wensing, who... 10/20/2008

  Gary and Diane, the new owners' of 5539 Oak Hollow Drive in Oaktrails at Meadowridge are very, very pleased with their new home.  This house went on the market April 30/08, had 1 contract fall through and now is closed on Sept. 26/08. The sellers' were prepared for a longer wait, so they too are pleased with the timing.  The house is small but adorable, wonderfully maintained and was pretty much in move-in condition.  It stared at $159,000, reduced to $149,900 and closed at $143,000.  It's a great price for this neighborhood.  Another win/win, just the way I like my transactions.  Both sellers and buyers were wonderful to work with, many thanks to all.   BREVARD MLS# 507300Listed by:  Gail MacMillanSold by:  Gail MacMillan Virtual Tour:  http://homesweethomeflorida.com/Listing/Virtua... 09/29/2008

Meet my 2 trusting, loving, gorgeous (albeit) high-maintenance Himalayans.  They weren't exactly rescued but the breeder was very happy to give them to a good home.  I had one of her Himmies before, for over 17 years so she knew who was getting her kittens.  These cats are now so over-bred that their little faces are EX-tremely smooshed which causes them horrendous sinus & drainage problems.  But since they don't know any better they just act like any other normal cat.  I have to wash their faces all the time but that's OK, we all know the drill.  They're both 9 years old now.  They love us as much as we love them :-) .....and yes....TinkerBell is possessed with lots of attitude LOL....Cookie is just a little doll!                 TinkerBell is a Blue Cream Point                       ... 09/20/2008

MLS Area 102 - State Road 46 to Garden St. - Titusville FL - Sept. 20, 2008 210 active listings priced from $48,900 to $695,000 *26  short sales20 properties are under contract ranging in price from $64,900 to $199,900.  Judgingby the contract date on the MLS 1 of these appears to be a lease/purchase.*4 short sales are under contract 99 houses have closed since January 1, 200873 houses have closed in the past 6 months (used for Absorption Rate)*0 short sales closed in past 6 months The Absorption Rate Formula would indicate the market taking 17.26 months to absorb the current inventory of homes in MLS Area 102. However if I add in the homes under contract (without accounting for any new listings prior tothese closings) the absorption period is reduced to 13.55 months.  This is justabout... 09/20/2008

MLS Area 103 - Garden St. to S.R. 50 (Cheney Highway) - Titusville FL This is the second market report for this area. If your listing is in MLS 103 you will have to be patient and work with your agent to get the pricing right.  Read on for absorption rates, there has not been an improvement. In MLS Area 103 Currently there are: 501 active listings priced from $19,900 - $976,500 120 listed from $  19,900 - $100,000  219 listed from $104,900 - $200,000   68 listed from $205,000 - $300,000    42 listed from $309,900 - $400,000   20 listed from $414,900 - $500,000    21 listed from $525,000 - $600,000       4 listed from $650,000 - $700,000     7 listed from $757,900 - $976,500There are 41 properties under contract awaiting closing - breakdown as follows:  10 properties are pending (conting... 09/20/2008

MLS Area 104 - State Road 50 (Cheney Hwy) to Kings Hwy - Sept. 20, 2008 114 active listings priced from $64,900 to $699,900  *11  short sales15 properties are under contract ranging in price from $85,900 to $1,250,000.  Judgingby the contract dates on the MLS 3 of these appear to be lease/purchases.*3 short sales are under contract 55 houses have closed since January 1, 200843 houses have closed in the past 6 months (used for Absorption Rate)*4 short sales closed in past 6 months The Absorption Rate Formula would indicate the market taking 15.90 months to absorb the current inventory of homes in MLS Area 104. However if I add in the homes under contract (without accounting for any new listings prior tothese closings) the absorption period is reduced to 11.79 months.  This is justever so... 09/20/2008

Titusville Titusville is an interesting situation. The city, right now, is reinventing itself. Titusville can lay claim, with considerable justification, to being the original city to give the entire area the name “Space Coast”.  Both men and women of every possible NASA job description, and in the greatest numbers, chose Titusville as their place to call home.  Other choices, of course, were Cocoa and Melbourne, but Titusville had pride of place:  it was closer, easier to access, and had everything you needed.  As time passed, the “center of gravity” for the entire area drifted down the Coast towards Melbourne.  It seems now that things have come full circle.  Perhaps some of the best values – for buying, for investing – for the moment can be found here in Titusville.  The city has som... 09/14/2008

This report covers all of Titusville - MLS areas 102, 103 and 104 starting near HWY 46 to Kings HWY on the south end.  Let's see how it compares to the last report I researched on July 29th.  With summer winding down and the kids back in school, things have picked up a lot!!!   There are currently 817 active listings in TitusvilleThere are currently 71 properties under contractThere have been 240 closings in the past 6 months Simply stated it will take 20.43 months to absorb the inventory of properties for sale at the current levels.  This is an improvement, a small one yes, but an improvement nonetheless.  We're moving in a positive direction.  Here's the link for the last report to compare:http://activerain.com/blogsview/614512/HOW-LONG-WILL-IT The formula is simple:  # of sales in 6 ... 09/06/2008

  With so many baby boomers retiring in Florida. the request for 55+ communities comes up frequently.  I wanted to provide a comprehensive list, but found such a list very illusive.  I came across a government site which indeed provides a list of these communities.  The link below is specifically for Brevard County, but if you use the search field you can research any county in Florida.  Sorry, the link doesn't seem to be working so here's the list for Brevard County.  At the end of this list are links to all other counties in Florida with 55+ communities.  CountyUnit NameAddressCityRegistrationNext Renewal Brevard A1A Condo Assoc., Inc. 2780 S. Hwy. A1A Melbourne 11/04/2002 11/04/2008 Brevard Ameri-cana Resorts Co-Op. inc. 6700 US Hwy 1 Rockledge 02/04/2002 02/19/2010 Brevard Canaveral... 08/22/2008