Your Brevard County Real Estate News

April 5, 2009 Posted by Your Brevard County Real Estate News | sandy shores melbourne | dawn died, dawn shores, shores, the lord works in mysterious ways | No Comments Yet

She Died the Day Her First Great Grandbaby Was Due

Dawn Shores 1935-2009 My husband’s mother lost her battle with cancer recently. We got the call at 4:30 to come immediately as it would only be a matter of time. We walked into her apartment 5 minutes too late. Her sister Joan and niece, Debbie were with her when she passed away. My teenage daughters were devastated.

Dawn was one of the most courageous women I had ever met. She was diagnosed almost four years ago. She had a pea sized lump on her lung. In time it grew and became the size of a grapefruit. She had the slow growing cancer, squamous cell cancer. As time progressed the cancer began wrapping itself around her heart and her left lung. Her lungs began filling up with fluid, so she had to have one drained twice a week. Doctors feared that her heart would give out because of the strain. The cancer took it’s toll on her body. She went from 135 lbs down to less than 90 lbs. She was fragile and frail.

She wouldn’t let you say the word ‘cancer’ around her. She was in complete denial. And that’s why she lived so long beyond her initial diagnosis. Everytime she went to the doctor they marveled that she was still alive.

Every new ache or pain was not because of the cancer. She would say, “I don’t know why they can’t figure out why this hurts so much. I’ve been telling the doctor for 8 months there’s something wrong with it, but they just can’t figure it out.”

Dawn got out of bed eveyday and was insistent on getting dressed. She wanted to be ready to go out for a bite to eat or to head to the store (just in case). She put makeup on everyday, until the last week and a half. The chemo took her hair, and as it began growing back, when we went to her apartment to see her, she had to grab her wig or a hat before she let us come in. She apologized profusely for not wearing any makeup. “Oh, I must look awful today,” she’d say.

She died when my husband was out of town on a business trip – and that was his biggest fear. Should I go? he asked. I couldn’t make that decision for him, I would support him one way or another. His mother had been diagnosed 4 years ago. She looked good when he left. The prognosis was good. His trip got pushed back a day, and then a week. There were family members that devoted their days, weeks, months and the last couple of years to her, including my husband. So, someone was always with her. Hospice was there too, and they were absolutely incredible.

She wouldn’t discuss final arrangements. In her mind if she did, she was giving into the cancer.

Dawn Shores was a phenomenal person and an incredible grandmother. Her husband died when her boys were 5 and 7 years old. She raised her two boys by herself, working two jobs. No grass ever grew under her feet. She had an infectious personality, she was a very active member of the community, and she was always out, staying busy. She never missed a ball game, a wrestling match, a school play. She was an active part of her grandchildren’s lives. She was at all of their dance shows, school plays, powerlifting meets, birthday parties. If her grandkids were in it, she was there.

She was feisty and funny. She had a great sense of humor. And, she was so incredibly inquisitive about everything in your life, no matter who you were. She was interested in everyone and was a great listener. When my daughters went to see her she would ask them 30 questions about school, boys, sports, dance, you name it. She loved them dearly and said her biggest regret was that she wouldn’t be alive to see them grow to have families of their own.

Dawn’s first great grandbaby girl, April, was due the day she died. Everyday she would ask what day it was and wasn’t that baby due soon? She knew.

Dawn Shores, 45 year resident of Melbourne Florida died at 74 years old. Dawn was my husband’s mother and the only father he ever knew, ( as his dad died when he was 5 years old).

She was one of the “good ones”. It makes no sense to us why she was chosen to leave us at such a young age. We have learned so much from her. We will miss her dearly, but we know that she fought with all that she had in her. Now, it’s time for her to lay her head down and finally rest, as it has been such a painful struggle for her.

God bless you, Dawn, and thank you for everything that you have given everyone whose life you have touched.

This article is authored by

April 5, 2009 Posted by Your Brevard County Real Estate News | brevard county real estate | dawn, dawn shores, she died the day her first great grandbaby was due, shores | No Comments Yet

It Was A Horrible Weekend, It’s too Cold Outside and I Hate My Job

Do you know people that feel that everyday it’s an effort for them to get out of bed, to get their kids to school, to get themselves to work?

Everyday is the end of the world. It couldn’t get worse. Life is so dismal. The future is the pits.

it was a horrible weekend, I hate the cold and I hate my job

What’s there to be happy about?

It’s too hot outside.

It’s too cold outside.

It was a horrible weekend.

I hate Mondays!

I hate that customer!

I hate people!

I’ve known people that complain about everything. Their life is spiraling out of control.

They are victims. And, they are mad at everyone!

Do you know people like this? I do!

I am saddened by people like this. They turn every situation into a problem. Often their problems are really no different than anyone else’s. They dwell on the negative, all day everyday, and in their mind their problems have become monumental. Their story never changes from month to month to month.

Eventually their friends begin pulling away from them, steering the other way when they see him/her. It is mentally exhausting to be around these people. No one knows what to do to help, because often this person doesn’t want help, they just want to remain miserable. People run out of things to say and just don’t want to hear it anymore.

Eventually their misery becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.

It’s not what happens to us in our life that causes us pain.

It’s how we choose to react to what happens to us that causes us pain.

Your life will become exactly what you think it is. It’s sad, but true.

This article is authored by

April 5, 2009 Posted by Your Brevard County Real Estate News | brevard county real estate | I hate my job, it, it was a horrible weekend | No Comments Yet

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Seller, Your Home is Exactly What My Buyers are Looking For, But

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Seller(s),

You have a beautiful home in an area of well maintained homes. And, I would love to bring your listing agent an offer to purchase on your property. Your home is EXACTLY what my buyers have indicated that they are looking for…

BUT…

Your dogs are cute and oh, so friendly. I know that all three of them are a part of your family, but my buyers don’t care for dogs. The wife is allergic to them. They don’t want to see your ‘dancing, singing’ poodle jumping up and down when they walk in the front door. So, we would have appreciated it if you could have removed your pets before we came to visit.

The floor plan on your home is perfect. No wasted space, just what my buyers are looking for. But, your 20 years of furnishings and belongings have taken over. The furniture dwarfs the rooms and the buyers can’t get a “feel” of just how spacious your home really is.

And, those exquisite paintings in the main living areas of the home are phenomenal. Someone in your home is indeed a top notch artist. But, we can’t see the walls. We feel like we are walking through a museum.

Your children’s rooms are adorable. A life size Winnie the Pooh on the wall in one room and a 6 ft Barney the Dinosaur in the other room are so cute! Your kids must love it here! But, the buyers are older and have no children. They know that those rooms, in addition to the lime green room with purple curtains, are just adding to the list of things they must do before they can move into your home.

Your brand new carpeting is gorgeous. It shows off your blue couches perfectly. We know that you spent extra money to get the highest quality carpeting, but my buyers want a home with all wood floors. So, within the first three months, the new carpeting will have to go.

Thank you for spending your time telling us how much you love your home. It was nice to meet your whole family. But, now my buyers feel like it is truly YOUR home and they felt a bit uncomfortable.

My buyers are looking for a deal! Their main concern is that they don’t overpay for a home in your area, based on comparable sales. It doesn’t really make any difference to them what you paid for the home or what you owe.

So thank you Mr./Mrs. Seller(s) for allowing us to see your property today. We must get going. We have 20 more homes to look at, in your area, just like yours, in the next three days.

Sincerely,

Sandy Shores, Realtor

FOOTNOTE: This article is written as a combination of some of the many different scenarios we can and have seen over the years in showing houses for sale.

This article is authored by

April 5, 2009 Posted by Your Brevard County Real Estate News | brevard county real estate | brevard county real estate sales, dear Mr and Mrs seller, selling your home | No Comments Yet

If You’re Adventurous Enough, Hop On…

My older sister Jean called me. She and her husband are staying at a friend’s timeshare in Orlando, Florida which is about an hour from us here in Melbourne. She said that since her husband is retired military she got an incredible deal on a 5 day park hopper pass to all of the Walt Disney World Theme Parks.

They have visited the Epcot Center Theme Park. I love Epcot. My girls favorite ride there is Mission to Mars. if you're adventurous enough to jump on, have fun They tell you before you get on it that it’s like going up in the space shuttle. The G – force against your body is tremendous. Before I got on the ride I asked one of the employees if the ride spins. The ‘nice’ employee told me to “watch the video right there M’am.” Oh great, I just got M’amed! We couldn’t tell if the ride spun or not. The guy standing next to us had been on the ride about 20 times. He told us that it was his favorite ride.

“No, you can’t feel it spinning at all. It’s great!”

Okay, after talking to about 6 people they all told me it was no big deal. Well, I was on the ride for less than a minute and was immediately praying that the ride would be over. They informed us that we were going to be doing a sling shot around the moon. Oh, no, I’m going to toss my cookies for sure! Well, needless to say, the entire rest of the day my stomach was in my throat and my equilibrium was off. (Okay, I sound old, don’t I? I know, I’m a wimp!)

if you're adventurous enough to jump on, have fun My sister also said they had gone to the MGM Studios Theme Park. My girl’s favorite ride there is the Rocking Roller Coaster. It’s goes 0 to 60 mph in 5 seconds. The first and last time I got on that thing I’m sure that I swallowed my tongue, and never quire retrieved it until the next day! Ugh! It was too much for me! Okay, no old jokes now!

Today my sister visited Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Now that’s fun. They have the raft ride and if you sit in the wrong seat on that one, you’ll be soaked from head to toe! It was great (because I wasn’t the one that got wet!) My 16 year Stephanie was dripping wet. She dried off halfway through the day.

Tomorrow, Jean and her husband will be going our favorite park, Disney’s Magic Kingdom. We love riding the roller coasters; Space Mountain, Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain. Just before the park closes, as everyone is leaving my girls ride those over and over and over again.

Don’t forget, Disney Park admission is FREE if you visit one of the parks on your birthday. Bring your ID!

Now I have to admit, I’m a bit envious that Jean and Charley are off having fun at the Disney Theme Parks in Orlando. But, they’ll be here on Wednesday, so we’ll get to see them then.

This article is authored by

April 5, 2009 Posted by Your Brevard County Real Estate News | brevard county market watch | if you're adventurous enough, walt disney world | No Comments Yet

High School Students are Graduating with College Degrees

HIgh school students are graduating with college degrees Brevard County Schools are proud to announce another successful year of dual enrollment.

Brevard County Schools rank number one in participation in the ten largest school districts in Florida. Dual enrollment allows a high school student to enroll and earn college credit at a local community college at the same time they are working towards their high school diploma.

There were 4541 course enrollments here in Brevard County in 2008.

In 2008 there were 87 high schools students that graduated with their high school diploma, as well as an Associate of Arts degree at Brevard Community College.

Now, that’s impressive!

This article is authored by

April 5, 2009 Posted by Your Brevard County Real Estate News | brevard county florida real estate | brevard community college, brevard county high school students, high school students graduating | No Comments Yet

Watch out for Those Deals that Are too Good to Be True!

In the past 6 weeks we have been getting a lot of phone calls and e mails from people interested in buying ‘distressed’ property in Brevard County Florida. There is no question about it, currently in Brevard we have some exceptional deals on properties available for sale.

One woman last week asked me to help her find a $15,000 home. She indicated that she had heard that the banks were giving homes away. I asked what area she was looking in and what she was looking for in a home. I explained to her that there were many great deals available, but a $15,000 home was usually gutted and/or uninhabitable, if it existed at all. watch out for those deals that are too good to be true

She told me that she saw homes that were going to be auctioned off. I explained that yes, often times people get great deals on these properties, but if they were being sold on the steps of the courthouse, they are not always being sold with clear title. They could be buying a home with encumbrances or liens remaining on the properties, thus they could become responsible for those liens.

It is crucial in this market, that people do their homework first. These deals are not always what they may seem. We seem to be seeing the crooks coming out of the woodwork again, trying to sell books and tapes teaching people to ‘get rich quick’ off of other people’s misfortunes.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I am not opposed to buyers picking up great deals on foreclosures and short sale properties. I think there are some great buying opportunities today.

Just be careful.

And, be sure to enlist the experience of a knowledgable realtor that can help you steer clear of these “deals that just seem to be too good to be true.” Because, if they seem too good to be true, they usually are.

This article is authored by