Brevard County Tax Collectors Office Will No Longer Accept VISA Payments

I just finished reading an article that indicated that the Brevard County Tax Collectors office will no longer be accepting VISA cards to pay your tax bills.  The decision came on May 4.   VISA charges a $2.00 of 2.95% convenience fee (whichever is higher) to it’s third party vendors.

The Clerk of Courts office will continue accepting Mastercard, American Express and Discover Credit cards and they will also accept Mastercard debit cards.

Marion, Osceola and Walton county tax collector offices will also no longer be accepting VISA payments.

The burden of these added “swipe” fees to small business is being passed on to the consumer in the way of higher costs of goods.  Small business owners are getting fed up with the added fees and calling for credit card reform.

This article is authored by

Sandy Shores REALTOR®,  Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate

Brevard County Real Estate & Investing

I also buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.

In Real Estate Investing, Pigs Get Fat and Hogs Get Slaughtered

 

I remember when I first got into the real estate business in 1996, my broker and I were discussing real estate investing. He told me that people sit, waiting for that one great deal, and in the meantime they miss out on the good deals. Because of their inactivity they may never end up buying anything. 

He has been in real estate for over 50 years and has been investing in commercial, residential and mobile home parks.

We hear it everyday, is the market going down? Have we hit rock bottom? Has the market started heading back up? Does anyone really know for sure?  Hindsight is always 20/20.  We do know that prices are at early 2000 levels. But, what does it all really mean anyway? Do all these questions just paralyze us into doing nothing, not making a decision to buy or to sell?  The reality is that no one really has the answers to any of these questions.  We are all attempting to make an educated guess based on a market in which none of us have ever experienced.

I started buying rentals in 1996 and continued buying in 2005.  I have bought in different types of markets, as I have kept my eyes and ears open and been able to scoop up some good deals.

But, often in real estate investing, when everyone else is buying, it’s a good time to sell.

And, when everyone is selling, it’s a good time to buy.

Investors getting into the market, thinking they are going to make a killing are usually the ones that lose their shirts.  Investors that are a bit more realistic, with the thought that they can make a comfortable profit, are often able to do just that… make a handsome profit.

What are your goals in buying? Are you hoping to flip a property today? Are you going to hold it for a period of time and use it as a rental?  These are all factors that must be considered.

Do your homework first. If the numbers don’t work on paper, they aren’t going to work at all. Don’t fall in love with an adorable house that you think would make a great rental because it’s brand new and beautiful.  It may turn out to be a terrible rental property.  Rental houses aren’t always gorgeous.  Very often they are clean, small and affordable.  See what the demand in your market is. Be smart and research first.

And remember in real estate investing, Pigs Get Fat and Hogs Get Slaughtered.

This article is authored by

Sandy Shores REALTOR®,  Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate

Brevard County Real Estate & Investing

I also buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.

This Was One of the Most Mesmerizing Experiences I Have Ever Had

Yesterday, my family and I drove up to Cape Canaveral Florida to visit a client that I had helped in purchasing a beautiful riverfront condo a month before.  We went straight down to the boat docks by the gazebo hoping to get a glimpse of the manatees playing.  We saw at least 6 of them.  Knowing that they love fresh water we turned the hose on to attract them, hoping to get some pictures.   These sea cows, known as gentle giants live in shallow waters in our lagoons. 

We we absolutely mezmerized at what we saw.

In the 35 years I have lived in Brevard County I have never seen anything like this before.

All of these pictures were taken in the backyard of my client’s new riverfront condo here in Brevard County Florida.

These guys loved the fresh water from the hose. They couldn’t get enough of it.

They were circling and snorting and doing somersaults right in front of us. 

They were so close we could reach out and touch them.

They just loved laying on their backs and taking in the fresh water.

My friend, Tony, indicated that the manatees are very active early in the morning.  They love playing and and having fun in the water. Later in the day they usually are resting.

He has indicated that he can stand on his balcony and watch the porpoises jump, also.

Now this is what I call heaven. 

Such an incredible sight to see. 

My teenage daughters absolutely loved watching these playful, fun loving creatures.

These guys aren’t afraid of people.

My client, who has become a great friend of mine, has told us that anytime we want to visit, we are more than welcome to come to watch the manatees.

He absolutely loves his new home, as he says that everyday he feels like he’s on vacation.

This article is authored by

Sandy Shores REALTOR®, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate

Brevard County Real Estate & Investing

I also buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.

Renting to Multiple Occupants Can be Sticky

I received a call from a young man on a house that I currently have available for rent. I always ask a series of questions when a prospective tenant calls on a property.

I asked how many people would be occupying the property. He told me 3. 

Is there one person that earns enough money to cover the monthly rent?

He indicated that the rent would be split three ways and each occupant would pay their portion to the landlord.

Unfortunately, I don’t care for situations like this.  As a landlord, I do not want to collect money from 3 different people living in the same house.  Sometimes one party has their money and one of the other parties or both of  other two don’t. I want one check, from one person, covering the entire monthly rent.   They can work out the money amongst themselves and figure out who owes whom what money.

What happens if one of the occupants decides to move out?  Then, the other two don’ t have enough to cover the rent?  In turn, they have to sublet the house to someone else so they can pay the bills. This can turn into another precarious situation.

Years back I purchased a rental, with the tenants in place, on a month to month lease.  They were roommates. When I went to pick up the rent, one occupant would have half of the rent, but the other wouldn’t have her half.  This went on for another month. It was like pulling teeth. Neither wanted to be responsible for pulling together the rent and paying in one lump sum. I told them they needed to have it figured out by the following month.  They could bicker amongst themselves over the money. They did begrudgingly figure it out, and I received one check from then on for the rent.

Be careful when renting a property, that you know exactly who will be paying the monthly rent. Stipulate in your lease who the responsible party will be that pays the rent. Otherwise, you may be treading on thin ice.

This article is authored by

Sandy Shores REALTOR®, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate

Brevard County Real Estate & Investing

I also buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.

Enjoying the Summer At Brevard County Beaches

This Summer has  proven to be a beautiful one. 

On this particular day, Melbourne’s temperatures reached 96 degrees, with 50% humidity,  it was a sweltering 109 degrees.

We had the perfect solution, as did a few other people.  We headed for Spessard Holland in South Melbourne beach to cool off.

It was quite warm, but the ocean water was cool and refreshing.

 

         We spent a good bit of time out in the water, as my daughters are learning to surf.                  

 

We also did some fishing, but unfortunately caught nothing.

It was one of those days where you had to be really careful not to get fried from the sun, as there was a bit of a haze in the sky.

This is when people inadvertently get too much sun, without realizing it.

When we get these hot, humid temperatures it so important to get plently of fluids, to remain hydrated.

 

This article is authored by

Sandy Shores REALTOR®,  Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate

Brevard County Real Estate & Investing

I also buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.

The Sunshine State is Still a Favorite for International Buyers

We are still hearing that International Buyers favor Florida’s location, climate and low prices to other locales in the United States.

International Buyers are actively purchasing Florida real estate. And others are keeping an eye on the market to determine when they feel the time is right to jump in.  Many buyers are purchasing their second/vacation/investment homes for cash.  Some are staying in the property for several months, and then renting their furnished units for the period of time they go back home.

The National Association of Realtors indicates that 25 percent of these international buyers are Canadian, 21 percent are Europeans, and just over 20 percent are British.

This article is authored by

Sandy Shores REALTOR®, Melbourne/Palm Bay FL Real Estate

Brevard County Real Estate & Investing

I also buy, sell, rent, own and manage Investment Property.