The 3rd annual Ocean-Reef-Beach Festival is coming December 6th, 2014!  This festival is returning to Pelican Beach Park and will celebrate the ocean side tropical lifestyle that we all enjoy so much here on the beautiful Space Coast of Florida.  There will be live music, a chowder cook off and members of our local arts community showings their wares.  What a great opportunity to do some ocean themed Christmas shopping as there will be surfboards and many other ocean themed gifts available.  There will also be educational programs in the A-frame Pelican Beach Clubhouse and a sea turtle maze for the little ones.Pelican Beach Park is located on Highway A1a just south of DeSoto.  The Ocean-Reef Sponsors for this event are: Da Kine Diego's Insane BurritosLongdoggersFlorida Beer CompanyHarry... 12/02/2014

Bridget Sentz, Realtor & Carolyn Smith, Realtor ~ Coastal Estate Team – Satellite Beach, FL Real Estate: Just Sold! Great Location in Satellite Beach! Just Sold! Satellite Beach home, just steps to the beach! The Coastal Estate Team just sold this ideally located Satellite Beach home, situated on a large corner lot just a short stroll from the beach! This is the perfect home to enjoy the sunny Florida lifestyle, with plenty of large, open living spaces that allow tons of natural light to filter through the home. Offering 3 generously-sized bedrooms including a master suite with its own private sitting area, 2.5 bathrooms, a separate office, and a 2 car garage, this Satellite Beach home has been updated and well-maintained. Outdoors, the 3 paver patios provide ample spaces for enjoying t... 11/17/2014

Bridget Sentz, Realtor & Carolyn Smith, Realtor ~ Coastal Estate Team - Satellite Beach, FL Real Estate: Just Sold in Carriage Park, Satellite Beach Just Sold in Carriage Park, Satellite Beach! The Coastal Estate Team just sold this Satellite Beach home, in less than one month! Ideally located in the Carriage Park neighborhood of Satellite Beach, this 2 bedroom, 2 bath, 2 car garage home offers over 1,700 square feet of living space, and is just an easy stroll to the beach. From the tropically landscaped front yard to the fully screened pool and fenced yard, pride of ownership is evident throughout this Carriage Park home. The custom, split floor plan offers plenty of room to stretch out and relax, with a formal living room, spacious kitchen that opens to the family room, comfortable Fl... 11/06/2014

I used to only think that WD-40 is a great lubricant when something is stuck.  At least that is always the way that I saw my father use the stuff.  But lately I have seen all of these additional uses for WD-40 that I was astonished by!  Here are 10 cool applications! Shines leaves of houseplants Cleans dog poop from tennis shoes Keeps cat poop from sticking to electric cat-box rakes Spray around bottom of garbage cans to prevent animals from getting in Spray on bathroom mirror to keep it from fogging Helps to open lock boxes that have swollen from the heat (in Florida) Spray top of bird feeder to make squirrels slide off (evil laugh he he he) Coat door knobs prior to painting to keep paint from sticking Apply to stainless steel grills to stop salt air corrosion Apply to leather to clean... 08/20/2014

“I want to have some bargaining room.” is very possibly the dumbest thing that we Realtors hear coming out of a Seller(s) mouth.  Seriously!  I hear this statement on a pretty regular basis.The rationale behind this is this:  If your property is worth let’s say $525,000, list it at $550,000 because then you have $25,000 in “wiggle room”, “bargaining room” or whatever crazy term you want to use.  NOT!  Playing games like this can cost you money.  If your property is worth $525,000 then list it at $525,000 deal with "hypotheticals" when you get a contract in.  It has been shown time and time again that if you list your property too high at the beginning and sit on an over inflated price for too long, you will get less for your your property in the long run.The moral of the story is, if yo... 08/19/2014

When dealing with Buyers, I am sometimes amused by what people tell me they want in their new home.  For example, several years ago I was working with a single man who had a budget of $110,000.  Tim wanted to buy a condo or a townhome.  When I asked him what he wanted, he said to me, “Have you ever seen the TV show Frasier?”.“Yes”, I replied, “it’s one of my favorite shows.”“Well I want a place that looks pretty much like that.  Elegant, large and with a great view.”I tried to explain to Tim that a condo like that would cost well over $250,000, over twice what he was pre-qualified for.  Tim would have none of it.  That’s what I want, and you need to find it for me.”  he said to me.Thankfully, Tim was a referral to me from my lender who was one of his friends.  I called up his friend (t... 08/11/2014

I recently brought a home Beachside.  It was an REO property so I got a great deal on it.  When we did the inspection it was noted that the tub in the hallway was draining slow.  No problem, it was probably just hair in the P trap.  But, just a couple of days after I moved in, all of the drains started to drain slow.  Not good!  I called Spiro Kollanda, owner of Accurate Plumbing Solutions, as he had been referred to me by an associate.  I am so glad I did!!!  Spiro Kollanda came out bright and early at 8:00am to work on my line.  He determined that in the interim of the time of my inspection and when I moved in, whomever Fannie Mae hired to mow the lawn clipped the top of a clean out cap in the yard and broke it.  With all of the rain that we have gotten, sand and dirt was washed into ... 08/07/2014

403 Rosedale Drive has closed!  This cute 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom pool home has closed.  Located walking distance to Surfside Elementary School, this Beachside home has an huge gas kitchen, walk-in closets, a Florida room under air and a large storage shed in the yard.  Located in quiet Ocean Spray Estates, 403 Rosedale Drive is walking distance to the Atlantic Ocean. If you are interested in a Beachside Space Coast home like this one on Rosedale, call me, I would be glad to help!!! 08/06/2014

"Morning Splendor" in Satellite Beach, Florida I love photography and sharing with everyone here on Active Rain. Thanks for looking at this photo and for all of your feedback on it. All art and photos are originals. This photo by Paul Peck (Peck Drywall and Painting) is copyrighted with all rights reserved and may not be used or reproduced without my permission.. Copyright © 2014 Paul Peck, (all rights reserved) 08/01/2014

Bridget Sentz, Realtor & Carolyn Smith, Realtor ~ Coastal Estate Team – Satellite Beach, FL Real Estate: Satellite Beach Montecito Pool Home, Listed and Sold… In Just 4 Days! Just Sold This Satellite Beach Montecito Home! The Coastal Estate Team listed and sold this beautiful Montecito executive courtyard pool home… in just 4 days! Situated on the pond with over 3,300 square feet of living space, this Satellite Beach home has it all! Boasting 6 bedrooms, 4 baths, and tons of upscale finishes, it is no wonder we found buyers for this amazing home so quickly! The outdoor spaces are second to none and ideal for entertaining, with a huge courtyard, covered lanai and covered deck, and a large balcony off the master suite sitting room. The community of Montecito offers exceptional beachside l... 07/29/2014

How would you like to wake up to this beautiful site each morning?  Well, Charles & Gina will be able to!  This wonderful Satellite Beach condo has closed at the Buccaneer Beach Club!  With 1392 sq/ft, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, and a balcony that spans the entire front of their new condo, this gorgeous condo is sure to be the center of family get togethers! Congratulations Charles and Gina!  If you have any questions about this or any of the other great Space Coast Area communities, please do not hesitate to call Kerry at 321-626-5868.  Kerry would love to help you find your Space Coast Area Home. 07/11/2014

When purchasing a house, here in Florida, typically, on the day of closing, the buyer and the seller sign their closing documents.   Sometimes the buyer and the seller sign their documents separately, at a different closing table, at different times, depending on scheduling and the complexities of the transaction. It takes the buyer longer to get through his documents, especially if he is getting a mortgage. (If the closing is a mail away, the buyer and seller may sign a day or two ahead of time.) Customarily, the buyer does a walk through on the property before heading to closing, to be sure that the house is in the same condition that it was when he last saw it. He should be sure that all the appliances, fixtures and any extra items written into the contract are left with the house. ... 06/30/2014

Bridget Sentz, Realtor & Carolyn Smith, Realtor ~ Coastal Estate Team - Satellite Beach, FL Real Estate: Just Sold! Satellite Beach Direct Oceanfront Condo Just Sold! Satellite Beach direct oceanfront condo! The Coastal Estate Team just sold this fabulous direct oceanfront condo, located on the 6th floor of the Buccaneer Beach Club in Satellite Beach. This 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo has been perfectly updated to showcase the amazing ocean views, from the moment you walk through the front door! Boasting tons of windows and glass doors, natural light as well as gorgeous views are optimized throughout the space. Our clients fell in love with the sleek European-style kitchen, the modern bathrooms, and the bamboo hardwood flooring throughout the main living areas. Overlooking one of Brevard Cou... 06/24/2014

        This wonderful Satellite Beach move-in ready condo is now under contract! With 1392 sq/ft this completely re-modeled oceanfront condo has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, a lovely new kitchen with brand new cabinetry, slab granite counter tops and a stainless steel appliance package.  The huge screened in balcony spans the entire width of the unit and has electronic motorized hurricane shutters for easy deployment.  The high in the sky, panoramic views of the Atlantic ocean are perfect for coffee on the balcony while watching the sunrise! The Buccaneer Beach Club Condos offer tennis courts, a year round heated pool, private beach access, a club house as well as protected underground parking. The Buccaneer Beach Club Condos are one of the several wonderful oceanfront communities to choose f... 06/20/2014

Having purchased a sweet pool home in Satellite Beach with no landscaping to speak of, I am particularly interested in gardening tips.  I generally have Epsom salt in the house for a variety of reasons.  Now, thanks to Plant Care Today, here are 10 uses for Epsom salt in my Organic garden! Epson salt is made up of hydrated magnesium sulfate  Epsom salt has a variety of home remedy applications – the two most widely known being as a saline laxative and pain reliever. What many people don’t realize is that Epsom salt also has several uses in organic gardening! 1. Improve Seed Germination                       Using Epsom salt as a soil amendment before planting will give your garden a powerful boost right from the start. Magnesium aids in seed germination and helps to strengthen cell wal... 06/20/2014

    We haven't had much rain so far this year.  A couple of months ago my sister and I spent the weekend planting flowers in the flower beds front of my house and the sprinkler system we have doesn't cut it in getting them enough water.  So I have had to water them every day, sometimes more than once a day. So I have been very happy on the couple of days we had rain.    We pulled out some vine type plant my husband had planted that was mainly just for ground cover, and kind of ugly. It was a lot lower maintenance though and I have corm to kind if the great it. I will keep that in mind when doing the flower beds next year on our new home.      This week we have had some good rain though. Today was the third day. I am hoping it is the beginning of the afternoon storms we usually get in th... 06/12/2014

No Sales Tax on Hurricane Supplies Until June 8th As I spoke about in my last blog on the Top 10 Mistakes Homeowners Make During a Hurricane, hurricane season started for us on June 1st and runs through November 30th.  Even though this year is not expected to be a particularly bad season, here in Florida, we have the opportunity to purchase hurricane supplies tax free through June 8th.                                                                                                                Items included in the Sales Tax Holiday Portable self-powered light sources selling for $20 or less                                              Portable self-powered radio, two-way radio or weather band radio selling for $50 or less Tarps or other flexible waterproof sheeting selling for $50 or ... 06/03/2014

Hurricane Season in Florida started on June 1st.  According to the National Hurricane Survival Initiative, there are 10 things that people fail to do during a hurricane.  Don't wait until a hurricane is barreling down on you to take head of these important steps!This is a list with good to know information! Understand The Threat - Understand that these are powerful storms and can do substantial damage. Evacuate -"Riding out" a substantial storm is never a good idea.  When you are advised to evacuate, listen to the experts   Leave In Time - Give yourself enough time to evacuate.  Remember everyone will be on the roads, plan ahead. Protect Your Home  - If you have hurricane shutters, know where they are and have them accessible before the storm. Organize Important Papers - Know where imp... 06/03/2014

Commonly Found Home Inspection ProblemsIn over 20 years of practicing real estate full time, I think that one of the most stressful parts of the process for Buyers and Sellers is the Home Inspection.  A Home Inspection report can determine whether or not the contract easily sails through or becomes a quagmire of problems. With Home Inspections, the focus is on “safety and habitability.” A good Home Inspector's job is to look for problems with a house that will impact the home’s livability and cause the owner’s trouble down the road. Sellers should understand that problems are to be expected, even in the most well-maintained homes.  I once attended a Home Inspection on a brand new, never lived in new home, and the inspector discovered that the roof had been put on incorrectly!  Now there... 05/30/2014

Hiring a real estate agent can be unbelievably stressful!  But if you choose the right person, it can take a lot of stress off of your mind.  While many agents will want to sell your property, not everyone will be up to doing the best job! How do you distinguish the average from someone who will excel? Here are 4 important qualities to seek in an agent. Look for someone who will: 1.)  Set an accurate sales price:  From the real estate agents point of view, it’s easy to tell a seller what he/she wants to hear.  Everyone is telling you that your home is worth $250,000, and in walks Joe Realtor and says:                                          "I can sell your home for $270,000, no problem!" I call that "Buying the Listing".  I completely understand why someone would be swayed promises of... 05/30/2014