Sunday, February 26, 2017

My Calendar Must Be Broken

First off, I would like to thank all those who have offered comments, suggestions, and encouragement over the years. All feedback is appreciated. When I began writing this blog twelve years ago I made a decision to restrict my research and commentary to the Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral markets and to leave the rest of the county to others. This was probably originally rooted in laziness (less to research) but that narrow focus has allowed me to develop a deep understanding of this little market in the intervening twelve years. Other than macro themes affecting all markets, what was happening in Palm Bay or Merritt Island had little correlation to our beach markets. That hasn't changed. A buyer would be ill-advised to ask my opinion about or to engage my representation in the Titusville market. I would apply all of my experience to get the best possible deal with the least risk for my client but I wouldn't know what I may have overlooked in my research. There might be something market-specific and relevant to the property that only an involved local agent would know. To paraphrase a wise general, "we know there are things we don't know but there are also things we don't know we don't know. It is the latter category that tends to be the difficult one." If buying or selling beachside, I advise using an agent who is active in and knows this specific market. The consequence of an agent's ignorance can be costly for their client. Using an out-of-town agent is a risk that makes zero sense.

There were 25 new listings of residential property in Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral this past week. Four of them were under contract in four days or less. An additional 16 properties went under contract during the week. The tight inventory continues to be frustrating for those hoping to purchase. Someone looking for an east facing direct ocean condo above the ground floor for less than $350,000 has four possibilities this morning. If they must have a garage there is only one that will fit the bill. Raise that budget to $500,000 and there are several excellent units to consider. There is a new listing this morning in south Cocoa Beach, 4th floor, 3/2, tastefully and beautifully remodeled asking $499,000. Anyone looking in that price range would be advised to call their agent immediately. I doubt it will last for many days.

What a week it's been. For that matter, what a "winter" it's been. Thursday and Saturday were the two best days of surf so far in 2017. The water is warm enough that the wetsuits have been retired for another year. There has been a school of giant black drum roaming the beach between Port Canaveral and Sebastian Inlet for several weeks. They were off Cocoa Beach earlier this past week and several people caught the fish of a lifetime. I enjoyed seeing several of you on the riverboat last night. A good time was had by all.

"If you tell a big enough lie, and tell it frequently enough, it will be believed."  __Adolph Hitler

Sunday, February 19, 2017

Valentine's Week, 2017

There were no big changes in real estate activity in Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral the week of Sunday, February 12  to Sunday, February 19. The main themes of previous weeks remain firmly in place; low inventory and demand exceeding supply. Two-thirds of the 63 condo closings so far this year have been cash deals. Those hoping to purchase a condo who are planning to get a mortgage need to remember that when drafting their offers. Single family home buyers are more likely to use a mortgage with only a third of the 19 closed sales so far going for cash. Note to prospective buyers: one fifth of all closed sales so far this year sold in the first week on the market. If a property is desirable there will be multiple suitors immediately and the buyer who can't act quickly will lose out most times. I can say from repeated first-hand experience that those using an active local (Cocoa Beach) buyer's agent have a distinct edge. Three of my last four closings were under contract the first day on the market.

We had 25 new MLS listings of residential properties during the week. One was under contract within five days and one of the new listings was an old stale listing refreshed with a new MLS number. During the same week, another 28 previously listed properties went under contract, six of those single family homes.

Condo inventory is down to 216 existing units for sale in our two cities. That's less than the number of units that sold in a three-month period last spring. The same 27 pre-construction units are still offered with no takers since last week. Rounding out the shopping basket, there are 58 single family homes offered for sale, 28 of them waterfront.

The non-winter of 2017 continues to amaze with high 70s and low 80s most days. A wetsuit has not been needed this month for the several days of small, fun surf with surf temps hovering in the 70s.

Truth will always be truth, regardless of lack of understanding, disbelief or ignorance. __W. Clement Stone
Truth will always be truth, regardless of lack of understanding, disbelief or ignorance.
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/disbelief.html

Sunday, February 12, 2017

The Week of February 5, 2017

New listings in the week of Sunday, February 5 to Sunday, February 12 came on at the lowest weekly rate so far in 2017. We had just 21 new MLS listings of  residential properties in Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral. Two were under contract within three days and three of the new listings were refreshed older listings.

Fifteen of this week's new listings were condos or townhomes and six were single-family homes. During the same week another 19 properties that had been listed prior to last Sunday went under contract making a net inventory gain of zero for the week. Twelve properties were reported closed during the week, ten condos and two single families.

Condo inventory stands at 220 existing units in our two cities with another 27 pre-construction units (same as last week) in yet-to-be-built buildings. There are 61 single family homes offered for sale, 28 of them waterfront, highest asking price $2.995 MM for a brand new beauty on the ocean at 1st St. South. Lowest priced waterfront currently offered is a fixer-upper on a canal in south Cocoa Beach just off the open river for $379,000. Exactly a third of all residential properties on the market have been for sale for over five months. We know what that means.


























The ocean end of the Minutemen streetscape project is taking shape and the finished product looks like it's going to be beautiful. [First photo above] There are two colors of pavers in the pedestrian only street laid in a pleasing pattern with a few scattered planters. Looks promising. The second photo shows the block between Atlantic and Orlando avenues. It still looks like a Todd Hoffman mining project but I'm very hopeful now that we've had a peek at the ocean end. Foot traffic last night downtown didn't seem to be deterred by the construction. Lots of people out enjoying the balmy weather and excellent live music at multiple venues. The Uber guys were busy.

“If I paint a wild horse, you might not see the horse... but surely you will see the wildness!” __Pablo Picasso

Saturday, February 11, 2017

The Appraiser Is Not Buying It

The moon setting over Merritt Island this morning just before sunrise in south Cocoa Beach.

I can examine the details of every single sale in Cocoa Beach every day for years, go in many of those sold properties and know things about many of the sales that aren't made public yet my opinion of property values in Cocoa Beach will never be held in the same high regard that an actual appraisal is. The one exception to this is the occasion when an appraisal comes in lower than expected. In those instances sellers are very willing to dismiss the appraisal as garbage. In most cases, in most minds, appraisals are seen as definitive proof of a property's present value.

I called a listing agent last week to alert him that I was sending over an offer on his new listing. I asked about the unusually high price when we talked and told him that I'd include comps with our offer to justify our offering price. He said not to bother, the owner had an appraisal done before listing and the asking price was at the appraisal number. He was as surprised as I was at the high number but the seller had firmly wrapped her arms around that number and expected to receive it. She didn't counter the very fair offer that I presented. A spendthrift purchaser may come along and pay the appraisal number but it's a long shot at best. Incidentally, the unit needs tens of thousands of dollars of renovations to approach average beach condo condition. Maybe she can get the appraiser to buy it since he and she are the only two people who believe his opinion of value. Or she can sit on it and let the rising market bridge the gap in a year or two.

Maybe my opinion of value is wrong and the appraisal is correct. They are both opinions and presumably based on the exact same data. The difference is that my opinion comes with a ready, willing and able buyer and the appraisal is accompanied only by an invoice for services rendered. The unit is still active this morning.

Public Service Announcement: Property owners and tenants, change your AC filters. Here on the beach, the inside air handler will last a decade or two longer than the five to eight year life of exterior compressor unit IF filters are regularly changed. The system will do it's job better and with less energy usage as well. The same condo unit I mentioned above had a filter change log taped to the air handler so that the date could be noted every time the filter was changed. That's a great idea in theory. The last entry on the log was dated 2014 with a note from the person changing the filter that she used the last filter and more were needed. There was no filter in the unit when I checked and no spares around. It looked like it might continue to blow air another day or two. Expected high in Cocoa Beach today, February 11, 2017, is 78 degrees under sunny skies. Enjoy.

“People would say to me, “Hey man, you look just like Paul McCartney”, and I’d say: “I wish I had his money!”” __Paul McCartney

Sunday, February 05, 2017

Wrapping Another Week - Feb. 5, 2017

I shot the photo above last week on one of those magical still mornings when the Banana River is a sheet of glass except for the scattered schools of bait fish and feeding dolphins. Sure makes it hard to concentrate on work when surrounded by this kind of beauty.

The week of Sunday, January 29 to Sunday, February 5 saw a welcome increase in new listings from the previous weeks of 2017. We had 40 new MLS listings of  residential properties in Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral. Seven of those were older listings that were relisted, all but one at lower, more reasonable asking prices. [Note to sellers: In this tight market, if it isn't selling it is most likely overpriced unless it's a special property with no appeal to the many prospective buyers who are actively looking to purchase. It's always worth taking a brief shot at landing a lottery winner who is willing to pay a crazy price but if that hasn't happened after a few weeks it might be time for a de-orbital burn to get the price back in Earth's atmosphere.]

Thirty three of this week's new listings were condos or townhomes and seven were single-family homes. Three were under contract by this morning. During the same week another 18 properties that had been listed prior to last Sunday went under contract. Thirteen properties were reported closed during the week, eight condos and five single families.

The busy week of new listings helped to increase our existing condo inventory to 229 units in our two cities and another 27 units in yet-to-be-built buildings. Nothing has changed with the tendency to over-price with still more than a third of the total on the market for over six months. The single family home inventory is little changed with 59 homes on offer, 29 of them waterfront.

Those of you hoping to purchase, and there are quite a few, understand that over half of all listings are optimistically priced. It is your and/or your agent's job to try to educate the seller when making a fair offer. The seller's mental number, no matter how crazy high, is usually very real to her but a well-thought out and well-supported argument for a fair price sometimes works. A low offer that can't be justified with sold comps is, in this market, a snowball in a Waffle House kitchen.

Drivers, please be careful on our streets. Every crosswalk this time of year is crowded with snowbirds and the frustration we all feel having to wait through an entire traffic light cycle to turn onto A1A does not justify some of the aggressive driving I'm seeing. Snowbirds, likewise, look behind and beside yourselves when on those crosswalks. There are less-than-reasonable people driving some of the cars waiting for you and it is prudent to stroll defensively. Let's all enjoy this beautiful "winter" weather.

...the plane brought me farther.
I'm surrounded by water
And I'm not going back again

I got my toes in the water, ass in the sand
Not a worry in the world, a cold beer in my hand
Life is good today. Life is good today.

_________________________Zac Brown Band