Condos and Scallops

Somehow, even with the already-tiny and still-shrinking inventory, 62 MLS-listed condos and townhomes managed to close in the month of July. One of those was a short sale and seven were bank-owned. Of interest among the bank-owned units was a 2nd floor east facing Mystic Vistas corner 3/2 with 2059 square feet that sold for $327,000 in 26 days. A shocker was a 3rd floor east facing (behind the pool) Spanish Main 3/2 with only 1153 square feet and no garage (no fridge or washer/dryer either) that incited a bidding war and closed above asking for a remarkable $302,500. Even for a weekly rental unit, that price surprised me. That was not, however, the highest price per square foot paid for an ocean condo in the month. A furnished and partially remodeled ground floor direct ocean Sandcastles 2/2 with 1286 square feet and a garage closed for a jaw-dropping $380,000. That's $295 per square foot for a unit with no view.

Other sales of interest included;

A remodeled and furnished 2nd floor corner 2/2 direct ocean Windjammer in Cape Canaveral with 1196 square feet and a garage closed for $330,000 in 18 days on the market.

A partially furnished and remodeled 3rd floor direct ocean downtown Cocoa Beach Park Place 2/2 with 1316 square feet and a garage closed for $335,000.

An updated 7th floor direct ocean Stonewood Cocoa Beach 3/2 with 1588 square feet and a garage sold for $400,000.

An updated and fully furnished 2nd/3rd floor townhouse style Royal Mansion Cape Canaveral 2/2 with 1058 square feet and a peek of the ocean closed for $255,000. Open parking and weekly rentals.

A fully furnished mainly original condition 4th floor north ocean view Sandcastles Cocoa Beach 2/2, 1286 square feet and garage closed for $305,000. Weekly rentals permitted.

A one of a kind 7th floor penthouse direct ocean Ocean Pines downtown Cocoa Beach with 3 bedrooms, 4.5 baths and 2706 square feet closed for $628,750. Came with a private 2 car garage.

An updated wide floor plan 5th floor north ocean view Windrush Cocoa Beach 3/2 with 1852 square feet and a 2 car garage closed for $430,000 in 29 days.

A remodeled direct ocean Waters Edge south Cocoa Beach 1st floor (above garage) 3/2 with 1753 square feet and a garage closed for $364,750.

A 3rd floor south facing peek of ocean between the buildings Solana Shores 3/2 with 2095 square feet and a private garage closed for $400,000 after just 20 days on the market.

A 4th (top) floor direct Banana River River Bend south Cocoa Beach 3/2 with 2050 square feet and a garage closed for $370,000.

Right up the road in south Cocoa Beach a 4th floor corner direct river Garden by the Sea 3/3 with 2405 square feet and a 2 car garage closed for $424,000 after about four and a half years on the market and for about $200,000 less than the initial asking price in 2010.

I'm happy to send a link to details of all 62 closed sales to anyone who would like it. As we can see from the recently closed sales, prices continue to rise, mainly a function of the record low supply, standing at 175 units for sale in Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral this morning with only seven distressed listings in the bunch. Having said that, we are still far below the prices of ten years ago and remain the lowest priced oceanfront community in Florida. 

The rain continues although nothing like the Biblical rains being endured on the central Gulf Coast of Florida. Scalloping there has been limited to between the storms but we were able to score good quantities on our annual harvesting trip this week. Spicy scallop baskets (gunkan maki) like those pictured will be gracing our plates for a few days.

Got questions? Email me. CBLarry@outlook.com

"When I was poor and I complained about inequality people said I was bitter, now I'm rich and I complain about inequality they say I'm a hypocrite". ____Russell Brand