More Than April Fools Day

Today is April Fools Day and is also the scheduled launch day for the four astronauts on Artemis II who will loop around the moon before returning to Earth, a trip of around 685,000 miles over ten days. Should the launch be scrubbed today we have five more days in this month’s window to reschedule a launch, tomorrow through the 6th. A lesser known fact about April 1st is that is the traditional departure day for the biggest wave of snowbirds beginning the northward migration back to their home states. Snowbirds come and go in our area from November through April but a very large group of them have seasonal leases through the end of March which makes today, April 1st, their checkout day. We will still have a few lingering snowbirds and occasional spring breakers but the traffic, grocery stores and golf courses will be noticeably less crowded beginning tomorrow barring a rescheduled launch of Artemis.

Inventory of condos and townhouses this morning in Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral is 296 units. We usually get an increase in inventory as snowbird-occupied units vacate and are listed for sale so we should see that number back up over 300 units shortly. There were 54 units closed in the month of March, five more than last year but fewer than in each of the preceding fourteen years. Median selling price was $305,000. Prices ranged from $127,500 for a one bedroom dump needing work in a riverfront complex in Cape Canaveral to $979,000 for a luxurious newer riverfront 3 BR, 4 BA with two garages in south Cocoa Beach across the street from the ocean. Monthly condo fees ranged from $260 to $1390 with a median fee of $697. Less than half the buyers used a mortgage for their purchase.

There were twelve single family homes closed in the month from $425,000 for a fixer-upper, non-waterfront 3/2 in Cocoa Beach to $2.7 MM for an expansive riverfront estate in Cape Canaveral. Median selling price was $664,000. Median time on market was 64 days. Inventory this morning stands at 65 houses.

Godspeed to our astronauts and to the thousands of snowbirds also taking flight today.

“I’m so mad that I’m getting older. It makes me reckless.” _AdelePeak