Gary Waters -Real estate agent Viera Suntree Melbourne and Rockledge FL

Want to spend sometime with some very talented artists?

Come on down to Melbourne Florida next weekend for the Main Street Masters of Art Celebration being hosted by Melbourne Main Street.

The flyer in the graphic came out of my newspaper...so the wrinkle is real!

With about 50 booths set up on East New Haven Avenue, you will have plenty to see.

Not only will there be art but also a car show, entertainment both days, wine tasting, a kids play area and more.

Of course, several fine restaurants and pubs such as Meg O'Malley's Restaurant & Irish Pub, Matt's Casbah, Vapor Hookah Bar, Off the Traxx and a few others will provide plenty of options for food and drink. Hours for the festival each day is 10 to 5:00 p.m.

So, what you doing next weekend?

Sometimes one must wonder.... I guess here in Florida if it is green and flat it is golfable (not sure that is a word!

Community Park of Rockledge provides soccer, trails, bike paths, a skateboard park/course, a playground, pavillion and more.

But it does not provide golfing. Residents are encouraged to use the nearby Turtle Creek Golf Course or Viera East Golf Club!

Have you ever driven through a neighborhood and seen all those real estate signs in front of seemingly every other house?

It probably happens every day in most parts of the United States if you are in the real estate market as a buyer or real estate professional.

But not all of those houses are for sale....

In Brevard County Florida there are 5330 single family homes that are either actively for sale, under contract with contingencies or under contract and awaiting closing. Sounds like a bunch of homes for sale.

Now assume there is a "For Sale " sign in front of each of these properties. How many are actually actively for sale?

Drum roll, please.....

How does 69% sound???

Out of 5,330 properties only 3,681 are actively for sale.

This was really brought to my attention today when a client called me to say she had found the neighborhood she really likes. We had looked at one house in the subdivision earlier this week.

She said there were lots of other signs in the neighborhood.

The neighborhood of Capron Trace in Viera did have 7 properties in the MLS system but only one was active. Six of these properties were under contract!

Point made.....

Just because there are signs out front doesn't mean it is on the market!

The first time home buyer program will expire on November 30, 2009 if the Congress does not extend the benefit.

Thus, we are nearing what I would call the crunch time to get a deal done.

That is the message I am sending out to first time home buyers on all of my blogs including Florida Homes for Sale.

Many first time home buyers don't know the ropes. (I wonder if that is why we call them first time home buyers!)

The first step in the process is to get qualified for a mortgage. Many have banking institutions that they say they will contact. Sometimes they do not know anyone or ask for recommendations.

Sometimes I provide lender names and phone numbers.

Most of the time I give the contact information to the lender representative so they can be proactive.

I really get disappointed when the buyer prospect calls me back to say the lender representative did not call them.

If you are a first time home buyer in Brevard County Florida, call me. Lets get started as time is running out on the first time home buyer tax credit program.

In Melbourne, Florida's planned unit development of Viera, you will find the choice of several 55+ communities.

On the west side of I-95 is Heritage Isle with its continuing new development and impressive facilities.

Many times the "forgotten" 55+ community in Viera East is Grand Isle.