John S Murphy *Patrick AFB Specialist*

Patrick AFB News And Events Blog

Why Call Your Blog "Space Junk"? Well, what is space junk? It is objects orbiting the earth, that no longer have any useful purpose. After very little and not too careful consideration, it seemed to be the obvious choice. This blog is going to be about news, events, and real estate issues as well as other "junk" tailored to the military moving to the Space Coast and Patrick AFB Area, and those already living here. Hopefully these articles will serve some useful purpose, but if they don't ... look out for the debris.

Here you will find all the articles is in one place. This is a work in progress and will continue to have more information added on a regular basis. If you have an idea for an article, let me know.

Latest:

There Really Are Rocket Scientists:

I was afforded a great opportunity this past week. Being a member of the Military Affairs Council from the Cocoa Beach Chamber of Commerce, we were privileged to have our March meeting at the Morrell Operations Center (MOC) at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The Morrell Operations Center was until recently know as the Range Operations Control Center, and it was renamed after General Jimmey R. Morrell, who was the first commander of the 45^th Space Wing.

For those who don't know what happens at the MOC, it is the base of all the launches on the Eastern Range. It handles the launches and the command and control systems for the range, and tracks and monitors the performance of the rockets and space shuttles. It was truly a fascinating experience.

We were given a Wing Mission Briefing by vice commander Col. Butler, followed by a tour of the Center. We were able to sit at the actual consoles that are used during the launches, which was pretty cool, and we were briefed by a few officers who are actual "rocket scientists" that talked about their mission, upcoming launches, securing the site for launches, and safety to the public. Sitting there, I really wished I was one, for no other reason than I could use the "rocket scientist" line. 2008 looks to be a busy year, with over 20 launches scheduled at this point.

I always knew that weather was important to the launches; things have to be almost perfect. After the briefing by the 45^th weather squadron, I got a new appreciation for it. Various weather conditions can affect the launches, and the one I found most interesting is lightning. Being that Florida is the "lightning rod" for the U.S. It has more lightning strikes than the rest of the country. Obviously lightning could damage the vehicle, and it is very important to take that into account when launching rockets, when considering both natural and the phenomenon of triggered lightning. I was amazed by all the protocol it takes to get a rocket off the ground. It's a wonder it ever happens, but with these great dedicated men and women it does.

If you ever get a chance to visit the MOC, don't pass it up. I know that these tours are rare and I really want to thank all of those involved for their knowledge and gracious hospitality. For me it was a very special event.

Recently, The Florida State House passed Tax relief for Florida's veterans. What this bill would do is to exempt Patrick AFB military personnel and all military from Ad Valorem property taxes on their Florida homesteaded property while they are doing duty outside of the US in designated military operations. This would come in the form of a credit that is calculated by the amount of time deployed. The exact amount and method of this credit has yet to be established. The measure was passed unanimously by the Florida House, but has yet to been voted on by the Senate. There was a similar bill that passed the house last year, but didn't go anywhere in the Senate. Hopefully with the large tax reform measure that passed last year, the Senate will vote on this joint resolution. This would be an amendment to the state constitution that would require a 60% affirmative vote from the electorate in the November 2008 general elections. If passed, the bill would take effect for the 2010 tax year.

The idea behind the bill has been credited to Michael Waldrop, a former Army Reserve Infantry Captain. Michael had been lobbying lawmakers in Tallahassee for tax relief for veterans, while he was stationed in Afghanistan. Waldrop was and adviser to the Afghan army, and is a recipient of the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.

The related bill in the Florida Senate is SJR 2384; it has been introduced, but has not yet had a committee hearing. You can contact your Florida State Senator and ask them to support this bill. You can find your State Senator, by going to the Florida State Senate website and entering your nine digit zip code.

I think this is a really small measure that we, the residents of Florida, could adopt. We all know that are taxes are too high, and we should all get more tax relief, but I think for those men and women doing their difficult and dangerous jobs overseas this is the least we can do.

This article is part of "The Patrick AFB Online Relocation Package".

Recent History For Home Values In Brevard County FL, "Florida's Space Coast":

The median home price in Brevard County, like almost everywhere else, has declined since its highs in 2005. From 2003 to 2005, the median single-family home price shot up 72% in two years. That was "silly appreciation" and was one of the highest in the country. This obviously was way ahead of what the "normal" appreciation would have been, and should have been. It was fueled by a lot of speculation, new construction, cheap money, and the overall hot market. It did create quite a problem though. For first-time homebuyers, and many already living in the area they had been priced out of the market. Oh my how things have changed.

As with the rest of the country we have had quite a slide in the median home price since those highs of 2005. As of the third quarter of 2009 prices have declined 47% from their peak. Foreclosures and short sales have put an incredible downward pressure on home values. It isn't all bad news though, the number of homes sold in the third quarter of 2009 is up 17% compared to the third quarter of 2008. (1728 in 3Q 2009 vs 1472 in 3Q 2008), and inventories have been declining. I think much of this activity is due to the $8000 tax rebate that the government has been offering, but we'll see if this activity continues after the rebate deadline of November 30^th, 2009.

It appears for now that the downward spiral of home prices may have reached a plateau. The median home price in Brevard County has been flat or has had a little bit of an uptick in the past six months. This can be seen in the chart below.

*Chart data from Brevard County MLS: Sold; Residential




Right now may present a great buying opportunity for those looking to get into the market. With interests rates at historic lows, now just might be the time. There are many financing programs available to ALL military personnel moving into and around Brevard County

There are many homes on the market (but inventory has been shrinking) which allows, you as the buyer, to find the right home for you, at a good price.

If you are selling a home, and, it is priced correctly, IT WILL SELL. I have done this many times in this market. Pricing, strong marketing, and excellent condition of your home are the keys to accomplishing this.
ABSORPTION RATE is a calculated ratio that can show you the relationship between supply and demand. It is calculated by the total number of homes for sale at the end of the month divided by the total number of homes sold. The ratio represents how many months it would take to sell all the homes on the market at the current pace.

The Average Residential Absorption Rates For Brevard County:

2004: 2.6
2005: 4.4
2006: 12.9
2007: 17.0
2008: 16.0
2009: 9.7

Looking at these numbers and trends, you can see that Brevard County is still in a "Buyers'" Market, but the inventory of homes is starting to come down and is starting to level out.







What does all this mean?

Now is your opportunity!

• Historicly low interest rates and an $8000 Tax Credit for first time homebuyers, untill November 30th.
• If you are buying there are plenty of deals available and sellers are willing to negotiate.
• If you are selling, don't listen to all the bad news. IT CAN BE DONE! You just need realistic expectations and an aggressive marketing plan.

Brevard County is great place to live, and this is just one of those inevitable cycles in the real estate market. This cycle is just a little more severe than most. The market will rebound!

This article is part of "The Patrick AFB Online Relocation Package".

Brevard County Schools:

Brevard Public Schools are top notch. They are second in the state for graduation rate and have a significant number of Grade "A" schools.

•· 58% of the 60 Elementary Schools in Brevard County are ranked in the top 25% of the State.
•· 42% of the 12 Middle Schools in Brevard County are ranked in the top 25% of the State.
•· 73% of the 15 High Schools in Brevard County are ranked in the top 25% of the State.
•· 2^nd in the State for Graduation Rate 2007-2008
•· Brevard School District Ranked 3^rd in the State 2008-2009, (#2 2007-2008)

Florida uses a grading scale to rate is schools, and that is primarily measured by the results of the FCAT test. How this is done is explained below:

*Chart From The Florida Department Of Education


If you plan on living in North Base Housing the schools that your children will probably attend are:

• Roosevelt Elementary
• Cocoa Beach Middle School
• Cocoa Beach High School

If you plan on living in South Base Housing the schools that your children will probably attend are:

• Holland Elementary
• Delura Middle School
• Satellite Beach High School

Below is a list of the various schools that are in the Patrick AFB area. There are more in Brevard County, but these are the ones closest to the base and most likely the ones your children may be attending if living off base.

Elementary Schools:

• Elementary
• Middle School
• High School

If you have a local address, you can use this school locater tool to find out which school your child will attend.



The Makeup of Brevard County Public Schools:
2007-2008

Registration and Entrance Requirements:

• Age Verification
  - Confirmation of a student's age will be required upon entry into school
• Certificate of Immunization
• School-Entry Physical Examination
  - Within 30 school days of a child's initial entry to a school in the state of Florida, the principal shall require evidence of a physical examination preformed within one year prior to the date of entry
• Residence Verification
  - Verification of a parent or guardian's residence shall be required at the time the child registers in a Brevard County School

The school year starts in mid to late August and ends in early June.
You can find out more at: Brevard County Public Schools Website.