Melrose of Ormond Beach, FL

As a realtor, sometimes I run across a community which is so perfectly suited to its surroundings, so livable, that it occupies a special place in your mind when foks ask about relocation to the Daytona Beach area.

Melrose of Ormond Beach is one of my special places. Bordering the Halifax River, Melrose offers waterfront - riverfront homes - in the price range of the high $800,000s to well over a million. The homes are gracious residences with large lots and access to the river, some with boat docks, most with views across the Halifax to Oceanside. The community was designed, or has become, water-oriented, so homeowners who buy there want to enjoy Ormond Beach waterfront real estate. If you don't have a boat, you can watch the yachts motor by, watch the play of sun on water, or rise to gorgeous sunrises.

Across E. Granada Blvd, a main street of Melrose, is the Oceanside Country Club. From the club's home page: "The Oceanside experience is casual elegance through friendly service, quality food and spirits, challenging golf and tennis, or just relaxing by the pool. Located in Ormond Beach, nestled between the Halifax River and the ocean, this private club is unique in location and style." The original golf course was designed by P. F. Seabloom in 1907 and has recently been renovated by Bobby Weed. There are 9 tennis courts, an oversized pool, restaurant, and many social events. Oceanside is home to SALLY, the Women’s South Atlantic Amateur Championship. The SALLY, which dates back to 1926, is usually held in January.

Not far from Melrose, toward the west, are the Tomoka Oaks Golf Club, and Nova Recreation Complex, 400 North Nova Road, with a sports complex, playground, and picnic tables.

Just a few blocks from Melrose, on the river, is River Front Park, 1 South Beach St, which features a fishing pier, bait shop and boat launch. And don't forget the fishing along with all the other recreational opportunities on the Halifax River!

Here are 2 homes for sale in Melrose of Ormond Beach, just a sample of the style and quality of the community. Set up your personal Ormond Beach MLS search for waterfront or riverfront homes, or just contact me and I'll do one for you.

546 S Beach is the quintessential plantation-style home of gracious southern living. The home is 4647 sq ft, but total living area is 7,156 sq ft. It fronts the river, with a pool, boat house and boat dock, and includes an in-law suite, irrigation well, veranda overlooking the water, and so much more, on a lot of 39,634 sq ft. This is a wonderful opportunity to own a large riverfront home in Ormond Beach. Listed at $1,100,000.


138 S Beach is a custom riverfront Ormond Beach home with every attention to detail. Built in 1993 by a commercial builder, the elegant home is 2858 sq ft, with a total living area of 4058 sq ft. It also fronts the Halifax River, has a detached workshop, irrigation well, 10' ceilings and tile floors throughout. There are guest quarters on the 2nd level with kitchenette, the lot is 20,800 sq ft, and includes riparian rights to the river. Listed at $895,000.


If these interest you, visit the Waterfront page on my web site for details on riverfront and oceanfront communities in the Daytona Beach area. Now is a great time to find bargain prices for these homes. There is only so much waterfront real estate in Florida, and the prices are the best in years. Think of living in Melrose on the Halifax River in Ormond Beach. If you see yourself in that lifestyle, call or email me and I can help you find a home in this special place.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-67903191
sherry@sherryarmstrong.com
http://www.ormondbeachflhome.com/
http://www.sherryarmstrong.com/

New Hospital Coming to Ormond Beach FL

The new Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center off Williamson Blvd. will open July 14. This replacement hospital will be the area’s most comprehensive facility, featuring the expansion of many services already available and adding new and exciting features.

Short Facts (from the new facility's web site):

The Greening of the Campus - Landscaping for the Medical Center will contain 82 Palms, 432 trees and 55,115 shrub & groundcover plants.

The Greening of the Interior - The 7,451 square yards of carpet installed in the new hospital earned 118 tons of Verified Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Credits, equal to keeping 20 passenger cars off the road.

Big is Beautiful - The site for the Medical Center covers 135 acres, about the size of 102 football fields.

Well-Connected- -The Inpatient Tower and Medical Office Building are “hinged” together by the elliptical glass element.

A Healing, Natural Environment - Retention ponds are utilized as water features along with preservation of wetlands.

A One-Stop Cardio Shop - The third floor Cardiovascular Center has a combined prep area for cardiac catheterizations, endovascular and CV surgery.

Quick n’ Comprehensive - Emergency services include three nurses stations, with eight of the 53 private treatment rooms segregated into a Fast-Track location.

Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center Campus

Campus Acreage - 135 acres

Square Footage - 718,000 square feet

Patient Floors - 10 Patient Floors, 12 Floors Total

Private Patient Rooms - All private rooms

Total In-Patient Beds - 277 licensed beds

Operating Rooms/Same Day Surgery - 11 General ORs; 3 Cardiovascular ORs;1 Endovascular/Hybrid OR

Critical Care Patient Rooms - 46

Cardiac Cath Labs - 5

Emergency Department Bays - 53 Total (42 Main; 8 Fast Track; 3 Trauma)

BirthCare Center - 32

Nursery Beds - 10

CT Scanners - Siemens Somatom Sensation 16 CT Scanner;Siemens Somatom Dual Source 64 Slice CT Scanner

Telemetry/IntermediateCare Rooms - 210 beds have telemetry; 108 are designated as step-down or intermediate care beds

Parking Spaces - 1,200+

This will be a state-of-the-art facility. Even more reason to relocate to Ormond Beach, and contact me for real estate market information in the Ormond Beach area. Here's a link to Search the Ormond Beach MLS while you are calling me.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
sherry@sherryarmstrong.com
http://www.ormondbeachflhome.com/
http://www.sherryarmstrong.com/

530 Scott Drive in Broderick of Ormond Beach, Home for Sale

This 4 bedroom/4 bath pool home in Ormond Beach is in the community of Broderick of Ormond Beach, not far from the Tomoka River, the Tomoka Oaks Golf Club, the River Bend Golf Club, the Nova Recreation Complex, and the Trails Shopping Center. Broderick is an exclusive enclave tucked in behind a nice family type/retiree area of single family properties close to everything in Ormond Beach. The houses enjoy large lots and square footage. Not many homes come on the market in Broderick of Ormond Beach, and this beautiful home is one of the best prices available.

An elegant 4 br, 4 ba home this residence offers a very private setting on approximately ¾ acre lot. Feel the spaciousness as you enter the grand foyer with Italian Travertine marble flooring throughout the first level. The Great Room has elaborate lighted built-ins with fireplace & wiring for any & all electronics. The banquet size formal dining room has a 12 ft. built-in custom buffet/server with granite top. Indulge in the gourmet kitchen featuring sophisticated custom high gloss cabinetry with under and over cabinet lighting, granite countertops and backsplashes, stainless steel appliances including 3 GE Monogram convections ovens, Viking range hood, refrigerator, dual dishwashers & sinks, center island, breakfast bar & breakfast nook.

The large laundry room includes an extra smooth top range and side by side refrigerator. This home was truly built for entertaining! Pamper yourself in the gracious master suite with a luxurious master bath featuring his & her cherry wood vanities, granite countertops, Jacuzzi tub, marbled tiled tandem shower & fabulous walk-in closet with complete custom built-ins. Stunning front staircase leads to upstairs quarters with 3 spacious bedrooms, two baths & 25x27 bonus room. Plenty of storage space inside & out with the oversized 3 car garage. The property is beautifully landscaped and includes a large in-ground pool with Jacuzzi jets at one end.

Enjoy the slideshow below, and visit my Ormond Beach web site for information on many of the unique communities in our Daytona Beach area and to search the Ormond Beach MLS. Contact me for real estate market data on Broderick, or a private preview of this Ormond Beach home for sale.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
sherry@sherryarmstrong.com
http://www.ormondbeachflhome.com/

Home for Sale in Halifax Plantation, Ormond Beach, FL

Not long ago I wrote about the stunning community of Halifax Plantation, a very special master-planned community with golf, tennis, trails, and close to two state parks, in Ormond Beach, FL.

The home featured here, on Kiowa Lane, is 4 bedrooms/4 baths, 3516 sq ft, with a screened pool, 3-car garage, central air and heat, over .5 acre, with a bonus room and deck. Appliances include dishwasher, disposal, microwave, and range. There are ceiling fans, intercom, jacuzzi/hot tub, and security system. HOA is $40/month. Asking price is $479,900 and it is bank-owned.

This like-new executive home on large wooded lot in cul-de-sac has a brick paver driveway and features quality details: high ceilings, crown molding, architectural niches, and decorative tile inset. The gourmet kitchen has cherry cabinets with granite countertops and top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances. The beautiful screen-enclosed pool and spa back to a private setting.

Halifax Plantation in Ormond Beach is one of the most sought-after addresses in our area. The grounds are beautiful, the community friendly, and the amenities the best you would want. Take a look at the slideshow below and you'll see a typical Halifax Plantation home. Then visit my Ormond Beach web site for more details on homes for sale in Halifax Plantation of Ormond Beach.

Contact me for a private showing, or real estate market information.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
sherry@sherryarmstrong.com
http://www.ormondbeachflhome.com/

Tips for Ormond Beach Home Buyers

June is National Homeownership Month. This year, with our country's economic challenges and the many incentives for 1st time buyers to own a home, the label takes on more meaning. Even with the low interest rates and tax credit, there are a growing number of obstacles for home buyers, including a higher credit score standard and more restrictions on credit. But, home loans are still available to credit-worthy buyers.

Here are a few things for buyers of Ormond Beach properties to consider:

1. Learn about the 1st-time Buyer programs, such as the tax credit on your 2009 taxes and local Florida and Volusia County incentives (just email me, I can help with this information).

2. Get pre-approved, not just pre-qualified. Pre-approval means you have applied for a loan and the lender tells you how much home you can buy. This saves you time, your lender time, and - of course - your realtor time. And that tax credit is only good until Nov. 30, 2009.

3. Be honest with your lender and yourself. Lots of folks are now upside down on their mortgages because they purchased more home with a larger mortgage than they could afford. Visit the mortgage calculator page on my web site to run the numbers.

4. Review the additional costs of homeownership over and above the mortgage and add those into your monthly bills. Whatever utilities have been paid by your landlord will now be your responsibility - sewer, garbage, taxes - in addition to utilities, homeowner's association fees, and more.

5. Be sure you understand the basics of the loan you choose before you pay any fees. What is the origination fee? Is there a prepayment penalty? What will the total fees be at closing that you are responsible to pay? How much can you legally ask a seller to pay for you? Any reputable mortgage lender will make sure these important items in your loan are explained to you thoroughly.

6. Know your credit score before you start shopping for a home or loan. You can get one free report annually and another for a small fee later. If you have issues on your report - especially if the late payments are not yours - they will take some time to clear off your record. To obtain a free copy of your credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com.

7. When you are ready to apply for a loan, be prepared. Don't waste your time and the lender's time - you will need 2 years of pay stubs, 2 years of tax returns, copies of monthly bills such as credit cards and car payments, and any additional information on your finances - such as proof of additional income (child support, alimony).

After writing these tips for Ormond Beach buyers, I realize that I can help you with every step of the process, from figuring out how much home you can buy to how to pay for it and what the total costs will be. And then, I can show you the houses you choose and guide you through the purchase process into your Ormond Beach home.

Remember, realtors are free for buyers - it is the seller who pays. Would you write a complex legal document without a lawyer? Probably not. So use a Realtor for your home purchase, at no cost to you. Contact me soon.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
sherry@sherryarmstrong.com
www.ormondbeachflhome.com
www.sherryarmstrong.com

SBA Opening Center in Volusia County

The U.S. Small Business Administration announced that a Business Recovery Center will be established to help businesses impacted by the recent severe storms, flooding and tornadoes in Volusia County. The Center opened June 10.

Through the disaster declaration, Volusia County is eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA. Small businesses, and most private non-profit organizations in the following adjacent counties, are eligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans: Brevard, Flagler, Lake, Marion, Orange, Putnam and Seminole in Florida.

Businesses and non-profit organizations of any size may borrow up to $2 million for physical losses. For small businesses, and most private non-profit organizations of all sizes, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.

Interest rates are as low as 4 percent for businesses with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.

Here are the details on the center:

Volusia CountyHolly Hill Community Recreational Center
Multipurpose Room #1
1046 Daytona Avenue
Holly Hill, FL 32117
Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday - Friday

Disaster loan information and application forms may be obtained by calling the SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the hearing impaired), Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., EDT, or by sending an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Business loan applications can also be downloaded from the SBA website at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance.

Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX. 76155. Businesses may apply for disaster loans from SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/.

If you find yourself a a fix with your mortgage because of storm damage to your business, give me a call. I'm a Certfied Distressed Property Expert and can discuss your options with you.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
sherry@sherryarmstrong.com
www.sherryarmstrong.com

Springtime with the Manatees in Ormond Beach

Tuesday morning, along the marshes of Old Dixie Highway in Ormond Beach, a group of sea cows in their mating ritual attracted dozens of onlookers. In the Spring, groups of males will pursue a female relentlessly, sometimes forcing her to beach on a shoreline to rest and recover. All this raucous behavior brought out the locals to watch the goings-on.

Christy Hudak, a biologist with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, said it's OK to watch from a distance, but that you shouldn't bother the protected animals in the water.

Manatees mate from spring to fall and give birth to a single baby - or rarely, twins - 13 months later. Call the wildlife commission at 888-404-3922 if you see manatees mating or beached.

Visit my Ormond Beach web site for Ormond Beach news and real estate information. I live and work here, and offer a free Relocate to Ormond Beach package - just email or call me for a copy.

Sherry Armstrong, Realtor
386-679-3191
sherry@sherryarmstrong.com
www.ormondbeachflhome.com
www.sherryarmstrong.com