Need Help Narrowing Down Area to Move, Cocoa or New Smyrna (Miami: for sale, condos)

[extra300]

Looking for an area to move to in one of the two circled areas below (*See Pictures). I have listed some key points that are important to me. If anyone could advise of areas that would meet these criteria’s or even point out areas to avoid that would be great.


Area Requirements
- Drive to Orlando International Airport (< 70 Mins, including some traffic. *less is better)
- Restaurants within a drive ( < 10 Mins )
- Saltwater / Beach / Intercoastal within a drive ( < 10 Mins)
- Shopping within a drive ( < 15 Mins)
- High Density of People Age Range 20-40
- Family / Kid friendly neighborhoods NOT required
- Safe Neighborhood, Nice Neighborhood

House Requirements
- Single Family Home
- No Communities
- Price of Homes in neighborhood 300k-600k
- No swampy or heavy wooded areas (jungle abutting property)
- Private pool or ability to put in a pool
- At least one car Garage (or room to add)


The area requirements are key, I just listed the house requirements to narrow down some of the areas. Once I narrow it down to 2 or 3 areas I can look for specific houses from there. Any help is appreciated.

Thank you

[Gypsy3n8]

Merritt Island should have everything you want.

[Nypafl4u]

I agree with Merritt Island, but in that price range, you could include several areas in Brevard, beachside as well, from Cocoa Beach straight down to Melbourne Beach.

[Gypsy3n8]

Nypafl4u - I didn't realize many places beachside had or could have a private pool, aside from the condo complexes and hotels anyway.

[Rabflmom]

Originally Posted by Gypsy3n8

Nypafl4u - I didn't realize many places beachside had or could have a private pool, aside from the condo complexes and hotels anyway.

Beachside refers to any area across the causeway.

Yes you can have pools in your yard. You can even have a pool ocean front, but sometimes with erosion they fall into the ocean.
For example there are 40 homes with pools for sale right now in Indialantic.
https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...h_swimmingpool

[Gypsy3n8]

Originally Posted by Rabflmom

Beachside refers to any area across the causeway.

Yes you can have pools in your yard. You can even have a pool ocean front, but sometimes with erosion they fall into the ocean.
For example there are 40 homes with pools for sale right now in Indialantic.
https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...h_swimmingpool

I understand what 'beachside' refers to. I own a place beachside, but never considered owning a SFH since it is not what I want when I retire. Didn't realize the lots would be big enough since the homes all seem so cramped together.

[extra300]

Any thoughts on the New Smyrna area, Vs Cocoa area ?

[Nypafl4u]

Don't know enough about New Smyrna. Cocoa is not for me. I would rather be in Merritt Island. You need to travel around and see if it can work for you.
Plenty of pools beachside and many lots .20 to .25 of an acre in size.

[extra300]

Originally Posted by Nypafl4u

Don't know enough about New Smyrna. Cocoa is not for me. I would rather be in Merritt Island. You need to travel around and see if it can work for you.
Plenty of pools beachside and many lots .20 to .25 of an acre in size.

Ok, I was combining Cocoa and Merrit Island as the same area. Sounds like they may be totally different?

[Nypafl4u]

Yes, they are. Each town has differences, yet are all fairly close to each other in Brevard County. Cocoa lies more inland, west of US 1. Merritt Island, east of US 1, is located between the Indian and Banana Rivers and offers many canal and reverfront homes. There is also a shopping mall and many stores along 520 and Courneney Parkway. Most schools are above average,which drawers in many families here. Cocoa Beach is all the way east and considered Beachside. It runs along A1A and you will find more condos and hotels along the ocean and homes sprinkled in on most streets. It has a different personality as well with its great restaurants, boutiques, schools, and some night life. It can get busy during certain seasons and holidays but never like the larger towns further south (Miami Beach, Ft Larderdale, etc). There are so many more towns that connect to each other, you can spend weeks if you had the time with a car exploring. Unfortunately many people mix up Cocoa, one town, with Cocoa Beach or the surrounding areas. They all have their own feel and offer pros and cons like any large county can offer.