INDIAN RIVER COUNTY



Real Estate

2007 2008 4/2009
Median Price* Single Family Home $193,100 $153,400 $113,600
Median Price* Condominium $176,300 $146,400 $120,800

* Median Price of 101 homes sold would be that price which is lower than 50 of the prices and also higher than 50 of the prices. In other words, there are homes and condominiums available in every price range in Brevard County. Median prices shown above are for the Melbourne/Titusville/Palm Bay MSA. The statistics are meant to give you a feel for the area as compared to others you may be considering and to show the direction of the market.

Taxes

Visit Buy a Home in Florida for comprehensive property tax information.

Weather 

Average High/Low  January 72/49    July  90/71



Indian River County, the crown jewel of Florida's Treasure Coast, enjoys an international reputation. Centrally located 75 miles south of the Kennedy Space Center and 135 miles north of Miami, the County’s 543 square miles contain beautiful beaches, immaculate ocean and river front communities and endless groves of renowned Indian River oranges and grapefruit.

Over 112,000 people reside in Indian River County, enjoying a climate moderated by the warm tropical waters of the Gulf Stream. 26 miles of unspoiled beaches, the serene waterscapes of the Sebastian and Indian Rivers, and miles of pristine woodlands and fields provide an endless array of recreational adventures. Free from urban sprawl and congestion, Indian River County offers the ideal setting for living life to its fullest.

Within Indian River County there are five incorporated municipalities:

Vero Beach is the county seat and the largest incorporated municipality with an estimated population of more than 17,700. Greenery, open space, unspoiled beaches, and ocean vistas characterize this community which is the commercial and cultural center of the county. Originally a stop on the Florida East Coast Railroad, Vero Beach was incorporated in 1910.

At the northern end of the county, Sebastian is a community of an estimated 16,181 people. It grew up around the fishing industry and today is enjoyed by residents for surfing, fishing, swimming, boating and other water-oriented activities. Sebastian has the friendliness of a small town.

A rural town of an estimated 3,800 residents in northwestern Indian River County, Fellsmere was once a center for growing sugar cane and pineapple. Today, the community's economy is based on citrus crops and cattle.

Between ocean and river north of Vero Beach, Indian River Shores is an exclusive residential community with an estimated population of more than 3,654, many of whom are retired corporate executives.

Orchid, with its population of about 140, is a new, luxury, barrier island community.

Events



  • Riverside Art Festival
  • Fellsmere Frog Leg Festival www.froglegfestival.com
  • Vero Beach Under the Oaks Art Show
  • Downtown Friday’s “Summer in the City”
  • The 2nd Annual Light Up Your Grill Night 
  • Christmas in Downtown at Downtown Fridaywww.mainstreetverobeach.org

Arts & Culture

Vero Beach and Indian River County's reputation for offering an exceptionally high quality of life is due in great part to the successful integration of the beauty and benefits of a charming, tropical, home-town atmosphere with the cosmopolitan flavor reflected in the abundance of Arts and Cultural venues available. 

Since the early part of the century, this area has attracted artists, writers, poets, and most of all, Dreamers....  McKee Jungle Gardens opened its doors in 1932; in 1958 the Vero Beach Theatre Guild held its first production.  In 1966, theVero Beach Concert Association was formed, and in 1974 the Riverside Theatre held its first production.

In 1994, Vero Beach was named "one of the Best Small Art Towns in America."  The criteria for being included in the book "The 100 Best Small Art Towns in America" by John Villiani included location, climate, quality of life, available cultural activities, economic impact of the arts, an active local arts agency, galleries and art festivals, and the opinion of artists who are members of each community.

Most of the established cultural institutions were built by private donations and have become the fabric of this wonderful community.  The modern 55,000 square foot Vero Beach Museum of Art which has the largest school associated with a museum in the State of Florida is also the home to the 500 plus member Vero Beach Art Club that meets in the museum monthly; the 615-seat professional Riverside Theatre; the lovely Anne Morton Theatre which houses the Riverside Children's Theatre; the 51-acre Environmental Learning Center; the 18-acre McKee Botanical Garden, the 312-seat community Vero Beach Theatre Guild... just to name a few.

Visit these websites for more information:

Parks & Recreation

Swimming, fishing, boating, surfing, scuba or sky diving are only a few of the recreational opportunities available to you in Indian River County.  There are numerous public tennis courts through out the county as well as private tennis clubs and housing developments built around tennis.

There are 29 Parks throughout Indian River County maintained by the State, Cities, or the County. These areas provide residents a place to unwind and have fun and each has something unique to offer.  There are Beach Parks, River Parks, and Interior Parks. 

These two state parks merit a visit:

Sebastian Inlet State Park is known for its fishing, surfing, and quiet beaches. 

The 22,000 acre St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park offers 40 miles of hiking, biking and horseback, riding trails, primitive camping and fishing. 

Visit the http://www.floridastateparks.org  website for more information.

The waters off Vero Beach and all of Indian River County provide year-round enjoyment for people of all ages. For saltwater fishing, besides the deeper, offshore waters, Sebastian Inlet is a premier location. Boaters can cruise the shallow waters or anchor near the jetties where grouper, snapper, and king mackerel abound. Further out, dolphin, wahoo, tuna and marlin keep fishermen busy. 

For those without boats, the Sebastian Inlet Park has two jetties reaching into the Atlantic.  Surf fishing and walking along the miles of shoreline also provide great recreation.  

Inland lakes and the Sebastian River produce large mouth bass, black crappie, bluegills, and other game fish.  The best locations are Blue Cypress Lake which covers 6,554 acres at the western end of Indian River County--about 25 miles from Vero Beach, the Stick Marsh a 6,500 acre reservoir in the northwest corner of Indian River County which has been named one of the Top Ten Black Bass Lakes in Florida by the Florida State Game Commission and anywhere along the St. Sebastian River.

Visit Your Florida Lifestyle for more information on fishing and our Guide to Establishing Florida Residency for Florida fishing license information.

Beaches

There are ten city/county beach parks to welcome you in Indian River County.

For comprehensive Florida Beach information along with gift certificates for the best Florida restaurants on or near the beaches, check out The Florida Beach Book!

Golf

Indian River County is home to five public golf courses, including Sandridge Municipal Golf Course which has received national acclaim as one of the finest public courses in the country. With twelve private courses rounding out the offerings, golf is a serious sport throughout the county.

Visit Your Florida Lifestyle for additional golf information.

Hospitals

Visit Florida Medical Resources for comprehensive information including Florida hospital ratings.

Colleges

Indian River State College http://indianriver.edu-college.com

For information on Lifelong Learning, visit Your Florida Lifestyle.

Airports

Shopping

In Vero Beach, intimate boutiques and gourmet dining establishments are tucked into cozy, tropical settings. Stroll among the charming Village Shops on North A1A and along Ocean Drive and Cardinal Drive in the Oceanside Business District. The South Beach area has expanded both accommodations and dining opportunities. Explore shops and restaurants on the mainland in the historic downtown area or along the riverfront area of Royal Palm Pointe.

The Indian River Mall is anchored by Dillard’s, J.C. Penney, Macy’s and Sears. Nearby, Vero Fashion Outlets is a plaza-style mall offering discount factory-direct savings on famous brand-name merchandise. Shoppers may walk outside or ride a courtesy trolley to various points within the plaza.

Sebastian’s riverfront is busy with new hotels, restaurants, boat rentals and shops. Day or evening, this place is hopping with activity. Still, U.S. Highway 1 continues to offer the most shopping in Sebastian, including antique shops, grocery stores, dining, retail stores and “The Village,” an eclectic shopping complex.

Indian River County, Florida, Cities & Towns

Unincorporated

Additional Resources

Featured Cities/Towns

Vero Beach

Vero Beach is the county seat for Indian River County.  Homey, yet casually elegant, Vero Beach and Indian River County attracts residents because of the cultural wealth and inherent natural beauty of the area. Vero Beach was rated the “Best Small Town in Florida & 12th in the Nation” and was named one of “The 100 Best Art Towns in America.”   Known as the “Gateway to the Tropics," Vero Beach is located in a climatic transition zone that offers an unusual mix of vegetation found in the coastal Carolinas – ancient oak trees and pine forests – blended with swaying palms and colorful blooms typical of the tropics. The area is also recognized as the 'Citrus Capital of the World,' producing the finest Indian River citrus for the domestic market and worldwide export.

The Indian River Lagoon, passing through Vero Beach, forms a significant portion of the Intracoastal Waterway, and is a hub for boating & fishing, water skiing, and other small-craft waterborne activities. Sheltered from the open ocean, the Indian River area of Vero has a number of public and private marinas and boat launch facilities.

Vero Beach has some of the best places in the country for surfing and the most unique places for diving and snorkeling as well as Nature Preserves to explore.  

Vero Beach holds some of Florida's most exclusive private golf clubs. They include Red Stick, John's Island, Indian River Club, Bent Pine Golf Club, Hawk's Nest, Vero Beach Country Club, Quail Valley and others as well as challenging public courses such as Sandridge Golf Club.

Vero Beach has many very exclusive neighborhoods and expensive oceanfront and riverfront properties but reasonably priced homes and condos are plentiful as well.

If you would like to get a feel for home prices in Vero Beach, visit www.zillow.com and search for recent homes sold.

If you would prefer personalized assistance, call or email us to take advantage of our free Florida Relocation Services.  We’ll answer all of your questions and if the time is appropriate for you, we’ll introduce you to one of the best real estate agents in Vero Beach who can answer all of your questions and provide detailed information and professional assistance.  


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