Maria Traugott Real Estate Solutions

10/22/2026

Throwback Thursday:
Throwback Thursday to 1981. That year, the U.S. 30-year fixed mortgage rate averaged about 16.6% — and for one week in October, it averaged over 18%. Meanwhile, the federal minimum wage was $3.35 an hour and median family income was $22,390 (in 1981 dollars). People were still buying homes that year — just at very different numbers. What was the interest rate on YOUR first home? Drop it in the comments — let’s see who takes the crown.

10/21/2026

Wisdom Wednesday: Renting vs. Buying on the Space Coast
It’s Wisdom Wednesday. One of the biggest questions I hear from Space Coast residents: “Should I keep renting or is it finally time to buy?”
Here’s my honest take after 10+ years helping buyers and sellers in Brevard County:
Buying might be right for you if:
• You plan to stay in the area 3-5 years or more
• You’re ready to build equity instead of paying your landlord’s mortgage
• You want stability — no surprise rent hikes at renewal time
• You’d benefit from tax deductions on mortgage interest
Renting might make sense if:
• Your job or life situation is still flexible
• You’re new to the area and want to learn the neighborhoods first
• You prefer someone else handling repairs and maintenance
• You’re saving up for a stronger down payment
The truth? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The best decision depends on your timeline, your finances, and your goals. What’s right for your coworker may be all wrong for you — and that’s okay.
Renting isn’t “throwing money away” and buying isn’t automatically winning. It’s about which one moves YOUR life forward.
If you’re wrestling with this decision, let’s talk through the numbers together — no pressure, just a clear picture of what’s possible for you here on the Space Coast.

10/21/2026

Come see us Friday at Merritt Island’s sip and Stroll. Scan the QR code to win 2 tickets!!

🍷👻SIP & STROLL TICKET GIVEAWAY

We're giving away TWO tickets to CAMI's Sip & Stroll: Spirits & Spooks!

Scan the QR code or follow the link below to enter for your chance to win! 🎟️

Entries close Wednesday, October 21 at Noon!
Click here to enter! 👉 https://forms.gle/M96GsWdJSayUXMHs6

&Stroll

10/20/2026

Win 2 Free Tickets to this Friday’s Merritt Island Sip and Stroll. Free to enter! Scan the QR code to win and enjoy some fine wines, snacks, games and prizes!!

10/19/2026

🏡 Market Monday: How Long Will It Stay a Buyer’s Market?

The honest answer? There’s no set expiration date! ⏳

Buyers tend to keep the advantage while there are more homes to choose from and less competition. Nationally, higher inventory and longer selling times are giving buyers more negotiating power—but that doesn’t mean every seller or neighborhood is in the same position.

What could change things? More buyers entering the market, fewer homes available, or lower mortgage rates bringing renewed competition. Lower rates can improve affordability—but they can also bring more shoppers off the sidelines.

🔑 For buyers: Focus on a home and monthly payment that fit your life—not on perfectly timing the market.

🏠 For sellers: Pricing, presentation, and a strategy based on your competition matter.

Here on the Space Coast, let’s look beyond the headlines and compare the homes you’re actually buying or selling.

📩 Message me for a neighborhood-specific market snapshot. Let’s see what today’s market means for YOUR next move!

10/18/2026

Fun Day in Cocoa Village. Spent our Quarterly budget on local art pieces, soaps, dog treats and jewelry. Oh and W**E at the W**e Lady!! LOL

10/16/2026

TGIF!
FUN FRIDAY | October 16–18
Brevard, your weekend plans are calling.

Tonight: The Asian Night Market at Merritt Square Mall, 2–10 p.m.

All Weekend: The FREE Cocoa Beach HIT Songwriter Festival — Nashville hit songwriters playing across downtown Cocoa Beach. It kicks off with Friday Fest tonight, 6–10 p.m., with live music, food trucks, and street vendors.

Saturday & Sunday: The 45th Annual Cocoa Village Fall Art & Craft Fair — shop local artisans and enjoy the Village’s shops and eateries.
Saturday & Sunday: Boo at the Zoo at Brevard Zoo — trick-or-treating stations, festive decorations, and the animals. Happening every Saturday and Sunday in October, so it’s a perfect family pick.

One weekend, and you can hit a beach street party, a craft fair, and trick-or-treat with the giraffes. That’s the Space Coast for you.
Which one is on your list? Drop it in the comments — I’m always collecting new local favorites to share.
Planning a move to the Space Coast? I know the neighborhoods AND the weekend plans. Let’s talk.

10/15/2026

Throwback Thursday:
before beach condos and rocket launches, Florida looked very different. People have called this peninsula home for about 12,000 years — back when Florida was larger and drier, early hunter-gatherers followed mammoth herds across the land. Fast forward to 1565, when Spanish settlers founded St. Augustine on Timucua land — 42 years before Jamestown and 55 years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, making it the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the continental U.S. Learning Florida’s history gives us a whole new appreciation for the place we call home.
Which historic Florida spot is your favorite to explore? Share below.

10/14/2026

Clear to Close!!! My happy place!!