Your Guide to Buying a Home in Melbourne, FL

Buying a Home in Melbourne, Florida

(Melbourne's quiet and relaxing setting has made this area very popular for retirees)

Melbourne is located in Brevard County

Melbourne sits on the Florida mainland is just across the Indiana River from a barrier island. A pair of four-lane, high-rise bridges -- the Melbourne Causeway and the Eau Gallie Causeway -- connect the city to the island. Due to its "lazy" location on the water, Melbourne has been a haven for retirees. In fact, MacMillan Travel has ranked Melbourne as the 10th most popular place in the nation for retirees. A surprisingly affordable standard of living, low crime rate, and high quality of health care were main factors contributing to this distinction.

Melbourne is located in the southern region of Brevard County, an area known for having a diversified economy and a skilled workforce. In recent year, the high-tech industry has brought many new jobs to Melbourne and surrounding areas in the county. Currently, the largest employers for Melbourne citizens are Patrick AFB, Harris Corporation, the School Board of Brevard County, and Health First, Inc. Excellent schools and several local institutions of higher learning (Orlando College-Melbourne Campus and Brevard Community College among others) provide sufficient training for a future workforce that will adequately skilled.

Downtown Melbourne offers much in the way of shopping, dining and entertainment. However, much effort has been put into preserving artifacts of the town's early days. Melbourne was recognized for its fertile land and the potential of Indian River Lagoon to become a major commercial route. However, once the railroad arrived in 1893 businesses began to develop around the rails. Unfortunately, a fire in 1919 devastated the entire downtown area.

Melbourne's history has resulted in two separate downtown areas and an eclectic mix of historic buildings and modern businesses. The city's location about one hour from Kennedy Space Center and Orlando also gives residents a incredible assortment of cultural and entertainment to enjoy.