Living in Florida's Space Coast
Island Oaks
Island Oaks is a single cul de sac off North Tropical Trail near West Merritt Avenue, on the Indian River side of the island in the 32953 ZIP. Every address is Island Oaks Place. Homes were built between 1989 and 1994, 1,632 to 1,931 square feet of block and stucco, and the association charges $355 a year with no amenity complex behind it.
Island Oaks In Merritt Island, Florida
The entrance is easy to drive past. Coming north on North Tropical Trail, about 400 feet past West Merritt Avenue, there is a turn into the subdivision and then a quick left onto Island Oaks Place. That one street holds everything. It ends in a cul de sac, there is no through route, and the entire plat is small enough that you can walk it in a few minutes. Coming from State Road 520 you take North Tropical Trail north and watch for the same turn.
The houses date from 1989 to 1994, which puts them in a useful construction window. They are single story concrete block with stucco and poured concrete elements under shingle roofs, in three and four bedroom plans with two baths and a two car garage. Layouts run to formal living and dining rooms plus a separate family room with sliders to the back, vaulted ceilings, split bedroom layouts and screened porches. Lots are 0.18 to 0.23 of an acre with several corner parcels.
Owners here have been putting money into the envelope rather than the finishes. Impact rated windows and sliding doors, newer roofs, replacement air conditioning, tankless water heaters and paver patio extensions off the screened porches all show up in this small group of houses. That is the pattern you want to see in a neighborhood of this age, because it means the expensive items are handled and what remains is cosmetic and optional.
Island Oaks Homeowners Association, Inc. is an active Florida corporation and the assessment is $355 a year. What it buys is grounds upkeep and a full time manager for the common areas. There is no pool, no clubhouse, no tennis court, no gate and no age restriction, which is precisely why the number stays where it is. Public water and public sewer serve the street, so there is no septic tank in the picture.
Pricing has run $324,900 to $425,000 with the middle at $400,000 and about $226 a square foot, which is a low per foot figure for late eighties block construction on this island. Homes have gone under contract in about 21 days and sellers have been settling near 95 percent of their original asking price. Annual tax bills sit in a tight band, roughly $3,119 to $4,119 with the middle near $3,764, which makes budgeting straightforward.
Island Oaks At A Glance
Island Oaks at a glance, one street and one modest assessment.
| Detail | What you get |
|---|---|
| Location | Merritt Island west side, off North Tropical Trail near West Merritt Avenue, ZIP 32953 |
| Built | 1989 to 1994, most homes around 1989 |
| Home size | 1,632 to 1,931 square feet, about 1,741 typical |
| Bedrooms | 3 to 4 |
| Bathrooms | 2 |
| Lot size | 0.18 to 0.23 acre, about 0.19 typical, several corner parcels |
| Construction | Concrete block with stucco and poured concrete, shingle roofs, single story |
| Association | Island Oaks Homeowners Association, Inc., $355 a year, covering grounds upkeep and a full time manager |
| Amenities | None beyond common area upkeep. No pool, clubhouse, courts or gate |
| Waterfront | None. No canal, river or pond frontage in the subdivision |
| Pools | Private in ground pools on a portion of the homes, screened |
| Garage | 2 bays |
| Common upgrades | Impact windows and sliders, newer roofs, replacement air conditioning, tankless water heaters |
| Street type | Cul de sac, no through traffic |
| Streets | Island Oaks Place |
| Utilities | Public water and public sewer |
| Age restricted | No |
| Price range | $324,900 to $425,000, around $226 per square foot |
Island Oaks Details
An Assessment You Barely Notice
At $355 a year the Island Oaks dues work out to under thirty dollars a month. There is no pool to resurface, no clubhouse roof and no gate motor to fail, so there is very little that can push that number sharply upward.
One Street That Ends
Island Oaks Place is a cul de sac with no connection to anything beyond the subdivision. Nobody uses it as a shortcut, and the corner lots at the entrance give the plat a defined edge rather than an open border with the surrounding streets.
A Good Construction Window
Built 1989 through 1994, these houses came after the plumbing and wiring practices that create headaches in older Merritt Island stock. No cast iron drain lines and no aluminum branch wiring, with modern setbacks and code behind the permits.
Envelope Upgrades Already Paid For
Impact rated windows and sliders, newer roofs and replacement air conditioning show up repeatedly here. Those are the three items that cost the most and matter most for insurance, and in this plat several owners have already handled them.
Low Per Foot Pricing
Around $226 a square foot is a modest number for late eighties block construction anywhere on Merritt Island. Paired with a narrow tax band of roughly $3,119 to $4,119, the total monthly picture is easier to forecast than in most of the surrounding neighborhoods.
West Side Position
North Tropical Trail runs the Indian River side of the island, which means shorter, quieter driving than the Courtenay Parkway corridor while keeping State Road 520 and State Road 528 both within a few minutes.
Homes For Sale In Island Oaks
Current availability in Island Oaks. There are only a handful of houses on this cul de sac, so listings are infrequent and they tend to go under contract inside three weeks.
Island Oaks Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Island Oaks HOA dues?
The assessment is $355 a year through Island Oaks Homeowners Association, Inc. It covers grounds upkeep and a full time manager for the common areas. There is no pool, clubhouse, court or gate attached to the fee, which is why it has stayed low.
Is Island Oaks gated or age restricted?
Neither. The entrance off North Tropical Trail is open and there is no minimum age to buy or live here. What keeps the street quiet is that Island Oaks Place is a cul de sac with no route through to anywhere.
When were the homes built?
Between 1989 and 1994. That construction window avoids the cast iron drain lines and aluminum branch wiring found in older Merritt Island houses, so inspection attention goes to roof age, air conditioning, water heater and the screen enclosure instead.
Is there any waterfront in Island Oaks?
No. There is no canal, river or pond frontage in the subdivision. If water access is a priority, the canal neighborhoods off North Banana River Drive and the riverfront streets along Tropical Trail are the places to look instead.
How large are the lots?
From 0.18 to 0.23 of an acre with the middle near 0.19, and several of them are corner parcels. That is enough room for a screened pool and a paver patio extension, which several owners on the street have already added.
How quickly do homes sell in Island Oaks?
About 21 days to contract, with sellers settling near 95 percent of their original asking price. That is fast for Merritt Island, and with so few houses in the plat you should be prepared to see one within days of it becoming available.
What are property taxes?
Annual county bills have run roughly $3,119 to $4,119 with the middle near $3,764. That is an unusually narrow range and it reflects how similar the houses are. A purchase resets the assessed value, so budget from your price rather than the seller's bill.
How do I confirm the flood zone?
Brevard County Public Works, Floodplain Administration is the official repository for the FEMA flood map panels and issues written flood zone determinations and elevation certificates. Call (321) 617-7340 and request it in writing before you finalize insurance.
Island Oaks Place, Merritt Island 32953
Island Oaks sits in the 32953 ZIP code on the western side of Merritt Island, off North Tropical Trail a short distance north of West Merritt Avenue. North Tropical Trail is the two lane road that follows the Indian River side of the island, and it is a calmer route than North Courtenay Parkway a mile east. The subdivision entrance leads to a quick left onto Island Oaks Place, which ends in a cul de sac.
From here State Road 520 is a few minutes south and runs east to Cocoa Beach or west to Cocoa, US 1 and Interstate 95. State Road 528 is north for Port Canaveral, Kennedy Space Center and the hour long drive to Orlando International Airport. Day to day shopping, groceries and restaurants sit along North Courtenay Parkway, a short hop east on West Merritt Avenue or one of the other cross streets.
Near Island Oaks In Merritt Island
Considering Island Oaks?
Twenty one days to contract on a cul de sac with only a handful of houses means you will not get many chances at this one. My partner Nichole and I watch Island Oaks Place and can tell you what has been updated, what the assessment actually covers and where the price should land. Call or text (321) 212-7676 and we will get you in the door early rather than late.
Amazing opportunity to live in the sought-after Island Oaks community! This spacious concrete block home offers comfort and functionality with formal living and dining ar...
- 3 Beds
- 2 Baths
- 1076448 MLS
