Living in Florida's Space Coast
J W Stewarts
J W Stewarts is less a subdivision than a run of South Tropical Trail addresses at the narrow south end of Merritt Island, between the Pineda Causeway and Mathers Bridge. Every property here fronts the Indian River, with a dock and a boat lift already in place. Houses date from 1954 to 2004 and trade around $549 per square foot.
J W Stewarts In Merritt Island, Florida
Down here the island is a ribbon. South Tropical Trail runs the length of it with the Indian River on one shoulder and, in places, the Banana River just across the yard on the other. The J W Stewarts parcels sit on that ribbon south of the Pineda Causeway, and one of them carries frontage on both rivers. There is no gate, no entrance sign and no interior street. The address is the road.
Every property fronts the Indian River, and every one comes with a dock and a boat lift. Two stories and balconies are standard, since the whole point of building here is the western view across open water. Construction is stucco, roofing is often tile, storm shutters are common and owned security systems appear on most. Sizes range dramatically, from a 1,704 square foot cottage to a 4,691 square foot Italianate estate.
The water is the product. From a dock here you are minutes from the south tip of the island, where the Indian and Banana Rivers meet at Mathers Bridge, a low-level swing span built in 1927 and moved to this crossing in 1952. Because it is low, it opens for traffic rather than clearing it, so plan your run around the schedule. Deep water docks on this stretch are the reason people buy.
There is no homeowners association, no dues and no covenants beyond what is recorded on each deed. Utilities are what you would expect for this end of the island: public water on most parcels and septic systems throughout, including at least one aerobic system. Lot sizes range from a compact 0.07 acre riverfront strip to just over an acre, which tells you these were assembled and split over decades rather than platted at once.
This is a thin, high-priced market and it behaves accordingly. Asking prices have spanned $775,000 to $3,725,000, the middle sitting near $1,550,000, at roughly $549 per square foot. Homes take a median of about 111 days to go under contract and sellers have finished around fourteen percent below their original figures. Pricing a one-of-one riverfront estate is difficult, and the record shows sellers routinely start too high.
J W Stewarts At A Glance
The essentials on J W Stewarts.
| Detail | What you get |
|---|---|
| Detail | Value |
| Location | South Tropical Trail between the Pineda Causeway and Mathers Bridge, south Merritt Island 32952 |
| Built | 1954 to 2004, median year 1988 |
| Home size | 1,704 to 4,691 square feet, median about 2,824 |
| Bedrooms | 3 to 5 |
| Bathrooms | 3 to 7 |
| Lot size | 0.07 to 1.04 acre, median about 0.37 |
| Construction | Stucco exteriors, tile roofing on most, two stories with balconies, storm shutters |
| Association | None. No homeowners association, no dues, no architectural review |
| Utilities | Public water on most parcels, septic systems throughout including at least one aerobic system |
| Price range | $775,000 to $3,725,000, median about $1,550,000 |
| Price per square foot | About $549 |
| Water frontage | Indian River frontage on every property, one parcel with river-to-river frontage |
| Boating | Private docks and boat lifts on every property, deep water on this stretch |
| Pools | In-ground pools on most properties |
| Days to contract | About 111 days |
| Streets | South Tropical Trail |
J W Stewarts Details
Indian River Frontage On Every Parcel
There are no interior lots here. Each property fronts open water on the west side of the island, which means sunset views straight off the back of the house and a shoreline you own rather than borrow.
Docks And Lifts Already Built
Every property arrives with a dock and a boat lift. On this stretch the water carries good depth, and a newly rebuilt deep-water dock is a feature worth confirming and worth paying for.
Mathers Bridge At The Island's Tip
Just south, the 1927 swing bridge crosses to Indian Harbour Beach. Because it is a low-level span it opens for boats rather than clearing them, so factor its schedule into any longer run.
Where The Island Narrows To A Ribbon
This far south, Merritt Island is barely wide enough for one road. One property in this group carries frontage on both the Indian and Banana Rivers, a condition that exists almost nowhere else in Brevard.
No Association, No Restrictions
Nothing governs these parcels beyond Brevard County code and what is recorded on the individual deed. Renovation scope, boat storage and landscaping are your decisions to make.
A Market With Real Negotiating Room
Homes here average about 111 days to contract and sellers have generally settled roughly fourteen percent below where they started. On a seven-figure purchase that gap deserves your full attention.
Homes For Sale In J W Stewarts
Riverfront listings on this stretch of South Tropical Trail appear below. Only a few properties trade here in any given stretch, so set an alert if nothing is showing.
J W Stewarts Frequently Asked Questions
Is J W Stewarts a gated subdivision?
No. It is a group of riverfront parcels fronting South Tropical Trail rather than a platted community with interior streets. There is no gate, no entrance and no association.
Do all the homes have docks?
Yes. Every property in this group has a private dock and a boat lift. Confirm permits transferred with the property and have the dock structure and lift motor inspected the same way you would the roof.
Where can I take a boat from here?
Straight out into the Indian River. South of you, the Indian and Banana Rivers converge at the island's tip beside Mathers Bridge, a low-level swing span from 1927 that was relocated to this crossing in 1952 and opens for vessels.
Are these homes on sewer?
No. Septic systems serve these properties, including at least one aerobic system, while public water reaches most parcels. Get the tank location, capacity and pumping history before closing.
What is the price range?
Asking prices have run $775,000 to $3,725,000 with the middle near $1,550,000, at roughly $549 per square foot. That per-foot figure is among the highest on Merritt Island and reflects the frontage, not the finishes.
How long do these properties take to sell?
About 111 days to contract is typical, and sellers have generally landed around fourteen percent below their original asking figure. One-of-a-kind riverfront is genuinely hard to price on the first attempt.
What about permits for dock or seawall work?
Marine work is permitted at the county level. Brevard County Planning and Development handles the Residential Marine Construction permit, Natural Resources reviews shoreline impacts, and the survey you submit has to be under 180 days old.
How is the commute from this far south?
The Pineda Causeway is immediately north, connecting to US 1, Suntree, Viera and Interstate 95 in roughly fifteen to twenty minutes. Mathers Bridge to the south is the short route to Indian Harbour Beach and Satellite Beach.
South Tropical Trail, Merritt Island 32952
These parcels sit at the far southern end of Merritt Island, on the segment of South Tropical Trail below the Pineda Causeway and above Mathers Bridge. The island is at its narrowest here, so the Indian River is on your western shoulder and the Banana River is often just beyond the road. There is nothing commercial nearby and no through traffic other than the road itself, which carries local drivers and cyclists.
For daily driving, the Pineda Causeway just north is the connector: US 1 and the Suntree and Viera corridor in about fifteen minutes, Interstate 95 in about twenty. Mathers Bridge to the south drops you into Indian Harbour Beach and the A1A beaches in a few minutes. Cocoa Beach, Port Canaveral, the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and Orlando all require the longer run north on State Road 3.
Near J W Stewarts In Merritt Island
Considering J W Stewarts?
Riverfront on this stretch of South Tropical Trail is bought and sold a few times a decade, and the pricing history says most sellers start high. My partner Nichole and I will bring you the comparable sheet, the dock permits and an honest opinion of value. Call or text (321) 212-7676 to see what is available.
