Living in Florida's Space Coast
Moore And Cantines
Moore And Cantines is one of the older recorded plats in south Merritt Island, straddling South Tropical Trail and Platt Avenue. It is not a subdivision in the modern sense. Parcels range from a seventh of an acre to nearly a full acre, houses date from 1958 to 1984, and one side of Tropical Trail carries Indian River frontage while the other holds small cottages under trees.
Moore And Cantines In Merritt Island, Florida
The full recorded name runs long, in the way that pre war Brevard County plats do: Moore And Cantines Subdivision of part of Lot 2 and all of a further lot. Two family names, one survey, one page in the plat book. What it describes is a stretch of ground along South Tropical Trail with Platt Avenue running west off it toward the Indian River. There was no master developer, no phasing plan and no covenants. Parcels were sold and built on individually across four decades.
That history is why nothing here matches. Houses date from 1958 through 1984, and they range from a 725 square foot two bedroom cottage with a Jack and Jill bath to a 2,464 square foot multi level home with a wood burning fireplace, French doors and a balcony over the river. Living area sits around 1,524 square feet in the middle. Construction runs from wood siding to block. Some are single story, some are two story, at least one is a split level. You shop parcels here, not a product line.
Lot sizes vary by a factor of six. The smallest parcel here is 0.14 of an acre and the largest is 0.90, with the middle around 0.34. On the west side of South Tropical Trail you can find long driveways running back through trees toward the Indian River, seawall and a bridge view. On Platt Avenue you find compact lots and modest houses. Same plat, entirely different real estate. Mature trees are the one constant across all of it.
Everything here is on septic with public water, and there is no association of any kind. No dues, no board, no covenants and no architectural control, which is exactly how you end up with a 1958 cottage next to a 1984 riverfront home. Plan your inspection around the septic system specifically: locate the tank, pump it, ask when the drainfield was replaced. One property here sold with a new septic tank already installed, which is a meaningful thing to have documented rather than assumed.
The price range on this plat is the widest of anywhere in south Merritt Island at this scale. Interior and cottage parcels have transferred from $195,000 to $350,000, with the middle of completed transfers near $272,500, while a South Tropical Trail parcel with Indian River frontage was offered above a million. Per square foot lands near $249. Time to contract has run about 95 days at roughly 92 percent of original asking price, because comparable properties are genuinely hard to find here.
Moore And Cantines At A Glance
A plat where the parcel matters more than the neighborhood name.
| Detail | What you get |
|---|---|
| Location | South Merritt Island, along South Tropical Trail and Platt Avenue, south of State Road 520 |
| Built | 1958 to 1984, middle of the range around 1960 |
| Home size | 725 to 2,464 square feet, about 1,524 typical |
| Bedrooms | 2 to 4, most commonly 3 |
| Bathrooms | 1 to 2 |
| Lot size | 0.14 to 0.90 acre, about 0.34 typical |
| Construction | Mixed, including wood siding and block, with shingle roofs |
| Levels | Single story, two story and split level all present |
| Garage | 2 bays where present |
| Association | None. No registered association, no dues, no covenants, no architectural review |
| Utilities | Public water; every parcel carries its own septic system |
| Water frontage | Indian River frontage with seawall on the Tropical Trail side; interior parcels are dry |
| Water body | Indian River |
| Views | River, bridge and wooded, depending entirely on the parcel |
| Trees | Mature tree cover across most of the plat |
| Streets | South Tropical Trail, Platt Avenue |
| Gated | No |
| Price range | $195,000 to over $1,000,000 depending on frontage, around $249 per square foot |
Moore And Cantines Details
Two Very Different Products, One Plat Name
An Indian River estate on South Tropical Trail and a 1958 cottage on Platt Avenue share the same subdivision name on the tax roll. When you search by neighborhood you will see both. Filter by frontage and lot size or the numbers will mislead you badly.
Room That Newer Plats Do Not Have
Lots reach up to 0.90 of an acre. On Merritt Island that is close to an estate parcel, and with no covenants governing it you can build a workshop, park a boat, keep a long private driveway or leave the ground wooded. Brevard County code is the only constraint.
Indian River Frontage With A Seawall
The west side of South Tropical Trail puts you on the Indian River with a seawall, navigable water and sunset views across to the mainland. That is the highest and best use of this plat, and it prices accordingly when one becomes available.
Entry Level Pricing On The Interior
Completed transfers on the smaller interior parcels have run from $195,000 up, which is one of the lowest entry points anywhere on Merritt Island. These are small, older houses that need work, but they are real ownership on an island where most inventory starts far higher.
Septic Across The Board
Every parcel here uses a septic tank with public water. That belongs in your budget and your inspection scope. It also means an addition or a pool has to be planned around the tank and drainfield location, which is a survey question, not a guess.
A Slow, Negotiable Market
About 95 days to contract at roughly 92 percent of original asking price. With so few comparable sales, sellers here often start high and adjust. A buyer who has done the homework on the specific parcel can negotiate from a position of knowing more than the market does.
Homes For Sale In Moore And Cantines
Current availability within the Moore And Cantines plat along South Tropical Trail and Platt Avenue. Pay close attention to lot size and frontage on each one, because the differences here are enormous.
Moore And Cantines Frequently Asked Questions
Is Moore And Cantines a real neighborhood or just a plat name?
It is a recorded plat name that still appears on the Brevard County tax roll, covering parcels along South Tropical Trail and Platt Avenue. There is no association, no entrance, no signage and no covenants. It functions as a legal description more than as a community.
Why do prices here swing so far apart?
Because the parcels are not comparable to one another. A small 1958 cottage on a seventh of an acre and an Indian River home on nearly a full acre with a seawall both carry the same plat name. Frontage, lot size and vintage account for nearly all of the spread.
Are homes here on sewer or septic?
Septic, with public water on every parcel. Have the tank located and pumped during due diligence and ask specifically about the drainfield age. A replacement is a permitted repair with real cost, so it is worth knowing before closing rather than after.
Can I get a boat in the water from here?
Only from a parcel with actual Indian River frontage. Those exist on the west side of South Tropical Trail, with seawall and navigable access. Interior parcels on Platt Avenue have no water access of their own and would need a public ramp.
Is there a homeowners association?
No. There are no dues, no board and no architectural review. Merritt Island is unincorporated Brevard County, so county code is the only governing layer over what you and your neighbors can do.
What are the houses like inside?
Highly variable. Some are compact two bedroom cottages with a single bath. Others run to four bedrooms across multiple levels with fireplaces, French doors and balconies. Several have been renovated with new flooring, quartz counters and updated baths; others are original.
What are property taxes?
Annual county bills across the plat have run roughly $1,894 to $3,463, with the middle near $2,678. These are lower than most of Merritt Island, which reflects the smaller houses on the interior parcels rather than any special treatment.
What is the drive like from here?
South Tropical Trail runs the west shore of the island. State Road 520 is a few minutes north for Cocoa Beach east or Interstate 95 west. The Pineda Causeway to the south connects to Suntree, Viera and Interstate 95 and is usually the faster route off the island.
South Tropical Trail, Merritt Island 32952
The plat sits in south Merritt Island in the 32952 ZIP code, along South Tropical Trail below State Road 520. Platt Avenue runs west off Tropical Trail toward the Indian River and dead ends near the shore. Coming south from 520 you follow South Tropical Trail past the point where it separates from South Courtenay Parkway. Coming north from the Pineda Causeway you pick up Tropical Trail and follow the river north. Either approach is a two lane road under tree cover.
This is the west shore, so the Indian River is your view and your sunset. Practical drive times: State Road 520 is roughly five to eight minutes north, and from there Cocoa Beach is about fifteen minutes east and Interstate 95 about fifteen minutes west. The Pineda Causeway to the south is often the better route, dropping you into Suntree and Viera in about fifteen minutes. Melbourne Orlando International Airport is a little under half an hour.
Near Moore And Cantines In Merritt Island
Considering Moore And Cantines?
Two properties can carry this plat name and be nothing alike: one a cottage on a seventh of an acre, the other a river home on nearly a full acre with a seawall. Valuing them takes local work rather than an automated estimate. My partner Nichole and I will pull the survey, the septic history and the actual frontage before you make a move. Call or text (321) 212-7676.
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