Living in Florida's Space Coast
Cathedral Oaks
Cathedral Oaks sits west of Babcock Street north of Malabar Road, on two short cul-de-sacs called Laurel Oak Court and Myrtle Oak Court. Lots run close to half an acre, houses run 2,387 to 3,191 square feet, and there is no homeowners association at all. Three of every four homes here have an in ground pool.
Cathedral Oaks In Palm Bay, Florida
Cathedral Oaks is a small pocket of larger homes off Cathedral Oak Drive NE, west of Babcock Street and north of Malabar Road, in the 32907 side of Palm Bay. Almost everything sits on Laurel Oak Court or Myrtle Oak Court, two short cul-de-sacs at the end of Laurel Oak Drive. From Babcock you get there by way of Omega Street, which becomes Norbert Road, which becomes Cathedral Oak Drive.
There is no homeowners association here. No dues, no architectural review, no approval process for a fence or a shed. Sellers put that in capital letters because for a certain buyer it is the entire point: park the boat, back the RV up the driveway, paint the front door whatever color you like. The flip side is that nothing obligates the neighbor to keep the yard the way you keep yours. Drive the street twice before you write an offer.
Houses date from 1995 through 2017, with most of the original construction finished in the mid nineties. They run 2,387 to 3,191 square feet, four or five bedrooms, two to four baths, concrete block and stucco under shingle roofs. Vaulted and cathedral ceilings turn up often enough that the name earns itself. Three of four properties have an in ground pool, most of them screened, and garages range from two cars up to four.
The lots are the real story. Half an acre is normal here, from 0.44 up to 0.72, which is roughly double the quarter acre parcel most of Palm Bay was platted with in the Port Malabar era. You still get city water and public sewer, so there is no well to test and no drain field to inspect. Acreage feel with municipal utilities is a combination that is genuinely hard to find inside the city limits.
Prices have run from $395,000 to $765,000 with a typical figure near $487,500, or about $203 a square foot. Annual tax bills on the larger houses land in the mid six thousands. Homes here take roughly two months to find a buyer, slower than the new subdivisions out west, mostly because the group of buyers hunting this exact combination of size, lot and freedom is not a large one.
Cathedral Oaks At A Glance
Cathedral Oaks at a glance, from lot size to the total absence of dues.
| Detail | What you get |
|---|---|
| Detail | Value |
| Location | Off Cathedral Oak Drive NE, west of Babcock Street north of Malabar Road, Palm Bay 32907 |
| Built | 1995 to 2017, most in the mid 1990s |
| Home size | 2,387 to 3,191 square feet, about 2,409 typical |
| Bedrooms | Four or five, with two to four baths |
| Lot size | 0.44 to 0.72 acre, about 0.47 typical |
| Construction | Concrete block and stucco, shingle roofs, storm shutters on some homes |
| Association | None. Cathedral Oaks has no homeowners association and no dues |
| Utilities | City water and public sewer, underground utilities on part of the street |
| Streets | Laurel Oak Drive NE, Laurel Oak Court, Myrtle Oak Court |
| Layout | Mostly single story ranch and traditional, with at least one two story |
| Pools | Three of four homes have an in ground pool, most screened |
| Garage | Two to four car |
| Lot shape | Cul-de-sac positions are common, with sprinklered front and rear yards |
| Price range | $395,000 to $765,000, typical $487,500 |
| Price per square foot | Around $203 |
| Property tax | Roughly $5,800 to $6,800 a year on the larger homes |
| Time to sell | About two months |
Cathedral Oaks Details
No Association, No Dues
Cathedral Oaks carries no homeowners association, so there is nothing to pay and nothing to ask permission for. That is unusual for a subdivision of this size and price in Palm Bay. It also means no shared reserve fund and no enforcement mechanism if a neighbor lets things slide.
Lots Near A Half Acre
Parcels run from 0.44 to 0.72 of an acre. Most of Palm Bay was platted in quarter acre increments, so these are close to double. That buys you side yard, tree cover and enough room behind the house for a pool and a screen without looking into the neighbor's kitchen.
Two Short Cul-De-Sacs
Laurel Oak Court and Myrtle Oak Court are dead ends off Laurel Oak Drive. There is no cut through traffic and nowhere to go except home. Several of the houses sit on the bulb of the cul-de-sac, which is where the widest rear yards are.
Pools Are The Norm
Three of four homes here have an in ground pool, generally screened, and at least a couple have an outdoor shower off the pool deck. If you are shopping the neighborhood expect a pool, and budget the inspection, the pump age and the cage screen condition into your numbers.
City Water And Sewer
Despite the lot sizes, these homes are on Palm Bay municipal water and public sewer rather than well and septic. That removes two of the bigger due diligence items you would face on comparable acreage elsewhere in south Brevard County, and it keeps irrigation off your own pump.
Mid Nineties Bones
The core of the neighborhood went up around 1995 and 1996, with a few later infill houses through 2017. That means roofs, water heaters, air handlers and pool equipment have all been replaced at least once. Ask for the dates on every one of them, not just the roof.
Homes For Sale In Cathedral Oaks
Everything currently for sale in Cathedral Oaks is listed below. Inventory here is thin because the neighborhood is small, so if nothing shows up it is worth setting an alert rather than assuming the street is closed to you.
Cathedral Oaks Frequently Asked Questions
Does Cathedral Oaks have an HOA?
No. There is no homeowners association, no dues and no architectural committee. That is one of the main reasons buyers seek the neighborhood out. It also means the standards you see on the street are voluntary, so judge the block as it is today rather than assuming rules will fix anything later.
How big are the lots?
From 0.44 of an acre up to about 0.72, with roughly 0.47 typical. That is close to double the standard Palm Bay quarter acre parcel. Corner and cul-de-sac positions vary a lot in usable shape, so look at the survey rather than the aerial photo.
Is the neighborhood on well and septic?
No. Cathedral Oaks is served by Palm Bay city water and public sewer. You will not need a water quality test or a septic evaluation, which is unusual for half acre lots in this part of the county.
What do homes cost in Cathedral Oaks?
The range has run from $395,000 to $765,000, with a typical figure around $487,500 and roughly $203 a square foot. The spread is wide because condition varies from fully renovated to original nineties finishes waiting on a buyer with a plan.
Can I keep a boat or RV at the house?
There is no association restricting it, so what governs you is Palm Bay city code rather than a covenant. Check the current city rules on recreational vehicle and boat storage before you count on parking anything long term, since municipal code changes and a covenant does not.
How old are the houses?
Most were built in 1995 and 1996, with scattered later construction through 2017. Expect a house that has already been through one full cycle of roof, air conditioning and pool equipment replacement. Get the dates in writing on all three.
Where exactly is Cathedral Oaks?
It sits off Cathedral Oak Drive NE in the 32907 part of Palm Bay, west of Babcock Street and north of Malabar Road. The simplest approach is Babcock north from Malabar, west on Omega Street, which turns into Norbert Road and then Cathedral Oak Drive.
What is the tradeoff here?
Small supply and slower turnover. Only a handful of properties exist and they take about two months to sell, so you may wait for the right one. In exchange you get lot size, a pool, a quiet dead end street and no association telling you what to do with any of it.
Cathedral Oak Drive NE, Palm Bay 32907
Cathedral Oaks is tucked into the older grid of northwest Palm Bay, west of Babcock Street and north of Malabar Road. The surrounding streets are classic Port Malabar plat names, Tango, Norman, Van Loon, Nesho, Charles and Nogales, and then the road signs change to oak names and the lots suddenly get bigger. That transition is the neighborhood boundary in practice, and you can feel it from the driver's seat.
Practically, Malabar Road puts you on I-95 at exit 173 in about ten minutes, and Babcock Street runs north into Melbourne and south toward the St Johns Heritage Parkway. Everyday shopping is along Malabar Road and Palm Bay Road. Palm Bay is an inland city, so the beach means driving east and crossing a causeway. What you trade for that drive is a half acre and a pool at a price the coast does not offer.
Near Cathedral Oaks In Merritt Island
Considering Cathedral Oaks?
Buying in a neighborhood with no association means the due diligence falls entirely on you: the survey, the pool equipment, the roof age, and an honest read of the block you are joining. My partner Nichole and I know this pocket of Palm Bay and can tell you which of these houses has been maintained and which one is priced for the work it needs. Call or text (321) 212-7676.
