An unincorporated island

Merritt Island is unincorporated, so Brevard County handles zoning, building permits, code enforcement, and floodplain management, and the title company's lien search goes to the county rather than a city hall. Kennedy Space Center and the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge take up the northern end, so most homes are in the central and southern parts of the island, near State Road 520, Courtenay Parkway, and the waterways that branch off both rivers.

Canal homes and seawalls

Many Merritt Island neighborhoods were built along dredged canals that lead out to the Banana River, the Indian River, or Sykes Creek. That water access is the draw, but canal property comes with its own upkeep: seawalls that crack, lean, or lose fill behind them, docks and boat lifts that need rebuilding, and permits for most work at the waterline. A seawall replacement can be one of the largest repair bills a homeowner ever faces. We buy canal homes with seawall and dock problems as they are.

Septic tanks and the lagoon

Older Merritt Island homes often rely on septic tanks, sometimes only a short distance from a canal and in ground with a high water table. Septic seepage is one of the pollution sources tied to the Indian River Lagoon's decline, and money from the county's Save Our Indian River Lagoon sales tax has gone toward septic-to-sewer conversions and septic upgrades in some areas near the water. If your system is failing or sewer is coming to your street, you can still sell without managing that project.

Flood history and the 50 percent rule

Low elevations and water on both sides put large parts of Merritt Island in flood zones. Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne in 2004 and Milton in 2024 all left damage here. If a flooded or storm-damaged home in a flood zone needs repairs that reach half of the structure's market value, the county generally requires it to meet current floodplain standards, which can mean elevating it.

Since October 1, 2025, Florida sellers must also disclose past flood insurance claims and federal flood assistance. We review the flood zone, the elevation, and the claim history, and make an offer on the house in its current state.

Common reasons to sell on the island

  • Retirees who bought for the boating and now want less upkeep
  • Heirs of a canal home with a failing seawall
  • Owners whose insurer dropped them after a storm claim
  • Landlords with an older rental near the causeways

Frequently asked questions

Will you buy a Merritt Island canal home with a failing seawall?

Yes. We evaluate the seawall and dock along with the house and account for the repair in our offer.

My Merritt Island house is on septic next to a canal. Is that a problem for you?

No. We buy homes on septic in any condition, and you don't need to connect to sewer first.

Who handles code and permits on Merritt Island?

Brevard County, because Merritt Island is unincorporated. Open county permits or code cases appear in the lien search, and we can buy with them unresolved.

Do you buy on the beachside too?

Yes, including Cocoa Beach, Cape Canaveral, and Satellite Beach, plus Cocoa and Rockledge on the mainland.