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Mortgage Broker in Palm Bay, FL

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Classic Home Mortgage Providing Trustworthy Mortgage Guidance for Over 30 Years

Buying a home is one of the most significant investments that you will ever make. Like most good things, finding the perfect home comes with a lot of work. From your initial search online to your home tour and finally closing, there are many difficult decisions to make along the way. The bottom line is that the entire home buying process can be very stressful, especially when it comes to finding the right mortgage broker and loan for your new home. Since market conditions and mortgage programs change frequently, you have a lot riding on your broker's ability to provide quick and accurate financial advice. Whether you're a first-time homebuyer or own several residential properties, you need a mortgage broker in Palm Bay, FL, who can educate you on mortgage rates and provide trustworthy guidance to help you make an informed decision.

My name is Dan Crance - Palm Bay's most trusted mortgage loan officer with more than 30 years in the mortgage industry. I bring unparalleled insight and decades of experience into your home loan process. If you're looking for a new home loan, are interested in refinancing your current mortgage, or need information regarding FHA, VA, or other types of loans, Dan Crance is Your Mortgage Man.

Unlike some mortgage loan officers in Palm Bay, my primary goal is to help you make the right mortgage choice for you and your family. Mortgage lenders have a horrible reputation for turning over clients quickly to expedite cash flow and make the most money possible. While some mortgage brokers come off as pushy and impatient, I encourage my clients to take as much time as they need to ask questions and review their mortgage agreements. I'm here to help answer those questions and provide you with easy-to-understand advice so that you can rest easy knowing you made the right choice. I could say that I strive to provide service that exceeds your expectations, but I'd rather show you. In the end, I want you to leave feeling confident in the loan you've selected, as well as in your choice of broker.

Service Areas
Mortgage Broker Palm Bay, FL
 Refinance Palm Bay, FL

Why Choose Dan Crance As Your Mortgage Lender in Palm Bay, FL?

Clients choose my mortgage company because I truly care about helping them navigate the often-confusing landscape of the mortgage process. I am fiercely dedicated to my clients and make every effort to provide them with trustworthy advice and an open line of communication.

In my business, I work for two different customers. On one hand, I have the buyer: the person entrusting me with the responsibility of guiding them through one of the most important decisions ever. Serving homebuyers is not a task that I take lightly. I work with them daily to help them through the process and provide timely updates and news on their mortgage status. On the other hand, I have the realtor: the person who works with my client to find their dream home. Since their commission is in my hands, working with realtors is also a very important task. I update these agents on the status of their customers weekly. Only when I take care of both parties can I say my job as a mortgage loan officer is complete.

As a mortgage broker with more than 30 years of experience, I pledge to give you the highest level of customer service while providing you with the most competitive loan products available. That way, you can buy the home of your dreams without second-guessing your decision.

 Conventional Mortgage Palm Bay, FL

Home Financing in Palm Bay, FL

At Classic Home Mortgage, our team works diligently to close on time without stress or hassle. Whether you're a seasoned homeowner or are buying your new home in Palm Bay, we understand how much stress is involved. Our goal is to help take that stress off of your plate by walking you through every step of the home loan process. Because every one of our clients is different, we examine each loan with fresh eyes and a personalized approach, to find you the options and programs you need.

With over 30 years as a mortgage professional in Palm Bay, Dan Crance will help you choose the home loan, interest rate, term options, and payment plans that fit your unique situation.

 FHA Mortgages Palm Bay, FL

When you work with Classic Home Mortgage, you can always count on our team to:

  • Put your needs first.
  • Work efficiently and quickly. Many of our home loans close in 30 days or less.
  • Offer you a variety of home loans to choose from, and help you make an informed decision.
  • Provide you with competitive rates that make sense for your budget and lifestyle.

While no two loan terms are the same, a few of the most common loan types include:

30-Year Loan - This loan is often considered the most secure option to choose. With a 30-year loan, you can lock in a low payment amount and rest easy knowing your rate won't change.

FHA Loan - If you're not able to make a large down payment, an FHA loan could be the right choice for you. With an FHA loan, many of our clients have successfully purchased a home with less than 4% down.

VA Loan - This loan is reserved for military veterans and active-duty men and women. Those who qualify may be able to purchase a home with no down payment and no Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI).

Choosing a home loan is an important step in the home buying process. At Classic Home Mortgage, we are here to make choosing a loan as easy as possible, so you can focus on the joys of being a homeowner. Contact our team of experts today and ask how you can get pre-qualified for your home loan in Palm Bay, FL.

Refinancing in
Palm Bay, FL

Because home mortgage rates in the U.S. have been so low over the last year, many current homeowners are opting to refinance their home loans. Simply put, refinancing is replacing your existing mortgage with a different mortgage under new terms. Homeowners who refinance their homes enjoy lower interest rates, lower monthly payments, and even turn their home's equity into cash. If you're interested in refinancing your home, it all begins with a call to your mortgage broker in Palm Bay, FL - Dan Crance.

Here are just a few reasons why more homeowners in the U.S. are taking advantage of lower rates and refinancing their homes:
 Home Ready Mortgages Palm Bay, FL
Shorter Term Loan

Shorter Term Loan

Refinancing from a 30-year to a 15-year mortgage might seem counterproductive on the surface because your monthly payment usually goes up. However, interest rates on 15-year mortgages are lower. And when you shave off years of your previous mortgage, you will pay less interest over time. These savings can be very beneficial if you are not taking the mortgage interest deduction on your tax returns.

Do Away with FHA

Do Away with FHA

FHA loans are notorious for paying premiums for the life of the loan. Mortgage insurance premiums for FHA loans can cost borrowers as much as $1,050 a year for every $100k borrowed. The only way to get rid of mortgage insurance premiums is to refinance to a new loan that the Federal Housing Authority does not back.

Switch to Fixed Rate or Adjustable-Rate Home Loan

Switch to Fixed Rate or Adjustable-Rate Home Loan

Sometimes, borrowers with adjustable-rate mortgages refinance so they can switch to a fixed rate, which lets them lock in an interest rate. Doing so is beneficial for some homeowners who like to know exactly how much their monthly payment is each month. Conversely, some homeowners with fixed rates prefer to refinance to an adjustable-rate mortgage. Homeowners often go this route if they plan on selling in a few years and don't mind risking a higher rate if their plans fall through.

 Mortgage Banker Palm Bay, FL

Common Questions About Home Loans

Finding the right loan can be a difficult proposition, even if you have been through the process before. This is especially true since mortgage rates and market conditions change frequently. If you're like most of my clients, you probably have questions about interest rates, refinancing options, and a litany of other topics. To help alleviate some of your stress, here are just a few common questions with answers so that you can better educate yourself as we work our way to securing your loan.

Generally speaking, you should consider refinancing when mortgage rates are 2% lower than the current rate on your home loan. For some homeowners, refinancing makes sense when there is only a 1% difference. Reducing your mortgage rate is a great way to save money or apply your savings to a home upgrade. The money you save on your refinanced loan depends on your loan amount, budget, income, and charges from interest rates. It's crucial that you work with a trusted mortgage loan officer in Palm Bay, FL, to help calculate your refinancing options.
This is one of our most frequently asked questions at Classic Home Mortgage. In simple terms, points let you make a tradeoff between the upfront costs of your loan and your monthly payment amount. Points are essentially costs that you have to pay to your mortgage lender to get financing under specific terms. A point is defined as a percentage on your loan amount. 1-point is equal to 1% of the loan. So, 1 point on a loan worth $100,000 is equivalent to $1,000. When you pay some of the interest on your home loan upfront, you use discount points to lower your interest rate.
If you plan to live in the property for a few years, it makes a lot of sense to pay points to lower your interest rate. Doing so will help lower your monthly loan payment, which you can use to save money. Paying points may also increase the amount of money that you can borrow. If you do not plan on living in the property for at least a few years, this strategy might not make financial sense because you might not be able to make up the amount of the discount points you paid up-front.
In short, yes, your mortgage lender will need to know your credit score. Credit scoring is a system that creditors use to decide whether they will give you credit. Your credit score helps creditors decide how creditworthy you are or how likely you will repay your loan. In most circumstances, creditors will use your FICO scores during the loan process. Your score will fall between high risk (350) and low risk (850). Your credit score plays a big role in the loan process, and as such, your score must be accurate before submitting a credit report when applying for a loan.
The answer to this question depends on how money you choose to put as a down payment on your home. On a conventional loan, if your down payment is less than 20% of the price of your home, your mortgage broker in Palm Bay may require you to get Private Mortgage Insurance or PMI for short. This insurance protects your lender in the event you default on your mortgage. The best way to avoid paying for this insurance is to make a down payment of 20% or more of the purchase price of your home.
 Mortgage Company Palm Bay, FL

Trust Dan Crance

Your Mortgage Lender in Palm Bay, FL

Whether you're selling, buying, refinancing, or building the home of your dreams, you have a lot riding on your home loan specialist. When you need a mortgage broker who works tirelessly for you, answers your questions, provides guidance, and does so with a genuine smile, Dan Crance is your mortgage man. Contact Dan today at 843-478-5612 to get pre-approved and discover why Palm Bay loves Classic Home Mortgage.

After hours by appointment only. CONTACT DAN

Latest News in Palm Bay, FL

Palm Bay OKs plan to mandate converting septic systems to sewer

Plan to phase out septic tanks, connect 2,000 properties to city waterPALM BAY, Fla. – The city council in Palm Bay unanimously approved a plan Thursday night that would remove thousands of septic systems from properties across the city and connect them to the city’s sewer system.A four-year plan to convert properties from septic to sewer was proposed by the utilities department “for the good of the environment,” according to the city council agenda on Thursday.[EXCLUSIVE: ...

Plan to phase out septic tanks, connect 2,000 properties to city water

PALM BAY, Fla. – The city council in Palm Bay unanimously approved a plan Thursday night that would remove thousands of septic systems from properties across the city and connect them to the city’s sewer system.

A four-year plan to convert properties from septic to sewer was proposed by the utilities department “for the good of the environment,” according to the city council agenda on Thursday.

[EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos]

The city said connecting would cost $5,000 for septic properties and $3,000 to convert to the water system.

“But either way, I would hook up even if I had to pay,” homeowner John Goelz said.

Goelz lives in a neighborhood near Malabar Road and Babcock Street that would include the first homes to make the switch.

Those first notifications would go out next summer and then hundreds of more property owners would be asked to convert each of the following summers through 2027.

“I’ve already replaced my drain field once, had my septic tank worked on once,” Goelz said of the maintenance. “They back up all the time.”

Goelz said most recently during flooding in parts of the city on the first day of October.

The city said septic properties with an available sewer connection will only have to pay a $100 deposit.

A homeowner who did not support the plan argued converting would still cost thousands per property even if the city waived the connection fee.

The city says it is working on various grants to reduce the cost to private property owners. The city is working with the Save Our Indian River Lagoon program to get quick connect grant funds for residents as they become available.

Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily:

Copyright 2023 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.

Syracuse, West Virginia, FSU among colleges picked in Brevard on National Signing Day

Support local journalism by unlocking unlimited digital access to floridatoday.com. Click here to explore subscription options.Some major college football programs claimed talent from Brevard County high schools on Wednesday, National Signing Day across the country.Melbourne High receiver Devin Alves was one of the surprise signings. He chose ACC school Virginia Tech.Merri...

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Some major college football programs claimed talent from Brevard County high schools on Wednesday, National Signing Day across the country.

Melbourne High receiver Devin Alves was one of the surprise signings. He chose ACC school Virginia Tech.

Merritt Island kicker-quarterback Brady Denaburg, the FLORIDA TODAY Offensive Football Player of the Year, considered Rhode Island, the Air Force Academy and Florida, but he picked Syracuse. He will have the chance to kick in that ACC team's domed stadium. His teammate, linebacker Maddox Moss, signed with FAU.

There were other Division I signees in the area. Cocoa defensive lineman Timothy Passmore signed with UConn, while teammate LaNard Toney signed to play on the line for Florida State.

All-Space Coast Football, Offense:Merritt Island's Brady Denaburg led 2021 Brevard football offenses

All-Space Coast Football, Defense:Florida-bound Jamari Lyons of Viera dominated in 2021

Former Florida Tech coach Steve Englehart, the new coach at Presbyterian in Clinton, S.C., reached back to the area to sign quarterback son Ty from Holy Trinity, Melbourne linebacker Jafari Clark, Eau Gallie lineman Cody Dautrich and Cocoa defensive back Malik Lewis.

Visit 321preps.com for video interviews with several signees, photos of signing days around the county and more.

Signing list is below photo gallery.

Devin Alves, Melbourne to Virginia Tech football

Victor Battle Jr, Cocoa to Culver-Stockton College football

Michael Baumgardner, Merritt Island to Daytona State baseball

Rian Black, Rockledge to Coastal Carolina football

Katie Callenberger, Merritt Island to Augusta volleyball

Caleo Carrera, Palm Bay to St. Thomas football

Jamez Chambers, Eau Gallie to St. Thomas football

Jafari Clarke, Melbourne to Presbyterian College (Clinton, S.C.) football

Kalia Clary, West Shore to Ave Maria swimming

Dylan Collins, Holy Trinity to Emory University track & field (Atlanta)

Cody Dautrich, Eau Gallie to Presbyterian College (Clinton, S.C.) football

Brady Denaburg, Merritt Island to Syracuse football

Andrew Diaz, Rockledge to Webber International football

Eumari Dixon, Cocoa to Florida Memorial football

Justus Durant, Bayside to Shorter University football

Kaylee Ellsworth, Merritt Island to Tampa softball

Ty Englehart, Holy Trinity to Presbyterian College football (Clinton, S.C.)

Justin Evans, Palm Bay to St. Thomas football

D.J. Grimes, Cocoa to Southwestern Oklahoma State football

Seamus Feeney, Merritt Island to Flagler College soccer

Timaule Hayes, Eau Gallie to Concord (W.V.) football

C.J. Henry, Palm Bay to Missouri Valley College football

Marcus Hopkins, Cocoa to Alabama A&M football

Stella Hopson, Merritt Island to South Florida State softball

Jonna Kirk, Astronaut to Long Island University gymnastics

Dawson Kloos, Melbourne to Davenport (Mich.) football

Malik Lewis, Cocoa to Presbyterian College (Clinton, S.C.) football

Kate Lipphardt, Astronaut to Eastern Florida State softball

Virgil Marshall, Cocoa to Western Kentucky football

Maddox Moss, Merritt Island to FAU football

Grant Paparella, Merritt Island to Andrew College baseball

Timothy Passmore, Cocoa to UConn football

Jordyn Patrick, Merritt Island to Wallace State State volleyball

Marcel Portier, Eau Gallie to Ave Maria football

Taylor Rendina, Astronaut to Bridgeport (Conn.) gymnastics

Macy Reynolds, Merritt Island to Point Loma Nazarene volleyball

Isaiah Rivers-Rodriguez, Eau Gallie to Avila foo

J'Mariyae Robinson, Cocoa to Missouri State football

O.J. Ross, Cocoa to Tennessee Tech football

Macie Sinclair, Merritt Island to St. John’s River State beach volleyball

Daryl Smith, Rockledge to Tusculum football

Lilly Swoyer, Astronaut to Eastern Florida State softball

LaNard Toney, Cocoa to Florida State University football

Rafael Tortolo, Merritt Island to Bluefield State (W.V.) track and field

L.J. Turner, Heritage to Catawba (N.C.) football

Jacroy Waddell, Astronaut to St. Thomas football

Thomas Wadsworth, Melbourne to UCF football

Emily Witt, Astronaut to Rollins College softball

Jake Woods, Merritt Island to Keiser football

Davin Wydner, Cocoa to UCF football

Victor Zidor, Cocoa to Allen University football

Contact McCallum at bmccallum@floridatoday.com. Follow @321preps on Twitter and Instagram. Be sure to subscribe to FLORIDA TODAY.

Next Level: Here's a list of Brevard student athletes going on to play collegiate sports

The last day of the school year for students in Brevard County is May 26. Seniors across the county will be preparing to graduate and take the next steps in their lives.Many student athletes from Brevard announced their plans to continue both their academic and athletic careers at signing ceremonies throughout the year.Below is a list of seniors who signed to play collegiate sports.(Don't see your name? Email Prepscores@floridatoday.com with your name, high school, university/college, and sport to be a...

The last day of the school year for students in Brevard County is May 26. Seniors across the county will be preparing to graduate and take the next steps in their lives.

Many student athletes from Brevard announced their plans to continue both their academic and athletic careers at signing ceremonies throughout the year.

Below is a list of seniors who signed to play collegiate sports.

(Don't see your name? Email Prepscores@floridatoday.com with your name, high school, university/college, and sport to be added to the list).

Brevard County Class of 2023 Signings

Players/High School/Future College

Adekide Adetuyi, Merritt Island, Florida Atlantic University baseball

Lindsey Angermeier, Edgewood, Kennesaw State University lacrosse

Morgan Babb, Merritt Island Christian, Graceland University football

Alan Bailey, Cocoa Beach, Anna Maria College football

Alvarez Baker, Eau Gallie, University of Rhode Island football

McKenzie Barrial, Merritt Island, Reinhardt University lacrosse

Sophia Bittar, Edgewood, Sacred Heart University rowing

Kody Black, Melbourne, University of South Florida football

Rejonn Blackmon, Eau Gallie, Graceland University football

Blake Boda, Cocoa, Coastal Carolina University football

Kyle Brooks, Palm Bay, North Country Community College basketball

Mason Bryant, Cocoa Beach, The Apprentice School football

Brett Burdick, Satellite, Thomas More University lacrosse

Antoinette Burwell, Viera, Emmanuel College soccer

Trevion Butler, Bayside, Southeastern Oklahoma football

Tricia Carmer, Viera, Houghton University basketball

Mak Carter, Viera, University of Tampa volleyball

Maeve Chamberlin, Satellite, Fairleigh Dickinson University lacrosse

Grayson Christie, Holy Trinity, North Carolina Wesleyan baseball

Jalen Clarke, Melbourne, Tyler (Texas) Junior College football

Eddie Combs III, Rockledge, University of Rhode Island football

Tiana Davis, Space Coast, Florida A&M softball

Dillon Cooper, Eau Gallie, Graceland University football

Caleb Dobbs, Cocoa, Eastern Michigan University football

Caleb Domkowski, Satellite, Covenant College tennis

D'Andrevius Dorsey, Cocoa, Presbyterian College football

Bree Ehmer, West Shore, Catawba College soccer

Bianca Fontanin, Holy Trinity, Ave Maria University soccer

Nate Furman, Palm Bay, Presbyterian College wrestling

Taylor George, Viera, Florida Tech soccer

Brooke Gerritts, Viera, Daytona State cross country

Lindsay Gill, West Shore, University of West Florida soccer

Quincy Gillins, Viera, Missouri S&T football

Lucas Glendinning, Viera, Indian River State College baseball

Nakayla Green, Cocoa, State Fair Community College basketball

Katelynn Hagy, Eau Gallie, Palm Beach Atlantic University basketball

Daniel Harris, Palm Bay, UAB football

Cedrick Hawkins, Cocoa, Ohio State football

Jordan Holmes, Cocoa, Old Dominion football

Hailey Hubbard, Viera, Chattanooga State volleyball

Riley Jackson, Eau Gallie, Florida State baseball

Elle Jacobsen, Holy Trinity, Davidson College diving

Miles Jenkins, Astronaut, Eastern Florida State College soccer

Amanda Jimenez, Bayside, Warner University volleyball

Byron Johnson, Merritt Island, Keiser University football

Rico Johnson, Eau Gallie, Livingstone College football

Zach Johnson, West Shore, University of Tampa lacrosse

Achaia Jones, Satellite, Amherst College football

Anthony Joseph, Bayside, Fitchburg State University basketball

Caitlyn Kemer, Viera, St. Leo College beach volleyball

Dera Kestervens, Palm Bay, Knox College soccer

Cole Knoebel, Merritt Island, St. Ambrose University bowling

Katelyn Laferriere, Cocoa Beach, Lynn University swimming

Wesley Lambert, Melbourne, Southwest Baptist University football

Alessandra Lane, Cocoa Beach, Spring Hill College beach volleyball

Chris Lee, Merritt Island, Erskine College football

Bryce Lovett, Rockledge, University of Florida football

Brooke Mahaney, Bayside, Nova Southeastern softball

Andrew Mahorner, Satellite, University of North Florida cross country

Jazmine Major, Palm Bay, Lenoir-Rhyne basketball

George Maris, Satellite, University of North Georgia soccer

Lucy Maris, Satellite, Lock Haven University wrestling

Cassie Martin, Merritt Island, Warner University volleyball

Whitney McCoskey, Astronaut, Pittsburg-Greensburg softball

Morgan McDermott, Viera, University of South Carolina-Aiken basketball

Mitchell McNeely, Cocoa Beach, Mars Hill University football

Cam Mills, Viera, Holy Cross football

Daniella Monaco, Titusville, Mercer University softball

Ben Morrow, Satellite, United States Military Academy football

Brooks Moss, Merritt Island, Massachusetts Maritime Academy football

Isabella Narvaez, Viera, Eastern Florida State College cross country

Jesse Official, Palm Bay, Warner University football

Chelsea Paglia, Viera, Flagler College cross country

Jake Pagliarini, Holy Trinity, University of Mount Olive lacrosse

Michael Parkes, Bayside, Iowa State football

Maguire Pedrick, Viera, Mars Hill lacrosse

Michael Petite, Melbourne, Miami Dade baseball

Dylan Quiroga, Merritt Island, The Citadel wrestling

Cameron Rainey, Viera, Florida Southern Cross Country

Alex Ramirez, Cocoa, McPherson (Kan.) College football

Nick Ramsay, Satellite, Massachusetts Maritime Academy football

Kylie Redfern, Astronaut, Lenoir-Rhyne volleyball

Aedan Rendek, Viera, Butler University cross country/track and field

Jake Richardson, Melbourne, University of South Florida baseball

Lynn Rieth, Holy Trinity, Eastern Florida State College basketball

Emma Risch, Palm Bay, Notre Dame basketball

Eli Rollen, Rockledge, Oklahoma Christian swimming

Abby Romanisko, Satellite, Greensboro College soccer

Frank Santiago, Melbourne, Presbyterian College football

Nia Santiago, Viera, Long Island University basketball

Giovanna Sardono, Viera, Emmanuel College softball

Averie Schweitzer, Holy Trinity, University of Tampa soccer

Dashad Shaw, Eau Gallie, Lane College football

Tyler Sheehan, Eau Gallie, Graceland University football

Brevin Smith, Melbourne, Savannah State University baseball

Garrett Smith, Eau Gallie, University of South Florida baseball

Alex Sosa, Viera, North Carolina State baseball

Curlie Spencer, Eau Gallie, University of Rhode Island football

Robert Stafford, Eau Gallie, University of Miami football

Ronnie Thielacker, Palm Bay, Emmanuel College wrestling

Caleb Tilford, Astronaut, Florida Gateway cross country

Jude Tinor, Eau Gallie, Georgia State football

Trinity Trett, Viera, Daytona State cross country

Brycen Turner, Palm Bay, Montevallo wrestling

Kaley Vitaliano, Viera, Eastern Florida State College soccer

Skylar Waggoner, Viera, Jacksonville University softball

Alonya Waldon, Palm Bay, Samford University basketball

Sarilyne Walley, Merritt Island, Erskine College beach volleyball

Abigail Watson, West Shore, Washington and Lee University soccer

Jake Weatherspoon, Melbourne, Indian River State College baseball

Elliot Weisel, Rockledge, Indiana swimming

Bria Weldon, Satellite, Florida Southern soccer

Camden Wicker, Viera, Wofford College baseball

Sydney Williams, Viera, Maine Maritime Academy volleyball

Lawrence Winslow, Melbourne, University of St. Joseph baseball

Hannah Worthington, Titusville, Chipola College softball

Study: Brevard ranks as USA's 12th most dangerous metropolitan area for pedestrian safety

Support local journalism. Unlock unlimited digital access to floridatoday.com Click here and subscribe today.Brevard County is continuing its lamentable traffic trend as one of the nation's most dangerous places for pedestrians, according to the latest rankings released Tuesday by Smart Growth America.Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville ranks No. 12 among the country's 100 largest metr...

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Brevard County is continuing its lamentable traffic trend as one of the nation's most dangerous places for pedestrians, according to the latest rankings released Tuesday by Smart Growth America.

Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville ranks No. 12 among the country's 100 largest metropolitan areas, based on pedestrian deaths per 100,000 residents over the five-year timeframe from 2016-20.

The Space Coast has ranked as high as No. 2 since 2017 on Smart Growth America's annual "Dangerous by Design" list. The organization employs a statistical analysis that trends heavily toward Southern states — and Florida communities in particular.

Seven of the new list's Top 20 metro areas are located in the Sunshine State, including Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach (No. 1), Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater (No. 4), Jacksonville (No. 6), Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford (No. 8), ?Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach (No. 14) and ???????North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton (No. 19).

More:Brightline extends Sarno Road closure in Melbourne to eight weeks, citing utility work

More:'Shocking': Florida Tech athletes, coaches denounce decision to demote five varsity sports

Here are the report's 20 most dangerous metropolitan areas for pedestrian fatalities, with Florida regions listed in boldface:

Why so many Florida and Southern metro areas? According to the report, the bulk of growth and development there occurred after 1960, "where low-density sprawling land uses and high-speed, multi-lane arterial highways have been the dominant form."

"Southern cities really began to grow after air conditioning became common in homes, which was about the same time automobiles were in common usage," said Beth Osborne, Smart Growth America vice president of transportation and thriving communities.

"In 1950, Atlanta had half a million residents. This jumped by a million by 1980 and another million by 1993. Orlando was under 100,000 in 1950, but 500,000 by 1978 and a million by 1995," Osborne said.

"Houston started at about 800,000 in 1950, but grew to nearly a million people by 1980 and another half million by 1995. All Southern cities follow a similar trajectory, growing up in the highway/auto era," she said.

Last year, Smart Growth America said eight of the nation's 11 most-deadly pedestrian areas were located in Florida, led by Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford at No. 1. That drew criticism from former Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Kevin Thibault.

"The Dangerous by Design report considers select data points, which ultimately results in an inaccurate portrayal of the safety conditions across Florida’s transportation system," Thibault said in a March 2021 media statement.

"In addition, the report compares states and metropolitan areas across the nation, but does not take into account important geographic and demographic nuances, resulting in a one size fits all methodology for the assessment," Thibault said.

Asked for comment about FDOT criticism, Osborne defended her organization's rankings.

"Florida has always taken issue with the methodology, though our methodology always took into consideration population, population growth and the amount of time people spend walking. It did not take account for weather because SGA does not believe that any weather pattern should deny people safety," Osborne said.

"The point is the state's record and trajectory is bad. We hope with this report, Florida spends more time focusing on their poor safety results and making improvements instead of making inaccurate representations about our report's methodology," she said.

Smart Growth America announced its 2022 rankings are not comparable to previous editions because the COVID-19 pandemic altered commuting and travel patterns.

The Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization recently ranked Brevard's Top 5 highest pedestrian-crash corridors from 2016-20, not including Interstate 95. The list:

“The Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization, which provides regional transportation planning for the Palm Bay-Melbourne and Titusville urbanized areas and coordinates planning efforts for local jurisdictions and transportation authorities, is currently reviewing Smart Growth America’s recent study and its correlation to Brevard County pedestrian crash data,” said Abby Hemenway, Space Coast TPO public information and outreach manager.

Rick Neale is the South Brevard Watchdog Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY (for more of his stories, click here.) Contact Neale at 321-242-3638 or rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @RickNeale1

Palm Bay, Heritage win regional wrestling meets

Support local journalism by unlocking unlimited digital access to floridatoday.com. Click here to explore subscription options.Palm Bay and Heritage won regional wrestling titles on Saturday, with four Pirates claiming individual weight class championships.Palm Bay won the Region 2-1A tournament with 212 points, followed by Hernando at 153. In Region 4-2A at Bayside High, the Pan...

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Palm Bay and Heritage won regional wrestling titles on Saturday, with four Pirates claiming individual weight class championships.

Palm Bay won the Region 2-1A tournament with 212 points, followed by Hernando at 153. In Region 4-2A at Bayside High, the Panthers outscored Merritt Island, 175-168.8.

For all Brevard, 10 wrestlers won regional titles, including two each from Merritt Island, Heritage and Satellite. Twice as many qualified for regional finals, and 39 advanced to next week's state tournament in Lakeland.

State soccer:Viera boys look to win first state championship

Winner:Palm Bay's Logan Delos Santos wins CCU Florida Athlete of the Week online vote

In Class 1A, Palm Bay's regional winners were Logan Delos Santos at 106 pounds, Shaver Jackson at 120, Ronald Theilacker (132) and heavyweight Carlos Gerardino. Satellite's Alex McMichael (113) and Michael McCarthy (170) also won.

Area 2A champions from Heritage were 138-pounder Gabriel Ferreira and heavyweight Williams Clement. Merritt Island's Dylan Quiroga (152) and Nick Lesch (170) also won.

Check below for Brevard finalists and class champions.

Region 4-2A at Bayside

* weight class champion

126 pounds - Jeremiah Johnson, MI; 132 - Eddie Sears, MI; 138 - *Gabriel Ferreira, H; 152 - *Dylan Quiroga, MI; 160 - Anthony Callahan, EG; 170 - *Nick Lesch, MI; 182 - Vicente Ramirez-Ellis, H; 195 - Trace Liberatore, H; Hvy - *Williams Clement, H.

Region 2-1A at Palm Bay

106 pounds - *Logan Delos Santos, PB; 113 - *Alex McMiller, S; 120 - *Shaver Jackson, PB; 132 - *Ronald Theilacker, PB; 138 - Billy Day, CB; 145 - Nathan Furman, PB; 152 - Avery Jackson, PB; 160 - Brycen Turner, PB; 170 - *Michael McCarthy, S; 195 - Jaydon Sheely, SC; Hvy - *Carlos Gerardino, PB.

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