Condos will never replace single-family homes as the real estate investment of choice overall.  A Single-family home will always have a wider appeal than a condo. A home will also almost always appreciate at a faster rate both nationally and in the Fort Lauderdale real estate market.

There are many advantages to owning your a single-family home. Privacy is one of the major advantages in owning a home over a condo.  Condo living is communal living where you will be sharing your living space with possibly hundreds of other people. It doesn’t matter how sound proof the building is your neighbors are still only a wall, floor or ceiling away. With a home you also will have the privacy of your own private home,  lawn and private driveway.  In addition a single-family home allows you to not have the constant interaction with other people in elevators and other common areas.

Both indoors and outdoors, you will have more space if you own a home.  When choosing a home over a condo you gain more room for things like entertaining guest, larger floorplans and storage space…  more space to make your own and call home and customize to fit your and your personality.  A garden you design and maintain, for example, can be a very rewarding experience. With a condo the association decides the exterior design and landscaping.

When you own a condo you may also be limited to what you can do as far as improvements to your investment. In most cases you will have to get permission from the association to make improvements. The condo building itself also plays a role in the overall value of your condo.  It doesn’t always make sense to make large investments on improvements if the value of your condo when the overall value is dependant on the condition of the building and the quality of the other units within the building.  If you have a really nice condo in a poorly maintained building improvements will not help your investment.

When you own a single-family home, however, improvements and investing into your home will only better your investment.  The more improvements you make the greater the value you add to your investment. You also get to the pleasure of living in an environment that only you have created. Home ownership on any level is wonderful. Nothing gives you a sense of pride like owning the place you live in. The Cabot Homes group will allow you to feel that sense of pride by finding you the perfect  South Florida home.

When it comes to ownership, there are some advantages to owning a condominium versus a single-family home in urban areas. It really comes down to which better fits your individual needs.

Even though the housing market as a whole has gone down, the biggest advantage of owning a condo over a Fort Lauderdale home is the price. Because you are buying a single unit from the building condos will typically cost less than a single-family home. When looking at Fort Lauderdale real estate you might be able to purchase a condo on or near the water for the same price or less than a house that is not as close the water. Fort Lauderdale condos were overbuilt during the last real estate boom, many now sit empty and prices have fallen.

Location can be another benefit of condo ownership. During the last housing boom for living as well as investing, many condo developers built on the most highly sought after property in Fort Lauderdale.

Clearly condo ownership is not for everyone.   The Cabot Homes Group can help you decide which is a better choice and best fits your individual needs.  Cabot Homes can aid in your decision with their knowledge of the different areas in Fort Lauderdale to find a place that suits you and your family.

The time hasn’t been better to buy a home in Fort Lauderdale! The team at Cabot Homes is here to help you find your dream home. The Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act of 2009 can help you pay for it, with up to $8,000 in tax credits.  With the affordability of homes in South Florida combined with the government tax credit, your dream home is even more attainable! There is still time to take advantage of the tax credit however the deadline is April 30^th.

• The $8,000 tax credit is only available to first-time homebuyers.
  The law defines “first-time home buyer” as a person who has not owned a primary residence during the three-year period prior to the home purchase.
• You do not have to repay this tax credit unless your home is sold or ceases to remain your primary residence for three years after the home is purchased.
• The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the purchase price of the home up to a maximum of $8,000. The price of the home also cannot exceed $800,000.
• The tax credit now applies to homes sold on or after January 1, 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010.
• However, if you have a binding sales contract that is signed before April 30, 2010, you will have until June 30, 2010 to close on the home purchase.
• In the case of married couples, the law states that the homeownership history of both the you and your spouse is taken into account. If either of you have owned a primary residence in the last three years neither of you will qualify for the tax credit. There are also income limits as well.
• To receive the full tax credit as a single person the limit is up to $125,000 and $225,000 for married couples that file a joint tax return.  If you earn more money than the limits you will not qualify for the full tax credit but can still qualify for a reduced tax credit.

Now is the time to buy a home in Fort Lauderdale and realize your dream of home ownership. Don’t miss this opportunity to receive the government tax credit to help purchase your Fort Lauderdale home. Turn to the Cabot Homes Group today to help you search the many Fort Lauderdale homes for sale to call home. The deadline is quickly approaching – April 30, 2010 for a sales contract to be signed, allowing you to close by the 30^th of June.

Florida homes for sale in addition to across the country are experiencing an upward trend in home affordability, which is a great opportunity for people who are looking to buy homes in Fort Lauderdale as well as anywhere in Florida. Florida homes for sale specifically 43,125 have been sold in the second quarter alone. Which is an increase of almost 1,000 home sales in comparison to the previous year.

In the local markets existing South Florida home sales are taking an upward turn. In Miami home sales rose 73 percent, a big upward turn in the second quarter. West Palm Beach however has only experienced an eight percent increase. Cabot Homes Group is very pleased that Fort Lauderdale home sales have experienced an increase of 38 percent from last years second quarter. South Florida homes are overall doing very well for the second quarter in comparison to the year-ago second quarter.

While sales for South Florida Homes are on the rise median prices have fallen properties in Fort Lauderdale as well as Miami have both fallen 35 percent. Which is right on par with the statewide prices, which have fallen 38 percent from the previous year. With the decline prices down and tax credits for  home buyers, it has become an excellent time to buy a home.  The Cabot Homes Group currently boasts the highest listing volume in Remax partners in South Florida, providing the most options in your search for a first or new home.

When searching Fort Lauderdale real estate Cabot Homes is here to help you find your dream home.

The leaders of Fort Lauderdale real estate are pleased to announce the launching of our iPhone application. After hearing your requests for mobile connectivity, and in keeping with our commitment to meeting South Florida’s real estate needs, we now offer this service to you, our loyal customers!  The Cabot Homes Group iPhone application.

Now you can connect to Cabot Homes through your iPhone! Simply download the application from iTunes via the link at the bottom of our home page.  Get Application Now

Whether searching for you perfect new home, townhouse, condo, waterfront or luxury home, our new tool makes finding your dream home easier, from anywhere…

Our listings are mapped for ease of searching.  Narrow or expand your searching through the search filter. Interested in learning more on a property simply click on the property to learn more details such as price, bed/bath, description and photo gallery.

We hope you enjoy our latest tools in assisting your search for your dream Fort Lauderdale home. Whether your a first time home buyer or purchasing a second home, our new application will surely be an invaluable addition to our innovative home search tools.

Sales of existing homes in Broward County increased 31 percent in September from a year ago, the Florida Association of Realtors said Friday. The Cabot Homes Group is in tune with the evolving market and the tremendous opportunities present in the greater Fort Lauderdale area.

The Tax Credit has played a large role in this increase, however it is not just that… the cheaper home prices have been drawing buyers back to the market. Broward’s monthly sales have increased on an annual basis since July 2008, which are strong indications that prices have been falling enough to attract buyers. Broward’s median price in September was $200,000, down 23 percent from a year ago and 8 percent from August.

The existing condo markets also remained hot last month, as sales shot up. Broward County’s median price for a condo fell 40 percent from a year ago to $78,300 – the lowest since the Realtors’ group started releasing condo figures in 2006. Now is the best time to take advantage of the lower pricing and rates that only Fort Lauderdale’s premiere realty service group can obtain.

The Cabot Homes Group sees the demand with first-time home buyers and is guiding them first hand. The buyers are flooding the market, trying to get into homes before the tax credit expires Nov. 30. While it’s probably too late to start the buying process now and still qualify for the credit, some buyers who are pre-qualified for loans might be able to complete their sales in time, said real estate agents. Some would-be buyers are counting on Congress to extend the credit and increase it to $15,000, but that’s far from a sure thing.

The tax incentive has helped reduce the number of properties on the market. The numbers of homes and condos for sale in Broward County are down close to 30 percent from a year ago, according to the Keyes Co. Statewide sales increased 34 percent in September, while home sales rose 9.4 percent nationally.

Whether buying, selling or renting property rely on The Cabot Homes Group – the premier Fort Lauderdale real estate group.

The Cabot Homes Group is pleased to share the continued news of the housing market continued improvements. U.S. home prices in rose for the third straight month, surpassing forecasts and suggesting that the housing market is stabilizing after a three-year plunge.

The S&P/Case-Shiller composite index of house prices in 20 metropolitan areas including South Florida rose 1.6 percent, more than triple the estimate of a 0.5 percent rise.

A record stockpile of foreclosed homes have been exerting pressure on home prices overall, but recent home sales reports show an easing up of the massive unsold inventory.

A first-time buyer credit of $8,000, which ends on November 30, has jump-started housing activity this year. Turn to the Cabot Homes Group to help you take advantage of this credit before the deadline.

“The current increases continue to support the stabilization in local and national real estate values.” Cabot Edewaard.

When buying Fort Lauderdale real estate rely on the premier realty service group of Cabot Homes.

The U.S. housing market is rebounding faster than expected. The question is, can it last? Home re-sales in July posted the largest monthly increase in at least 10 years as first-time buyers rushed to take advantage of a tax credit that expires Nov. 30. Sales jumped 7.2 percent and beat expectations.

There are literally hundreds of homes perfect for the first-time homebuyer in Cabot Homes Groups inventory of homes in the South Florida Market.

Sales nationwide hit a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.24 million in July, from a pace of 4.89 million in June. It was the fourth-straight monthly increase and the strongest month since August 2007. Sales had been expected to rise to an annual pace of 5 million, according to economists. A recent survey by Forbes showed the South Florida market to be one of the fastest growing. Cabot Homes Group has experts in the field and particularly in this market poised to help all homebuyers and especially first time homebuyers find the home that’s right for them.

The risks to that healthy pace, however, are job cuts, mortgage rates and the looming end to the homebuyer tax credit. And the last one could be a significant because first-time buyers are snapping up one out of every three homes.

First-time buyers get a credit of 10 percent of the purchase price of a home, up to $8,000. The credit phases out for singles earning more than $75,000 and couples earning more than $150,000. While it can be complicated, your Cabot Homes Group expert can help you make sense of the many programs available with an individualized experience designed to take advantage of every opportunity available for your particular circumstance.

Right now the real estate industry is lobbying to have the credit extended, however, its unclear if Congress will be swayed. If you’re a first time homebuyer let Cabot homes experts help you make this program and a part of your wise home buying investment before it goes away.

The home sales report was another sign that the U.S. economy is on the verge of a long-awaited recovery after enduring a brutal recession and the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.

Sales of foreclosures and other distressed properties made up about a third of all transactions last month, down from nearly half earlier this year. In places like San Diego and Orlando, buyers are snapping up foreclosed properties at deep discounts, and inventories are low. Here in the South Florida real estate market there are still great values to be found. Cabot Homes Group has hundreds of homes selling at a value. Taking time now to talk to a Cabot Homes Group agent can result in you getting a great bargain for a property, which will be a home and an investment for you for years and years.

The inventory of unsold homes on the nationwide market rose to 4.1 million, from 3.8 million a month earlier as buyers who had held their homes off the market in the past decided to list them for sale. If you’re a seller sitting on the sidelines we at Cabot Homes Group believe now can be a good time to list, as inventories and, more importantly, home values are stabilizing and beginning to rise.

Increased transactions and relatively low foreclosure re-sales spell good news for the Miami-Fort Lauderdale Market

Like many of our clients, you’ve seen good news as of late on the economic front. The stock market is up 50% from its lows in March, and consumer spending increased in May, June and July. But you may be wondering when will housing turn around?

Even the wisest can’t answer that, the experts at Cabot Homes are seeing increasing reasons for optimism in this economic environment. While there is reason to be cautious given the country’s unemployment situation and still too high rate of mortgage defaults, key measures indicate that some metros are more on their way to recovery than others.

Take Cabot Homes primary market of Miami-Fort Lauderdale. Forbes.com reports that sales are up 27% over last year and only 3.5% of those are the result of foreclosure re-sales. In fact, Miami-Fort Lauderdale ranked no. 1 in Forbes most recent survey for markets showing a strong rebound.

Take a look at the rankings:

1. Miami-Fort Lauderdale
2. Lincoln, Neb
3. Colorado Springs, Ca
4. Salem, Ore
5. San Luis Obispo, Ca

In compiling their list, Forbes looked at 161 of the country’s largest metropolitan statistical areas (or metros)–geographic entities defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for use by federal agencies in collecting, tabulating and publishing federal statistics–where sales activity had picked up over the last year, but where foreclosure sales, as a percentage of overall sales were the lowest. They also incorporated data from Zillow.com, an online housing data firm based in Seattle, Wash. And while their list doesn’t go so far as to profess a turnaround, it does point out which cities are in the lead on the road to recovery. Of course, we didn’t need Forbes to tell us the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area was in the midst of a turnaround. The Cabot Homes Group is at the forefront of this recovery, using our experience and expertise to create value and opportunity for our clients.

Behind Cabot Homes Group primary market of Miami-Fort Lauderdale was Lincoln, Neb followed by Colorado Springs, Colo., Salem, Ore. and San Luis Obispo, Calif. Here, sales have returned, but foreclosures are a relatively small percentage. In Colorado Springs, sales activity is up 14%, while transactions involving bank-owned properties made up one-fifth of them. Having seen a large number of foreclosures in our market, Cabot Homes Group has helped our clients interesting in navigating this market to take advantage of value based real estate opportunities unique to this growing market.

Because housing, like any asset, depends on supply and demand, the sales rate is an incredibly useful statistic in judging a recovery. Of Course, the best asset to help you position yourself and take advantage of this recovery is your Miami-Fort Lauderdale expert at Cabot Homes Group.

While much of the country remains mired in a housing slump, the Florida real estate market, and by extension, the highly desirable South Florida real estate market seem to be showing signs of recovery. Cabot Homes Group is perfectly positioned to continue helping our clientele exploit this growth trend.

Sales of existing single-family homes in Florida rose 23 percent in second quarter 2009 compared to the same period a year earlier, according to the latest housing statistics from the Florida Association of Realtors. Over 43,000 existing homes sold statewide in 2Q 2009 compared to 35000 in the same time frame last year. It marks the fourth consecutive quarter that Florida has seen higher existing year-to-year home sales.

In spite of the challenges with the economy, most people - 83 percent - still believe that buying a home is a good financial decision, according to a recent survey from the National Association of Realtors. Many homebuyers are realizing that this is the time to buy - with a good selection of housing inventory, affordable pricing and low mortgage rates.

Three-fourths of those responding to the 2009 National Housing Pulse Survey said they think now is a good time to purchase a home, a number that has increased steadily the past two years. However, providing solid financing options for homebuyers is key to returning stability to the housing market. Cabot Homes Group understands this and has strategic alliances with many partners providing a wide array of services to its clients.

Continuing low mortgage rates remain another favorable influence on the housing sector. According to Freddie Mac, the national commitment rate for a 30-year conventional fixed-rate mortgage averaged 5.03

By staying abreast of the latest housing trends and positioning itself in the hot South Florida real estate market, Cabot Homes Group feels confident we are the best option for those entering the housing market, whether buying or selling.

In another encouraging sign that the nation’s deep housing recession was beginning to bottom out, construction of new homes jumped in May by the largest amount in three months.

The Commerce Department said Tuesday that construction of new homes and apartments jumped 17.2 percent last month to 532,000 units. That was better than the 500,000-unit pace that economists had expected and came after construction fell in April to a record low of 454,000 units. Cabot Homes Groups has seen signs of this in the Fort Lauderdale area.

The better-than-expected rebound in construction was the latest sign that the prolonged slump in housing may be coming to an end, which would be good news for the broader economy.

Even with the encouraging news, analysts don’t expect a quick rebound in housing, since the economy is still shedding jobs and home prices are falling in many places, making people hesitant to commit to buying a new home. Yet at Cabot homes we’ve been able to help savvy clients take advantage of the inherent opportunities afforded by this market.

The 17.2 percent rise in housing construction for May still left activity 45.2 percent below where it was a year ago. Its not unreasonable, however, to think that the highly desirable Fort Lauderdale real estate market would see a disproportionate amount of growth compared to the rest of the state or country at large. That means more opportunity for smart buyers to take advantage Pre-construction opportunities and deals that usually exist in a hesitant market. That’s why Cabot Homes Group believes it’s important to have long-standing community relationships and to be extraordinarily knowledgeable about the areas you do business in. We believe it makes a difference for our clients. At Cabot Homes Group we are optimally positioned and have the all the tools required to guide our clients to successfully accomplish their real estate goals.