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.