South Florida On The Market

1. You own it: With no landlord, you make the decisions. 2. You deduct it: Mortgage interest, property taxes and some costs involved with buying a home can be deducted from federal income taxes. 3. Interest rates: The cost to borrow mortgage money is at an all-time low. If you’re going to buy, this is the time to jump into the market. 4. You invest in it: Rent money is gone forever. Mortgage payments build home equity ownership interests. 5. You save for the future: Home equity is a ready-made savings plan. Sell it and you can make up to $250,000 cash without owing any federal income tax on the profit. 6. You can predict expenses:  Unlike rent, a fixed-mortgage payment doesn’t get more expensive over time. 7. You pick it: Choose from different neighborhoods, styles and price ranges. 8. You create it: Decorate, renovate, get a pet or paint the walls whatever color you want – it belongs to you. 9. You live in a neighborhood: You and your neighbors take pride in t...

The hottest design trends in new homes this year incorporate creative use of materials, layouts and features that provide maximum utility and beauty while being cost-conscious at the same time, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). In celebration of April’s New Homes Month, NAHB shares the following top trends highlighted by leading home builders and architects during the International Builders’ Show in Orlando, Fla., this past February: -Reworked Spaces: New homes are being designed to allow plenty of space for family interaction in high-traffic areas such as the kitchen, and to eliminate rooms such as formal dens and home offices that aren’t frequently used. Small spaces devoted to home management, also known as “pocket offices,” are being included in large pantries or spaces nearby the kitchen or family great room. Window seats and alcoves are being used to provide an area for private time, without taking up a lot of space. A popular and efficient location...