Author: Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage

Why Builders May Be More Motivated To Sell Than Homeowners

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on October 26, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, New Construction.

Here’s something most homebuyers don’t think about. When the housing market slows down, homeowners and builders don’t always respond the same way. Think about it. If you’re selling your house and aren’t getting the offers you want, you could make the choice to take it off the market and stay put, and wait for things to improve. But builders? They may be more motivated to stay the course. They’ve already invested money in building those houses. And every completed home that sits unsold means money tied up in a property, plus ongoing costs that can add...

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Why More Buyers Are Turning To Adjustable-Rate Mortgages Today

When mortgage rates climb, buying a home can start to feel like trying to hit a moving target. Every jump in rates makes monthly payments bigger, and that pushes a lot of buyers to look for another way in. More and more of them are finding it in the adjustable-rate mortgage, or ARM. The ARM Option Here’s how an ARM differs from a more traditional mortgage. With a regular fixed-rate mortgage, your rate stays the same for your whole loan. But with an ARM, your rate is locked for the first few years, then it can move up or down based on market conditions. Some people don’t like that level...

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To Sell or Rent? How To Choose the Best Path for Your House.

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on October 26, 2026. Posted in Agent Value, For Sellers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Price It Right/Overpricing, Selling Tips.

Selling your house is a big step, and you want it to go smoothly. And with houses taking a little longer to sell these days, renting it out might start to sound like a nice backup plan. But the reality is, while renting can work well for some people, it’s also a big commitment. So before you decide, it helps to see the whole picture first. Why Some Sellers Are Deciding To Rent Instead Lately, some sellers are choosing to hang on to their houses and rent them out instead. According to Parcl, around 9% of homes for rent right now were previously up for sale. Here’s why. Some homeowners put...

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Confused by Home Price Headlines? Here’s Why.

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on October 26, 2026. Posted in Agent Value, For Buyers, For Sellers, Home Prices, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

Whether you own a house already or you’re looking to buy one, you probably care about home prices. But it’s not always easy to figure out what’s really happening right now, especially if you look at the headlines. One says home prices are falling. The next says they’re still climbing. So, which one’s right? It comes down to where you live. What’s Really Going on with Asking Prices Part of the confusion out there may be based on what’s happening to asking prices and how the media is talking about it. They’re calling attention to how asking prices are falling, but don’t give the full context...

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Want a More Affordable Home? Don’t Overlook Condos.

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on October 26, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Rent vs. Buy.

When you picture buying your first home, chances are you’re imagining a traditional single-family house with its own yard, maybe a garage, and little extra room to grow. But with affordability still tight, getting everything on that list right away may come with a higher price tag than you’re comfortable with right now. So, if you’re running the numbers and buying a house like that feels like a stretch, there may be another way in. A condo. Because in a lot of markets, condos come with a significantly lower price tag. And that could make them a smart way to get your foot in the door....

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The Biggest Credit Hurdle for Renters Who Want To Buy

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on October 26, 2026. Posted in Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Mortgage/Lending, Rent vs. Buy.

What’s the biggest payment you make every month? If you’re a renter, it’s probably your rent. But did you know that you can pay your rent on time, every time, for years, and it may never show up in your credit history? It’s pretty frustrating, especially if you’d like to buy a home someday and you’re trying to build your credit. The good thing is that’s changing right now. Here’s what you need to know and why it could open a door you thought was closed. The Problem for Would-Be Buyers You’re not the only one frustrated. According to Zillow, nearly a third of...

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Homes Are Still Selling – Even in a Slower Market

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on October 26, 2026. Posted in For Sellers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Selling Tips.

If you’ve seen headlines saying home sales are slowing down, you may be wondering: is this really a good time to sell? While the latest numbers show sales picked up slightly in September, they’re still down compared to last year. But here’s the perspective the headlines can miss. Homes are still selling every single day. Because no matter what’s happening with mortgage rates or the economy, life keeps happening too. People get new jobs. Families grow. Relationships change. People retire, downsize, or need to move closer to the people they love. And those life changes create buyers...

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Why There are More Homes for Sale Right Now (and What It Means for You)

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on October 26, 2026. Posted in Buying Tips, For Buyers, For Sellers, Inventory, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Selling Tips.

Mortgage rates being back above 7% isn’t exactly the news most people wanted. But it’s changing the market in ways that matter whether you’re buying or selling. The number of homes for sale is growing faster than it was this time last year. And interestingly, the main reason isn’t a flood of new listings. It’s because homes aren’t selling as quickly. Here’s why – and what that means if you’re thinking about buying or selling. Inventory Growth Is Picking Up Steam According to HousingWire Data, after inventory growth slowed down for most of the past year, it’s accelerated again in...

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Why Most People Are Still Glad They Bought a Home

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on October 26, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Equity, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Home Prices, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Rent vs. Buy.

With everything going on, it’s understandable if you’re wondering if you’d regret buying right now. Everyday expenses cost more. Mortgage rates are higher than you’d like. And when the economy feels uncertain, taking on a mortgage can feel like a much bigger leap. But here’s some perspective that may help… Most people who already made that leap would do it again. According to a recent survey from NerdWallet, the vast majority of recent buyers (74%) were glad they bought their current home. Only a very small 3% of people regret it: And here’s a big reason why so many people feel it was...

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Renovate or Relocate? What To Know Before You Decide To Age in Place

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on October 26, 2026. Posted in Downsize, For Sellers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Selling Tips, Senior Market.

You’ve spent years making your house feel like home, celebrating milestones, making each room your own, and turning neighbors into friends. As you look ahead to the next chapter of your life, it’s natural to wonder if this is still the place you want to spend it. Whether you’re leaning toward staying in your house as you get older or moving to a 55+ community, the goal is the same: a home that fits the life you want, with more time for the people and things you love. So, here’s what to consider before you decide. What It Can Take To Stay Put Wanting to stay in a...

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Sellers Are Cutting Prices To Meet Buyers Where They’re At

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on August 27, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, For Buyers, Home Prices, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

You’re scrolling through listings on your phone and everything looks good until you see the price (or the estimated monthly payment). Then you close the app. Because even if you love the house, the numbers feel impossible. But here’s the thing. Nationally, there are more homes sitting on the market than there are people out there looking. And when sellers need buyers more than buyers need sellers, that shows up in the price. Lower asking prices. More price cuts. And homes priced for what buyers can actually afford – not what sellers hope someone might pay. And it may be enough...

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Worried About a Housing Crash? The Numbers Tell a Calmer Story.

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on August 27, 2026. Posted in For Buyers, For Sellers, Home Prices, Inventory, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Mortgage Rates.

A recent survey from Talker Research asked Americans to pick one word to describe how 2026 has felt so far. The winner? Stressful. And honestly, there’s been a lot going on. So, it’s understandable if you’ve been putting off buying or selling a home until things settle down. But you may be waiting on something that’s already happened. While everything else has felt shaky, the housing market has become one of the steadiest things out there. Look at the data. Home Prices Have Leveled Out After years of fast increases, data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows...

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Most Home Sales Close – Here’s How To Keep Yours on Track

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on August 27, 2026. Posted in Agent Value, Expired/Withdrawn/Canceled, For Sellers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Selling Tips.

Few things are as rattling as the thought of your home sale falling through at the last minute, right before closing. All that waiting, all that progress, out the window. But if you’re getting ready to sell, here’s what you should know. Even in today’s market, it rarely comes to that. Buyers who are moving at today’s rates and prices are generally moving because of some big life change. That means they’re motivated, and eager to get all the way to the closing table. According to the latest data from Redfin, only about 1 in 7 pending sales are falling through. Meaning the vast majority make...

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One Number Could Change Everything About Your Next Move

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on August 27, 2026. Posted in Downsize, Equity, For Sellers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Move-Up, Selling Tips.

When’s the last time someone told you what your house is worth? Not what some online valuation tool guessed. Not what your neighbor’s house sold for. What yours is actually worth right now. For a lot of homeowners, it’s been years. And if you’ve been thinking about moving, but higher home prices or mortgage rates have made you hesitate, here’s why it’s time to take a second look at that number. Your House May Be Worth More Than You Think Home values have climbed significantly over the past 5-10 years. And even though today’s market is more balanced, homeowners...

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Higher Rates Could Actually Help Housing Supply – Here’s How.

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on August 27, 2026. Posted in For Buyers, For Sellers, Inventory, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

You may have heard the number of homes for sale isn’t growing like it was. And maybe that has you worried you won’t find a home you love when it’s time to make your move. But that may be about to change. Here’s why your pool of options may actually start ticking back up again. Growth Has Slowed, But It Hasn’t Stopped Active listings were up 2.1% year-over-year in July, according to Realtor.com. Back in January, inventory was up 10%. And in May of 2025, it was up 31.5%. So, growth has cooled off a lot over the last year. The past 3 months, though, have all seen inventory growth land in...

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The Kind of House Buyers Are Willing To Pay More For

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on August 27, 2026. Posted in Downsize, For Sellers, Home Prices, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Selling Tips.

That spare room on the main floor. The finished basement with a kitchenette and its own entrance. The bonus room you’ve been using for storage. To you, it’s extra space. But to a growing pool of buyers, it’s the reason they’d pick your house. Here’s why. Multi-generational homebuying is on the rise. Millions of Families Are Living Multi-Generationally The number of multi-generational households is climbing. That’s when 3 or more generations live under one roof. And data shows those households grew from 3.2 million to almost 4 million between 2014 and 2024,...

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Who Has the Upper Hand in Today’s Housing Market?

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on August 14, 2026. Posted in Buying Tips, For Buyers, For Sellers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Selling Tips.

Ask around and almost every homebuyer out there wants to know if there’s a way to get a better deal. And just about every seller wants to know if they’ll still get top dollar. The interesting thing is… both can be right at the exact same time. It just depends on where you live. That’s because today’s housing market isn’t moving in one direction anymore. Some markets clearly favor buyers. Others still favor sellers. But most are sitting somewhere in the middle. And knowing which market you’re actually in can completely change the strategy you use to buy...

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Here’s Why Mortgage Rates Are What They Are Right Now

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on August 14, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Economy, For Buyers, For Sellers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Mortgage Rates.

If you’re waiting for mortgage rates to fall a lot before you buy, you may be waiting a while. But before you get discouraged, there’s a number working behind the scenes that’s actually good for you right now. It’s called the spread, and once you understand it, you may see today’s rates in a whole new light. The Pattern That’s Held for 50+ Years For starters, mortgage rates don’t move on their own. They tend to follow the 10-year treasury yield, a number tied to how investors feel about the economy. It’s not an exact science, since plenty of other factors can...

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The Case for Putting 20% Down on Your Next Home

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on August 14, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, Downsize, For Buyers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Move-Up.

If you’re planning to buy your next home soon, you’ve probably heard the old rule about saving 20% for your down payment. The truth is, you usually don’t have to. Plenty of loan options let qualified buyers put down much less. But a lot of repeat buyers are choosing to put down 20% anyway. So, why are they if they don’t have to? Two reasons. They know a bigger down payment pays off, and after years in their current house, they’ve built up enough equity that it’s finally possible. Repeat Buyers Put More Money Down According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the typical repeat...

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Thinking About Waiting for Lower Mortgage Rates? Read This First.

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on August 14, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, Economy, For Buyers, Forecasts, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Mortgage Rates.

Imagine waiting a year to buy a home, only to find mortgage rates haven’t changed much. That may sound frustrating.But it’s a real possibility. A lot of people are putting their plans on hold because they believe much lower mortgage rates are right around the corner. But, based on today’s forecasts, that may not happen. And you should know that before you decide what to do. Let’s look at why experts don’t expect a dramatic drop in rates – and the options that could help you buy anyway. Because even if rates don’t fall, you can still move. Here’s how. 1....

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Big Investors Are Backing Off and That’s Your Opening

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on August 14, 2026. Posted in First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

For years, a lot of would-be homebuyers have worried about the same thing. How do you compete with big investors who can swoop in, pay cash, and snap up the houses you want? Well, worry a little less. Because right now, those big investors aren’t buying up the market. They’re backing out of it. Investors Are Buying Fewer Homes Than They Have in Years According to Redfin, investor home purchases just fell to their lowest level since 2020 – when the start of the pandemic temporarily caused pretty much all homebuying to pull way back. Before that, you’d have to go all the...

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Here’s Where To Start if You’re Selling and Buying at the Same Time

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on August 14, 2026. Posted in Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

If you’re a homeowner getting ready to move, one question usually comes first: should you buy your next home before you sell, or sell your current house before you start looking? There’s no single right answer. The best call depends on your finances, your local market, and your timeline. And a trusted agent can help you weigh all of it. But in a lot of cases these days, selling first puts you in the stronger spot. The Advantages of Selling First Selling is usually the trickier half of a move today, so getting it done first clears your biggest hurdle. And that’s especially true...

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