Buyer Bright Spot: There Are More Homes on the Market

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on February 4, 2025. Posted in Buying Tips, For Buyers, Forecasts, Inventory, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

The past few years have been challenging for homebuyers, especially with higher home prices and mortgage rates. And if you’re trying to buy a home, it’s easy to worry you won’t be able to find something in your budget. But here’s what you need to know. The number of homes for sale has grown a whole lot lately and that’s true for both existing (previously lived-in) and newly built homes. Here’s a look at those two bright spots for buyers right now and why they may make it a bit easier to find the home you’re been looking for. 1. There Are 22% More Existing Homes for Sale Data from...

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The Real Benefits of Buying a Home This Year

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on February 3, 2025. Posted in For Buyers, Home Prices, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

Have you been wondering whether you should keep renting or finally make the leap into homeownership? It’s a big decision, and let’s be real — renting can feel like the easier option, especially if buying a home feels out of reach. But here’s the thing: a recent report from Bank of America highlights that 70% of prospective buyers fear the long-term consequences of renting, including not building equity and dealing with rising rents. Maybe you’re feeling that too — concerned about where renting might leave you down the road, but still unsure if you’d even be able to buy right now. The...

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Time in the Market Beats Trying To Time the Market

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on January 31, 2025. Posted in Equity, Forecasts, Home Prices, Infographics, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

Some Highlights Are you torn between whether to buy a home now or wait? Consider this. Forecasts show prices will climb for ?at least the next 5 years. If you wait, the price of a home will be higher later on. But, if you buy a $400K now, you could gain roughly $83K in equity as prices rise. If you’re able to buy now, this equity is one reason why it’ll be worth it in the long run. Connect with an agent if you’re ready to talk through ways we can make it happen.

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The Secret To Selling? Using an Agent To Get Your House Noticed

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on January 30, 2025. Posted in Agent Value, For Sellers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

In a recent survey, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) asked sellers what they want most from a real estate agent. The number one answer was to help market their house. It makes sense. The way your agent markets your house can be the difference between whether or not it stands out and gets attention from buyers. That’s why it’s so important to work with an expert local agent that knows what they’re doing. According to that same report from NAR, here are some of the most common methods real estate agents use to market homes, and how you benefit when your agent uses them...

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Two Resources That Can Help You Buy a Home Right Now

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on January 29, 2025. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

A recent report from Realtor.com says 20% of Americans don’t think homeownership is achievable. Maybe you feel the same way. With inflation driving up day-to-day expenses, saving enough to buy your first home is more of a challenge. But here’s the thing. With the right resources and help, you can still make it happen. There are options that can help make buying a home possible today — even if your savings are limited or your credit isn’t perfect. Let’s explore just two of the solutions that could help get you into your first home no matter the market. 1. FHA Loans If your down payment...

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How Home Equity Can Help Fuel Your Retirement

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on January 28, 2025. Posted in Agent Value, Home Prices, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

If retirement is on the horizon, now’s the time to start thinking about your next chapter. And you probably want to make sure you’re set up to feel comfortable financially to live the life you want in retirement. What you may not realize is you likely have a hidden goldmine of cash you’re not thinking about — and that’s your home. Data from the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) shows that home values have gone up nearly 60% over the last 5 years alone (see graph below): And that appreciation gave your net worth a big boost. According to Freddie Mac, over the same five-year period: “...

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3 Reasons To Buy a Home Before Spring

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on January 27, 2025. Posted in For Buyers, Home Prices, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

Let’s face it — buying a home can feel like a challenge with today’s mortgage rates. You might even be thinking, “Should I just wait until spring when more homes hit the market and rates might be lower?” But here’s the thing, no one knows for sure where mortgage rates will go from here, and waiting could mean facing more competition, higher prices, and a lot more stress. What if buying now — before the spring rush — might actually give you the upper hand? Here are three reasons why that just might be the case. 1. Less Competition from Other Buyers The winter months tend to be quieter in...

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What To Do If Your House Didn’t Sell

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on January 24, 2025. Posted in For Sellers, Infographics, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Selling Tips.

Some Highlights Last year, as many as 1 in 3 sellers took their home off the market because it wasn’t selling. If this happened to you too, you don’t need to be embarrassed. What you need are answers. And a local real estate agent can help with that by seeing if it was priced too high, needs some repairs, or didn’t get the right exposure. If you still want to move, connect with an expert agent to come up with a new strategy. Together, you can get your house sold.?

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Smaller Homes, Bigger Opportunities: The Homebuilder Trend Buyers Love

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on January 23, 2025. Posted in Buying Tips, For Buyers, Home Prices, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Mortgage Rates.

It’s no secret that affordability is tough with where mortgage rates and home prices are right now. And that may have you worried about how you’ll be able to buy a home. But, if you don’t need a ton of space, you may find you have more cost-effective options in an unexpected place: new home communities. Builders Are Building Smaller Homes Since smaller homes typically come with smaller price tags, buyers have turned their attention to homes with less square footage — and builders have shifted their focus to capitalize on that demand. As U.S. News notes: “The combination of higher home...

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If Your House’s Price Is Not Compelling, It’s Not Selling

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on January 22, 2025. Posted in For Sellers, Home Prices, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Selling Tips.

There’s one big mistake you need to avoid when you sell your house this year: setting your price too high. It might seem like overpricing gives you room to negotiate or could really boost your profit, but the reality is, it usually backfires. In fact, Realtor.com says almost 20% of sellers — that’s one in five — have to reduce their price to get their house sold. And you don’t want to be one of them. Here’s why starting too high can lead to trouble, and how to avoid it. Overpricing Pushes Buyers Away With mortgage rates and home prices where they are right now, buyers are already...

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Why More People Are Buying Multi-Generational Homes Today

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on January 21, 2025. Posted in Buying Tips, For Buyers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

Today, 17% of homebuyers are choosing multi-generational homes — that’s when you buy a house with your parents, adult children, or even distant relatives. What makes that noteworthy is that 17% is actually the highest level ever recorded by the National Association of Realtors (NAR). But what’s driving the recent rise in multi-generational living? Top Benefits of Choosing a Multi-Generational Home In the past, homebuyers often opted for multi-generational homes to make it easier to care for their parents. And while that’s still a key reason, it’s not the only one. Right now, there’s...

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When Is the Perfect Time To Move?

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on January 20, 2025. Posted in For Buyers, Home Prices, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Mortgage Rates.

It’s easy to get caught up in the idea of waiting for the perfect moment to make your move – especially in today’s market. Maybe you’re holding out and hoping mortgage rates will drop, or that home prices will fall. But here’s what you need to realize: trying to time the market rarely works. And here’s why. There is no perfect market. No matter when you buy, there’s always some benefit and some sort of trade-off – and that’s not a bad thing. That’s just the reality of it. If you’re not sure you buy into that, think back to the last 5 years in housing. Just a few years ago, mortgage rates...

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2025 Housing Market Forecasts

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on January 17, 2025. Posted in Home Prices, Infographics, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Mortgage Rates.

Some Highlights Wondering what to expect when you buy or sell a home this year? Here’s what the experts say lies ahead. Mortgage rates are projected to come down slightly. Home prices are forecast to rise in most areas. And, there will be more homes available for sale. Want to know more about what this could mean for your plans this year? Connect with a local agent to discuss your 2025 goals.

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One Homebuying Step You Don’t Want To Skip: Pre-Approval

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on January 16, 2025. Posted in For Buyers, Home Prices, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

There’s one essential step in the homebuying process you may not know a whole lot about and that’s pre-approval. Here’s a rundown of what it is and why it’s so important right now. What Is Pre-Approval? Pre-approval is like getting a green light from a lender. It lets you know how much they’re willing to let you borrow for a home. To determine that number, a lender looks at your financial history. According to Realtor.com, these are some of the documents a lender may ask you for during this process: W-2s from the last two years Tax returns from the last two years Pay stubs from the last...

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Roughly 11,000 Homes Will Sell Today – Will Yours Be One of Them?

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on January 15, 2025. Posted in For Sellers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

Are you hesitant to sell your house because you’re worried no one’s buying with rates and prices where they are right now? Here’s some perspective that can help. The market actually isn’t at a standstill. While there weren’t as many sales last year as there’d be in a normal market, roughly 4.15 million homes still sold (not including new construction), according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). And the expectation is that number will rise in 2025. That means more people will likely move this year, and they need homes to buy. Homes like yours. But even if we only match last...

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The Truth About Credit Scores and Buying a Home

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on January 14, 2025. Posted in Buying Tips, For Buyers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

Your credit score plays a big role in the homebuying process. It’s one of the key factors lenders look at to determine which loan options you qualify for and what your terms might be. But there’s a myth about credit scores that may be holding some buyers back. The Myth: You Need To Have Perfect Credit According to Fannie Mae, only 32% of potential homebuyers have a good idea of what credit score lenders actually require. That means two-thirds of buyers don’t actually know what lenders are looking for – and most overestimate the minimum credit score needed. The Reality: Perfect Isn’t...

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How Much Home Equity Have You Gained? The Answer Might Surprise You

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on January 13, 2025. Posted in Equity, Home Prices, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

Have you ever stopped to think about how much wealth you’ve built up just from being a homeowner? As home values rise, so does your net worth. And, if you’ve been in your house for a few years (or longer), there’s a good chance you’re sitting on a pile of equity — maybe even more than you realize. What Is Home Equity? Home equity is the difference between what your house is worth and what you owe on your mortgage. For example, if your house is worth $500,000 and you still owe $200,000 on your home loan, you have $300,000 in equity. It’s essentially the wealth you’ve built through...

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How Mortgage Rates Affect Your Monthly Payment

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on January 10, 2025. Posted in Infographics, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Mortgage Rates.

Some Highlights Experts say rates will come down slightly in the year ahead – but some volatility is expected. So, you shouldn’t try to time the market. Instead, it’s better to focus on how even a small change impacts your future mortgage payment. As rates come down, even a little bit, your monthly payment on your next home will too. Want to see what this looks like at a different price point? Connect with an agent or lender.

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What To Save for When Buying a Home

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on January 9, 2025. Posted in Agent Value, Buying Tips, For Buyers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

Knowing what to budget for when buying a home may feel intimidating — but it doesn’t have to be. By understanding the costs you may encounter upfront, you can take control of the process. Here are just a few things experts say you should be thinking about as you plan ahead. 1. Down Payment Saving for your down payment is likely top of mind. But how much do you really need? A common misconception is that you have to put down 20% of the purchase price. But that’s not necessarily the case. Unless it’s specified by your loan type or lender, you don’t have to. There are some home loan options...

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Mortgage Forbearance: A Helpful Option for Homeowners Facing Challenges

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on January 8, 2025. Posted in Agent Value, For Sellers, Foreclosures, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Selling Tips.

Let’s face it – life can throw some curveballs. Whether it’s a job loss, unexpected bills, or a natural disaster, financial struggles can happen to anyone. But here’s the good news. If you’re a homeowner feeling the squeeze, there’s a lifeline that many people don’t realize is still available: mortgage forbearance. What Is Mortgage Forbearance? As Bankrate explains: “Mortgage forbearance is an option that allows borrowers to pause or lower their mortgage payments while dealing with a short-term crisis, such as a job loss, illness or other financial setback . . . When you can’t afford to...

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Expert Forecasts for the 2025 Housing Market

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on January 7, 2025. Posted in For Buyers, For Sellers, Forecasts, Home Prices, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Mortgage Rates.

Wondering what’s in store for the housing market this year? And more specifically, what it all means for you if you plan to buy or sell a home? The best way to get that information is to lean on the pros. Experts are constantly updating and revising their forecasts, so here’s the latest on two of the biggest factors expected to shape the year ahead: mortgage rates and home prices. Will Mortgage Rates Come Down? Everyone’s keeping an eye on mortgage rates and waiting for them to come down. So, the question is really: how far and how fast? The good news is they’re projected to ease a bit in...

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Time in the Market Beats Timing the Market

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on January 6, 2025. Posted in Equity, For Buyers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

Trying to decide whether it makes more sense to buy a home now or wait? There’s a lot to consider, from what’s happening in the market to your changing needs. But generally speaking, aiming to time the market isn’t a good strategy – there are too many factors at play for that to even be possible. That’s why experts usually say time in the market is better than timing the market. In other words, if you want to buy a home and you’re able to make the numbers work, doing it sooner rather than later is usually worth it. Bankrate explains why: “No matter which way the real estate market is...

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Author: Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage