Author: Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage

From Frenzy to Breathing Room: Buyers Finally Have Time Again

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on August 21, 2025. Posted in Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

If you tried to buy a home a few years ago, you probably still remember the frenzy. Homes were listed one day and gone the next. Sometimes it only took hours. You had to drop everything to go and see the house, and if you hesitated even slightly, someone else swooped in and bought it – sometimes even sight unseen. That kind of intensity pushed a lot of buyers to the sidelines. It was stressful, chaotic, and for many, really discouraging. But here’s what you need to know: those days are behind us. Today’s market is moving slower, in the best possible way. And that’s creating more...

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Condos Could Be a Win for Today’s Buyers

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on August 20, 2025. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, Downsize, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Home Prices, Inventory, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

Not every homebuyer wants the biggest house on the block. Some want something simpler, more affordable, and easier to maintain, especially in a market where every dollar counts. That’s where condos come in. For first-time buyers, they can be a smart way to get into homeownership without stretching your budget. For downsizers, they offer less space to maintain with the flexibility to stay in a great location. And right now, condos are one of the most buyer-friendly parts of the market. Condo Inventory Is Up, And That Means More Choice According to the National Association of Realtors...

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More Contracts Are Falling Through. Here’s How To Get Ahead.

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on August 18, 2025. Posted in For Sellers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Selling Tips.

When you sell a house, the last thing you want is for the deal to fall apart right before closing. But according to the latest data from Redfin, that’s happening a bit more often lately. The good news is, it’s completely avoidable if you lean on an agent for insight into why that is and how to avoid it happening to you. This June, 15% of pending home sales fell through. That means those buyers backed out of their contracts. That’s not too much higher than the norm of roughly 12% from 2017-2019, but it’s still an increase. And it’s one you don’t want to have to deal with. The key to...

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Is It Better To Buy Now or Wait for Lower Mortgage Rates? Here’s the Tradeoff

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on August 14, 2025. Posted in For Buyers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Mortgage Rates.

Mortgage rates are still a hot topic – and for good reason. After the most recent jobs report came out weaker than expected, the bond market reacted almost instantly. And, as a result, in early August mortgage rates dropped to their lowest point so far this year (6.55%). While that may not sound like a big deal, pretty much every buyer has been waiting for rates to fall. And even a seemingly small drop like this reignites the hope we’re finally going to see rates trending down. But what’s realistic to expect? According to the latest forecasts, rates aren’t expected to fall dramatically...

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Are These Myths About Buying a Newly Built Home Holding You Back?

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on August 13, 2025. Posted in Affordability, Agent Value, For Buyers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, New Construction.

If you’ve been skipping over newly built homes in your search, you might be doing so based on outdated assumptions. Let’s clear up a few of the most common myths, so you don’t miss out on a solid opportunity. Myth 1: New Homes Are More Expensive It’s easy to assume a new build will cost more than an existing home, but that’s not necessarily true, especially right now. Data from Census and the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows the median price of a newly built home today is actually lower than a home that’s been lived in already (an existing home): So, why’s this happening? As...

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What You Need To Know About Concessions

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on August 12, 2025. Posted in For Sellers, Infographics, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Selling Tips.

Now that there are more homes for sale, buyers have more options. And sellers need to be more flexible to close the deal.

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Online Home-Buying Search Terms Recently Hit 2-Year High

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on August 11, 2025. Posted in For Sellers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

Believe it or not, there are clear signs buyer interest is heating up again. Let’s talk about what’s really going on behind the scenes, and why the housing market might not be as quiet out there as it seems. Buyers Are Looking, and Search Trends Prove It One of the clearest ways to measure what people are thinking about is to look at what they’re searching for online. And according to Google Trends, searches for phrases like “home for sale” have been climbing steadily this year. The graph below shows an index of two common homebuyer search phrases and how popular they were on Google over...

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Why Selling Without an Agent Can Cost You More Than You Think

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on August 7, 2025. Posted in Agent Value, For Sale by Owner, For Sellers, Inventory, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Selling Tips.

Cutting out the agent might seem like a smart way to save when you sell your house. But here’s the hard truth. Last year, homes that sold with an agent went for almost 15% more than those that sold without one. That gap is pretty hard to ignore. And with more homes on the market to compete with right now, selling on your own is a mistake that’s going to cost you. This Isn’t the Market for DIY Selling A few years ago, you might’ve gotten away with a “For Sale By Owner” (FSBO) sign in your yard, navigating the process on your own. That’s because homes were flying off the market and buyers...

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A Second Home Might Be the Missing Piece in Your Retirement Plan

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

Are you wondering if you’re on track to retire someday? According to Intuit, 69% of people say today’s financial environment makes it tough to plan for the future, and 68% aren’t sure they’ll ever be able to retire. That’s why many people are exploring new ways to build stability and long-term income. And that’s where real estate comes in. Why Real Estate? Here’s What It Can Do for You If you’re able to make the numbers work, buying a second home can be a powerful tool for your future retirement. It could help you: Build wealth over time: As home prices rise through the years, your second...

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3 Advantages of Buying a Newly Built Home Today

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on August 5, 2025. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, For Buyers, Infographics, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Mortgage Rates, New Construction.

Some Highlights Prices, rates, and finding the right home are three of the biggest challenges for buyers today. You may find better luck with all 3 if you look at newly built homes. There are more available. Builders are more flexible on prices right now. And people who buy new homes tend to get lower rates in this market thanks to the incentives builders can offer. Connect with an agent if you want to see the new builds available in and around your area.

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The Truth About Down Payments (It’s Not What You Think)

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on August 4, 2025. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Rent vs. Buy.

Buying a home is exciting… until you start thinking about the down payment. That’s when the worry can set in. “I’ll never save enough.” “I need a small fortune just to get started.” “I guess I’ll just rent forever.” Sound familiar? You’re not alone. And you’re definitely not out of luck. Here’s the thing: a lot of what you’ve heard about down payments just isn’t true. And once you know the facts, you might realize you’re a lot closer to owning a home than you think. Let’s break it all down and bust some big down payment myths while we’re at it. Myth 1: “I need to come up with a big down...

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The 3 Things You Risk by Pricing Too High

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on July 31, 2025. Posted in Agent Value, For Sellers, Home Prices, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Selling Tips.

When selling your house, the price you choose isn’t just a number, it’s a strategy. And in today’s market, that strategy needs to be sharp. The number of homes for sale is climbing. And that means buyers have more choices and can be more selective. If your price doesn’t line up with what else is out there, they’ll scroll right past it and go on to the next one. Pricing right from the start is your best move – and a great agent can help make sure you do. Overpricing Comes at a Cost And more sellers are finding that out the hard way. They list their house based on how things were a...

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What Credit Score Do You Really Need To Buy a Home?

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on July 30, 2025. Posted in Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

According to Fannie Mae, 90% of buyers don’t actually know what credit score lenders are looking for, or they overestimate the minimum needed. Let that sink in. That means most homebuyers think they need better credit than they actually do – and maybe you’re one of them. And that could make you think buying a home is out of reach for you right now, even if that’s not necessarily true. So, let’s look at what the data really says about credit scores and homebuying. There’s No One Magic Number There’s no universal credit score you absolutely have to have when buying a home. And that means...

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Home Price Forecasts for the Second Half of 2025

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on July 29, 2025. Posted in For Buyers, For Sellers, Forecasts, Home Prices, Infographics, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

Some Highlights With all the headlines circulating recently, you may be wondering what’s next for home prices? Here’s what the expert forecasts say. Home prices are still forecast to rise nationally this year, just at a much slower pace. But price trends are going to vary by area. To have a quick conversation about what’s happening in your local market, connect with a real estate agent.

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Today’s Tale of Two Housing Markets

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on July 28, 2025. Posted in Agent Value, For Buyers, For Sellers, Home Prices, Inventory, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

Depending on where you live, the housing market could feel red-hot or strangely quiet right now. The truth is, local markets are starting to move in different directions. In some places, buyers are calling the shots. In others, sellers still hold the power. It’s a tale of two markets. What’s a Buyer’s Market vs. a Seller’s Market? In a buyer’s market, there are more homes for sale and not as many buyers. That means homes sit longer, buyers have more negotiating power, and prices tend to soften as a result. It’s simple supply and demand. On the flip side, a seller’s market happens when...

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Housing Market Forecasts for the Rest of 2025

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on July 24, 2025. Posted in For Buyers, For Sellers, Forecasts, Home Prices, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Mortgage Rates.

If you’ve been watching the market, you’ve likely noticed a few changes already this year. But what’s next? From home prices to mortgage rates, here’s what the latest expert forecasts suggest for the rest of 2025 – and what these shifts could mean for you. Will Home Prices Fall? Many buyers are hoping home prices will come down soon. And recent headlines about prices dipping in some areas are making some people believe it’s just a matter of time before there’s a bigger drop. But here are the facts. While home price growth is slowing down, that doesn’t mean we’re headed for a crash....

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The U.S. Foreclosure Map You Need To See

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on July 23, 2025. Posted in For Buyers, For Sellers, Foreclosures, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

Foreclosure headlines are making noise again – and they’re designed to stir up fear to get you to read them. But what the data shows is actually happening in the market tells a very different story than what you might be led to believe. So, before you jump to conclusions, it’s important to look at the full picture. Yes, foreclosure starts are up 7% in the first six months of the year. But zooming out shows that’s nowhere near crisis levels. Here’s why. Filings Are Still Far Below Crash Levels Even with the recent uptick, overall foreclosure filings are still very low. In the first half of...

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The Latest Mortgage Rate Forecasts

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on July 22, 2025. Posted in For Buyers, For Sellers, Forecasts, Infographics, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Mortgage Rates.

Some Highlights If you’re tempted to delay your move in hope that mortgage rates will come down, you may want to rethink that strategy based on the latest forecast. Experts say mortgage rates are projected to stay in the 6s this year. So don’t expect a big drop. If you want to talk about what this means for your move, connect with a real estate agent. As forecasts change, having an expert who can keep you updated is essential.

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Don’t Make These Mistakes When Selling Your House

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on July 21, 2025. Posted in Agent Value, For Sellers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Selling Tips.

Are you thinking about selling your house? Some common mistakes today can make the process more stressful or even cost you money. Fortunately, they’re easy to avoid, as long as you know what to watch for. Let’s break down the biggest seller slip-ups, and how an agent helps you steer clear of them. 1. Overpricing Your House It’s completely natural to want top dollar for your house, especially if you’ve put a lot of work into it. But in today’s shifting market, pricing it too high can backfire. Investopedia explains: “Setting a list price too high could mean your home struggles to attract...

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Why a Newly Built Home Might Be the Move Right Now

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on July 17, 2025. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Home Prices, Inventory, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Mortgage Rates, Move-Up, New Construction, Rent vs. Buy.

Are you looking for better home prices, or even a lower mortgage rate? You might find both in one place: a newly built home. While many buyers are overlooking new construction, it could be your best opportunity in today’s market. Here’s why. There are more brand-new homes available right now than there were even just a few months ago. According to the most recent data from the Census and the National Association of Realtors (NAR), roughly 1 in 5 homes for sale right now is new construction. So, if you’re not looking at newly built homes, you’re missing out on a big portion of what’s...

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Mortgage Rates Are Stabilizing – How That Helps Today’s Buyers

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on July 16, 2025. Posted in First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, For Sellers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Mortgage Rates.

Over the past few years, affordability has been the biggest challenge for homebuyers. Between rapidly rising home prices and higher mortgage rates, many have felt stuck between a rock and a hard place. But, something pretty encouraging is happening. While affordability is still tight, mortgage rates have shown signs of stabilizing in recent months. And that may finally make it a bit easier to plan your move. Mortgage Rates Have Stabilized – For Now Over the past year, mortgage rates have had their share of ups and downs, making it tough for buyers to know what to expect. But recently,...

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The 5-Year Rule for Home Prices

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on July 15, 2025. Posted in For Buyers, For Sellers, Home Prices, Infographics, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

Some Highlights If recent home price headlines have you feeling worried, here’s some perspective.?? Home values almost always go up in the long run. ?And the long-term gains offset any short-term dips. Basically, if you plan to live there for 5 or more years, you should be able to buffer yourself against any short-term declines. Connect with an agent to have a conversation about what’s happening with prices in your market.

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