Stay or Sell? How To Make the Right Call as You Age

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on April 29, 2026. Posted in Agent Value, Downsize, For Sellers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Selling Tips, Senior Market.

At some point, as you start thinking about the years ahead, this question tends to come up: “Could I stay here long-term… or would it make more sense to move?” It’s not always urgent. It often shows up in small moments, like going up and down the stairs, keeping up with the maintenance, or just thinking about what the next chapter of your life might look like in this home. And for most people, the answer is simple. They want to stay. The USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology found about 90% of adults over 65 prefer to stay in their homes as they get older (see below): But even if staying...

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The Hidden Advantage Repeat Buyers Have Right Now

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on March 2, 2026. Posted in Downsize, Equity, For Sellers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Senior Market.

What if you didn’t have a mortgage payment on your next house? It may sound a little unrealistic. But for a number of homeowners, it’s actually doable. Nearly 3 in 10 homes purchased today are bought in cash, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). That’s far more than the pre-pandemic norm (see graph below): So, how are so many buyers pulling that off? The answer is simple: home equity. Back in 2020-2021, mortgage rates and the number of homes for sale were both at all-time lows. And that combination pushed home prices up, fast. If you owned a home during that time, it...

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Why So Many Homeowners Are Downsizing Right Now

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on January 29, 2026. Posted in Downsize, Equity, For Sellers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Senior Market.

For a growing number of homeowners, retirement isn’t some distant idea anymore. It’s starting to feel very real. According to Realtor.com and the Census, nearly 12,000 people will turn 65 every day for the next two years. And the latest data shows as many as 15% of those older Americans are planning to retire in 2026. And another 23% will do the same in 2027. If you’re considering retiring soon too, here’s what you should be thinking about. Why Downsize? Now’s the perfect time to reflect on what you want your life to look like in retirement. Because even though your finances will be...

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Why So Many People Are Thankful They Bought a Home This Year

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on November 27, 2025. Posted in Downsize, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Move-Up.

Homebuyers are weighing their options right now, and they certainly have a lot on their minds. With everything going on in the job market, the economy, and more – there’s a lot to think about these days. And maybe that’s making you wonder if it really makes sense to buy a home right now. But here’s what many recent buyers would tell you: even with all that, making a move is worth it. And this is why they’re thankful they went ahead and took the plunge already. Life doesn’t wait for better market conditions. So, your decision shouldn’t be about trying to time the market...

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Why You Don’t Need To Be Afraid of Today’s Mortgage Rates

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on October 29, 2025. Posted in Buying Tips, Downsize, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, For Sellers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Mortgage Rates, Move-Up.

Mortgage rates have been the monster under the bed for a while. Every time they tick up, people flinch and say, “Maybe I’ll wait.” But here’s the twist. Waiting for that perfect 5-point-something rate could end up haunting your wallet later. The Magic Number According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR): “. . . a 30-year fixed rate mortgage of 6% would make the median-priced home affordable for about 5.5 million more households—including 1.6 million renters. If rates were to hit that magic number, it’s likely that about 10%—or 550,000—of those additional households would buy a...

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Downsizing Without Debt: How More Homeowners Are Buying Their Next House in Cash

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on September 25, 2025. Posted in Downsize, Equity, For Sellers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Selling Tips.

If you’ve been thinking about downsizing to lower your expenses, be closer to family, or just make life easier, here’s a trend worth paying attention to: More homeowners are buying their next house outright, without taking on a new mortgage. And, if you’ve owned your home for a while, you may be able to do the same. No mortgage. No monthly housing payments. A Record Share of Homeowners Are Mortgage-Free According to analysis from ResiClub of Census data, more than 40% of U.S. owner-occupied homes are mortgage-free – an all-time high for this data series. That means 4 in 10 homeowners...

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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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You May Have Enough Equity To Downsize and Buy Your Next House in Cash

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on June 13, 2025. Posted in Downsize, Equity, For Sellers, Infographics, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Senior Market.

Some Highlights Have you been holding off on downsizing? If so, you should know your equity could make your move possible. Homeowners today have so much equity that a record number are buying their next house in all cash. And that has some big benefits like making their offer more appealing, potentially closing faster, and not having a mortgage payment. To find out how much equity you have in your current house, connect with a local agent. Because it may be enough to fuel your move.

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Does Your Current Home Fit Your Retirement Plans?

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on April 9, 2025. Posted in Downsize, Economy, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

Retirement isn’t just a milestone. It’s the beginning of something really special. After years of hard work, it’s finally time to slow down, explore new passions, and live life on your own terms. But with this exciting chapter comes some big choices. And one of the biggest is this: does your current home still make sense for the lifestyle (and budget) you want in this next phase of life? That’s an especially important question right now. Just in the past five years, the cost of living has jumped by 23% according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). That’s based on the Consumer...

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Why Moving to a Smaller Home After Retirement Makes Life Easier

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on July 11, 2024. Posted in Downsize, Equity, For Sellers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Selling Tips.

Retirement is a time for relaxation, adventure, and enjoying the things you love. As you imagine this exciting new chapter in your life, it’s important to think about whether your current home still fits your needs. If it’s too big, too costly, or just not convenient anymore, downsizing might help you make the most of your retirement years. To find out if a smaller, more manageable home might be the perfect fit for your new lifestyle, ask yourself these questions: Do the original reasons I bought my current house still stand, or have my needs changed since then? Do I really...

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Category: Downsize