Rent or Buy? The Real Tradeoff Most People Don’t Talk About

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on April 16, 2026. Posted in Equity, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Rent vs. Buy.

You’ve probably asked yourself lately: Is it even worth trying to buy a home right now? It’s a question a lot of people are asking. With today’s home prices and mortgage rates, renting can feel like the easier path. In some cases, it might even seem like the only realistic option right now. And if that’s where you are, there’s nothing wrong with that. But if you’re weighing the decision, there’s one part of the conversation that doesn’t get talked about enough. It’s what each choice does for your future. What Renting Really Gets You (And What It Doesn’t) Depending on your situation,...

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The Remodel You’ve Been Dreaming About May Be Closer Than You Think

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on March 23, 2026. Posted in Equity, For Sellers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

That kitchen you’ve been mentally redesigning… The bathroom that really needs a refresh… Or the outdoor space you keep saying you’ll get to someday… What if you already have what you need to finally make it happen? Because a growing number of homeowners are realizing just that. Homeowners are expected to spend over $522 billion on home improvements by the end of 2026 – and they’re not draining their savings accounts to get it done. Many are using their home equity. And if you’ve owned your home for 10+ years, there’s a chance you could use your equity to fund some home...

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Are Home Prices Dropping? Here’s the Real Story.

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on March 4, 2026. Posted in Equity, For Sellers, Home Prices, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

You’ve probably seen posts on social media talking about how “home prices are falling.” And when you see something like that, it’s normal to wonder: Is this the start of a crash? What does this mean for my house? Let’s clear this up right away. This is not a crash. And your home is not suddenly losing a lot of value. The National Story – Prices Are Still Going Up Here’s what often gets left out of what you’re seeing online. While some markets are experiencing slight declines, they’re the minority. Most places are still seeing prices rise or at the very least, hold steady. That’s why, at...

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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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How Your Equity Could Help Younger Generations Buy a Home

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on February 23, 2026. Posted in Equity, For Sellers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Senior Market.

For a lot of parents or grandparents, watching a family member struggle to buy their first home right now is hard. That’s because you saw firsthand how homeownership gave your life more stability and helped grow your net worth – and you want your loved ones to have those same opportunities. But with all the affordability challenges in recent years, that can feel like an uphill battle – even though it’s slowly improving lately. Here’s what you may not realize. You may be in a unique position to help (thanks to the equity in your current house). The Equity Advantage You May Not Be...

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Four Ways Your Home Equity Can Work for You

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on February 12, 2026. Posted in Equity, For Sellers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

You may have heard homeowners today have a lot of equity built up. But what does that really mean? Let’s break it down. Because your equity isn’t just a number, it’s a powerful asset that can help you take your next big step in life. How Much Equity Does the Typical Homeowner Have? Here’s how it works. As you pay down your loan and home prices rise through the years, the share of your home that you own free and clear grows. That’s your equity. And according to data from the Census and ATTOM, two-thirds of homeowners have a substantial amount of it today. 39% own their home outright without...

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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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Headlines Have You Worried about Your Home’s Value? Read This.

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on December 22, 2025. Posted in Equity, For Sellers, Home Prices, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

Hearing talk about home prices falling? That may leave you worried about whether your house is losing value. But here’s what you need to know. While some local markets have seen small price dips this year, home prices are not falling nationally. So, don’t let the headlines scare you. The vast majority of the country is actually seeing prices rise. While that may feel surprising after the headlines you’ve seen, the map below uses year-over-year data from the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to make that clear: Let’s break down what this really shows. Most states are seeing prices rise...

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Your Equity Could Change Everything About Your Next Move

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on December 11, 2025. Posted in Equity, For Sellers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Move-Up.

A lot of people are asking the same thing right now: “Is it even a good time to sell?” And the truth may come as a bit of a surprise… For many homeowners, the answer is a strong yes. Why? Because of one major factor working in your favor: your equity. Odds are, if you’ve lived in your home for a while, you know you have significant equity. But how much are we really talking about? The number might just change everything about your next move. The Hidden Wealth of Homeownership Here’s how it works. When you own a home, you build up something called equity. Each time you make a mortgage...

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Why Your Home Equity Still Puts You Way Ahead

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on November 5, 2025. Posted in Equity, For Sellers, Home Prices, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

If you’ve seen headlines about home prices dropping, it’s easy to wonder what that means for the value of your home too. Here’s what you really need to know. Even with small price declines in some markets, data shows you’re likely still way ahead. And that’s thanks to your home equity. The Relationship Between Home Prices and Equity Home equity moves in sync with home prices. When prices rise, equity builds. When prices cool (even just slightly), equity growth does too. Here’s how that’s played out lately. After the record-setting home price surge of 2020 and 2021, a little cooling...

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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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Do You Know How Much Your House Is Really Worth?

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

Want to know something important you probably don’t have a professional check for you nearly as often as you should? Spoiler alert: it’s the value of your home. Because here’s the reality. Your house is likely the biggest financial asset you have. And if you’ve lived in it for a few years or more, chances are it’s been quietly building wealth for you in the background – even if you haven’t been keeping tabs on it. You might be surprised by just how much it’s grown, even as the market has shifted over the past few months. What Is Home Equity? That hidden wealth in your home is called...

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Selling and Buying at the Same Time? Here’s What You Need To Know

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on July 9, 2025. Posted in Equity, For Buyers, For Sellers, Inventory, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

If you’re a homeowner planning to move, you’re probably wondering what the process is going to look like and what you should tackle first: Is it better to start by finding your next home? Or should you sell your current house before you go out looking? Ultimately, what’s right for you depends on a lot of factors. And that’s where an agent’s experience can really help make your next step clear. They know your local market, the latest trends, and what’s working for other homeowners right now. And they’ll be able to make a recommendation based on their expertise and your...

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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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You Could Use Some of Your Equity To Give Your Children the Gift of Home

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on May 19, 2025. Posted in Equity, For Sellers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

If you’re a homeowner, chances are you’ve built up a lot of wealth – just by living in your house and watching its value grow over time. And that equity? It’s something that could help change your child’s life. Since affordability is still a challenge, a lot of first-time buyers are struggling to buy a home in today’s market. Even if they have a stable job and a solid plan, buying can still feel out of reach. But that’s where your equity could make all the difference. To give you an idea, the average homeowner with a mortgage has $311,000 worth of equity, according to Cotality (formerly...

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Home Projects That Boost Value

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

Whether you’re planning to move soon or not, it’s smart to be strategic about which home projects you take on. Your time, energy, and money matter – and not all upgrades offer the payoff you might expect. As U.S. News Real Estate explains: “. . . not every home renovation project will increase the resale value of a home. Before you invest in a swimming pool or new addition, you should consider whether the project will pay itself off by getting prospective buyers in the door when it’s time to sell.“ That’s why, before you pick up a power tool or call a contractor, your first...

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Your Home Equity Could Make Moving Possible

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on May 2, 2025. Posted in Equity, For Sellers, Infographics, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Selling Tips.

Some Highlights Thanks to recent home price appreciation, homeowners have near record amounts of equity – and you may too. On average, homeowners have $311K worth of equity. Once you sell, you can use it to fund your down payment on your next home or maybe even to buy a smaller house in cash. If you want to find out how much equity you have, connect with an agent. Because it may make a move a lot more feasible than you’d think.?

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Should I Buy a Home Now or Wait?

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on April 24, 2025. Posted in Buying Tips, Equity, For Buyers, Home Prices, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

At some point, you’ve probably heard the saying: “Yesterday was the best time to buy a home, but the next best time is today.” That’s because homeownership is about the long game – and home prices typically rise over time. So, while you may be holding out for prices to fall or rates to improve, you should know that trying to time the market rarely works. Here’s what most buyers don’t always think about: the longer you wait, the more buying could cost you. And you deserve to understand why. Forecasts Say Prices Will Keep Climbing Each quarter, over 100 housing market experts weigh in for...

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Do You Know What Your House Is Really Worth?

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on March 7, 2025. Posted in Equity, For Sellers, Home Prices, Infographics, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

Some Highlights Over the past 5 years, home prices have risen dramatically. If you own a home, that means your house may be worth a lot more than you think. ? Nationally, prices are up nearly 60% since 2019. ?And, if selling has been on your mind, you can use that bigger-than-expected return to power your next move. If you want to know how much your home is worth in today’s market, reach out to a local agent.? The number may surprise you.

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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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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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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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Category: Equity