Category: For Buyers

Auto Added by WPeMatico

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...

#marathonflmortgage, #marathonflmortgagerates, #mortgagemarathonfl

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...

#marathonflmortgage, #marathonflmortgagerates, #mortgagemarathonfl

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...

#marathonflmortgage, #marathonflmortgagerates, #mortgagemarathonfl

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....

#marathonflmortgage, #marathonflmortgagerates, #mortgagemarathonfl

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...

#marathonflmortgage, #marathonflmortgagerates, #mortgagemarathonfl

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...

#marathonflmortgage, #marathonflmortgagerates, #mortgagemarathonfl

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...

#marathonflmortgage, #marathonflmortgagerates, #mortgagemarathonfl

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...

#marathonflmortgage, #marathonflmortgagerates, #mortgagemarathonfl

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...

#marathonflmortgage, #marathonflmortgagerates, #mortgagemarathonfl

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...

#marathonflmortgage, #marathonflmortgagerates, #mortgagemarathonfl

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...

#marathonflmortgage, #marathonflmortgagerates, #mortgagemarathonfl

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...

#marathonflmortgage, #marathonflmortgagerates, #mortgagemarathonfl

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....

#marathonflmortgage, #marathonflmortgagerates, #mortgagemarathonfl

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...

#marathonflmortgage, #marathonflmortgagerates, #mortgagemarathonfl

Home Price Growth Slowed Down. That May Be Changing.

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

After more than a year of headlines talking about how home prices are going to crash, the latest data shows that price growth may be starting to pick back up again. And depending on whether you’re buying or selling, that shift means something different for you. The Numbers May Be Starting To Turn For the past couple of years, home price growth has been moderating – cooling from around 7% in mid-2024, according to Redfin (see graph below). But look at the right side of that graph. The pace of that growth appears to have hit its low point and started to turn. While a couple months of data...

#marathonflmortgage, #marathonflmortgagerates, #mortgagemarathonfl

Buying a Home? Here’s What You Should Know About Home Insurance Costs.

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

If buying a home is on your radar, you’ve probably been keeping an eye on mortgage rates and home prices. But don’t forget about homeowners insurance. Homeowners insurance has always been part of owning a home. But over the past few years, it’s become a larger expense for many homeowners – something that’s especially frustrating when affordability already feels tight. The good news? While premiums are still rising, the latest data shows those increases are beginning to slow. Here’s what buyers should know. Home Insurance Costs Have Gone Up You’ve probably...

#marathonflmortgage, #marathonflmortgagerates, #mortgagemarathonfl

Think You Have To Put 20% Down? Most First-Time Homebuyers Don’t.

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on April 27, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

According to Google Trends, online searches for down payment information recently hit an all-time high. And that’s a clear sign more buyers are trying to figure out what they really need to save before making a move (see graph below): If you’re wondering the same thing, you can always turn to the internet for answers. But a lot of the time, it’s better to ask a local expert. Because here’s what a pro would tell you. The 20% Down Payment Myth The idea that you need 20% down to buy a home is one of the biggest misconceptions around the homebuying process. And the data debunks the myth. While...

#marathonflmortgage, #marathonflmortgagerates, #mortgagemarathonfl

3 Things That Are Not Going To Happen in Today’s Housing Market

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on April 23, 2026. Posted in For Buyers, Home Prices, Inventory, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Mortgage Rates.

There’s a lot of uncertainty right now and that’s leading to some dramatic headlines. And if you’re thinking about buying a home, that can make you feel a little less sure about your decision. A recent study by CNBC asked homebuyers what they’re most worried about, and three themes kept coming up again and again: Mortgage rates The number of homes for sale Home prices But a lot of what you may be hearing on those is based more on misconceptions. Not facts. So, let’s break it down and separate fact from fiction. Misconception #1: “I’ll Just Wait, Because Mortgage Rates Are Going To Fall...

#marathonflmortgage, #marathonflmortgagerates, #mortgagemarathonfl

More Options Are Popping Up This Spring

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on April 22, 2026. Posted in For Buyers, Inventory, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

Did you try to buy a home last year, but you ended up pressing pause? Maybe you couldn’t find a home that really fit your needs. Or maybe the ones you liked just weren’t affordable. According to a recent survey from NerdWallet, those were the top two reasons buyers gave up on their search in 2025. But this Spring, there’s one trend that could help fix both of those frustration points: more homes are hitting the market. The Number of Fresh Listings Is Almost 2x Higher Than a Few Months Ago Data from Realtor.com shows there are nearly 2x as many new listings hitting the market today as...

#marathonflmortgage, #marathonflmortgagerates, #mortgagemarathonfl

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,...

#marathonflmortgage, #marathonflmortgagerates, #mortgagemarathonfl

Getting a Tax Refund? Here’s How It Can Help You Buy a Home

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on April 15, 2026. Posted in Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

If you’re getting a tax refund this year, here’s something worth thinking about. That money could actually help you get closer to buying a home. It may not be something you’ve factored into your plan yet, but it can give your savings a nice boost right when you need it most. And whether your refund is a few thousand dollars or more, there are some smart ways to put that money to work as you get ready to buy. Your Refund May Be Even Bigger This Year Let’s start with the good news. People are getting even more money back in their refunds than they did last year. The visual below uses data...

#marathonflmortgage, #marathonflmortgagerates, #mortgagemarathonfl

Wondering If You Should Still Buy a Home Right Now? Here’s What To Keep in Mind.

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on April 13, 2026. Posted in Affordability, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Mortgage Rates.

With economic headlines, global events, and near constant talk about affordability, you may be wondering if this is the right time to move. But here’s what you need to remember. While recent events do have some impact on the housing market, they don’t take buying off the table. You just have to use a different strategy. Mortgage Rates Have Been Up Slightly – Here’s Why After trending down for most of 2025, mortgage rates have been higher again for over roughly a month now. And experts say it’s a result of what’s happening overseas and in the broader economy. As Mark Fleming,...

#marathonflmortgage, #marathonflmortgagerates, #mortgagemarathonfl