Remote Work Trends Mean Flexibility for First-Time Homebuyers

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on April 6, 2022. Posted in First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

Today’s low inventory can be challenging for homebuyers, especially if you’re looking to purchase your first home. But if you’re one of many people who work remotely, you may have a great opportunity to use the flexibility you have at work to achieve your homebuying goals this year. In a recent report, Arch Capital Services explains how the ongoing trend of remote work can open up more options for homebuyers: “. . . This will enable those who are able to work from home on a part-time or hybrid basis to move slightly farther away from job centers. . . . For workers who secure full-time remote...

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What You Need To Budget for When Buying a Home

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on April 5, 2022. Posted in Buying Myths, Down Payments, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Move-Up Buyers.

When it comes to buying a home, it can feel a bit intimidating to know how much you need to save and where to find that information. But you should know, you’re not expected to have all the answers yourself. There are many trusted professionals who can help you understand your finances and what you’ll need to budget for throughout the process. To get you started, here are a few things experts say you should plan for along the way. 1. Down Payment As you set your savings goal for your purchase, your down payment is likely already top of mind. And, like many other people, you may believe you...

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Balancing Your Wants and Needs as a Homebuyer Today

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on April 4, 2022. Posted in First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Move-Up Buyers.

Since the number of homes for sale is low today, it can feel challenging to find one that checks all your boxes. But if you know which features are absolutely essential in your next home and which ones are just nice bonuses, you can land a home that fits your needs. Danielle Hale, Chief Economist for realtor.com, explains it like this: “Focus on the goal you set out for yourself, like your list of must-haves and nice-to-haves and your budget, . . . Stick to that. Be persistent.” So how do you go about creating your list of desired features? The first step is to get pre-approved for your...

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There Are Several Great Reasons To Consider Buying a Condo Today

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on March 31, 2022. Posted in First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Pricing.

If you’re a first-time buyer looking to break into the housing market but struggling to find a home to buy, condominiums (or condos) could be a great alternative for you. Here are a few reasons condos may be something you’ll want to consider. Exploring Condos Could Add Options That Fit Your Budget Supply challenges are a reality across the board in today’s housing market. Broadening your home search to include condos could increase your overall pool of options. Just keep in mind, condos generally differ from single-family homes in average space and floorplans. In a recent article, Bankrate...

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What’s Happening with Mortgage Rates, and Where Will They Go from Here?

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on March 30, 2022. Posted in For Buyers, Housing Market Updates, Interest Rates, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Pricing.

Based on the Primary Mortgage Market Survey from Freddie Mac, the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has increased by 1.2% (3.22% to 4.42%) since January of this year. The rate jumped by more than a quarter of a point from just a week ago. Here’s a visual to show how mortgage rate movement throughout 2021 was steady compared to the rapid increase in mortgage rates this year: Just a few months ago, Freddie Mac projected mortgage rates would average 3.6% in 2022. Earlier this month, Fannie Mae forecast mortgage rates would average 3.8% in 2022. As the chart above shows, rates have already...

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A Key To Building Wealth Is Homeownership

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on March 28, 2022. Posted in First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Housing Market Updates, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Rent vs. Buy.

The link between financial security and homeownership is especially important today as inflation rises. But many people may not realize just how much owning a home contributes to your overall net worth. As Leslie Rouda Smith, President of the National Association of Realtors (NAR), says: “Homeownership is rewarding in so many ways and can serve as a vital component in achieving financial stability.” Here are just a few reasons why, if you’re looking to increase your financial stability, homeownership is a worthwhile goal. Owning a Home Is a Building Block for Financial Success A recent...

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How an Energy Efficient Home Can Be a Bright Idea [INFOGRAPHIC]

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on March 25, 2022. Posted in First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Infographics, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Move-Up Buyers.

Some Highlights With inflation driving up the cost of everyday items, seeking out an energy-efficient home can be a great way to decrease the expenses you can control. Energy efficiency can help lower your utility bills and possibly even save you money on your taxes. Options to look for include efficient appliances, windows, and solar panels. If you’re planning to buy a home this year, consider energy efficiency in your search. Let’s connect so you can better understand features that can save you money for years to come. Content previously posted on Keeping Current Matters

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What You Can Expect from the Spring Housing Market

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on March 24, 2022. Posted in For Buyers, For Sellers, Housing Market Updates, Interest Rates, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Pricing.

As the spring housing market kicks off, you likely want to know what you can expect this season when it comes to buying or selling a house. While there are multiple factors causing some uncertainty, including the conflict overseas, rising inflation, and the first rate increase from the Federal Reserve in over three years — the housing market seems to be relatively immune. Here’s a look at what experts say you can expect this spring. 1. Mortgage Rates Will Climb Freddie Mac reports the 30-year fixed mortgage rate has increased by more than a full point in the past six months. And despite some...

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What You Need To Know if You’re Thinking About Building a Home

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on March 23, 2022. Posted in For Buyers, Housing Market Updates, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Move-Up Buyers, New Construction.

If you’re ready to move up, you may be trying to decide whether you want to buy a home that’s already on the market or build a new one. And since the supply of homes available for sale today is low, you’re willing to consider either avenue. While home builders are doing everything they can to construct more houses and help narrow the supply shortage, they’re also facing delays due to factors outside of their control. Here’s the latest on some of the key challenges homebuilders are experiencing today and how they could impact your plans to move up. When you know what’s happening in the industry,...

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The Many Benefits of Homeownership

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on March 22, 2022. Posted in First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Rent vs. Buy.

The past two years have taught us the true value of homeownership, especially the stability and the feeling of accomplishment it can provide. But homeownership has so much more to offer. Here’s a look at a few of the non-financial and financial benefits of owning a home. If you’re looking to buy a home today, think about all the ways homeownership can impact your life. Homeownership Has Impactful Personal and Emotional Benefits Owning your home gives you a significant sense of pride because it’s a space that is truly yours. And as a homeowner, you can customize your home to your heart’s desire....

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Did Your Dream Home Just Come on the Market?

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on March 17, 2022. Posted in First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Housing Market Updates, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Move-Up Buyers.

For the first time in a long time, the number of newly listed homes is beginning to rise. In their latest monthly release, realtor.com reveals the number of existing homes entering the market has increased for two months in a row (this comes after six months of declines). Here’s a graph showing the monthly new listings going back to January of last year. The green bars indicate the first gains since June. However, buying demand is still outpacing housing supply. Though the increase in homes coming to the market is great news for prospective homebuyers, the number of buyers is still outpacing...

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Are You Wondering if This Is the Year To Buy a Home?

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on March 16, 2022. Posted in First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Rent vs. Buy.

Every year, many renters ask themselves the same question: Should I continue renting, or is it time to buy a home? If you’re a renter, chances are you’ve asked yourself that question at least once, and it’s likely because you’ve faced an increase in your monthly housing costs over time. After all, according to Census data, rents have risen consistently for decades. To make an informed and powerful decision, the first step is understanding what’s happening in today’s housing market so you can determine which option is the better long-term financial decision for you. Rents Are Going Up Again...

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Don’t Get Caught Off Guard by Closing Costs

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on March 15, 2022. Posted in First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Move-Up Buyers.

As a homebuyer, it’s important to plan and budget for the expenses you’ll encounter when you purchase a home. While most people understand the need to save for a down payment, a recent survey found 41% of homebuyers were surprised by their closing costs. Here’s some information to help you get started so you’re not caught off guard when it’s time to close on your home. What Are Closing Costs? One possible reason some people are surprised by closing costs may be because they don’t know what they are or what they cover. According to U.S. News and World Report: “Closing costs encompass a variety...

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Key Terms for Homebuyers [INFOGRAPHIC]

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on March 11, 2022. Posted in Buying Myths, Down Payments, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Infographics, Interest Rates, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Move-Up Buyers.

Some Highlights Knowing key housing terms and how they relate to today’s market is important. For example, when mortgage rates and home prices rise, it impacts how much home you can afford. Terms like appraisal (what lenders rely on to validate a home’s value) and the inspection contingency (which gives buyers essential information on a home’s condition) directly impact the transaction. Buying a home can be intimidating if you’re not familiar with the terms used throughout the process. Let’s connect so you have an expert guide and advice for any questions that may come up. Content previously...

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How To Navigate a Market Where Multiple Offers Is the New Normal

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on March 10, 2022. Posted in First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Housing Market Updates, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Move-Up Buyers.

If you’re thinking of buying a home today, you already know that the number of homes available for sale is low. But what does that really mean for you? As a buyer, low housing supply coupled with high buyer demand means you should be prepared to navigate a highly competitive market where homes sell fast and get multiple offers. Realtor.com has this to say: “Homes also flew off the market at record pace as buyers put offers in the moment properties came up for sale….” In a bidding war situation like this, doing everything you can to get ahead of the competition is a wise move. That’s because...

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Key Factors That Impact Affordability Today

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on March 9, 2022. Posted in Buying Myths, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Housing Market Updates, Interest Rates, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Move-Up Buyers, Pricing.

You can’t read an article about residential real estate without the author mentioning the affordability challenges that today’s buyers face. There’s no doubt homes are less affordable today than they were over the last two years, but that doesn’t mean homes are now unaffordable. There are three measures used to establish home affordability: home prices, mortgage rates, and wages. Let’s look closely at each of these components. 1. Home Prices The most recent Home Price Insights report by CoreLogic shows home values have increased by 19.1% from last January to this January. That was one reason...

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How Global Uncertainty Is Impacting Mortgage Rates

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on March 8, 2022. Posted in For Buyers, For Sellers, Housing Market Updates, Interest Rates, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home, you’ll want to keep a pulse on what’s happening with mortgage rates. Rates have been climbing in recent months, especially since January of this year. And just a few weeks ago, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate from Freddie Mac approached 4% for the first time since May of 2019. But that climb has dropped slightly over the past few weeks (see graph below): The recent decline in mortgage rates is primarily due to growing uncertainty around geopolitical tensions surrounding Russia and Ukraine. But experts say it’s to be expected. Here’s a look...

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Supply and Demand in Today’s Market [INFOGRAPHIC]

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on March 4, 2022. Posted in For Buyers, For Sellers, Housing Market Updates, Infographics, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

Some Highlights Today’s housing market is the direct result of low supply and high buyer demand. Here’s what that means for you and your plans to buy or sell. For buyers, expect competition, be ready to move fast, and be prepared to submit your strongest offer. For sellers, know your house will be the center of attention and that it’ll likely sell quickly and get multiple offers. If you’re ready to move, let’s connect to talk about our local area and how you can take advantage of today’s unprecedented housing market. Content previously posted on Keeping Current Matters

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Are Home Prices Continuing To Rise?

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on March 3, 2022. Posted in First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, For Sellers, Housing Market Updates, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Move-Up Buyers, Pricing.

Many analysts projected home price appreciation would slow dramatically in the fall of 2021 and then continue to soften throughout 2022. So far, that hasn’t happened. The major price indices are all revealing ongoing double-digit price appreciation. Here’s a look at their reports on year-over-year price appreciation for December: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA): 17.6% S&P Case-Shiller: 18.8% CoreLogic: 18.5% To show that they’re not seeing signs of softening, here’s a graph that gives the progression of all three indices for each month of 2021. As the graph above reveals, last...

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Down Payment Assistance Programs Can Help You Achieve Homeownership

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on March 2, 2022. Posted in Buying Myths, Down Payments, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Move-Up Buyers.

For many homebuyers, the thought of saving for a down payment can feel daunting, especially in today’s market. That’s why, when asked what they find most difficult in the homebuying process, some buyers say it’s one of the hardest steps on the path to homeownership. Data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows: “For first-time home buyers, 29 percent said saving for a downpayment [sic] was the most difficult step in the process.” If you’re finding that your down payment is your biggest hurdle, the good news is there are many down payment assistance programs available that can...

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An Expert Advisor Will Give You the Best Advice in Today’s Market

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on March 1, 2022. Posted in For Buyers, For Sellers, Housing Market Updates, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

Having an experienced guide coaching you through the process of buying or selling a home is important in a normal market – but today’s market is far from normal. As a result, an expert real estate advisor isn’t just good to have by your side, they’re essential. Today’s housing market is full of extremes. Experts project mortgage rates will continue to rise this year, and that’s driving significant demand for homes as buyers want to make their purchases before rates climb even higher. At the same time, an absence of sellers is leading to record-low housing inventory. This imbalance in supply...

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Millennials: Do You Need a Home with More Space?

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on February 28, 2022. Posted in Demographics, Down Payments, For Buyers, For Sellers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Millennials, Move-Up Buyers.

If you’re a millennial, homebuying might be top of mind for you. Your generation is the largest group of homebuyers in the market today and has been since 2014, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). And while other millennials are looking to buy for the first time, you may be one of the many who are now discovering you’ve outgrown your home. If that’s the case, you’re not alone. The past two years brought about significant changes for many people, and today, homeowners are reevaluating what they truly need in a home. As a recent report from the Wall Street Journal states: “They...

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Category: For Buyers