Category: For Buyers

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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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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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The Truth About Where Home Prices Are Heading

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on July 10, 2025. Posted in For Buyers, For Sellers, Forecasts, Home Prices, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

There are plenty of headlines these days calling for a housing market crash. But the truth is, they’re not telling the full story. Here’s what’s actually happening, and what the experts project for home prices over the next 5 years. And spoiler alert – it’s not a crash. Yes, in some local markets, prices are flattening or even dipping slightly this year as more homes hit the market. That’s normal with rising inventory. But the bigger picture is what really matters, and it’s far less dramatic than what the doom-and-gloom headlines suggest. Here’s why. Over 100 leading housing market experts...

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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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Should You Buy a Vacation Home?

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on July 8, 2025. Posted in For Buyers, Infographics, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

Some Highlights Now that summer’s here, you may be planning your next getaway. But what if you didn’t have to? ? Buying a vacation home means having a built-in escape you can use year after year. It gives you the chance to generate rental income and have a go-to retirement destination in the future. If you’re dreaming of owning your own slice of paradise, connect with an agent to see if you can make it happen this summer.?

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What You Should Know About Getting a Mortgage Today

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on July 7, 2025. Posted in First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

If you’ve been putting off buying a home because you thought getting approved would be too hard, know this: qualifying for a mortgage is starting to get a bit more achievable, but lending standards are still strong. Lenders are making it slightly easier for well-qualified buyers to access financing, which is opening more doors for people ready to make a move. So, if strict requirements were holding you back, this shift could be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for, without repeating the risky lending practices that led to the housing crash back in 2008. Lenders Are Opening More Doors...

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Why Big Investors Aren’t a Challenge for Today’s Homebuyer

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on July 2, 2025. Posted in First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

Remember the chatter in the headlines about all the homes big institutional investors were buying? If you were thinking about buying a home yourself, you may have wondered how you’d ever be able to compete with that. Here’s the thing. That’s not the challenge so many people think it is – especially right now. Let’s break down what’s really going on and why the recent shift in the approach investors are taking could tip the scales in your favor. Large Investors Are Pulling Back The truth is institutional investors never represented as big a share of the housing market as people think. And...

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Multi-Generational Homebuying Hit a Record High – Here’s Why

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

Multi-generational living is on the rise. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 17% of homebuyers purchase a home to share with parents, adult children, or extended family. That’s the highest share ever recorded by NAR (see graph below): And what’s behind the increase? Affordability. NAR explains: “In 2024, a notable 36% of homebuyers cited “cost savings” as the primary reason for purchasing a multigenerational home—a significant increase from just 15% in 2015.” In the past, caregiving was the leading motivator – especially for those looking to support aging parents. And...

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Think It’s Better To Wait for a Recession Before You Move? Think Again.

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on June 25, 2025. Posted in Economy, For Buyers, For Sellers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

Fear of a recession is back in the headlines. And if you’re thinking about buying or selling sometime soon, that may leave you wondering if you should reconsider the timing of your move. A recent survey by John Burns Research and Consulting (JBREC) and Keeping Current Matters (KCM) shows 68% of people are delaying plans to buy or sell due to economic uncertainty. But it may not be for the reason you think. Not everyone is holding off because they’re worried. Some buyers are waiting because they’re hopeful. According to Realtor.com: “In 2025Q1, 3 in 10 (29.8% of) surveyed homebuyers said a...

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Why Homeownership Is Going To Be Worth It

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on June 23, 2025. Posted in First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Rent vs. Buy.

Life can feel a bit unpredictable these days. What’s happening with inflation? The economy? The housing market? But in the middle of all that uncertainty, there’s one thing a lot of people still crave – a place to call their own. Because when everything else feels up in the air, home can be the thing that grounds you. As the experts at 1000WATT put it: “Homeownership isn’t primarily financial anymore. . . Across all demographics, emotional and lifestyle factors consistently outrank wealth-building as motivators.” Here’s what owning a home can mean for you, especially right now. Freedom To...

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3 Reasons To Buy a Home This Summer

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on June 19, 2025. Posted in Buying Tips, For Buyers, Home Prices, Inventory, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

Are you thinking about buying a home, but not sure if now’s the right time? A lot of people are waiting and wondering what the market’s going to do next. But here’s something only the savviest buyers realize: This summer might actually be the best time to buy in years. Here are three big reasons why. 1. You Have More Negotiating Power After several years of sellers having all the leverage, things are starting to shift. Check out the graph below. It uses data from Redfin to show that right now, there are more sellers active in the market than buyers: Take a look at what happened back in...

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Is Inventory Getting Back To Normal?

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

After years of it feeling almost impossible to find a home you want to buy, things are changing for the better. Nationally, inventory is growing, and that gives you more options for your move. But here’s what you need to know. That level of growth is going to vary based on where you live. And that’s why you need an agent’s local market expertise. Here’s a quick rundown of the current inventory situation, so you know what’s happening and what to expect. Significant Growth Across the Nation Nationally, the number of homes for sale is rising – and that’s true in all regions of the country....

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The Five-Year Rule for Home Price Perspective

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on June 10, 2025. Posted in First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Home Prices, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

Headlines are saying home prices are starting to dip in some markets. And if you’re beginning to second guess your plans based on what you’re hearing in the media, here’s what you need to know. It’s true that a few metros are seeing slight price drops. But don’t let that overshadow this simple truth. Home values almost always go up over time (see graph below): While everyone remembers what happened around the housing crash of 2008, that was the exception – not the rule. It hadn’t happened before, and hasn’t since. There were many market dynamics that were drastically different...

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Buying Your First Home? FHA Loans Can Help

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on June 9, 2025. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Mortgage Rates.

If you’re a first-time homebuyer, you might feel like the odds are stacked against you in today’s market. But there are resources and programs out there that can help – if you know where to look. And one thing that can make homeownership easier to achieve? An FHA home loan. They’re designed to help you overcome some of the biggest financial hurdles in the homebuying process – and that’s why so many first-timers are using them to make their purchase. Whether you’re dreaming of ditching rent, planting roots, or just wanting a place that’s truly yours, an FHA home loan could be the path that...

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Understanding Today’s Mortgage Rates: Is 3% Coming Back?

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on June 4, 2025. Posted in Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Mortgage Rates.

A lot of buyers are pressing pause on their plans these days, holding out hope that mortgage rates will come down – maybe even back to the historic-low 3% from a few years ago. But here’s the thing: those rates were never meant to last. They were a short-term response to a very specific moment in time. And as the market finds its footing again, it’s time to reset expectations. Back in 2020 and 2021, 3% mortgage rates gave buyers a serious boost: more affordability, more buying power, and more opportunity. But those rates were a result of emergency economic policies during the height of a...

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