What’s the Latest with Mortgage Rates?

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on March 26, 2024. Posted in Interest Rates, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

Recent headlines may leave you wondering what’s next for mortgage rates. Maybe you’d previously heard there were going to be cuts this year that would bring rates down. That refers to the Federal Reserve (the Fed) and what they do to their Fed Funds Rate. While cutting, or lowering, the Fed Funds Rate doesn’t directly determine mortgage rates, it does tend to impact them. But when the Fed met last week, a cut didn’t happen — at least, not yet. There are a lot of factors the Fed considered in their recent decision and most of them are complex. But you don’t need to be bogged down by those finer...

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What Mortgage Rate Do You Need To Move?

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on March 12, 2024. Posted in Buying Myths, For Buyers, Interest Rates, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

If you’ve been thinking about buying a home, mortgage rates are probably top of mind for you. They may even be why you’ve put your plans on hold for now. When rates climbed near 8% last year, some buyers found the numbers just didn’t make sense for their budget anymore. That may be the case for you too. Data from Bright MLS shows the top reason buyers delayed their plans to move is due to high mortgage rates (see graph below): David Childers, CEO at Keeping Current Matters, speaks to this statistic in the recent How’s The Market podcast: “Three quarters of buyers said ‘we’re out’ due to...

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Why We Aren’t Headed for a Housing Crash

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on February 29, 2024. Posted in Housing Market Updates, Interest Rates, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Pricing.

If you’re holding out hope that the housing market is going to crash and bring home prices back down, here’s a look at what the data shows. And spoiler alert: that’s not in the cards. Instead, experts say home prices are going to keep going up. Today’s market is very different than it was before the housing crash in 2008. Here’s why. It’s Harder To Get a Loan Now – and That’s Actually a Good Thing It was much easier to get a home loan during the lead-up to the 2008 housing crisis than it is today. Back then, banks had different lending standards, making it easy for just about anyone to qualify...

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How Changing Mortgage Rates Impact You [INFOGRAPHIC]

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on February 23, 2024. Posted in Infographics, Interest Rates, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

Some Highlights If you’re looking to buy a home, it’s important to know how mortgage rates impact what you can afford and how much you’ll pay each month. That’s because even a small change in mortgage rates can have a big impact on your purchasing power. The best way to navigate changing mortgage rates and make an informed buying decision is to rely on the expertise of a local real estate professional and mortgage lender.

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Some Experts Say Mortgage Rates May Fall Below 6% Later This Year

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on February 21, 2024. Posted in Housing Market Updates, Interest Rates, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

There’s a lot of confusion in the market about what’s happening with day-to-day movement in mortgage rates right now, but here’s what you really need to know: compared to the near 8% peak last fall, mortgage rates have trended down overall. And if you’re looking to buy or sell a home, this is a big deal. While they’re going to continue to bounce around a bit based on various economic drivers (like inflation and reactions to the consumer price index, or CPI), don’t let the short-term volatility distract you. The experts agree the overarching downward trend should continue this year. While...

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What’s Really Happening with Mortgage Rates?

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on February 12, 2024. Posted in Housing Market Updates, Interest Rates, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

Are you feeling a bit unsure about what’s really happening with mortgage rates? That might be because you’ve heard someone say they’re coming down. But then you read somewhere else that they’re up again. And that may leave you scratching your head and wondering what’s true. The simplest answer is: that what you read or hear will vary based on the time frame they’re looking at. Here’s some information that can help clear up the confusion. Mortgage Rates Are Volatile by Nature Mortgage rates don’t move in a straight line. There are too many factors at play for that to happen. Instead, rates bounce...

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Don’t Wait Until Spring To Sell Your House

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on February 1, 2024. Posted in For Sellers, Interest Rates, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

As you think about the year ahead, one of your big goals may be moving. But, how do you know when to make your move? While spring is usually the peak homebuying season, you don’t actually need to wait until spring to sell. Here’s why. 1. Take Advantage of Lower Mortgage Rates Last October, the 30-year fixed mortgage rates peaked at 7.79%. In January, they hit their lowest level since May. That means you may not feel as locked-in to your current mortgage rate right now. That downward trend in rates has made moving more affordable now than it was just a few months ago. Another reason today’s...

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2 of the Factors That Impact Mortgage Rates

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on January 30, 2024. Posted in For Buyers, Interest Rates, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

If you’re looking to buy a home, you’ve probably been paying close attention to mortgage rates. Over the last couple of years, they hit record lows, rose dramatically, and are now dropping back down a bit. Ever wonder why? The answer is complicated because there’s a lot that can influence mortgage rates. Here are just a few of the most impactful factors at play. Inflation and the Federal Reserve The Federal Reserve (Fed) doesn’t directly determine mortgage rates. But the Fed does move the Federal Funds Rate up or down in response to what’s happening with inflation, the economy, employment rates,...

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Why Mortgage Rates Could Continue To Decline

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on December 20, 2023. Posted in Housing Market Updates, Interest Rates, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

When you read about the housing market, you’ll probably come across some information about inflation or recent decisions made by the Federal Reserve (the Fed). But how do those two things impact you and your homebuying plans? Here’s what you need to know. The Federal Funds Rate Hikes Have Stalled One of the Fed’s primary goals is to lower inflation. In order to do that, they started raising the Federal Funds Rate to slow down the economy. Even though this doesn’t directly dictate what happens with mortgage rates, it does have an impact. Recently inflation has started to cool, a signal...

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Invest in Yourself by Owning a Home

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on October 25, 2023. 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.

Are you wondering if it makes sense to buy a home right now? While today’s mortgage rates might seem a bit intimidating, here are two compelling reasons why it still may be a good time to become a homeowner. Home Values Appreciate over Time There’s been a lot of confusion around what’s happened with home prices over the past two years. While they did dip ever so slightly in late 2022, this year they’ve been appreciating at a more normal pace, which is good news for the housing market. And while looking at price movement over just a year or two can make you worry prices are usually this unpredictable,...

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What Are the Real Reasons You Want To Move Right Now?

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on October 18, 2023. Posted in Demographics, For Sellers, Interest Rates, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Selling Myths.

If you’re considering selling your house right now, it’s likely because something in your life has changed. And while things like mortgage rates play a big role in your decision, you don’t want that to overshadow why you thought about making a move in the first place. It’s true mortgage rates are higher right now, and that has an impact on affordability. As a result, some homeowners are deciding they’ll wait to sell because they don’t want to move and have a higher mortgage rate on their next home. But your lifestyle and your changing needs matter, too. As a recent article from...

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Are Higher Mortgage Rates Here To Stay?

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on October 17, 2023. Posted in Buying Myths, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Housing Market Updates, Interest Rates, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

Mortgage rates have been back on the rise recently and that’s getting a lot of attention from the press. If you’ve been following the headlines, you may have even seen rates recently reached their highest level in over two decades (see graph below): That can feel like a little bit of a gut punch if you’re thinking about making a move. If you’re wondering whether or not you should delay your plans, here’s what you really need to know. How Higher Mortgage Rates Impact You There’s no denying mortgage rates are higher right now than they were in recent years. And, when rates are up,...

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Understanding the Benefits of Owning Your First Home

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on October 4, 2023. Posted in Buying Myths, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Interest Rates, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Move-Up Buyers.

Are you considering buying your first home? If so, it can be helpful to know what led other people to make that decision. According to a recent survey of first-time homebuyers by PulteGroup: “When asked why they purchased their first home recently, the answer was simple: because they wanted to. Either the desire to stop renting or recognition that homeownership is a smart financial investment was the main motivator for 72% of respondents.” While that survey looked specifically at first-time homebuyers buying newly built homes, the same sentiment is true for just about anyone buying their first...

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Your Home Equity Can Offset Affordability Challenges

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on September 19, 2023. Posted in For Sellers, Housing Market Updates, Interest Rates, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Selling Myths.

Are you thinking about selling your house? If so, today’s mortgage rates may be making you wonder if that’s the right decision. Some homeowners are reluctant to sell and take on a higher mortgage rate on their next home. If you’re worried about this too, know that even though rates are high right now, so is home equity. Here’s what you need to know. Bankrate explains exactly what equity is and how it grows: “Home equity is the portion of your home that you’ve paid off and own outright. It’s the difference between what the home is worth and how much is still owed on your mortgage. As your home’s...

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Why Is Housing Inventory So Low?

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on September 14, 2023. Posted in For Buyers, For Sellers, Housing Market Updates, Interest Rates, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, New Construction.

One question that’s top of mind if you’re thinking about making a move today is: Why is it so hard to find a house to buy? And while it may be tempting to wait it out until you have more options, that’s probably not the best strategy. Here’s why. There aren’t enough homes available for sale, but that shortage isn’t just a today problem. It’s been a challenge for years. Let’s take a look at some of the long-term and short-term factors that have contributed to this limited supply. Underbuilding Is a Long-Standing Problem One of the big reasons inventory is low is because builders haven’t been...

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Mortgage Rates: Past, Present, and Possible Future

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on September 6, 2023. Posted in Housing Market Updates, Interest Rates, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

If you’re hoping to buy a home this year, you’re probably paying close attention to mortgage rates. Since mortgage rates impact what you can afford when you take out a home loan – and affordability is a challenge today – it’s a good time to look at the big picture of where mortgage rates have been historically compared to where they are now. Beyond that, it’s important to understand their relationship with inflation for insights into where mortgage rates might go in the near future. Giving Context to the Sticker Shock Freddie Mac has been tracking the 30-year fixed mortgage rate since April...

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How Inflation Affects the Housing Market

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on August 31, 2023. Posted in For Buyers, For Sellers, Housing Market Updates, Interest Rates, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

Have you ever wondered how inflation impacts the housing market? Believe it or not, they’re connected. Whenever there are changes to one, both are affected. Here’s a high-level overview of the connection between the two. The Relationship Between Housing Inflation and Overall Inflation Shelter inflation is the measure of price growth specific to housing. It comes from a survey of renters and homeowners that’s done by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The survey asks renters how much they’re paying in rent, and homeowners how much they’d rent their homes for, if they weren’t living in them. Much...

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Why You Don’t Need To Fear the Return of Adjustable-Rate Mortgages

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on August 22, 2023. Posted in Buying Myths, For Buyers, Interest Rates, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

If you remember the housing crash back in 2008, you may recall just how popular adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) were back then. And after years of being virtually nonexistent, more people are once again using ARMs when buying a home. Let’s break down why that’s happening and why this isn’t cause for concern. Why ARMs Have Gained Popularity More Recently This graph uses data from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) to show how the percentage of adjustable-rate mortgages has increased over the past few years: As the graph conveys, after hovering around 3% of all mortgages in 2021, many more...

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Don’t Expect a Wave of Foreclosures [INFOGRAPHIC]

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on August 18, 2023. Posted in Foreclosures, Infographics, Interest Rates, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

Some Highlights With ongoing high inflation pushing up everyday costs, some people are worried that’ll create a flood of foreclosures. Here’s why that’s unlikely. Fewer people are seriously behind on mortgage payments right now. If foreclosures were going to rise a lot, more people would need to be late on their payments. Since most are paying on time, a wave isn’t coming. If you’re concerned about a flood of foreclosures, the data shows that’s not likely.

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People Want Less Expensive Homes – And Builders Are Responding

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on August 17, 2023. Posted in For Buyers, Housing Market Updates, Interest Rates, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Pricing.

In today’s housing market, there are two main affordability challenges impacting buyers: mortgage rates that are higher than they’ve been the past couple of years, and rising home prices caused by low inventory. To overcome those challenges, many people are working with their agents to find less expensive homes. And with newly built homes making up a historically large percentage of the total available inventory today, that search often includes brand new homes. People Are Spending Less on Newly Built Homes The graph below uses the latest information from the Census to show, in June, more of...

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Housing Market Forecast for the Rest of 2023 [INFOGRAPHIC]

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on August 4, 2023. Posted in For Buyers, For Sellers, Housing Market Updates, Infographics, Interest Rates, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Pricing.

Some Highlights Want to know what experts say will happen in the rest of 2023? Home prices are already appreciating again in many areas. The average of the expert forecasts shows positive price growth. Where mortgage rates go for the rest of the year will depend on inflation. Based on historical trends, rates are likely to ease as inflation continues to cool. Even though low inventory continues to be a challenge, experts project 5 million homes will still sell this year. That pace should pick up if rates come down.

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How Inflation Affects Mortgage Rates

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on August 3, 2023. Posted in Buying Myths, For Buyers, Housing Market Updates, Interest Rates, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Move-Up Buyers.

When you read about the housing market in the news, you might see something about a recent decision made by the Federal Reserve (the Fed). But how does this decision affect you and your plans to buy a home? Here’s what you need to know. The Fed is trying hard to reduce inflation. And even though there’s been 12 straight months where inflation has cooled (see graph below), the most recent data shows it’s still higher than the Fed’s target of 2%: While you may have been hoping the Fed would stop their hikes since they’re making progress on their goal of bringing down inflation, they don’t...

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Category: Interest Rates