The #1 Regret Sellers Have When They Don’t Use an Agent

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on January 14, 2026. Posted in For Sale by Owner, For Sellers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Price It Right/Overpricing, Selling Tips.

Want to know the #1 thing homeowners regret when they sell without an agent? It’s that they didn’t price their house correctly for their current market. According to the latest data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), those sellers agree pricing their home effectively was the hardest part of the process. Top 5 Most Difficult Task for Sellers Who Didn’t Use an Agent: Getting the price right Preparing or fixing up the house Selling within the desired time frame Handling all the legal documents Finding the time to manage all aspects of the sale And that makes sense. Pricing...

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The Credit Score Myth That’s Holding Would-Be Buyers Back

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on January 12, 2026. Posted in First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Rent vs. Buy.

Would-be homebuyers aren’t sitting on the sidelines because they don’t want to buy. They’re sitting out because they think they can’t. And sometimes, it’s their credit score that’s holding them back. According to a Bankrate survey, 2 out of every 5 (42%) Americans believe you need excellent credit to qualify for a mortgage. That may be why, when renters are asked why they don’t own yet, “my credit isn’t good enough” comes up often. Maybe you’re in the same boat. You look at your score, see it’s not where you want it to be, and assume buying your first place just isn’t realistic right...

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Expert Forecasts Point to Affordability Improving in 2026

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on January 9, 2026. Posted in For Buyers, For Sellers, Forecasts, Home Prices, Inventory, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Mortgage Rates.

Wondering what to expect from the housing market in 2026? You’re not the only one. For the past few years, affordability has been the biggest barrier standing between most people and their next move. And a lot of buyers and sellers have been holding their breath waiting for things to get better. The good news? It’s finally happening. In 2025, affordability was the best it’s been in 3 years. And experts agree the momentum will keep going in 2026. And that’s based on their analysis of the key factors shaping the housing market in the year ahead: mortgage rates, inventory, and home prices....

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Thinking about Selling Your House As-Is? Read This First.

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on January 7, 2026. Posted in For Sellers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Selling Tips.

If you’re thinking about selling your house this year, you may be torn between two options: Do you sell it as-is and make it easier on yourself? No repairs. No effort. Or do you fix it up a bit first – so it shows well and sells for as much as possible? In 2026, that decision matters more than it used to. Here’s what you need to know. More Competition Means Your Home’s Condition Is More Important Again Over the past year, the number of homes for sale has been climbing. And this year, a Realtor.com forecast says it could go up another 8.9%. That matters. As buyers gain more options, they...

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Why Pre-Approval Should Be Your First Step – Not an Afterthought

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on January 5, 2026. Posted in Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

Finding the right home feels exciting – but being pre-approved for your loan is what makes it possible. Whether you’re planning to buy soon or still just thinking about it, getting pre-approved is one of the best moves you can make. Here’s why. 1. What Is Pre-Approval, Really? Pre-approval is much more than a guess. It means a lender has reviewed your finances (things like your income, assets, credit score, debts, and savings) and told you how much they’re willing to let you borrow for your loan. It’s basically a reality check for your home search, so you can make sure it aligns with your...

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More Buyers Are Planning To Move in 2026. Here’s How To Get Ready.

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on January 1, 2026. Posted in Buying Tips, For Buyers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

Momentum is quietly building in the housing market. New data from NerdWallet shows more Americans are starting to think about buying a home again. Last year, 15% of respondents said they planned to buy a home in the next 12 months. This year, that number rose to 17%. That 2% increase might not sound like a big jump, but in a market where buyer demand has been cooling for the past few years, it’s a sign things are starting to shift. More people are feeling ready (or at least closer to ready) to take the leap and buy a home in 2026. And if you’re in that camp and buying a home is on your...

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Not Sure If You’re Ready To Buy a Home? Ask Yourself These 5 Questions.

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on December 31, 2025. Posted in First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

If you’re trying to decide if you’re ready to become a homeowner in the next twelve months, there’s probably a lot on your mind. You’re thinking about your finances, today’s mortgage rates, home prices, the current state of the economy, and more. And, you’re juggling how all of those things will impact the choice you’ll make. It’s a lot. But here’s what you need to remember. While housing market conditions are definitely a factor in your decision, your own personal situation and your finances matter too. As an article from NerdWallet says: “Housing market trends give important context....

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Reasons To Be Optimistic About the 2026 Housing Market

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on December 29, 2025. Posted in For Buyers, For Sellers, Forecasts, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

If a move is on your radar for 2026, there’s a lot more working in your favor than there has been in a while. After a stretch where many people felt stuck, 2026 is shaping up to be a year with more balance, more options, and more clarity for people who want to make a move. Not because the market is suddenly “easy,” but because several key conditions are shifting. Here’s what the experts are saying you have to look forward to. Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at Realtor.com: “After a challenging period for buyers, sellers and renters, 2026 should offer a welcome, if modest, step toward a...

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Turning a House Into a Home: The Benefits You Can Actually Feel

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on December 25, 2025. Posted in First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Rent vs. Buy.

There’s a lot of conversation about home prices, mortgage rates, and affordability right now – and those things are important. But if you’re thinking about buying a home, it’s worth remembering something the headlines rarely talk about: people don’t buy homes just for financial reasons. They buy them for their lives. Because while homeownership can absolutely be a smart long-term financial move, it also comes with some emotional benefits spreadsheets just can’t capture. Maybe that’s why a 2025 survey from Fannie Mae notes: “Consumers were twice as likely to mention lifestyle benefits...

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Your House Didn’t Sell. What Now?

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on December 24, 2025. Posted in Expired/Withdrawn/Canceled, For Sellers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

When your house doesn’t sell, it does more than disrupt your plans, it hits close to home. You prepared for the next chapter. You told people you were moving. You pictured where you’d go next. And then nothing happened. It’s normal to feel frustrated, confused, or even a little embarrassed. But here’s the part you have to remember: just because your house didn’t sell the first time, doesn’t mean it won’t sell. And here’s what most agents won’t tell you. In most cases, the difference typically comes down to the strategy behind the sale, not the house itself. And there’s real data to...

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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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Is January the Best Time To Buy a Home?

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on December 18, 2025. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, For Buyers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

You may not want to put your homebuying plans into hibernation mode this winter. While a lot of people assume spring is the ideal time to buy a house, new data shows January may actually be the best time of year for budget-conscious buyers. Kind of surprising, right? Here’s why January deserves a serious look. 1. Prices Tend To Be Lower This Time of Year Lending Tree says January is the least expensive month to buy a home. And there’s something to that. January has historically offered one of the lowest price-per-square-foot points of the entire year. But the spring? That’s when demand...

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Is Buyer Demand Picking Back Up? What Sellers Should Know.

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on December 17, 2025. Posted in For Sellers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Selling Tips.

The housing market hasn’t felt this energized in a long time – and the numbers backing that up are hard to ignore. Mortgage rates have eased almost a full percentage point this year, and that shift is starting to wake up buyers. Home loan applications have risen. Activity has picked up. And sellers who step in early could benefit from the momentum long before the competition catches on. Let’s take a look at what’s happening behind the scenes and how you can take advantage of it. When Rates Come Down, Buyer Activity Goes Up In today’s market, buyer demand is closely tied to what happens...

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How To Stretch Your Options, Not Your Budget

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on December 15, 2025. Posted in Affordability, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

One of the biggest homebuying advantages you can give yourself today is surprisingly simple: a flexible wish list. Think of it like this. Your wish list and your budget are the guardrails of your search. And when your budget needs to hold firm, there’s another lever you can pull. That’s seeing if you truly need all of your desired features. Because the truth is, a small compromise could be the difference between feeling stuck and getting the keys to your next home. The data shows more buyers are using that strategy to offset affordability hurdles in today’s market. A recent study from...

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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 Selling Your House This Winter Gives You an Edge

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on December 10, 2025. Posted in For Sellers, Inventory, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Selling Tips.

Spring gets all the attention, but it’s not always the best time to sell a house. Yes, more buyers show up, but so do a lot of other sellers.

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This May Be the Best Time To Buy a Brand-New Home

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on December 8, 2025. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, For Buyers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, New Construction.

New home construction today is giving buyers something it feels like they haven’t gotten much lately: a real shot at both the home they want and the deal they need. More brand-new options are on the market right now, and builders are rolling out incentives that make these homes more affordable than many people expect. It’s a combination that doesn’t come around often – and it’s putting buyers in a surprisingly strong position this season. Here’s why this moment matters and why it’s worth partnering with your own local agent to take advantage of it. 1. More New Homes Are Available Now...

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Why More Homeowners Are Giving Up Their Low Mortgage Rate

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on December 4, 2025. Posted in For Sellers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Mortgage Rates, Selling Tips.

If you’re like a lot of homeowners, you’ve probably thought: “I’d like to move… but I don’t want to give up my 3% rate.” That’s fair. That rate has been one of your best financial wins – and it can be hard to let go. But here’s what you need to remember… A great rate won’t make up for a home that no longer works for you. Life changes, and sometimes, your home needs to change with it. And you’re not the only one making that choice. The Lock-In Effect Is Starting To Ease Many homeowners have been frozen in place by something the experts call the lock-in effect. That’s when you...

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The 3 Housing Market Questions Coming Up at Every Gathering This Season

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on December 3, 2025. Posted in Affordability, For Buyers, For Sellers, Inventory, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

Whether it’s at a family gathering, your company party, or catching up with friends over the holidays, the housing market always finds its way into the conversation. Here are the top three questions on a lot of people’s minds this season, and straightforward answers to help you feel more confident about the market. 1. “Will I even be able to find a home if I want to move?” Yes, more than you could a year or two ago. The number of homes for sale has been rising over the past few years. According to data from Realtor.com, there have been more than one million homes on the market for six...

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How To Find the Best Deal Possible on a Home Right Now

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on December 1, 2025. Posted in Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

Want to know how to find the best deal possible in today’s housing market? Here’s the secret. Focus on homes that have been sitting on the market for a while. Because when a listing lingers, sellers tend to get more realistic – and, more willing to negotiate. And that’s where the savviest buyers are finding homes other buyers overlook. The Opportunity: 1 in 5 Homes Has Had a Price Cut This Year According to Realtor.com, about 1 in every 5 listings (20.2%) have dropped their asking price at least once. And while so many things in today’s housing market vary by region, that number is...

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Why So Many People Are Thankful They Bought a Home This Year

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on November 27, 2025. Posted in Downsize, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Move-Up.

Homebuyers are weighing their options right now, and they certainly have a lot on their minds. With everything going on in the job market, the economy, and more – there’s a lot to think about these days. And maybe that’s making you wonder if it really makes sense to buy a home right now. But here’s what many recent buyers would tell you: even with all that, making a move is worth it. And this is why they’re thankful they went ahead and took the plunge already. Life doesn’t wait for better market conditions. So, your decision shouldn’t be about trying to time the market...

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Why Buying a Home Still Pays Off in the Long Run

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on November 26, 2025. Posted in Affordability, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Rent vs. Buy.

Renting can feel much less expensive and much simpler than buying a home, especially right now. No repairs, no property taxes, no worrying about mortgage rates – you just pay the bill and move on with your life. But here’s the part people don’t talk about enough: renting doesn’t help you build your financial future. Meanwhile, homeowners grow their net worth just by owning a home. So, if you’ve been wondering whether buying is still worth it, the long-term math is clearer than you might think. Renting vs. Owning: How the Costs Really Compare Let’s break down one of the key differences...

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