Four Ways You Can Use Your Home Equity

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on August 7, 2023. Posted in Buying Myths, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Foreclosures, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Move-Up Buyers.

If you’re a homeowner, odds are your equity has grown significantly over the last few years. Equity builds over time as home values grow and as you pay down your home loan. And, since home prices skyrocketed during the ‘unicorn’ years, you’ve likely gained more than you think. According to the latest Equity Insights Report from CoreLogic, the average homeowner has more than $274,000 in equity right now. That much equity can help you achieve certain goals. In a recent article, Bankrate elaborates: “While the pandemic created serious challenges, the silver lining for anyone who owned a home...

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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...

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How To Know If You’re Ready to Buy a Home

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on August 2, 2023. Posted in Buying Myths, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Housing Market Updates, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

If you’re trying to decide if you’re ready to buy a home, there’s probably a lot on your mind. You’re thinking about your finances, today’s mortgage rates and home prices, the limited supply of homes for sale, and more. And, you’re juggling how all of those things will impact the choice you’ll make. While housing market conditions are definitely a factor in your decision, your own life and your finances may be even more important. As an article from NerdWallet says: “Housing market trends give important context. But whether this is a good time to buy a house also depends on your financial...

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Sellers: Don’t Let These Two Things Hold You Back

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on August 1, 2023. Posted in Buying Myths, For Buyers, For Sellers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Selling Myths.

Many homeowners thinking about selling have two key things holding them back. That’s feeling locked in by today’s higher mortgage rates and worrying they won’t be able to find something to buy while supply is so low. Let’s dive into each challenge and give you some helpful advice on how to overcome these obstacles. Challenge #1: The Reluctance to Take on a Higher Mortgage Rate According to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), the average interest rate for current homeowners with mortgages is less than 4% (see graph below): But today, the typical 30-year fixed mortgage rate offered to...

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Pricing Your House Right Still Matters Today

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on July 31, 2023. Posted in For Sellers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Market Updates, Pricing.

While this isn’t the frenzied market we saw during the ‘unicorn’ years, homes that are priced right are still selling quickly and seeing multiple offers right now. That’s because the number of homes for sale is still so low. Data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows 76% of homes sold within a month and the average saw 3.5 offers in June. To set yourself up to see advantages like these, you need to rely on an agent. Only an agent has the expertise needed to find the right asking price for your house. Here’s what’s at stake if that price isn’t accurate for today’s market...

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Key Housing Market Trends [INFOGRAPHIC]

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on July 28, 2023. Posted in For Buyers, For Sellers, Housing Market Updates, Infographics, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

Some Highlights If you’re considering buying or selling a home, you’ll want to know what’s happening in the housing market. Housing inventory is still very low, prices are climbing back up, and homes are selling fast when priced right. Connect with a real estate agent if you want more information about your local area and what the trends mean for your plans to buy or sell.

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Homebuyers Are Still More Active Than Usual

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on July 27, 2023. Posted in For Sellers, Housing Market Updates, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Selling Myths.

Even though the housing market is no longer experiencing the frenzy that was so characteristic of the last couple of years, it doesn’t mean today’s market is at a standstill. In actuality, buyer traffic is still strong today. The ShowingTime Showing Index is a measure of how much buyers are touring homes. The graph below uses that index to illustrate buyer activity trends over time to help put today into the proper perspective. It shows there’s seasonality in real estate. If you look at the last normal years in the market (shown in gray), there was a consistent pattern as buyer activity...

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Tips for Making Your Best Offer on a Home

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on July 26, 2023. Posted in Buying Myths, For Buyers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

While the wild ride that was the ‘unicorn’ years of housing is behind us, today’s market is still competitive in many areas because the supply of homes for sale is still low. If you’re looking to buy a home this season, know that the peak frenzy of bidding wars is in the rearview mirror, but you may still come up against some multiple-offer scenarios. Here are a few things to consider to help you put your best foot forward when making an offer on a home. 1. Lean on a Real Estate Professional Rely on an agent who can support your goals and help you understand what’s happening in today’s...

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Don’t Fall for the Next Shocking Headlines About Home Prices

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on July 25, 2023. Posted in Buying Myths, For Buyers, Housing Market Updates, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Pricing.

If you’re thinking of buying or selling a home, one of the biggest questions you have right now is probably: what’s happening with home prices? And it’s no surprise you don’t have the clarity you need on that topic. Part of the issue is how headlines are talking about prices. They’re basing their negative news by comparing current stats to the last few years. But you can’t compare this year to the ‘unicorn’ years (when home prices reached record highs that were unsustainable). And as prices begin to normalize now, they’re talking about it like it’s a bad thing and making people fear what’s...

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Foreclosure Numbers Today Aren’t Like 2008

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on July 24, 2023. Posted in Distressed Properties, For Buyers, Foreclosures, Housing Market Updates, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

If you’ve been keeping up with the news lately, you’ve probably come across headlines talking about the increase in foreclosures in today’s housing market. This may have left you with some uncertainty, especially if you’re considering buying a home. It’s important to understand the context of these reports to know the truth about what’s happening today. According to a recent report from ATTOM, a property data provider, foreclosure filings are up 2% compared to the previous quarter and 8% since one year ago. While media headlines are drawing attention to this increase,...

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Real Estate Continues To Be the Best Investment [INFOGRAPHIC]

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on July 21, 2023. Posted in First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Housing Market Updates, Infographics, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Move-Up Buyers.

Some Highlights According to a recent Gallup poll, real estate has been voted the best long-term investment for 11 years in a row, beating gold, stocks, bonds, and more. Owning real estate means more than just having a home—it’s an investment in your future. That’s because it’s typically a stable and secure asset that tends to increase in value as time goes on. Connect with a local real estate agent if you’re ready to buy a home and invest in your future.

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Owning Your Home Helps You Build Wealth

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on July 20, 2023. Posted in Buying Myths, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Rent vs. Buy.

You may have heard some people say it’s better to rent than buy a home right now. But, even today, there are lots of good reasons to become a homeowner. One of them is that owning a home is typically viewed as a good long-term investment that helps your net worth grow over time. Homeownership Builds Wealth Regardless of Income Level You may be surprised to learn homeowners across various income levels have a much higher net worth than renters who make the same amount. Data from First American helps illustrate this point (see graph below): What makes wealth so much higher for homeowners? A...

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Explaining Today’s Mortgage Rates

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on July 19, 2023. Posted in For Buyers, Housing Market Updates, Interest Rates, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

If you’re following mortgage rates because you know they impact your borrowing costs, you may be wondering what the future holds for them. Unfortunately, there’s no easy way to answer that question because mortgage rates are notoriously hard to forecast. But, there’s one thing that’s historically a good indicator of what’ll happen with rates, and that’s the relationship between the 30-Year Mortgage Rate and the 10-Year Treasury Yield. Here’s a graph showing those two metrics since Freddie Mac started keeping mortgage rate records in 1972: As the graph shows, historically, the average...

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Homebuyers Are Getting Used to the New Normal

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on July 18, 2023. Posted in For Sellers, Housing Market Updates, Interest Rates, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Selling Myths.

Before you decide to sell your house, it’s important to know what you can expect in the current housing market. One positive trend right now is homebuyers are adapting to today’s mortgage rates and getting used to them as the new normal. To better understand what’s been happening with mortgage rates lately, the graph below shows the trend for the 30-year fixed mortgage rate from Freddie Mac since last October. As you can see, rates have been between 6% and 7% pretty consistently for the past nine months: According to Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at the National Association of Realtors...

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Home Prices Are Rebounding

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on July 17, 2023. Posted in Buying Myths, For Buyers, For Sellers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Pricing, Selling Myths.

If you’re following the news today, you may feel a bit unsure about what’s happening with home prices and fear whether or not the worst is yet to come. That’s because today’s headlines are painting an unnecessarily negative picture. If we take a year-over-year view, home prices did drop some, but that’s because we’re comparing to a ‘unicorn’ year when prices peaked well beyond the norm. To avoid an unfair comparison to that previous peak, we need to look at monthly data. And that tells a very different and much more positive story. While local home price trends still vary by market, here’s...

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Low Housing Inventory Is a Sweet Spot for Sellers [INFOGRAPHIC]

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on July 14, 2023. Posted in For Sellers, Housing Market Updates, Infographics, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Selling Myths.

Some Highlights Today’s housing inventory is still well below more normal years. This low inventory is why homes that are priced right are still selling quickly and seeing multiple offers. If you want to sell your house, now is a great time because inventory is still low. Contact a trusted real estate agent to start the process.

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How Remote Work Expands Your Homebuying Horizons

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on July 13, 2023. Posted in For Buyers, Interest Rates, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

Even as some companies transition back into the office, remote work remains a popular choice for many professionals. So, if you currently enjoy working from home or hope to be able to soon, you’re not alone. According to a recent survey, most working professionals want to work either fully remote or hybrid (see below): This trend is good news if you’re looking to buy a home because a remote or hybrid work setup can help you overcome some of today’s affordability and housing inventory challenges. More Work Flexibility Equals More Home Options Remote or hybrid work opens up a world of...

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Renting or Selling Your House: What’s the Best Move?

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on July 12, 2023. Posted in For Sellers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Selling Myths.

If you’re a homeowner ready to make a move, you may be thinking about using your current house as a short-term rental property instead of selling it. A short-term rental (STR) is typically offered as an alternative to a hotel, and they’re an investment that’s gained popularity in recent years. While a short-term rental can be a tempting idea, you may find the reality of being responsible for one difficult to take on. Here are some of the challenges you could face if you rent out your house instead of selling it. A Short-Term Rental Comes with Responsibilities Successfully managing your...

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Momentum Is Building for New Home Construction

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on July 11, 2023. Posted in For Buyers, Housing Market Updates, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, New Construction.

If you’re in the process of looking for a home today, you know the supply of homes for sale is low because you’re feeling the impact of having a limited pool of options. And, if your biggest hurdle right now is that you’re having trouble finding something you like, don’t forget that a newly built home is a great option. As a recent article from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) says: “Home buyers continue to be met with limited housing options during what’s typically the real estate market’s busiest season. . . . The current supply of existing homes is about half the level it was...

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Reasons Your Home May Not Be Selling

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on July 10, 2023. Posted in For Sellers, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage, Pricing.

When it comes to selling your house, you want three things: to sell it for the most money you can, to do it in a certain amount of time, and to do all of that with the fewest hassles. And, while the current housing market is generally favorable to sellers due to today’s limited housing supply, there are still factors that can cause delays or even prevent a house from selling. If you’re having trouble getting your house to sell in today’s sellers’ market, here are a few things to think about. Limited Access – If You Can’t Show It, You Can’t Sell It. One of the biggest mistakes...

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The Benefits of Downsizing for Homeowners [INFOGRAPHIC]

Written by Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage on July 7, 2023. Posted in For Buyers, Infographics, Marathon FL Mortgage, Marathon Florida Keys Mortgage.

Some Highlights Downsizing is a popular choice for homeowners when they retire or when their needs change, but with inflation still high, it’s also a way to reduce costs. Downsizing could help cut down on your expenses and your equity can fuel your move. If you’re thinking about moving to a smaller home, connect with a real estate professional to go over your housing goals and look at your options in the local market.

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