Category: Buying Tips

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The Mortgage Rate You See Online Isn’t Necessarily the One You’d Get.

Written by Emerald Coast Mortgage Syndicated User on September 30, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, Emerald Coast Mortgage, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage Emerald Coast, Mortgage Rates.

You may have seen the headlines saying mortgage rates have climbed to the highest point since January 2025. And if that’s left you reluctant to buy a home, here’s what you need to remember… That’s not necessarily the number you’d get. It’s a common misconception that the rate you see in the headlines is the same one you’d get when you buy. The truth is, mortgage rates shift often, and the rate you actually end up with can vary a lot from what you may see or hear about. What Determines Your Real Rate? Advertised rates and “real rates” aren’t always the...

Why So Many Sellers Are Cutting Their Price Right Now

Written by Emerald Coast Mortgage Syndicated User on September 30, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Agent Value, Buying Tips, Emerald Coast Mortgage, For Buyers, For Sellers, Home Prices, Mortgage Emerald Coast, Price It Right/Overpricing, Selling Tips.

Price cuts are turning up everywhere right now, and they read very differently depending on which side of the deal you’re on.Sellers tend to worry a cut means walking away with less than they hoped. Sometimes that’s true, but more often it just means the market moved faster than the listing did.Buyers, for their part, often assume a cut means something’s wrong with the house. Most of the time, that’s not it.This is what’s actually driving all those price cuts, and why it matters no matter which side of the deal you’re on.42% of Homes for Sale Are Now Carrying a Price...

There Are 4 Types of Housing Markets Right Now. Which 1 Are You In?

Written by Emerald Coast Mortgage Syndicated User on September 30, 2026. Posted in Agent Value, Buying Tips, Emerald Coast Mortgage, For Buyers, For Sellers, Mortgage Emerald Coast, Mortgage Rates, New Construction, Selling Tips.

Today’s housing market splits into four distinct types. You’ve got cash buyers, buyers financing a purchase, owners who feel locked into a low rate, and builders with homes to sell. Which type you’re in changes how you should buy or sell. Ryan Serhant, CEO of SERHANT agrees:“There is no longer a housing market . . . There are four Americas.”Here’s what each looks like, and what it means for you.Cash Buyers: 1 in 4 Buyers Are Paying with CashIf you already own a home, you may be able to buy your next place in cash thanks to your equity. In fact, 26% of existing home sales this summer were...

You May Not Want To Skip Over That House That’s Been Sitting on the Market

Written by Emerald Coast Mortgage Syndicated User on February 1, 2026. Posted in Buying Tips, Emerald Coast Mortgage, For Buyers, Mortgage Emerald Coast.

When you see a house that’s been sitting on the market for a while, the reaction is almost automatic. You start thinking:What’s wrong with it?Why hasn’t anyone bought it yet?Am I missing something?That mindset made sense a few years ago. But in today’s market, you may actually miss out.More Time on Market Isn’t Automatically a Concern AnymoreA few years ago, homes sold in just a matter of days. Sometimes, hours. Anything that lingered longer than that raised concerns. But that’s no longer the baseline.Inventory has grown. Buyers have more choices. And homes are taking longer to sell...

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

Written by Emerald Coast Mortgage Syndicated User on January 1, 2026. Posted in Buying Tips, Emerald Coast Mortgage, For Buyers, Mortgage Emerald Coast.

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 goal...

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

Written by Emerald Coast Mortgage Syndicated User on December 1, 2025. Posted in Buying Tips, Emerald Coast Mortgage, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage Emerald Coast.

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 YearAccording 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 consistent...

Thought the Market Passed You By? Think Again.

Written by Emerald Coast Mortgage Syndicated User on November 1, 2025. Posted in Buying Tips, Emerald Coast Mortgage, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Inventory, Mortgage Emerald Coast.

If you stepped back from your home search over the past few years, you’re not alone – and you’re definitely not out of options. In fact, now might be the ideal time to take another look. With more homes to choose from, prices leveling off in many areas, and mortgage rates easing, today’s market is offering something you haven’t had in a while: options.Experts agree, buyers are in a better spot right now than they’ve been in quite a long time. Here’s what they have to say.Affordability Is Finally Improving Lisa Sturtevant, Chief Economist at Bright MLS, says affordability is finally starting...

Why You Don’t Need To Be Afraid of Today’s Mortgage Rates

Written by Emerald Coast Mortgage Syndicated User on November 1, 2025. Posted in Buying Tips, Downsize, Emerald Coast Mortgage, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, For Sellers, Mortgage Emerald Coast, Mortgage Rates, Move-Up.

Mortgage rates have been the monster under the bed for a while. Every time they tick up, people flinch and say, “Maybe I’ll wait.” But here’s the twist. Waiting for that perfect 5-point-something rate could end up haunting your wallet later.The Magic NumberAccording to the National Association of Realtors (NAR):“. . . a 30-year fixed rate mortgage of 6% would make the median-priced home affordable for about 5.5 million more households—including 1.6 million renters. If rates were to hit that magic number, it’s likely that about 10%—or 550,000—of those additional households would buy a home...

What Credit Score Do You Really Need To Buy a Home?

Written by Emerald Coast Mortgage Syndicated User on August 1, 2025. Posted in Buying Tips, Emerald Coast Mortgage, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage Emerald Coast.

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 NumberThere’s no universal credit score you absolutely have to have when buying a home. And that means there’s...

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

Written by Emerald Coast Mortgage Syndicated User on July 1, 2025. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, Emerald Coast Mortgage, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage Emerald Coast.

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...