The Difference Between Renting and Owning [INFOGRAPHIC]

Written by Emerald Coast Mortgage Syndicated User on March 1, 2022. Posted in Emerald Coast Mortgage, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Infographics, Mortgage Emerald Coast, Move-Up Buyers, Rent vs. Buy.

Some Highlights If you’re deciding whether to rent or buy, consider the many financial benefits that come with owning a home. As a renter, you build your landlord’s wealth and face rising costs. As a homeowner, you build your own net worth and can lock in your monthly payments for the length of your loan. If you’re weighing your options, remember that owning a home is a decision that has considerable financial perks. If you want to learn more, let’s connect to talk about the perks of homeownership. Content previously posted on Keeping Current Matters

Millennials: Do You Need a Home with More Space?

Written by Emerald Coast Mortgage Syndicated User on March 1, 2022. Posted in Demographics, Down Payments, Emerald Coast Mortgage, For Buyers, For Sellers, Millennials, Mortgage Emerald Coast, Move-Up Buyers.

If you’re a millennial, homebuying might be top of mind for you. Your generation is the largest group of homebuyers in the market today and has been since 2014, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). And while other millennials are looking to buy for the first time, you may be one of the many who are now discovering you’ve outgrown your home. If that’s the case, you’re not alone. The past two years brought about significant changes for many people, and today, homeowners are reevaluating what they truly need in a home. As a recent report from the Wall Street Journal states: “They...

Why a Move Could Bring You More Happiness This Year

Written by Emerald Coast Mortgage Syndicated User on February 1, 2022. Posted in Emerald Coast Mortgage, For Buyers, For Sellers, Mortgage Emerald Coast, Move-Up Buyers.

Over the past two years, we’ve lived through one of the most stressful periods in recent history. Because of the health crisis, many of us have spent more time at home and that’s led us to re-evaluate both what we need in a house and how much we appreciate having a safe space. If you’ve found your current home isn’t filling all your needs, you may be wondering if it’s time to find a new one. There’s reason to believe a change of scenery could boost your happiness. Catherine Hartley, an Assistant Professor at New York University’s Department of Psychology and co-author of a study on how new...

Owning Is More Affordable than Renting in the Majority of the Country

Written by Emerald Coast Mortgage Syndicated User on February 1, 2022. Posted in Buying Myths, Emerald Coast Mortgage, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Interest Rates, Mortgage Emerald Coast, Pricing, Rent vs. Buy.

If you were thinking about buying a home this year, but already pressed pause on your plans due to rising home prices and increasing mortgage rates, there’s something you should consider. According to the latest report from ATTOM Data, owning a home is more affordable than renting in the majority of the country. The 2022 Rental Affordability Report says: “. . . Owning a median-priced home is more affordable than the average rent on a three-bedroom property in 666, or 58 percent, of the 1,154 U.S. counties analyzed for the report. That means major home ownership expenses consume a smaller portion...

Why Your Home Inspection Matters [INFOGRAPHIC]

Written by Emerald Coast Mortgage Syndicated User on February 1, 2022. Posted in Emerald Coast Mortgage, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Infographics, Mortgage Emerald Coast, Move-Up Buyers.

Some Highlights Buying a home and wondering if your inspection is necessary? While some buyers may decide to waive their inspection, it’s risky decision. Your home inspection is a crucial step in the homebuying process. It assesses the condition of the home you plan to purchase, so you can avoid costly surprises down the road. Let’s connect so you have expert advice and a trusted professional who will keep your interests top of mind. Content previously posted on Keeping Current Matters

Expert Insights on the 2022 Housing Market

Written by Emerald Coast Mortgage Syndicated User on January 1, 2022. Posted in Emerald Coast Mortgage, For Buyers, For Sellers, Housing Market Updates, Interest Rates, Mortgage Emerald Coast, Pricing.

As we move into 2022, both buyers and sellers are wondering, what’s next? Will there be more homes available to buy? Will prices keep climbing? How high will mortgage rates go? For the answer to those questions and more, we turn to the experts. Here’s a look at what they say we can expect in 2022. Odeta Kushi, Deputy Chief Economist, First American: “Consensus forecasts put rates at about 3.7% by the end of next year. So, that’s still historically low, but certainly higher than they are today.” Danielle Hale, Chief Economist, realtor.com: “Affordability will increasingly be a challenge...

How To Think Strategically as a Buyer in Today’s Market

Written by Emerald Coast Mortgage Syndicated User on December 1, 2021. Posted in Buying Myths, Emerald Coast Mortgage, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage Emerald Coast, Move-Up Buyers.

The game of chess can provide incredible lessons to apply to all aspects of life, including the homebuying process. Chess requires you to plan and think about your strategy from the very beginning of the game. The homebuying process, like chess, requires strategy and planning. Here are a few things to keep in mind to ensure your plan is as strong as possible when you begin your home search. Pre-Approval: the Best Opening Play To Make as a Homebuyer It’s important to have a great opening play when you’re buying a home. And the best move you can make when you begin your home search is getting...

Home Is Where the Heart Is More than Ever This Year

Written by Emerald Coast Mortgage Syndicated User on December 1, 2021. Posted in Emerald Coast Mortgage, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage Emerald Coast, Move-Up Buyers.

There’s no denying the financial benefits of homeownership, but what’s often overlooked are the feelings of gratitude, security, pride, and comfort we get from owning a home. This year, those emotions are stronger than ever. We’ve lived through a time that has truly changed our needs and who we are, and as a result, homeownership has a whole new meaning for many of us. According to the 2021 State of the American Homeowner report by Unison: “Last year, staying home became a necessity and that caused many homeowners to have renewed gratitude for the roof over their head.” As a nation, we continue...

Reasons To Hire a Real Estate Professional [INFOGRAPHIC]

Written by Emerald Coast Mortgage Syndicated User on December 1, 2021. Posted in Emerald Coast Mortgage, For Buyers, For Sellers, Infographics, Mortgage Emerald Coast.

Some Highlights Whether you’re buying or selling, there are many perks that come from working with a real estate advisor. Real estate professionals are experts at navigating all aspects of the buying and selling process, including negotiating on your behalf. We can also explain today’s market and break down what it means for you. Don’t go at it alone. Let’s connect today so you have advice and an expert to count on each step of the way. Content previously posted on Keeping Current Matters

Renters Missed Out on $51,500 This Past Year

Written by Emerald Coast Mortgage Syndicated User on November 1, 2021. Posted in Emerald Coast Mortgage, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage Emerald Coast, Pricing, Rent vs. Buy.

Rents have increased significantly this year. The latest National Rent Report from Apartmentlist.com shows rents are rising at a rate much higher than the three years leading up to the pandemic: “Since January of this year, the national median rent has increased by a staggering 16.4 percent. To put that in context, rent growth from January to September averaged just 3.4 percent in the pre-pandemic years from 2017-2019.” Looking back, we can see rents rising isn’t new. The median rental price has increased consistently over the past 33 years (see graph below):If you’re thinking of renting...

Category: For Buyers