The True Value of Homeownership

Written by Emerald Coast Mortgage Syndicated User on June 1, 2023. Posted in Emerald Coast Mortgage, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage Emerald Coast.

Buying and owning your home can make a big difference in your life by bringing you joy and a sense of belonging. And with June being National Homeownership Month, it’s the perfect time to think about all the benefits homeownership provides. Of course, there are financial reasons to buy a house, but it’s important to consider the non-financial benefits that make a home more than just where you live.Here are three ways owning your home can give you a sense of accomplishment, happiness, and pride. You May Feel Happier and More Fulfilled Owning a home is associated with better mental health and...

Keys to Success for First-Time Homebuyers

Written by Emerald Coast Mortgage Syndicated User on June 1, 2023. Posted in Down Payments, Emerald Coast Mortgage, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage Emerald Coast.

Buying your first home is an exciting decision and a major milestone that has the power to change your life for the better. As a first-time homebuyer, it’s a vision you can bring to life, but, as the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shares, you’ll have to overcome some factors that have made it more challenging in recent years:“Since 2011, the share of first-time home buyers has been under the historical norm of 40% as buyers face tight inventory, rising home prices, rising rents and high student debt loads.”That said, if you’re looking to purchase your first home, here are two things...

Today’s Real Estate Market: The ‘Unicorns’ Have Galloped Off

Written by Emerald Coast Mortgage Syndicated User on June 1, 2023. Posted in Emerald Coast Mortgage, For Buyers, For Sellers, Foreclosures, Housing Market Updates, Mortgage Emerald Coast, Pricing.

Comparing real estate metrics from one year to another can be challenging in a normal housing market. That’s due to possible variability in the market making the comparison less meaningful or accurate. Unpredictable events can have a significant impact on the circumstances and outcomes being compared. Comparing this year’s numbers to the two ‘unicorn’ years we just experienced is almost worthless. By ‘unicorn,’ this is the less common definition of the word:“Something that is greatly desired but difficult or impossible to find.” The pandemic profoundly changed real estate over the last few years....

Why Buying a Home Makes More Sense Than Renting Today

Written by Emerald Coast Mortgage Syndicated User on May 1, 2023. Posted in Buying Myths, Emerald Coast Mortgage, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage Emerald Coast, Rent vs. Buy.

Wondering if you should continue renting or if you should buy a home this year? If so, consider this. Rental affordability is still a challenge and has been for years. That’s because, historically, rents trend up over time. Data from the Census shows rents have been climbing pretty steadily since 1988. And, data from the latest rental report from Realtor.com shows rents continue to grow today, even though it’s at a slower pace than we saw at the height of the pandemic:“In March 2023, the U.S. rental market experienced single-digit growth for the eighth month in a row . . . The median asking...

Ways To Overcome Affordability Challenges in Today’s Housing Market [INFOGRAPHIC]

Written by Emerald Coast Mortgage Syndicated User on May 1, 2023. Posted in Emerald Coast Mortgage, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Infographics, Interest Rates, Mortgage Emerald Coast, Move-Up Buyers, Pricing.

Some HighlightsWith so few homes on the market right now, widening the scope of your search to include nearby areas could help you find more options in your budget.You can also work with a trusted lender to consider alternative financing options and search for down payment assistance.If you’ve been searching for a home but are concerned about rising costs, make sure you have a team of trusted real estate professionals for expert advice.

Why Today’s Foreclosure Numbers Are Nothing Like 2008

Written by Emerald Coast Mortgage Syndicated User on May 1, 2023. Posted in Distressed Properties, Emerald Coast Mortgage, Foreclosures, Housing Market Updates, Mortgage Emerald Coast.

You’ve likely seen headlines about the number of foreclosures climbing in today’s housing market. That may leave you with a few questions, especially if you’re thinking about buying a house. Understanding what they really mean is mission-critical if you want to know the truth about what’s happening today.According to a recent report from ATTOM, a property data provider, foreclosure filings are up 6% compared to the previous quarter and 22% since one year ago. As media headlines call attention to this increase, reporting on just the number could actually generate worry and may even make you think...

The Three Factors Affecting Home Affordability Today

Written by Emerald Coast Mortgage Syndicated User on May 1, 2023. Posted in Emerald Coast Mortgage, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Housing Market Updates, Interest Rates, Mortgage Emerald Coast, Move-Up Buyers, Pricing.

There’s been a lot of focus on higher mortgage rates and how they’re creating affordability challenges for today’s homebuyers. It’s true that rates climbed dramatically since the record-low we saw during the pandemic. But home affordability is based on more than just mortgage rates – it’s determined by a combination of mortgage rates, home prices, and wages.Considering how each one of these factors is changing gives you the full picture of home affordability today. Here’s the latest.1. Mortgage RatesWhile mortgage rates are higher than they were a year ago, they’ve hovered primarily between...

We’re in a Sellers’ Market. What Does That Mean?

Written by Emerald Coast Mortgage Syndicated User on April 1, 2023. Posted in Emerald Coast Mortgage, For Sellers, Mortgage Emerald Coast, Selling Myths.

Even though activity in the housing market has slowed from the frenzy we saw over a year ago, today’s low supply of homes for sale is still a sellers’ market. But what does that really mean? And why are conditions today so good if you want to list your house?It starts with the number of homes available for sale. The latest Existing Home Sales Report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows housing supply is still astonishingly low. Today, we have a 2.6-month supply of homes at the current sales pace. Historically, a 6-month supply is necessary for a ‘normal’ or ‘neutral’ market...

Facts About Closing Costs [INFOGRAPHIC]

Written by Emerald Coast Mortgage Syndicated User on April 1, 2023. Posted in Buying Myths, Emerald Coast Mortgage, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Infographics, Mortgage Emerald Coast, Move-Up Buyers.

4 Key Tips for Selling Your House This Spring

Written by Emerald Coast Mortgage Syndicated User on April 1, 2023. Posted in Emerald Coast Mortgage, For Sellers, Housing Market Updates, Mortgage Emerald Coast, Selling Myths.

Spring has arrived, and that means more and more people are getting their homes ready to sell. But with recent shifts in real estate, this year’s spring housing market will be different from the frenzy of the past several years. To sell your house quickly, without hassles, and for the most money, be sure to follow these four simple tips:1. Make Sure You Give Buyers AccessOne of the biggest mistakes you can make as a seller is limiting the days and times when buyers have access to view your home. In any market, if you want to maximize the sale of your house, you can’t limit potential buyers’...

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