Thought the Market Passed You By? Think Again.

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

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 Palm Harbor FL Mortgage Syndicated User on November 1, 2025. Posted in Buying Tips, Downsize, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, For Sellers, Mortgage Rates, Move-Up, Palm Harbor FL Mortgage, Palm Harbor Mortgage.

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...

The $280 Shift in Affordability Every Homebuyer Should Know

Written by Palm Harbor FL Mortgage Syndicated User on November 1, 2025. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Sellers, Mortgage Rates, Move-Up, Palm Harbor FL Mortgage, Palm Harbor Mortgage.

If you paused your plans to move because of high rates or prices, it may finally be time to take a second look at your numbers. Affordability is improving in 39 of the top 50 markets, according to First American. And that’s the 5th straight month where buying a home has started to get a little bit easier.Let’s break this down into real dollars, so you can see the difference this could make for you (and your move).Monthly Payments Are Coming DownOne of the clearest signs of this shift is in monthly payments. The latest data from Redfin shows mortgage payments on a median-priced home are now...

Why More Buyers Are Turning to New Construction This Year

Written by Palm Harbor FL Mortgage Syndicated User on November 1, 2025. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, For Buyers, New Construction, Palm Harbor FL Mortgage, Palm Harbor Mortgage.

There’s a trend taking hold in real estate right now: more buyers are choosing newly built homes. And it’s not just about getting the latest technology or modern floorplans. It’s because they may be able to get a better deal.Builders are offering serious incentives today, and people are jumping on them. In fact, new home sales just hit their highest level in over two years (see graph below):Why Builders Are Throwing in PerksThere are more newly built homes for sale right now than there have been in years. And as a buyer, that can help you in two big ways. It gives you more options to choose...

3 Reasons Affordability Is Showing Signs of Improvement This Fall

Written by Palm Harbor FL Mortgage Syndicated User on October 1, 2025. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, For Buyers, Home Prices, Mortgage Rates, Palm Harbor FL Mortgage, Palm Harbor Mortgage.

For the past couple of years, it’s been tough for a lot of homebuyers to make the numbers work. Home prices shot up. Mortgage rates too. And a number of people hit pause because it just didn’t feel possible. Maybe you were one of them.But there’s some encouraging news. If you’ve been waiting for a better time to jump back in, affordability may finally be showing signs of improvement this fall.The latest data from Redfin shows the typical monthly mortgage payment has been coming down, and is now about $290 lower than it was just a few months ago (see graph below):And here’s why this is...

From Frenzy to Breathing Room: Buyers Finally Have Time Again

Written by Palm Harbor FL Mortgage Syndicated User on September 1, 2025. Posted in Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Palm Harbor FL Mortgage, Palm Harbor Mortgage.

If you tried to buy a home a few years ago, you probably still remember the frenzy. Homes were listed one day and gone the next. Sometimes it only took hours. You had to drop everything to go and see the house, and if you hesitated even slightly, someone else swooped in and bought it – sometimes even sight unseen.That kind of intensity pushed a lot of buyers to the sidelines. It was stressful, chaotic, and for many, really discouraging.But here’s what you need to know: those days are behind us.Today’s market is moving slower, in the best possible way. And that’s creating more opportunity...

Condos Could Be a Win for Today’s Buyers

Written by Palm Harbor FL Mortgage Syndicated User on September 1, 2025. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, Downsize, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Home Prices, Inventory, Palm Harbor FL Mortgage, Palm Harbor Mortgage.

Not every homebuyer wants the biggest house on the block. Some want something simpler, more affordable, and easier to maintain, especially in a market where every dollar counts. That’s where condos come in.For first-time buyers, they can be a smart way to get into homeownership without stretching your budget. For downsizers, they offer less space to maintain with the flexibility to stay in a great location.And right now, condos are one of the most buyer-friendly parts of the market.Condo Inventory Is Up, And That Means More ChoiceAccording to the National Association of Realtors (NAR),...

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

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

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...

Why a Newly Built Home Might Be the Move Right Now

Written by Palm Harbor FL Mortgage Syndicated User on August 1, 2025. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Home Prices, Inventory, Mortgage Rates, Move-Up, New Construction, Palm Harbor FL Mortgage, Palm Harbor Mortgage, Rent vs. Buy.

Are you looking for better home prices, or even a lower mortgage rate? You might find both in one place: a newly built home. While many buyers are overlooking new construction, it could be your best opportunity in today’s market. Here’s why.There are more brand-new homes available right now than there were even just a few months ago. According to the most recent data from the Census and the National Association of Realtors (NAR), roughly 1 in 5 homes for sale right now is new construction. So, if you’re not looking at newly built homes, you’re missing out on a big portion of what’s...

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

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

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...

Category: Buying Tips