The Real Benefits of Buying a Home This Year

Written by Apalachicola Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on February 4, 2025. Posted in Apalachicola Mortgage, For Buyers, Home Prices, Mortgage Apalachicola.

Have you been wondering whether you should keep renting or finally make the leap into homeownership? It’s a big decision, and let’s be real — renting can feel like the easier option, especially if buying a home feels out of reach.But here’s the thing: a recent report from Bank of America highlights that 70% of prospective buyers fear the long-term consequences of renting, including not building equity and dealing with rising rents.Maybe you’re feeling that too — concerned about where renting might leave you down the road, but still unsure if you’d even be able to buy right now. The...

Time in the Market Beats Trying To Time the Market

Written by Apalachicola Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on February 1, 2025. Posted in Apalachicola Mortgage, Equity, Forecasts, Home Prices, Infographics, Mortgage Apalachicola.

Some HighlightsAre you torn between whether to buy a home now or wait? Consider this.Forecasts show prices will climb for ?at least the next 5 years. If you wait, the price of a home will be higher later on. But, if you buy a $400K now, you could gain roughly $83K in equity as prices rise.If you’re able to buy now, this equity is one reason why it’ll be worth it in the long run. Connect with an agent if you’re ready to talk through ways we can make it happen.

How Home Equity Can Help Fuel Your Retirement

Written by Apalachicola Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on January 29, 2025. Posted in Agent Value, Apalachicola Mortgage, Home Prices, Mortgage Apalachicola.

If retirement is on the horizon, now’s the time to start thinking about your next chapter. And you probably want to make sure you’re set up to feel comfortable financially to live the life you want in retirement.What you may not realize is you likely have a hidden goldmine of cash you’re not thinking about — and that’s your home. Data from the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) shows that home values have gone up nearly 60% over the last 5 years alone (see graph below):And that appreciation gave your net worth a big boost. According to Freddie Mac, over the same five-year period:“...

3 Reasons To Buy a Home Before Spring

Written by Apalachicola Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on January 28, 2025. Posted in Apalachicola Mortgage, For Buyers, Home Prices, Mortgage Apalachicola.

Let’s face it — buying a home can feel like a challenge with today’s mortgage rates. You might even be thinking, “Should I just wait until spring when more homes hit the market and rates might be lower?”But here’s the thing, no one knows for sure where mortgage rates will go from here, and waiting could mean facing more competition, higher prices, and a lot more stress.What if buying now — before the spring rush — might actually give you the upper hand? Here are three reasons why that just might be the case.1. Less Competition from Other BuyersThe winter months tend to be quieter in the...

Smaller Homes, Bigger Opportunities: The Homebuilder Trend Buyers Love

Written by Apalachicola Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on January 24, 2025. Posted in Apalachicola Mortgage, Buying Tips, For Buyers, Home Prices, Mortgage Apalachicola, Mortgage Rates.

It’s no secret that affordability is tough with where mortgage rates and home prices are right now. And that may have you worried about how you’ll be able to buy a home. But, if you don’t need a ton of space, you may find you have more cost-effective options in an unexpected place: new home communities.Builders Are Building Smaller Homes Since smaller homes typically come with smaller price tags, buyers have turned their attention to homes with less square footage — and builders have shifted their focus to capitalize on that demand. As U.S. News notes:“The combination of higher home prices...

If Your House’s Price Is Not Compelling, It’s Not Selling

Written by Apalachicola Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on January 23, 2025. Posted in Apalachicola Mortgage, For Sellers, Home Prices, Mortgage Apalachicola, Selling Tips.

There’s one big mistake you need to avoid when you sell your house this year: setting your price too high. It might seem like overpricing gives you room to negotiate or could really boost your profit, but the reality is, it usually backfires.In fact, Realtor.com says almost 20% of sellers — that’s one in five — have to reduce their price to get their house sold. And you don’t want to be one of them. Here’s why starting too high can lead to trouble, and how to avoid it.Overpricing Pushes Buyers AwayWith mortgage rates and home prices where they are right now, buyers are already stretching...

When Is the Perfect Time To Move?

Written by Apalachicola Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on January 21, 2025. Posted in Apalachicola Mortgage, For Buyers, Home Prices, Mortgage Apalachicola, Mortgage Rates.

It’s easy to get caught up in the idea of waiting for the perfect moment to make your move – especially in today’s market. Maybe you’re holding out and hoping mortgage rates will drop, or that home prices will fall. But here’s what you need to realize: trying to time the market rarely works. And here’s why.There is no perfect market.No matter when you buy, there’s always some benefit and some sort of trade-off – and that’s not a bad thing. That’s just the reality of it. If you’re not sure you buy into that, think back to the last 5 years in housing. Just a few years ago, mortgage rates hit...

2025 Housing Market Forecasts

Written by Apalachicola Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on January 18, 2025. Posted in Apalachicola Mortgage, Home Prices, Infographics, Mortgage Apalachicola, Mortgage Rates.

Some HighlightsWondering what to expect when you buy or sell a home this year? Here’s what the experts say lies ahead.Mortgage rates are projected to come down slightly. Home prices are forecast to rise in most areas. And, there will be more homes available for sale.Want to know more about what this could mean for your plans this year? Connect with a local agent to discuss your 2025 goals.

One Homebuying Step You Don’t Want To Skip: Pre-Approval

Written by Apalachicola Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on January 17, 2025. Posted in Apalachicola Mortgage, For Buyers, Home Prices, Mortgage Apalachicola.

There’s one essential step in the homebuying process you may not know a whole lot about and that’s pre-approval. Here’s a rundown of what it is and why it’s so important right now.What Is Pre-Approval?Pre-approval is like getting a green light from a lender. It lets you know how much they’re willing to let you borrow for a home. To determine that number, a lender looks at your financial history. According to Realtor.com, these are some of the documents a lender may ask you for during this process:W-2s from the last two yearsTax returns from the last two yearsPay stubs from the last 30...

How Much Home Equity Have You Gained? The Answer Might Surprise You

Written by Apalachicola Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on January 14, 2025. Posted in Apalachicola Mortgage, Equity, Home Prices, Mortgage Apalachicola.

Have you ever stopped to think about how much wealth you’ve built up just from being a homeowner? As home values rise, so does your net worth. And, if you’ve been in your house for a few years (or longer), there’s a good chance you’re sitting on a pile of equity — maybe even more than you realize.What Is Home Equity?Home equity is the difference between what your house is worth and what you owe on your mortgage. For example, if your house is worth $500,000 and you still owe $200,000 on your home loan, you have $300,000 in equity. It’s essentially the wealth you’ve built through...

Category: Home Prices