Two Ways Homebuyers Can Win in Today’s Market

Written by Fort Walton Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on January 12, 2022. Posted in First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Fort Walton Beach Mortgage, Mortgage Fort Walton Beach, Move-Up Buyers.

If your goal is to purchase a home this year, you might be looking for any advantage you can get in today’s sellers’ market. While competition is still fierce for homebuyers, there are ways you can win and secure the home of your dreams, even in a hot market. Act Early and Save The earlier you act this year, the more affordable your purchase will be. That’s because experts project mortgage rates will rise as we move deeper into 2022. According to Freddie Mac, the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is expected to be 3.5% by year’s end. Experts forecast home prices will rise as well. That means...

Why Inflation Shouldn’t Stop You from Buying a Home in 2022

Written by Fort Walton Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on January 11, 2022. Posted in Buying Myths, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Fort Walton Beach Mortgage, Housing Market Updates, Interest Rates, Mortgage Fort Walton Beach, Move-Up Buyers, Pricing.

If you’re following along with the news today, you’re probably hearing a lot about record-breaking home prices, rising consumer costs, supply chain constraints, and more. And if you’re thinking about purchasing a home this year, all of these inflationary concerns are likely making you wonder if you should wait to buy. Investopedia explains that during a period of high inflation, prices rise across the board. And while home prices aren’t immune from this increase, here’s why inflation shouldn’t stop you from buying a home in 2022. Homeownership Offers Stability and Security Home prices have...

How To Hit Your Homebuying Goals This Year [INFOGRAPHIC]

Written by Fort Walton Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on January 7, 2022. Posted in Down Payments, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Fort Walton Beach Mortgage, Infographics, Mortgage Fort Walton Beach, Move-Up Buyers.

Some Highlights If you’re looking to buy a home, you may want to put these items on your to-do list to ensure you hit your goals. It’s important to start working on your credit and saving for a down payment early. When you’re ready to begin your search, work with a real estate professional and get pre-approved so you know how much you can borrow. Connect with a real estate advisor so you have the guidance you need to achieve your homebuying goals this year. Content previously posted on Keeping Current Matters

Avoid the Rental Trap in 2022

Written by Fort Walton Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on January 4, 2022. Posted in First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Fort Walton Beach Mortgage, Mortgage Fort Walton Beach, Rent vs. Buy.

Are you one of the many renters thinking about where you’ll live the next time your lease is up? Before you decide whether to look for a new house or another apartment, it’s important to understand the true costs of renting in 2022. As a renter, you should know rents have been rising since 1988 (see graph below): In 2021, rents grew dramatically. According to ApartmentList.com, since January 2021: “. . . the national median rent has increased by a staggering 17.8 percent. To put that in context, rent growth from January to November averaged just 2.6 percent in the pre-pandemic years from...

5 Tips for Making Your Best Offer on a Home

Written by Fort Walton Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on December 28, 2021. Posted in Buying Myths, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Fort Walton Beach Mortgage, Mortgage Fort Walton Beach, Move-Up Buyers.

As a buyer in a sellers’ market, sometimes it can feel like you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place. When you’re ready to make an offer on a home, remember these five easy tips to help you rise above the competition. 1. Know Your Budget Knowing your budget and what you can afford is critical to your success as a homebuyer. The best way to understand your numbers is to work with a lender so you can get pre-approved for a loan. As Freddie Mac puts it: “This pre-approval allows you to look for a home with greater confidence and demonstrates to the seller that you are a serious buyer.” Showing...

When a House Becomes a Home

Written by Fort Walton Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on December 23, 2021. Posted in First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Fort Walton Beach Mortgage, Mortgage Fort Walton Beach, Move-Up Buyers.

It’s clear that owning a home makes financial sense. But lately, the emotional side of what drives homeownership is becoming increasingly important. No matter the living space, the feeling of a home means different things to different people. Whether it’s a familiar scent or a favorite chair, the feel-good connections to our own homes can be more important to us than the financial ones. Here are some of the reasons why. 1. Owning your home is an accomplishment worth celebrating You’ve put in a lot of work to achieve the dream of homeownership, and whether it’s your first home or your fifth,...

The Perks of Putting 20% Down on a Home

Written by Fort Walton Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on December 22, 2021. Posted in Down Payments, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Fort Walton Beach Mortgage, Mortgage Fort Walton Beach, Move-Up Buyers.

If you’re thinking of buying a home, you’re probably wondering what you need to save for your down payment. Is it 20% of the loan, or could you put down less? While there are lower down payment programs available that allow qualified buyers to put down as little as 3.5%, it’s important to understand the many perks that come with a 20% down payment. Here are four reasons why putting 20% down may be a great option if it works within your budget. 1. Your Interest Rate May Be Lower A 20% down payment vs. a 3-5% down payment shows your lender you’re more financially stable and not a large credit...

Homebuyers: Be Ready To Act This Winter

Written by Fort Walton Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on December 20, 2021. Posted in First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Fort Walton Beach Mortgage, Housing Market Updates, Interest Rates, Mortgage Fort Walton Beach, Move-Up Buyers.

To succeed as a buyer in today’s market, it’s important to understand which market trends will have the greatest impact on your home search. Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at realtor.com, says there are two factors every buyer should keep their eyes on: “Going forward, the conditions buyers face are primarily dependent on two things: mortgage rates and housing supply.” Here’s a look at each one. Mortgage Rates Projected To Rise in 2022 As a buyer, your interest rate directly impacts how much you’ll pay on your monthly mortgage when you purchase a home. Rates are beginning to rise, and experts...

2022 Housing Market Forecast [INFOGRAPHIC]

Written by Fort Walton Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on December 17, 2021. Posted in First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, For Sellers, Fort Walton Beach Mortgage, Housing Market Updates, Infographics, Interest Rates, Mortgage Fort Walton Beach, Move-Up Buyers, Pricing.

Some Highlights What does the coming year hold for the housing market? Here’s what experts project for 2022. Mortgage rates are projected to rise and so are home prices. Experts are forecasting buyer demand will remain strong as people try to capitalize on rates and prices before they climb, creating another strong year for home sales. Let’s connect so you can make your best move in the new year. Content previously posted on Keeping Current Matters

What Everyone Wants To Know: Will Home Prices Decline in 2022?

Written by Fort Walton Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on December 15, 2021. Posted in First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Fort Walton Beach Mortgage, Housing Market Updates, Mortgage Fort Walton Beach, Move-Up Buyers, Pricing.

If you’re thinking of buying a home in today’s housing market, you may be wondering how strong your investment will be. You might be asking yourself: if I buy a home now, will it lose value? Or will it continue to appreciate going forward? The good news is, according to the experts, home prices are not projected to decline. Here’s why. With buyers still outweighing sellers, home prices are forecast to continue climbing in 2022, just at a slower or more moderate pace. Why the continued increase? It’s the simple law of supply and demand. When there are fewer items on the market than there are...

Category: First Time Home Buyers