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Category: First-Time Buyers

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Thought the Market Passed You By? Think Again.

Written by Key West Mortgage Syndicated User on . Posted in Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Inventory, Key West Florida News, Key West News.

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...

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Why You Don’t Need To Be Afraid of Today’s Mortgage Rates

Written by Key West Mortgage Syndicated User on . Posted in Buying Tips, Downsize, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, For Sellers, Key West Florida News, Key West News, Mortgage Rates, Move-Up.

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...

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The $280 Shift in Affordability Every Homebuyer Should Know

Written by Key West Mortgage Syndicated User on . Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Sellers, Key West Florida News, Key West News, Mortgage Rates, Move-Up.

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...

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What Buyers Say They Need Most (And How the Market’s Responding)

Written by Key West Mortgage Syndicated User on . Posted in Affordability, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Home Prices, Key West Florida News, Key West News, Mortgage Rates.

A recent survey from Bank of America asked would-be homebuyers what would help them feel better about making a move, and it’s no surprise the answers have a clear theme. They want affordability to improve, specifically prices and rates (see below):Here’s the good news. While the broader economy may still feel uncertain, there are signs the housing market is showing some changes in both of those areas. Let’s break it down so you know what you’re working with.Prices Are ModeratingOver the past few years, home prices climbed fast, sometimes so fast it left many buyers feeling shut out. But...

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Closing Costs Unpacked: State-by-State Breakdowns for Today’s Buyers

Written by Key West Mortgage Syndicated User on . Posted in First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Key West Florida News, Key West News.

If you’re planning to buy a home this year, there’s one expense you can’t afford to overlook: closing costs.Almost every buyer knows they exist, but not that many know exactly what they cover, or how different they can be based on where you’re buying. So, let’s break them down.What Are Closing Costs?Your closing costs are the additional fees and payments you make when finalizing your home purchase. Every buyer has them. According to Freddie Mac, they typically include things like homeowner insurance and title insurance, as well as various fees for your:Loan applicationCredit...

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Mortgage Rates Just Saw Their Biggest Drop in a Year

Written by Key West Mortgage Syndicated User on . Posted in Affordability, Economy, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Key West Florida News, Key West News, Mortgage Rates.

You’ve been waiting for what feels like forever for mortgage rates to finally budge. And last week, they did – in a big way.On Friday, September 5th, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate fell to the lowest level since October 2024. It was the biggest one-day decline in over a year.What Sparked the Drop?According to Mortgage News Daily, this was a reaction to the August jobs report, which came out weaker-than-expected for a second month in a row. That sent signals across the financial markets, and then mortgage rates came down as a result.Basically, we’re seeing signs the economy...

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Should You Still Expect a Bidding War?

Written by Key West Mortgage Syndicated User on . Posted in First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Key West Florida News, Key West News.

If you’re still worried about having to deal with a bidding war when you buy a home, you may be able to let some of that fear go.While multiple-offer situations haven’t disappeared entirely, they’re not nearly as common as they used to be. In fact, a recent survey shows agents reported only 1 in 5 homes (20%) nationally received multiple offers in June 2025.That’s down from nearly 1 in 3 (31%) just a year ago – and dramatically lower than in June 2023 (39%) (see graph below):This trend means you should face less competition when you buy. That gives you more time to make decisions and the...

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From Frenzy to Breathing Room: Buyers Finally Have Time Again

Written by Key West Mortgage Syndicated User on . Posted in Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Key West Florida News, Key West News.

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...

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Condos Could Be a Win for Today’s Buyers

Written by Key West Mortgage Syndicated User on . Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, Downsize, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Home Prices, Inventory, Key West Florida News, Key West News.

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),...

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

Written by Key West Mortgage Syndicated User on . Posted in Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Key West Florida News, Key West News.

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...

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