Real Estate Continues To Be the Best Investment [INFOGRAPHIC]

Written by Key West Mortgage Syndicated User on August 1, 2023. Posted in First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Housing Market Updates, Infographics, Key West Florida News, Key West News, Move-Up Buyers.

Some HighlightsAccording to a recent Gallup poll, real estate has been voted the best long-term investment for 11 years in a row, beating gold, stocks, bonds, and more.Owning real estate means more than just having a home—it’s an investment in your future. That’s because it’s typically a stable and secure asset that tends to increase in value as time goes on.Connect with a local real estate agent if you’re ready to buy a home and invest in your future.

Owning Your Home Helps You Build Wealth

Written by Key West Mortgage Syndicated User on August 1, 2023. Posted in Buying Myths, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Key West Florida News, Key West News, Rent vs. Buy.

You may have heard some people say it’s better to rent than buy a home right now. But, even today, there are lots of good reasons to become a homeowner. One of them is that owning a home is typically viewed as a good long-term investment that helps your net worth grow over time.Homeownership Builds Wealth Regardless of Income LevelYou may be surprised to learn homeowners across various income levels have a much higher net worth than renters who make the same amount. Data from First American helps illustrate this point (see graph below):What makes wealth so much higher for homeowners? A...

Explaining Today’s Mortgage Rates

Written by Key West Mortgage Syndicated User on August 1, 2023. Posted in For Buyers, Housing Market Updates, Interest Rates, Key West Florida News, Key West News.

If you’re following mortgage rates because you know they impact your borrowing costs, you may be wondering what the future holds for them. Unfortunately, there’s no easy way to answer that question because mortgage rates are notoriously hard to forecast. But, there’s one thing that’s historically a good indicator of what’ll happen with rates, and that’s the relationship between the 30-Year Mortgage Rate and the 10-Year Treasury Yield. Here’s a graph showing those two metrics since Freddie Mac started keeping mortgage rate records in 1972:As the graph shows, historically, the average spread...

Where Will You Go If You Sell? Newly Built Homes Might Be the Answer.

Written by Key West Mortgage Syndicated User on July 1, 2023. Posted in For Buyers, Key West Florida News, Key West News, Move-Up Buyers, New Construction.

Do you want to sell your house, but hesitate because you’re worried you won’t be able to find your next home in today’s market? You’re not alone, but there’s some good news that may ease your worries. New home construction is up and is becoming an increasingly significant part of the housing inventory.That means when you go to put your house on the market this summer, considering newly built homes is crucial for expanding the options you’ll have for your next move.Near-Record Percentage of New Home InventoryNewly built homes today make up a near-record percentage of the total number...

Why Homeownership Wins in the Long Run

Written by Key West Mortgage Syndicated User on July 1, 2023. Posted in First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Key West Florida News, Key West News, Pricing, Rent vs. Buy.

Today’s higher mortgage rates, inflationary pressures, and concerns about a potential recession have some people questioning: should I still buy a home this year? While it’s true this year has unique challenges for homebuyers, it’s important to think about the long-term benefits of homeownership when making your decision.Consider this: if you know people who bought a home 5, 10, or even 30 years ago, you’re probably going to have a hard time finding someone who regrets their decision. Why is that? The reason is tied to how home values grow with time and how, by extension, that grows your...

Lending Standards Are Not Like They Were Leading Up to the Crash

Written by Key West Mortgage Syndicated User on July 1, 2023. Posted in For Buyers, For Sellers, Housing Market Updates, Key West Florida News, Key West News.

You might be worried we’re heading for a housing crash, but there are many reasons why this housing market isn’t like the one we saw in 2008. One of which is how lending standards are different today. Here’s a look at the data to help prove it. Every month, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) releases the Mortgage Credit Availability Index (MCAI). According to their website:“The MCAI provides the only standardized quantitative index that is solely focused on mortgage credit. The MCAI is . . . a summary measure which indicates the availability of mortgage credit at a point in...

Homeownership Helps Protect You from Inflation [INFOGRAPHIC]

Written by Key West Mortgage Syndicated User on July 1, 2023. Posted in First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Infographics, Key West Florida News, Key West News, Rent vs. Buy.

Some HighlightsWondering if it makes sense to buy a home today even when inflation is high? When other costs go up due to inflation, buying a home helps you keep your monthly housing expense steady.Rents typically increase with inflation. Maybe that’s why, according to a recent survey, 65.1% of landlords say they plan to raise the rent of at least one of their properties within the next 12 months.Especially when inflation is up, having a stable housing payment can be helpful. Connect with a local real estate agent so you can learn more and start your journey to owning a home today.

What Homebuyers Need To Know About Credit Scores

Written by Key West Mortgage Syndicated User on July 1, 2023. Posted in First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Key West Florida News, Key West News, Move-Up Buyers.

If you’re thinking about buying a home, you should know your credit score’s a critical piece of the puzzle when it comes to qualifying for a home loan. Lenders review your credit to assess your ability to make payments on time, to pay back debts, and more. It’s also a factor that helps determine your mortgage rate. An article from Bankrate explains: “Your credit score is one of the most important factors lenders consider when you apply for a mortgage. Not just to qualify for the loan itself, but for the conditions: Typically, the higher your score, the lower the interest rates and better...

Why the Median Home Price Is Meaningless in Today’s Market

Written by Key West Mortgage Syndicated User on July 1, 2023. Posted in For Buyers, For Sellers, Housing Market Updates, Key West Florida News, Key West News, Pricing.

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) will release its latest Existing Home Sales (EHS) report later this week. This monthly report provides information on the sales volume and price trend for previously owned homes. In the upcoming release, it’ll likely say home prices are down. This may feel a bit confusing, especially if you’ve been following along and seeing the blogs saying that home prices have bottomed out and turned a corner.So, why will this likely say home prices are falling when so many other price reports say they’re going back up? It all depends on the methodology of each...

Saving for a Down Payment? Here’s What You Need To Know.

Written by Key West Mortgage Syndicated User on July 1, 2023. Posted in Down Payments, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Key West Florida News, Key West News, Move-Up Buyers.

If you’re planning to buy your first home, then you’re probably focused on saving for all the costs involved in such a big purchase. One of the expenses that may be at the top of your mind is your down payment. If you’re intimidated by how much you need to save for that, it may be because you believe you must put 20% down. That doesn’t necessarily have to be the case. As the National Association of Realtors (NAR) notes:“One of the biggest misconceptions among housing consumers is what the typical down payment is and what amount is needed to enter homeownership.”And a recent...

Category: For Buyers

Real Estate Continues To Be the Best Investment [INFOGRAPHIC]

Owning Your Home Helps You Build Wealth

Explaining Today’s Mortgage Rates

Where Will You Go If You Sell? Newly Built Homes Might Be the Answer.

Why Homeownership Wins in the Long Run

Lending Standards Are Not Like They Were Leading Up to the Crash

Homeownership Helps Protect You from Inflation [INFOGRAPHIC]

What Homebuyers Need To Know About Credit Scores

Why the Median Home Price Is Meaningless in Today’s Market

Saving for a Down Payment? Here’s What You Need To Know.

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