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Category: Key West News

Monroe County is the southernmost county in Florida. It stretches more than 100 miles from Key Largo to Key West and is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Gulf of Mexico to the west. Its key population centers include Key Largo, Islamorada, Tavernier, Marathon, Big Pine Key and Key West.

The Florida Keys are renowned for being among the most pre-eminent fishing and diving destinations in the world. Recreation options include fishing, diving, kayaking, camping, bicycling and assorted other water and outdoor sports.

Are Builders Overbuilding Again? Let’s Look at the Facts.

Written by Key West Mortgage Syndicated User on . Posted in Featured, For Buyers, For Sellers, Inventory, Key West Florida News, Key West News, New Construction.

If it feels like you’re seeing new construction signs pop up everywhere, you’re not wrong. Builders have been busy. And it’s left some people wondering: Are we overbuilding like we did right before the 2008 housing crash?No matter what you may hear in the news, there’s no reason for alarm. In reality, data shows builders aren’t racing ahead, they’re actually starting to tap the brakes.Builders Are Pulling Back, Not Piling OnPermits (applications to start building new homes) are one of the best early indicators for what’s next for home construction. And right now, building permits are...

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The VA Home Loan Advantage: What Every Veteran Should Know Right Now

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

If you’ve served in the military (or if your spouse has), you have access to one of the most powerful homebuying tools out there. The chance to buy a home without having a down payment.Unfortunately, 70% of Veterans (that’s 7 out of every 10) don’t know about this benefit, according to Veterans United.And that’s a big missed opportunity for those who’ve earned this benefit through service. So, let’s break down what you really need to know about Veterans Affairs (VA) home loans right now.Why VA Home Loans Can Be a Great OptionFor nearly 80 years, VA loans have made homeownership...

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What a Government Shutdown Really Means for the Housing Market

Written by Key West Mortgage Syndicated User on . Posted in Buying Tips, Economy, For Buyers, For Sellers, Key West Florida News, Key West News, Selling Tips.

There’s been a lot of talk lately about how a government shutdown impacts the housing market. You might be wondering: Is it causing everything to grind to a halt?The short answer? No.The housing market doesn’t stop. It keeps moving. Homes are still being bought and sold, contracts are still being signed, and closings are still happening. The difference is that a few parts of the process may slow down a little, but overall, the market continues to function.Here’s What Typically Happens Whenever the government shuts down, some federal agencies temporarily close or scale back their...

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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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Why Some Homes Sell Quickly – and Others Don’t Sell at All

Written by Key West Mortgage Syndicated User on . Posted in Agent Value, For Sellers, Inventory, Key West Florida News, Key West News, Selling Tips.

A few years ago, inventory hit a record low. Just about anything sold – and fast. But now, there are far more homes on the market. Listings are up almost 20% from this time last year. And in some areas, supply is even back to levels we last saw in 2017–2019. For sellers, that means one thing:Your house needs to stand out and grab attention from day one.That’s especially true when you consider why the number of homes for sale is up. Here’s how it works. Available inventory is a mix of: Active Listings: homes that have been sitting on the market, but haven’t sold yetNew Listings: homes that...

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The Reason Homes Feel Like They Cost So Much (It’s Not What You Think)

Written by Key West Mortgage Syndicated User on . Posted in For Buyers, Home Prices, Key West Florida News, Key West News.

Scroll through your feed and you’ll see plenty of finger-pointing about why homes cost so much. And according to a national survey, a lot of people believe big investors are to blame.Even though data shows that’s not true, nearly half of Americans surveyed (48%) think investors are the top reason housing feels so expensive (see graph below):But that theory doesn’t actually hold up once you look at the data.The Truth About InvestorsInvestors do play a role in the housing market, especially in certain areas. But they’re not buying up all the homes like so many people on social media...

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Planning To Sell in 2026? Start the Prep Now

Written by Key West Mortgage Syndicated User on . Posted in For Sellers, Key West Florida News, Key West News, Selling Tips.

You’ve got big plans for 2026. But what you do this year could be the difference between a smooth sale and a stressful one. If you’re thinking of selling next spring (the busiest season in real estate), the smartest move you can make is to start prepping now. As Realtor.com says:“If you’re aiming to sell in 2026, now is the time to start preparing, especially if you want to maximize the spring market’s higher buyer activity.” Because the reality is, from small repairs to touch-ups and decluttering, the earlier you start, the easier it’ll be when you’re ready to list. And, the better your...

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Is the Housing Market Going To Crash? Here’s What Experts Say

Written by Key West Mortgage Syndicated User on . Posted in Economy, For Buyers, For Sellers, Forecasts, Home Prices, Key West Florida News, Key West News.

If you’ve seen headlines or social posts calling for a housing crash, it’s easy to wonder if home values are about to take a hit. But here’s the simple truth.The data doesn’t point to a crash. It points to slow, continued growth.And sure, it’s going to vary by local area. Some markets will see prices rise more than others. And some may even see small, short-term declines. But the big picture is: home prices are expected to rise nationally, not fall, over the next 5 years.The Real Story Is in the Expert ForecastsIn the Home Price Expectations Survey (HPES) from Fannie Mae, each quarter over...

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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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