Category: Buying Tips

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Who Has the Upper Hand in Today’s Housing Market?

Written by Marco Island Mortgage Syndicated User on August 13, 2026. Posted in Buying Tips, For Buyers, For Sellers, Marco Island Mortgage, Mortgage Marco Island, Selling Tips.

Ask around and almost every homebuyer out there wants to know if there’s a way to get a better deal. And just about every seller wants to know if they’ll still get top dollar. The interesting thing is… both can be right at the exact same time. It just depends on where you live. That’s because today’s housing market isn’t moving in one direction anymore. Some markets clearly favor buyers. Others still favor sellers. But most are sitting somewhere in the middle. And knowing which market you’re actually in can completely change the strategy you use to buy...

The Case for Putting 20% Down on Your Next Home

Written by Marco Island Mortgage Syndicated User on August 13, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, Downsize, For Buyers, Marco Island Mortgage, Mortgage Marco Island, Move-Up.

If you’re planning to buy your next home soon, you’ve probably heard the old rule about saving 20% for your down payment. The truth is, you usually don’t have to. Plenty of loan options let qualified buyers put down much less. But a lot of repeat buyers are choosing to put down 20% anyway. So, why are they if they don’t have to? Two reasons. They know a bigger down payment pays off, and after years in their current house, they’ve built up enough equity that it’s finally possible. Repeat Buyers Put More Money Down According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the typical repeat...

Thinking About Waiting for Lower Mortgage Rates? Read This First.

Written by Marco Island Mortgage Syndicated User on August 6, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, Economy, For Buyers, Forecasts, Marco Island Mortgage, Mortgage Marco Island, Mortgage Rates.

Imagine waiting a year to buy a home, only to find mortgage rates haven’t changed much. That may sound frustrating.But it’s a real possibility. A lot of people are putting their plans on hold because they believe much lower mortgage rates are right around the corner. But, based on today’s forecasts, that may not happen. And you should know that before you decide what to do. Let’s look at why experts don’t expect a dramatic drop in rates – and the options that could help you buy anyway. Because even if rates don’t fall, you can still move. Here’s how. 1....

Buying a Home? Here’s What You Should Know About Home Insurance Costs.

Written by Marco Island Mortgage Syndicated User on August 6, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, For Buyers, Marco Island Mortgage, Mortgage Marco Island.

If buying a home is on your radar, you’ve probably been keeping an eye on mortgage rates and home prices. But don’t forget about homeowners insurance. Homeowners insurance has always been part of owning a home. But over the past few years, it’s become a larger expense for many homeowners – something that’s especially frustrating when affordability already feels tight. The good news? While premiums are still rising, the latest data shows those increases are beginning to slow. Here’s what buyers should know. Home Insurance Costs Have Gone Up You’ve probably...

Home Price Growth Slowed Down. That May Be Changing.

Written by Marco Island Mortgage Syndicated User on August 6, 2026. Posted in Buying Tips, For Buyers, For Sellers, Home Prices, Marco Island Mortgage, Mortgage Marco Island, Selling Tips.

After more than a year of headlines talking about how home prices are going to crash, the latest data shows that price growth may be starting to pick back up again. And depending on whether you’re buying or selling, that shift means something different for you. The Numbers May Be Starting To Turn For the past couple of years, home price growth has been moderating – cooling from around 7% in mid-2024, according to Redfin (see graph below). But look at the right side of that graph. The pace of that growth appears to have hit its low point and started to turn. While a couple months of data...

Priced Out? A Condo or Townhome Could Be Your Way In.

Written by Marco Island Mortgage Syndicated User on August 6, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, Downsize, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Marco Island Mortgage, Mortgage Marco Island.

Today’s home prices have a lot of buyers – especially first-time buyers – wondering if there’s even anything out there that’s in their budget. But owning a home may be more within reach than you think. Sometimes, it just means considering a different type of home. Condos and townhomes can be a great way to buy without stretching every last dollar. And right now, two things make them worth a serious look. There Are More Condos and Townhomes To Choose From Maybe you feel like there’s just nothing out there for you, and you’ve exhausted all your options. But have you considered condos...

More Homes, Better Prices: A Buyer’s Summer

Written by Marco Island Mortgage Syndicated User on August 6, 2026. Posted in Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Home Prices, Inventory, Marco Island Mortgage, Mortgage Marco Island.

If you’ve thought about buying a home in the past few years, you may have run into two frustrations: asking prices that kept climbing and too few homes to choose from. In many places, both sticking points are letting up this summer, with lower asking prices and more homes for sale. Let’s look at the trends, and what they mean for your search. Sellers Are Pricing To Attract Buyers According to Realtor.com, the national median asking price was $430,000 in June, nearly $11,000 under what it was the year before (see graph below): That’s the eighth month in a row that the typical asking price...

Could Co-Buying Be the Answer for Some First-Time Buyers?

Written by Marco Island Mortgage Syndicated User on May 12, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Marco Island Mortgage, Mortgage Marco Island.

For a lot of would-be first-time buyers, affordability is the thing that’s standing in the way. But some buyers are getting creative and finding a way to still make the numbers work – and that’s through co-buying. The Dream Is Still Alive. The Math Just Isn’t Working for Everyone. Young people haven’t given up on the dream of owning a home – not even close. According to FirstHome IQ, homeownership still ranks among the top life goals for the next generation. The problem? 73% of Gen Z and millennial buyers cite affordability as the reason for not making homeownership a priority. And it...

4 Ways To Give Your Offer an Edge This Spring

Written by Marco Island Mortgage Syndicated User on May 12, 2026. Posted in Buying Tips, For Buyers, Marco Island Mortgage, Mortgage Marco Island.

Looking to buy a home this season? Here’s what you should know. Buyers have more leverage today than they’ve had in years. There are more homes to choose from and, in many areas, sellers are more open to negotiation. But that doesn’t mean competition is gone completely. These days, it varies a lot depending on where you’re hoping to move. If you’re buying in a popular neighborhood, or in a market where there aren’t many homes for sale, you may still find yourself competing with another buyer. And that’s especially true in the Spring. Here’s how to stay one step ahead of any...

Think You Have To Put 20% Down? Most First-Time Homebuyers Don’t.

Written by Marco Island Mortgage Syndicated User on April 28, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Marco Island Mortgage, Mortgage Marco Island.

According to Google Trends, online searches for down payment information recently hit an all-time high. And that’s a clear sign more buyers are trying to figure out what they really need to save before making a move (see graph below): If you’re wondering the same thing, you can always turn to the internet for answers. But a lot of the time, it’s better to ask a local expert. Because here’s what a pro would tell you. The 20% Down Payment Myth The idea that you need 20% down to buy a home is one of the biggest misconceptions around the homebuying process. And the data debunks the myth. While...