Category: First-Time Buyers

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Big Investors Are Backing Off and That’s Your Opening

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

For years, a lot of would-be homebuyers have worried about the same thing. How do you compete with big investors who can swoop in, pay cash, and snap up the houses you want? Well, worry a little less. Because right now, those big investors aren’t buying up the market. They’re backing out of it. Investors Are Buying Fewer Homes Than They Have in Years According to Redfin, investor home purchases just fell to their lowest level since 2020 – when the start of the pandemic temporarily caused pretty much all homebuying to pull way back. Before that, you’d have to go all the...

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...

14 Years Running: Why Real Estate Is Still America’s Favorite Investment

Written by Marco Island Mortgage Syndicated User on August 6, 2026. Posted in First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Marco Island Mortgage, Mortgage Marco Island, Rent vs. Buy.

Quick gut reaction. Which investment do Americans trust more than stocks, gold, savings accounts, and bonds? The answer hasn’t changed in 14 years. It’s real estate. And this year, that answer comes with even more conviction behind it. New data shows people aren’t just saying homeownership is a smart move, they’re feeling better about it than they have in years. Let’s dig into why. Real Estate Takes the Top Spot – Again Every year, Gallup asks Americans to name the best long-term investment. And for the 14th year in a row, real estate came out on top (see...

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...

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...

The 10 Best Markets for First-Time Buyers This Spring

Written by Marco Island Mortgage Syndicated User on April 21, 2026. Posted in Affordability, First-Time Buyers, Inventory, Marco Island Mortgage, Mortgage Marco Island.

For a while, buying your first home hasn’t just felt hard. It may have felt out of reach. Not because you weren’t ready. Not because you weren’t trying. But because every time you ran the numbers, they didn’t work. That’s why so many first-time buyers stepped back. But after years of sitting on the outside looking in, this Spring could give buyers like you an opening again – especially in some markets. Metros Where Buyers May Have an Easier Time Breaking into the Market Zillow just released a list of the top 50 metros for first-time buyers this Spring. And here’s a quick snapshot of the...

Rent or Buy? The Real Tradeoff Most People Don’t Talk About

Written by Marco Island Mortgage Syndicated User on April 17, 2026. Posted in Equity, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Marco Island Mortgage, Mortgage Marco Island, Rent vs. Buy.

You’ve probably asked yourself lately: Is it even worth trying to buy a home right now? It’s a question a lot of people are asking. With today’s home prices and mortgage rates, renting can feel like the easier path. In some cases, it might even seem like the only realistic option right now. And if that’s where you are, there’s nothing wrong with that. But if you’re weighing the decision, there’s one part of the conversation that doesn’t get talked about enough. It’s what each choice does for your future. What Renting Really Gets You (And What It Doesn’t) Depending on your situation,...

Getting a Tax Refund? Here’s How It Can Help You Buy a Home

Written by Marco Island Mortgage Syndicated User on April 16, 2026. Posted in Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Marco Island Mortgage, Mortgage Marco Island.

If you’re getting a tax refund this year, here’s something worth thinking about. That money could actually help you get closer to buying a home. It may not be something you’ve factored into your plan yet, but it can give your savings a nice boost right when you need it most. And whether your refund is a few thousand dollars or more, there are some smart ways to put that money to work as you get ready to buy. Your Refund May Be Even Bigger This Year Let’s start with the good news. People are getting even more money back in their refunds than they did last year. The visual below uses data...

Wondering If You Should Still Buy a Home Right Now? Here’s What To Keep in Mind.

Written by Marco Island Mortgage Syndicated User on April 14, 2026. Posted in Affordability, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Marco Island Mortgage, Mortgage Marco Island, Mortgage Rates.

With economic headlines, global events, and near constant talk about affordability, you may be wondering if this is the right time to move. But here’s what you need to remember. While recent events do have some impact on the housing market, they don’t take buying off the table. You just have to use a different strategy. Mortgage Rates Have Been Up Slightly – Here’s Why After trending down for most of 2025, mortgage rates have been higher again for over roughly a month now. And experts say it’s a result of what’s happening overseas and in the broader economy. As Mark Fleming,...