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Category: Buying Tips

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You May Not Want To Skip Over That House That’s Been Sitting on the Market

Written by The Villages FL Mortgage Syndicated User on . Posted in Buying Tips, For Buyers, The Villages FL, The Villages FL Mortgage.

When you see a house that’s been sitting on the market for a while, the reaction is almost automatic. You start thinking:What’s wrong with it?Why hasn’t anyone bought it yet?Am I missing something?That mindset made sense a few years ago. But in today’s market, you may actually miss out.More Time on Market Isn’t Automatically a Concern AnymoreA few years ago, homes sold in just a matter of days. Sometimes, hours. Anything that lingered longer than that raised concerns. But that’s no longer the baseline.Inventory has grown. Buyers have more choices. And homes are taking longer to sell...

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Thought the Market Passed You By? Think Again.

Written by The Villages FL Mortgage Syndicated User on . Posted in Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Inventory, The Villages FL, The Villages FL Mortgage.

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 The Villages FL Mortgage Syndicated User on . Posted in Buying Tips, Downsize, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, For Sellers, Mortgage Rates, Move-Up, The Villages FL, The Villages FL Mortgage.

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

Written by The Villages FL Mortgage Syndicated User on . Posted in Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, The Villages FL, The Villages FL Mortgage.

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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Multi-Generational Homebuying Hit a Record High – Here’s Why

Written by The Villages FL Mortgage Syndicated User on . Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, The Villages FL, The Villages FL Mortgage.

Multi-generational living is on the rise. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 17% of homebuyers purchase a home to share with parents, adult children, or extended family. That’s the highest share ever recorded by NAR (see graph below):And what’s behind the increase? Affordability. NAR explains:“In 2024, a notable 36% of homebuyers cited “cost savings” as the primary reason for purchasing a multigenerational home—a significant increase from just 15% in 2015.”In the past, caregiving was the leading motivator – especially for those looking to support aging parents. And...

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Buyers Have More Negotiation Power – Here’s How To Use It

Written by The Villages FL Mortgage Syndicated User on . Posted in Agent Value, Buying Tips, For Buyers, The Villages FL, The Villages FL Mortgage.

You may have heard there are more homes for sale right now. And while that’ll vary depending on the market, it means that overall, things are starting to lean in a more balanced direction. As that happens, some sellers are a bit more open to compromise. Here’s what that means for you.You may be regaining some negotiating power. That can translate into savings, perks, or even better terms on your purchase – if you know what levers to pull during negotiation.Why an Agent Is an Essential Part of the Negotiation ProcessThe complicated part is knowing what is and isn’t on the table. That’s where...

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Is an Accessory Dwelling Unit Right for You? Here’s What To Know

Written by The Villages FL Mortgage Syndicated User on . Posted in Buying Tips, For Buyers, The Villages FL, The Villages FL Mortgage.

Are you having a hard time finding the right home in your budget? Or maybe you already own a home but could use some extra income or a designated space for aging loved ones. Either way, accessory dwelling units (ADUs) could be the smart solution you’ve been looking for in today’s market.What Is an ADU?According to Fannie Mae, an ADU is a small, separate living space that’s on the same lot as a single-family home. It must include its own areas for living, sleeping, cooking, and bathrooms independent of the main house. And they can take shape in a few different ways. Fannie Mae adds, an ADU...

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Two Resources That Can Help You Buy a Home Right Now

Written by The Villages FL Mortgage Syndicated User on . Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, The Villages FL, The Villages FL Mortgage.

A recent report from Realtor.com says 20% of Americans don’t think homeownership is achievable. Maybe you feel the same way. With inflation driving up day-to-day expenses, saving enough to buy your first home is more of a challenge. But here’s the thing. With the right resources and help, you can still make it happen.There are options that can help make buying a home possible today — even if your savings are limited or your credit isn’t perfect. Let’s explore just two of the solutions that could help get you into your first home no matter the market.1. FHA LoansIf your down payment savings...

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Simple Steps To Help You Save for Your First Home

Written by The Villages FL Mortgage Syndicated User on . Posted in Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, The Villages FL, The Villages FL Mortgage.

Turning a dream into reality starts with one thing: a plan. And if buying your first home is on your list of goals, now’s the perfect time to put a plan in motion to help you save.And the best part? Reaching your savings goal doesn’t mean making huge sacrifices overnight – small, consistent steps can get you there over time. Here are a few strategies that can help speed up the process.Step 1: Build a Budget That Works for YouKnowing where your money’s going is the first step to saving more of it. Take some time to track the money you’ve got coming in and going out. This helps you spot areas...

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Buy Now, or Wait?

Written by The Villages FL Mortgage Syndicated User on . Posted in Buying Tips, For Buyers, Infographics, Mortgage Rates, The Villages FL, The Villages FL Mortgage.

Some HighlightsIf you’re wondering if you should buy now or wait, here’s what you need to know. If you wait for rates to drop more, you’ll have to deal with more competition and higher prices as additional buyers jump back in. But if you buy now, you’d get ahead of that and have the chance to start building equity.Should you buy now or wait? Connect with a real estate agent and talk through it together, so you can make your best decision.

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