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Category: Buying Tips

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

Written by Key Largo Mortgage Syndicated User on . Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, For Buyers, Key Largo Mortgage, Key Largo Mortgage Rates.

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...

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Home Price Growth Slowed Down. That May Be Changing.

Written by Key Largo Mortgage Syndicated User on . Posted in Buying Tips, For Buyers, For Sellers, Home Prices, Key Largo Mortgage, Key Largo Mortgage Rates, 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...

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

Written by Key Largo Mortgage Syndicated User on . Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Key Largo Mortgage, Key Largo Mortgage Rates.

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...

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

Written by Key Largo Mortgage Syndicated User on . Posted in Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Key Largo Mortgage, Key Largo Mortgage Rates.

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...

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When Buying a Home Feels Out of Reach, Some Families Do This Instead

Written by Key Largo Mortgage Syndicated User on . Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, For Buyers, Key Largo Mortgage, Key Largo Mortgage Rates, Senior Market.

For a lot of people, the math on buying a home just doesn’t really work right now. Maybe that’s how it feels for you too. You look at the cost of buying. Then you look at the cost of childcare. And it starts to feel like you have to choose one or the other. But some families are finding a way to make both work by doing something a little different: teaming up to purchase a multi-generational home. One Reason This Is Becoming More Common It’s no secret that affordability has been a challenge in recent years. But for families with young kids, there’s an added layer that can make it feel even...

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Thinking About an Adjustable-Rate Mortgage? Here’s What You Need To Know.

Written by Key Largo Mortgage Syndicated User on . Posted in Buying Tips, For Buyers, Key Largo Mortgage, Key Largo Mortgage Rates, Mortgage Rates.

If you’ve been looking for a home lately, you’ve probably felt how tough affordability still is. And that’s exactly why more buyers are opting for adjustable-rate mortgages, or ARMs. Here’s what you need to understand about how they work, and whether they make sense for you. What Is an Adjustable-Rate Mortgage? Since a lot of people aren’t familiar with this type of loan, let’s start with a definition. This is how Business Insider explains the main difference between a fixed-rate mortgage and an adjustable-rate mortgage: “With a fixed-rate mortgage, your interest rate remains...

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Before You Fall in Love with a House, Do This First.

Written by Key Largo Mortgage Syndicated User on . Posted in Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Key Largo Mortgage, Key Largo Mortgage Rates.

Be honest. Have you started looking at homes online yet? If you have, it’s already time to get pre-approved. Because here’s what not enough people know. If buying a home is on your radar – even if it’s more of a someday plan than a right now plan – you don’t want to wait until later on in the process to tackle this step. No matter what you’ve heard, pre-approval isn’t about commitment. It’s about clarity. And here are the two big ways pre-approval sets you up for success.  You Know Your Numbers Up Front  During the pre-approval process, a lender will walk through your finances and tell you...

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You Can’t Control What’s Happening with Mortgage Rates. But You Can Control This.

Written by Key Largo Mortgage Syndicated User on . Posted in Buying Tips, For Buyers, Key Largo Mortgage, Key Largo Mortgage Rates, Mortgage Rates.

Mortgage rates have been volatile lately. And if you’re thinking about buying a home, that can make it harder to plan. But there are still things you can do to get the best rate possible in today’s market. It starts with having the right information. So, what’s causing the bumps in rates? And what can you do about it? Let’s break it down. Mortgage Rate Volatility Is Normal Data from Freddie Mac shows the recent volatility. After trending down for well over a year, there was a rise this month (see graph below):  While it’s easy to be distracted by the changes, here’s what you need to...

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3 Must-Do’s for First-Time Home Buyers

Written by Key Largo Mortgage Syndicated User on . Posted in Agent Value, Buying Tips, Featured, First-Time Buyers, Key Largo Mortgage, Key Largo Mortgage Rates.

Buying your first home is exciting, but it can also be a little nerve-wrecking because it’s something you’ve never done before. And trying to think of everything you need to do can feel like a lot. But here’s the key. You don’t have to figure everything out on your own. And you don’t have to do it all at once. Just tackle it one thing at a time. Here’s a simple list of 3 main things you should focus on to help you get started. 1. Assemble Your Team: Don’t Do This Alone Buying a home is a team sport. And having the right professionals by your side can make a world of difference. Here’s who...

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Top 3 Reasons To Buy a Home Before Spring

Written by Key Largo Mortgage Syndicated User on . Posted in Buying Tips, For Buyers, Home Prices, Key Largo Mortgage, Key Largo Mortgage Rates, Mortgage Rates.

If you’re planning to buy a home this year, you may be focused on the spring market. And hoping that when spring does hit, you’ll see: Mortgage rates drop a little more. More homes hit the market. But here’s what most buyers don’t realize. Buying just a few weeks earlier could mean paying less, dealing with less stress, and feeling less rushed. Here are three reasons why accelerating your timeline over the next few weeks could actually be a better play. 1. Holding Out for Lower Rates May Not Pay Off  A lot of buyers are hoping mortgage rates will fall even further. But that’s not the...

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