Category: Affordability

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Here’s Why Mortgage Rates Are What They Are Right Now

Written by Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on August 14, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Economy, For Buyers, For Sellers, Mortgage Rates, Mortgage Santa Rosa Beach, Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage.

If you’re waiting for mortgage rates to fall a lot before you buy, you may be waiting a while. But before you get discouraged, there’s a number working behind the scenes that’s actually good for you right now. It’s called the spread, and once you understand it, you may see today’s rates in a whole new light.The Pattern That’s Held for 50+ YearsFor starters, mortgage rates don’t move on their own. They tend to follow the 10-year treasury yield, a number tied to how investors feel about the economy.It’s not an exact science, since plenty of other factors can move...

The Case for Putting 20% Down on Your Next Home

Written by Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on August 14, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, Downsize, For Buyers, Mortgage Santa Rosa Beach, Move-Up, Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage.

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 DownAccording to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the typical repeat buyer...

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

Written by Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on July 30, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, For Buyers, Mortgage Santa Rosa Beach, Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage.

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 UpYou’ve probably heard...

What To Expect from the Housing Market in the Second Half of 2026

Written by Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on July 15, 2026. Posted in Affordability, For Buyers, For Sellers, Forecasts, Home Prices, Mortgage Rates, Mortgage Santa Rosa Beach, Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage.

If the first half of this year has left you feeling stuck, you’re not the only one. Mortgage rates stayed higher than people wanted. Affordability remained tight. And uncertainty overseas added another layer of pressure nobody saw coming.That’s why so many people are asking the same question: Will the second half of the year be any better for the housing market?While nobody has a crystal ball, there are a few encouraging signs things could start moving in a better direction. Here’s what to watch.Mortgage Rates Could Be Near a Turning Point One of the biggest reasons...

Down Payments Are Smaller Than They’ve Been Since 2021

Written by Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on July 5, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage Santa Rosa Beach, Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage.

Saving for a down payment can feel like the hardest part of buying a home. And with affordability as tight as it’s been lately, it’s fair to wonder how anyone manages it right now. Here’s something you may not have seen coming. Some people are getting their foot in the door with a smaller down payment.According to Realtor.com, the typical buyer put down about $23,400 in early 2026 – that’s around $5,000 below what was typical the year before (a 19% drop year over year). That’s the lowest down payments have been since 2021 (see graph below):So why are buyers putting less money down,...

That House That’s Been Sitting Could Be Your Best Shot at a Deal

Written by Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on June 23, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage Santa Rosa Beach, Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage.

Open up a home search and you’ll see them. Listings that have been on the market for two months. Three. Some longer.Most buyers scroll right past them, assuming something’s wrong with the house. But that instinct could be costing you, since the longer a home sits, the more motivated the seller usually gets.Where Some Buyers Are Finding Better DealsIf affordability has been your #1 hurdle to buying, here’s a surprisingly simple strategy that could help you finally get your foot in the door. Start with the homes that have been sitting the longest. That’s often where the best deals...

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

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

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 MythThe 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 Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on April 21, 2026. Posted in Affordability, First-Time Buyers, Inventory, Mortgage Santa Rosa Beach, Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage.

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 top 10...

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

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

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 WhyAfter 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, Chief...

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

Written by Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on April 10, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, For Buyers, Mortgage Santa Rosa Beach, Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage, 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 CommonIt’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...