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...

Home Price Growth Slowed Down. That May Be Changing.

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

The “Take It or Leave It” Attitude Is Fading from the Market – What That Means for You

Written by Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on July 15, 2026. Posted in Buying Tips, For Buyers, For Sellers, Mortgage Santa Rosa Beach, New Construction, Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage, Selling Tips.

Negotiations are back. More buyers are asking for better deals, and more sellers are giving them. Builders are throwing in extras, too. That’s why whether you’re buying or selling today, there are two terms you’ll hear a lot: concession and incentive.A concession is something a seller agrees to during negotiations to get a deal done.An incentive is a perk a builder (or a seller) advertises upfront to attract buyers.Let’s run through what you need to know about both and how they could play a role in your move.More Sellers Are Agreeing to ConcessionsAlmost half (46%) of homeowners who sold...

Student Loans Are Back in the News. Don’t Let It Put Your Homeownership Plans on Hold.

Written by Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on July 15, 2026. Posted in Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage Santa Rosa Beach, Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage.

Student loans are back in the spotlight. And whether you’ve been following the headlines closely or just catching bits and pieces here and there, there’s a good chance they’ve been on your mind lately.And if you’re questioning whether you have to hit pause on your plans to buy a home, here’s the thing you have to remember:Having student loans doesn’t automatically mean buying a home has to wait.The Biggest Myth About Student Loans and Buying a HomeOne of the most common misconceptions among first-time buyers is that they have to pay off their student loans...

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,...

The 1 Factor That Explains Everything Happening with Home Prices Right Now

Written by Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on June 30, 2026. Posted in Buying Tips, For Buyers, For Sellers, Home Prices, Inventory, Mortgage Santa Rosa Beach, Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage, Selling Tips.

You’ve probably heard that home prices are cooling off. And that’s true – nationally. But zoom in on individual markets across the country, and the picture looks completely different depending on where you are.Some areas are still seeing solid price growth. Others have gone flat. A few have actually dipped slightly negative. So, what’s causing all of that variation? It All Comes Down to InventoryHere’s the simple version:When there are more homes for sale, buyers have options.More options, means less competition.Less competition means sellers can’t push prices...

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...

Is It Still a Seller’s Market? Here’s What the Data Says.

Written by Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on June 23, 2026. Posted in Agent Value, Buying Tips, For Buyers, For Sellers, Mortgage Santa Rosa Beach, Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage, Selling Tips.

Remember a few years back when sellers held all the power and buyers were stuck offering way over asking or waiving inspections just to get a chance at the house? In many markets, those days are behind us.While it’s going to vary by area, more metros are slowly shifting to favor buyers, and the market is starting to look a lot more like a two-way street again.And that balance is something we haven’t had in a while.Whether you’re buying or selling, here’s what you need to know about what’s changing and what it means for your move.The Most Buyer-Friendly Market in YearsThe...

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...

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

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

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 YearLet’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 from...

Category: Buying Tips