Pre-Approval Isn’t Commitment – It’s Clarity

Written by Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on April 18, 2025. Posted in Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage Santa Rosa Beach, Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage.

If buying a home is on your radar – even if it’s more of a someday plan than a right now plan – getting pre-approved early is still one of the smartest moves you can make. Why? Because, like anything in life, the right prep work makes things clearer.The best time to get serious about buying is before you’re ready to buy. Here’s why.Pre-Approval Helps You Understand Your NumbersOne of the biggest benefits of pre-approval is how it helps you understand your buying power. As part of the pre-approval process, a lender will walk through your finances and tell you what you can borrow based on...

Are You Saving Up To Buy a Home? Your Tax Refund Can Help

Written by Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on April 16, 2025. Posted in Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage Santa Rosa Beach, Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage.

You’ve been working on your savings and dreaming of that moment when you finally have keys to a place that’s truly yours. What you might not realize is that your tax return could give you a little extra cash to help you get there sooner. As Freddie Mac notes:“ . . . your tax refund from the IRS can be a useful supplement to your homebuying budget.” So, if you’re getting a tax refund this year, you can use it to help you pay for some of the upfront costs that come with buying a home, like the down payment and closing costs. And here’s the best part.On average, people are getting even more...

4 Ways To Make an Offer That Stands Out This Spring

Written by Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on April 15, 2025. Posted in Agent Value, Buying Tips, For Buyers, Mortgage Santa Rosa Beach, Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage.

Now that spring is here, more and more buyers are jumping back into the market, and competition is heating up.If you’re serious about landing a home you’ll love, you need more than just a wish list. You need a smart strategy – and that starts with working with a great agent who can help you put together a strong offer.Here are some top tips your agent will share with you that are helping buyers stand out (and win) in today’s market.1. Don’t Lowball on PriceIt’s tempting to start with a super low offer in an attempt to save money. But in a competitive spring market, that could backfire. If...

Why You Don’t Want To Skip Your Home Inspection

Written by Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on April 11, 2025. Posted in Agent Value, Buying Tips, For Buyers, Mortgage Santa Rosa Beach, Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage.

When you finally find the home you want to buy, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement. You’ve toured the place, imagined your furniture in it, maybe even pictured your morning coffee on the porch. The last thing you want is to slow down the process with more steps or lose out to another buyer’s offer because they skipped their inspection.But here’s the thing. Buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll ever make. And no matter how perfect that house seems, skipping a home inspection is a risk that could cost you a lot more than just time.What Exactly Is a Home...

House Hunting Just Got Easier – Here’s Why

Written by Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on April 8, 2025. Posted in Buying Tips, For Buyers, Inventory, Mortgage Santa Rosa Beach, Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage.

If you’ve been frustrated by the lack of homes for sale over the past few years, here’s some good news. You have more options, so it may finally be time to kick off your home search again. As Daryl Fairweather, Chief Economist at Redfin, explains:“Now is the best time to buy in the last two years. Mortgage rates are comparable to what they were two years ago, and prices remain high. However, there is significantly more inventory . . .”The number of homes for sale has grown compared to last year, and even more options are on the way. While this is typical for the busy spring season, here’s...

Things To Avoid After You Apply for a Mortgage

Written by Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on April 5, 2025. Posted in Buying Tips, For Buyers, Infographics, Mortgage Santa Rosa Beach, Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage.

Some HighlightsOnce a lender has reviewed your finances as part of the homebuying process, you want to be as consistent as possible. Don’t make any big changes that could affect your mortgage application.Here are a few tips. Don’t change bank accounts or apply for new credit. And this one may surprise you, don’t buy appliances or furniture for your next home yet either.The best tip of all? Before you do anything financial in nature, talk to your lender first.

Townhomes: A Smart Solution for Today’s First-Time Buyers

Written by Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on April 3, 2025. Posted in First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Inventory, Mortgage Santa Rosa Beach, Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage.

Buying your first home in today’s market can feel tough. Between high home prices and mortgage rates, affordability is still a big challenge. And some buyers are making one simple trade-off that’s getting them in the door faster: square footage.According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), 35% of buyers are willing to purchase something smaller to make homeownership happen. And one place you can usually find a smaller footprint (and sometimes better affordability) is in townhomes.Why Townhomes Are Gaining PopularityTownhomes typically cost less than single-family homes due...

Here’s What a Recession Could Mean for the Housing Market

Written by Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on April 2, 2025. Posted in For Buyers, For Sellers, Home Prices, Mortgage Santa Rosa Beach, Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage.

Recession talk is all over the news, and the odds of a recession are rising this year. And that leaves people wondering what would happen to the housing market if we do go into a recession.Let’s take a look at some historical data to show what’s happened in housing for each recession going all the way back to the 1980s.A Recession Doesn’t Mean Home Prices Will FallMany people think that if a recession hits, home prices will fall like they did in 2008. But that was an exception, not the rule. It was the only time we saw such a steep drop in prices. And it hasn’t happened since.In fact,...

Paused Your Moving Plans? Here’s Why It Might Be Time To Hit Play Again

Written by Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on April 1, 2025. Posted in For Buyers, Inventory, Mortgage Santa Rosa Beach, Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage.

Last year, 70% of buyers abandoned their home search – and maybe you were one of them. It makes sense. Inventory was low, prices were high, and mortgage rates were up and down like a rollercoaster. All of that made it really hard to find a home you loved – and could afford.But guess what? The market is shifting.So, if you paused your moving plans in 2024, it might be time to hit play again. Here’s why.More Inventory Opens Up More OptionsEven if you could make the numbers work, the lack of available homes in recent years probably made it hard to come by something that fit your needs. But...

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

Written by Santa Rosa Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on March 28, 2025. Posted in Agent Value, Buying Tips, For Buyers, Mortgage Santa Rosa Beach, Santa Rosa Beach 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...

Category: For Buyers