Buy Now, or Wait?

Written by St. George Island Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on September 28, 2024. Posted in Buying Tips, For Buyers, Infographics, Mortgage Rates, Mortgage St. George Island, St. George Island Mortgage.

Some Highlights If 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.

Don’t Fall for These Real Estate Agent Myths

Written by St. George Island Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on September 27, 2024. Posted in Agent Value, Buying Tips, For Buyers, For Sellers, Mortgage St. George Island, Selling Tips, St. George Island Mortgage.

When it’s time to buy or sell a home, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is who you’ll work with as your agent. That choice will have an impact on your entire experience and how smoothly it goes. As you figure out who you’ll partner with, it’s important to know what to expect and what to look for. Unfortunately, there may be some myths holding you back from making the best decision possible. So, let’s take some time to address those, and make sure you have the information you need to find the right agent for you. Myth #1: All Real Estate Agents Are the Same You might think all...

Why Buying Now May Be Worth It in the Long Run

Written by St. George Island Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on September 26, 2024. Posted in Buying Tips, Equity, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Home Prices, Mortgage St. George Island, St. George Island Mortgage.

Should you buy a home now or should you wait? That’s a question a lot of people have these days. And while what’s right for you is going to depend on a lot of different factors, here’s something you’ll want to consider as you make your decision. As soon as you buy, you’ll start gaining equity. And you’d be surprised how quickly that can add up – even with more moderate home price appreciation. Each quarter, Fannie Mae releases the Home Price Expectations Survey. It asks over one hundred economists, real estate experts, and investment and market strategists what they forecast for home prices...

The Best Time To Buy a Home This Year

Written by St. George Island Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on September 17, 2024. Posted in Buying Tips, For Buyers, Inventory, Mortgage Rates, Mortgage St. George Island, St. George Island Mortgage.

A shift is underway in the housing market this season. And if you’ve been sitting on the sidelines waiting for the right moment to jump back into your homebuying search, this is a great time to do it. That’s because the best week to buy a home this year is just around the corner. Your sweet spot is here. The experts at Realtor.com study seasonal trends to figure out the ideal week for homebuyers: “Nationally, the best time to buy in 2024 is the week of Sept. 29–Oct. 5. This week historically has shown the best balance of market conditions that favor buyers. Inventory tends to be high, prices...

What To Know About Closing Costs

Written by St. George Island Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on September 13, 2024. Posted in Buying Tips, For Buyers, Mortgage St. George Island, St. George Island Mortgage.

Now that you’ve decided to buy a home and are ready to make it happen, it’s a good idea to plan ahead for the costs that are a typical part of the homebuying process. And while your down payment is probably the number one expense on your mind, don’t forget about closing costs. Here’s what you need to know. What Are Closing Costs? Simply put, your closing costs are the additional fees and payments you have to make at closing. And while they’ll vary based on the price of the home and how it’s being financed, every buyer has these, so they shouldn’t be a surprise. It’s just that some people...

Why Pre-Approval Should Be at the Top of Your Homebuying To-Do List

Written by St. George Island Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on September 11, 2024. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, For Buyers, Mortgage Rates, Mortgage St. George Island, St. George Island Mortgage.

Since the supply of homes for sale is growing and mortgage rates are coming down, you may be thinking it’s finally your moment to jump into the market. To make sure you’re ready, you need to get pre-approved for a mortgage. That’s when a lender looks at your finances, including things like your W-2, tax returns, credit score, and bank statements, to figure out what they’re willing to loan you. After that process, you’ll get a pre-approval letter to show what you can borrow. Here are two reasons why this is essential in today’s market. Pre-Approval Helps You Know Your Numbers While home affordability is...

The Latest on the Luxury Home Market

Written by St. George Island Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on September 6, 2024. Posted in Buying Tips, For Buyers, Luxury / Vacation, Mortgage St. George Island, St. George Island Mortgage.

Luxury living is about more than just stunning views and cutting-edge smart home technology—it’s about elevating your lifestyle. And if you’re in the market for a million-dollar home, now is an excellent time to explore the thriving luxury market. Here’s why. The Number of Luxury Homes Is Growing The top of the market, or luxury homes, can mean different things depending on where you live. But in general, these are homes that are in the top 5% price range in any area. According to a recent report from Redfin, the average value of those homes has risen to over one million dollars: “The...

Could a 55+ Community Be Right for You?

Written by St. George Island Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on September 3, 2024. Posted in Buying Tips, For Buyers, Mortgage St. George Island, St. George Island Mortgage.

If you’re thinking about downsizing, you may be hearing about 55+ communities and wondering if they’d be a good fit for you. Here’s some information that could help you make your decision. What Is a 55+ Community? It’s important to note that these communities aren’t just for people who need extra support – they can be pretty vibrant, too. Many people who are downsizing opt for this type of home because they’re looking to be surrounded by people in a similar season of life. U.S. News explains: “The terms ‘55-plus community,’ ‘active adult community,’ ‘lifestyle communities’ and ‘planned communities’...

Today’s Biggest Housing Market Myths

Written by St. George Island Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on August 23, 2024. Posted in Buying Tips, Economy, For Buyers, Mortgage Rates, Mortgage St. George Island, St. George Island Mortgage.

Have you ever heard the phrase: don’t believe everything you hear? That’s especially true if you’re thinking about buying or selling a home in today’s housing market. There’s a lot of misinformation out there. And right now, making sure you have someone you can go to for trustworthy information is extra important. If you partner with a real estate agent, they can clear up some common misconceptions and reassure you by backing them up with research-driven facts. Here are just a few misconceptions they can help disprove. 1. I’ll Get a Better Deal Once Prices Crash If you’ve heard home prices...

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

Written by St. George Island Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on August 16, 2024. Posted in Agent Value, Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage St. George Island, St. George Island Mortgage.

When you’re thinking about buying a home, your credit score is one of the biggest pieces of the puzzle. Think of it like your financial report card that lenders look at when trying to figure out if you qualify, and which home loan will work best for you. As the Mortgage Report says: “Good credit scores communicate to lenders that you have a track record for properly managing your debts. For this reason, the higher your score, the better your chances of qualifying for a mortgage.” The trouble is most buyers overestimate the minimum credit score they need to buy a home. According...

Category: Buying Tips