What Buying or Selling a Home Gives Back to Your Community

Written by Destin FL Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on July 7, 2026. Posted in Destin FL Mortgage, Economy, For Buyers, For Sellers, Mortgage Destin FL.

Buying or selling a home is a big financial decision. And right now, it feels even bigger. Inflation is high, costs are high, and you want to be sure the timing is right before you make your move. But if you do decide to go for it, whether you’re buying or selling, here’s something reassuring to hold onto. Not only does your move change your own life, but it also gives your whole community a boost.Real estate is a huge part of the economy. In 2025, it added up to about $5.6 trillion, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). A good share of that comes from...

Down Payments Are Smaller Than They’ve Been Since 2021

Written by Destin FL Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on July 3, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, Destin FL Mortgage, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage Destin FL.

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 Housing Market Is Stronger Than You Think

Written by Destin FL Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on July 1, 2026. Posted in Destin FL Mortgage, Equity, For Buyers, For Sellers, Foreclosures, Home Prices, Mortgage Destin FL, Mortgage Rates.

You’ve probably heard plenty of doom and gloom about the housing market lately. High rates. Stretched budgets. Headlines that make buying or selling sound like a terrible idea. But the data tells a very different story. This isn’t 2020 or 2021. It was never going to be. Those were the “unicorn years” – historic low mortgage rates, bidding wars on everything, homes flying off the market in days. That kind of market was a once-in-a-generation anomaly, not a baseline. So, when people compare today to that, of course it looks rough.But compared to almost any other...

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

Written by Destin FL Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on June 30, 2026. Posted in Buying Tips, Destin FL Mortgage, For Buyers, For Sellers, Home Prices, Inventory, Mortgage Destin FL, 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...

More Sellers Are Taking Their Homes off the Market. Here’s What You Need To Know.

Written by Destin FL Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on June 25, 2026. Posted in Destin FL Mortgage, Economy, Expired/Withdrawn/Canceled, For Buyers, For Sellers, Mortgage Destin FL.

You may be hearing that a near-record number of homeowners are pulling their houses off the market. And if that headline has you thinking, “Wait… is something bad about to happen?” You’re not alone.Because when people start stepping to the sidelines, it sounds like a warning sign that something’s coming – or that they realize something you don’t know.Here’s the thing. This trend gets spun like it means the market is about to crash. But the data tells a more practical story.What the Numbers Actually SayAccording to the latest data from Redfin, 5.5% of all listings were taken off the market...

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

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

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 Destin FL Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on June 23, 2026. Posted in Agent Value, Buying Tips, Destin FL Mortgage, For Buyers, For Sellers, Mortgage Destin FL, 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 Home Prices Will Crash? Here’s What the Experts Actually Expect.

Written by Destin FL Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on June 23, 2026. Posted in Destin FL Mortgage, For Buyers, Forecasts, Home Prices, Mortgage Destin FL.

One of the biggest reasons buyers are still sitting on the sidelines is because they think home prices are going to come down.Some believe a crash is coming and they’ll get a better deal if they hold off.Others worry they’ll buy now and watch their home’s value fall later.And nobody wants to overpay or buy right before values drop. But here’s the question worth asking:What if the crash you’re waiting for isn’t actually coming?Because that’s what the latest data suggests.Experts Are Not Calling for a CrashIf you’ve spent any time online...

4 Ways To Give Your Offer an Edge This Spring

Written by Destin FL Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on May 7, 2026. Posted in Buying Tips, Destin FL Mortgage, For Buyers, Mortgage Destin FL.

Looking to buy a home this season? Here’s what you should know. Buyers have more leverage today than they’ve had in years. There are more homes to choose from and, in many areas, sellers are more open to negotiation. But that doesn’t mean competition is gone completely. These days, it varies a lot depending on where you’re hoping to move. If you’re buying in a popular neighborhood, or in a market where there aren’t many homes for sale, you may still find yourself competing with another buyer.And that’s especially true in the Spring. Here’s how to stay one step ahead of any...

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

Written by Destin FL Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on April 27, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, Destin FL Mortgage, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage Destin FL.

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...

Category: For Buyers