Owning a Home Helps Protect Against Inflation

Written by Miami Condo Financing Syndicated User on May 25, 2023. Posted in First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Miami Condo Financing, Miami Condo Mortgages, Rent vs. Buy.

You’re probably feeling the impact of high inflation every day as prices have gone up on groceries, gas, and more. If you’re a renter, you’re likely experiencing it a lot as your rent continues to rise. Between all of those elevated costs and uncertainty about a potential recession, you may be wondering if it still makes sense to buy a home today. The short answer is – it does. Here’s why. Homeownership actually shields you from the rising costs inflation brings.Freddie Mac explains how: “Not only will buying today help you begin to build equity, a fixed-rate mortgage can stabilize your monthly...

Why Buyers Need an Expert Agent by Their Side

Written by Miami Condo Financing Syndicated User on May 23, 2023. Posted in First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Miami Condo Financing, Miami Condo Mortgages, Move-Up Buyers.

The process of buying a home can feel a bit intimidating, even under normal circumstances. But today’s market is still anything but normal. There continues to be a very limited number of homes for sale, and that’s creating bidding wars and driving home prices back up as buyers compete over the available homes.Navigating all of this can be daunting if you’re trying to do it alone. That’s why having a skilled expert to guide you through the homebuying process is essential, especially today. Bankrate shares this perspective: “Advice and guidance from a professional real estate agent...

Why Buying a Home Makes More Sense Than Renting Today

Written by Miami Condo Financing Syndicated User on May 2, 2023. Posted in Buying Myths, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Miami Condo Financing, Miami Condo Mortgages, Rent vs. Buy.

Wondering if you should continue renting or if you should buy a home this year? If so, consider this. Rental affordability is still a challenge and has been for years. That’s because, historically, rents trend up over time. Data from the Census shows rents have been climbing pretty steadily since 1988. And, data from the latest rental report from Realtor.com shows rents continue to grow today, even though it’s at a slower pace than we saw at the height of the pandemic:“In March 2023, the U.S. rental market experienced single-digit growth for the eighth month in a row . . . The median asking...

Ways To Overcome Affordability Challenges in Today’s Housing Market [INFOGRAPHIC]

Written by Miami Condo Financing Syndicated User on April 29, 2023. Posted in First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Infographics, Interest Rates, Miami Condo Financing, Miami Condo Mortgages, Move-Up Buyers, Pricing.

Some HighlightsWith so few homes on the market right now, widening the scope of your search to include nearby areas could help you find more options in your budget.You can also work with a trusted lender to consider alternative financing options and search for down payment assistance.If you’ve been searching for a home but are concerned about rising costs, make sure you have a team of trusted real estate professionals for expert advice.

The Three Factors Affecting Home Affordability Today

Written by Miami Condo Financing Syndicated User on April 27, 2023. Posted in First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Housing Market Updates, Interest Rates, Miami Condo Financing, Miami Condo Mortgages, Move-Up Buyers, Pricing.

There’s been a lot of focus on higher mortgage rates and how they’re creating affordability challenges for today’s homebuyers. It’s true that rates climbed dramatically since the record-low we saw during the pandemic. But home affordability is based on more than just mortgage rates – it’s determined by a combination of mortgage rates, home prices, and wages.Considering how each one of these factors is changing gives you the full picture of home affordability today. Here’s the latest.1. Mortgage RatesWhile mortgage rates are higher than they were a year ago, they’ve hovered primarily between...

The Power of Pre-Approval

Written by Miami Condo Financing Syndicated User on April 25, 2023. Posted in First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Miami Condo Financing, Miami Condo Mortgages, Move-Up Buyers.

If you’re buying a home this spring, today’s housing market can feel like a challenge. With so few homes on the market right now, plus higher mortgage rates, it’s essential to have a firm grasp on your homebuying budget. You’ll also need a sense of determination to find the right house and act quickly when you go to put in an offer. One thing you can do to help you prepare is to get pre-approved.To understand why it’s such an important step, you need to know what pre-approval is. As part of the process, a lender looks at your finances to determine what they’d be willing to loan you. From there,...

Why You May Want an Energy-Efficient Home [INFOGRAPHIC]

Written by Miami Condo Financing Syndicated User on April 22, 2023. Posted in First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Infographics, Miami Condo Financing, Miami Condo Mortgages, Move-Up Buyers.

Some HighlightsSince inflation is increasing the cost of goods and services, it may make sense to look for an energy-efficient home.Energy prices have increased over the last year, so look for energy-efficient features in your home search.If you’re looking to buy a home this year, work with a real estate expert so you have a partner to help you consider which features are most important to you.

5 Reasons Millennials Are Buying Homes

Written by Miami Condo Financing Syndicated User on April 19, 2023. Posted in Demographics, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Miami Condo Financing, Miami Condo Mortgages, Millennials.

In the United States, there are over 72 million millennials. If you’re part of that generation and have thought about buying a home, you aren’t alone. According to Zonda, 98% of millennials want to become a homeowner at some point if they aren’t already. But why? There are plenty of reasons you may choose to become a homeowner. Here’s why other millennials have made that decision (see graph below):This graph shows why millennials are buying homes according to Zonda’s 6th annual millennial survey. The top reasons include building equity, a change in life stage, wanting stability, rising home...

Think Twice Before Waiting for Lower Home Prices

Written by Miami Condo Financing Syndicated User on April 18, 2023. Posted in First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Housing Market Updates, Miami Condo Financing, Miami Condo Mortgages, Millennials, Move-Up Buyers, Pricing.

As the housing market continues to change, you may be wondering where it’ll go from here. One factor you’re probably thinking about is home prices, which have come down a bit since they peaked last June. And you’ve likely heard something in the news or on social media about a price crash on the horizon. As a result, you may be holding off on buying a home until prices drop significantly. But that’s not the best strategy.A recent survey from Zonda shows 53% of millennials are still renting right now because they’re waiting for home prices to come down. But here’s the thing: the most recent data...

Your Tax Refund Can Help You Achieve Your Homebuying Goals

Written by Miami Condo Financing Syndicated User on April 13, 2023. Posted in Buying Myths, Down Payments, First Time Home Buyers, For Buyers, Housing Market Updates, Miami Condo Financing, Miami Condo Mortgages, Move-Up Buyers.

Have you been saving up to buy a home this year? If so, you know there are a variety of expenses involved – from your down payment to closing costs. But there’s good news – your tax refund can help you achieve your goals by paying for some of these expenses.SmartAsset estimates the average American will receive a $1,798 tax refund this year. The map below provides a more detailed estimate by state:According to Freddie Mac, there are multiple ways your refund check can help you as a homebuyer. If you’re getting a refund this year and thinking about buying a home, here are a few tips to keep:Saving...

Category: First Time Home Buyers