4 Ways To Make an Offer That Stands Out This Spring

Written by Lakewood Ranch Mortgage Syndicated User on April 15, 2025. Posted in Agent Value, Buying Tips, For Buyers, Lakewood Ranch Mortgage, Lakewood Ranch Mortgage Calculator, Lakewood Ranch Mortgage Rates.

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...

A Recession Doesn’t Mean a Housing Crisis

Written by Lakewood Ranch Mortgage Syndicated User on April 12, 2025. Posted in Economy, Infographics, Lakewood Ranch Mortgage, Lakewood Ranch Mortgage Calculator, Lakewood Ranch Mortgage Rates, Mortgage Rates.

Some HighlightsThere’s a lot of talk about a recession lately and how the odds of one are rising. If you’re wondering what that means for the housing market, here’s what the data tells us.While you may remember the price crash in 2008, that’s not the norm. Looking back all the way to 1980, home prices usually rise and mortgage rates tend to fall. If you have questions about buying or selling a home in today’s market, connect with a real estate agent.

Why You Don’t Want To Skip Your Home Inspection

Written by Lakewood Ranch Mortgage Syndicated User on April 11, 2025. Posted in Agent Value, Buying Tips, For Buyers, Lakewood Ranch Mortgage, Lakewood Ranch Mortgage Calculator, Lakewood Ranch Mortgage Rates.

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...

Does Your Current Home Fit Your Retirement Plans?

Written by Lakewood Ranch Mortgage Syndicated User on April 10, 2025. Posted in Downsize, Economy, Lakewood Ranch Mortgage, Lakewood Ranch Mortgage Calculator, Lakewood Ranch Mortgage Rates.

Retirement isn’t just a milestone. It’s the beginning of something really special. After years of hard work, it’s finally time to slow down, explore new passions, and live life on your own terms.But with this exciting chapter comes some big choices. And one of the biggest is this: does your current home still make sense for the lifestyle (and budget) you want in this next phase of life?That’s an especially important question right now. Just in the past five years, the cost of living has jumped by 23% according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). That’s based on the Consumer Price...

The Truth About Newly Built Homes and Today’s Market

Written by Lakewood Ranch Mortgage Syndicated User on April 9, 2025. Posted in Agent Value, Inventory, Lakewood Ranch Mortgage, Lakewood Ranch Mortgage Calculator, Lakewood Ranch Mortgage Rates.

Headlines are talking about the inventory of new homes and how we’re back at the levels not seen since 2009. And maybe you’re reading that and thinking: oh no, here we go again. That’s because you remember the housing crash of the late 2000s and you’re worried we’re repeating the same mistakes.But before you let fear take hold, remember: headlines are designed to be clickbait. And a lot of the time, they do more to terrify than clarify. That’s because they don’t always give you all the context you need. So, let’s take a step back and look at what the data really says.Why This Isn’t Like...

House Hunting Just Got Easier – Here’s Why

Written by Lakewood Ranch Mortgage Syndicated User on April 8, 2025. Posted in Buying Tips, For Buyers, Inventory, Lakewood Ranch Mortgage, Lakewood Ranch Mortgage Calculator, Lakewood Ranch Mortgage Rates.

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 Lakewood Ranch Mortgage Syndicated User on April 5, 2025. Posted in Buying Tips, For Buyers, Infographics, Lakewood Ranch Mortgage, Lakewood Ranch Mortgage Calculator, Lakewood Ranch Mortgage Rates.

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.

The #1 Thing Sellers Need To Know About Their Asking Price

Written by Lakewood Ranch Mortgage Syndicated User on April 4, 2025. Posted in For Sellers, Home Prices, Lakewood Ranch Mortgage, Lakewood Ranch Mortgage Calculator, Lakewood Ranch Mortgage Rates, Selling Tips.

When you put your house on the market, you want to sell it quickly and for the best price possible; that’s generally the goal. But too many sellers are shooting too high right now. They don’t realize the market has shifted as inventory has grown. The side effect? Price cuts are on the rise, but they really don’t have to be. Here’s why.According to data from Realtor.com, in February, price cuts were the highest they’ve been in any other February since 2019 (see graph below):If you consider that 2019 was the last true normal year for the housing market – that’s a big deal. We’re...

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

Written by Lakewood Ranch Mortgage Syndicated User on April 3, 2025. Posted in First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Inventory, Lakewood Ranch Mortgage, Lakewood Ranch Mortgage Calculator, Lakewood Ranch Mortgage Rates.

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 Lakewood Ranch Mortgage Syndicated User on April 2, 2025. Posted in For Buyers, For Sellers, Home Prices, Lakewood Ranch Mortgage, Lakewood Ranch Mortgage Calculator, Lakewood Ranch Mortgage Rates.

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,...

Category: Lakewood Ranch Mortgage