Category: Affordability

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Here’s Why Mortgage Rates Are What They Are Right Now

Written by Sarasota Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on August 13, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Economy, For Buyers, For Sellers, Mortgage Rates, Mortgage Sarasota, Sarasota Mortgage.

If you’re waiting for mortgage rates to fall a lot before you buy, you may be waiting a while. But before you get discouraged, there’s a number working behind the scenes that’s actually good for you right now. It’s called the spread, and once you understand it, you may see today’s rates in a whole new light.The Pattern That’s Held for 50+ YearsFor starters, mortgage rates don’t move on their own. They tend to follow the 10-year treasury yield, a number tied to how investors feel about the economy.It’s not an exact science, since plenty of other factors can move...

The Case for Putting 20% Down on Your Next Home

Written by Sarasota Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on August 13, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, Downsize, For Buyers, Mortgage Sarasota, Move-Up, Sarasota Mortgage.

If you’re planning to buy your next home soon, you’ve probably heard the old rule about saving 20% for your down payment.The truth is, you usually don’t have to. Plenty of loan options let qualified buyers put down much less. But a lot of repeat buyers are choosing to put down 20% anyway.So, why are they if they don’t have to?Two reasons. They know a bigger down payment pays off, and after years in their current house, they’ve built up enough equity that it’s finally possible.Repeat Buyers Put More Money DownAccording to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the typical repeat buyer...

What To Expect from the Housing Market in the Second Half of 2026

Written by Sarasota Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on July 10, 2026. Posted in Affordability, For Buyers, For Sellers, Forecasts, Home Prices, Mortgage Rates, Mortgage Sarasota, Sarasota Mortgage.

If the first half of this year has left you feeling stuck, you’re not the only one. Mortgage rates stayed higher than people wanted. Affordability remained tight. And uncertainty overseas added another layer of pressure nobody saw coming.That’s why so many people are asking the same question: Will the second half of the year be any better for the housing market?While nobody has a crystal ball, there are a few encouraging signs things could start moving in a better direction. Here’s what to watch.Mortgage Rates Could Be Near a Turning Point One of the biggest reasons...

Lower Asking Prices Are a Win for Today’s Buyers

Written by Sarasota Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on June 10, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, For Buyers, Home Prices, Mortgage Sarasota, Sarasota Mortgage.

If affordability has been the biggest thing standing between you and a home, there’s a little good news. Asking prices have started to come down.The typical seller listed their house for a median of $429,500 in May. That’s 2.4% lower than a year ago, according to Realtor.com. On its own, that won’t transform what you can afford, but in today’s market every little bit helps and it signals a broader shift taking place.Buyers Are Finally Catching a BreakCheck out this data from Realtor.com and you can see this is the first May in years where buyers have caught any sort of break...

Could Moving a Bit Further Out Change Everything About Your Budget?

Written by Sarasota Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on June 10, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Agent Value, Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage Sarasota, Sarasota Mortgage.

Whether you’re dreaming about buying your first home or wondering if it’s time to move on from the one you’re in, affordability is probably weighing on your mind. Home prices are still high in many markets, and even though things have improved a bit over the past year, making the numbers work can still feel like a stretch.But the people finding ways to move right now usually have one thing in common. They didn’t wait for affordability to come to them. They went looking for it.According to PODS, 61% of people across all generations say affordability is the biggest factor...

What Rising Inflation Means for Your Move

Written by Sarasota Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on June 10, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Economy, For Buyers, Mortgage Rates, Mortgage Sarasota, Sarasota Mortgage.

Data shows inflation is moving in the wrong direction. But before the headlines send anyone into a panic, here’s what’s actually going on, why it matters for the housing market, and what it means if you’re thinking about buying or selling.Inflation Went Up – Here’s What That Actually MeansThe government tracks inflation in a variety of ways. One is something called PCE – the Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index. It measures how much more (or less) people are paying for goods and services compared to a year ago. And just based on your own expenses, you can probably...

Newly Built Home Prices Hit a 5-Year Low

Written by Sarasota Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on May 24, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage Sarasota, New Construction, Sarasota Mortgage.

If you’ve always assumed a newly built home is just not in your budget, you should know the math just got a little friendlier.The median sale price of a newly built home is now at its lowest level since 2021, according to the latest data from the Census. And on top of that, builders are still rolling out incentives to bring buyers through the door.Here’s what’s happening, and what it means if you’re shopping right now.Prices on Newly Built Homes Have Come DownAfter a steep climb during the pandemic years, prices have eased a bit. The median sale price of newly built homes...

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

Written by Sarasota Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on May 2, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, Featured, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage Sarasota, Sarasota Mortgage.

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...

The 10 Best Markets for First-Time Buyers This Spring

Written by Sarasota Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on April 20, 2026. Posted in Affordability, First-Time Buyers, Inventory, Mortgage Sarasota, Sarasota Mortgage.

For a while, buying your first home hasn’t just felt hard. It may have felt out of reach.Not because you weren’t ready.Not because you weren’t trying.But because every time you ran the numbers, they didn’t work.That’s why so many first-time buyers stepped back.But after years of sitting on the outside looking in, this Spring could give buyers like you an opening again – especially in some markets.Metros Where Buyers May Have an Easier Time Breaking into the Market Zillow just released a list of the top 50 metros for first-time buyers this Spring. And here’s a quick snapshot of the top 10...

Wondering If You Should Still Buy a Home Right Now? Here’s What To Keep in Mind.

Written by Sarasota Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on April 13, 2026. Posted in Affordability, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage Rates, Mortgage Sarasota, Sarasota Mortgage.

With economic headlines, global events, and near constant talk about affordability, you may be wondering if this is the right time to move. But here’s what you need to remember.While recent events do have some impact on the housing market, they don’t take buying off the table. You just have to use a different strategy.Mortgage Rates Have Been Up Slightly – Here’s WhyAfter trending down for most of 2025, mortgage rates have been higher again for over roughly a month now. And experts say it’s a result of what’s happening overseas and in the broader economy. As Mark Fleming, Chief...