What Mortgage Delinquencies Tell Us About the Future of Foreclosures

Written by Sarasota Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on September 3, 2025. Posted in Economy, For Buyers, For Sellers, Foreclosures, Mortgage Sarasota, Sarasota Mortgage.

You may be seeing headlines about how foreclosures are rising. And if that makes you nervous that we’re headed for another crash, here’s what you should know. According to ATTOM, during the housing crash, over nine million people went through some sort of distressed sale (2007-2011). Last year, there were just over 300,000.So, even with the increase lately, we’re talking about numbers that are dramatically lower. But what does the future hold? Is a wave coming? The short answer is, no.Here’s why. Experts in the industry look at mortgage delinquencies (loans that are more than 30 days past...

What Everyone’s Getting Wrong About the Rise in New Home Inventory

Written by Sarasota Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on August 28, 2025. Posted in For Buyers, Mortgage Sarasota, New Construction, Sarasota Mortgage.

You may have seen talk online that new home inventory is at its highest level since the crash. And if you lived through the crash back in 2008, seeing new construction is up again may feel a little scary.But here’s what you need to remember: a lot of what you see online is designed to get clicks. So, you may not be getting the full story. A closer look at the data and a little expert insight can change your perspective completely.Why This Isn’t Like 2008While it’s true the number of new homes on the market hit its highest level since the crash, that’s not a reason to worry. That’s because...

Should You Still Expect a Bidding War?

Written by Sarasota Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on August 25, 2025. Posted in First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage Sarasota, Sarasota Mortgage.

If you’re still worried about having to deal with a bidding war when you buy a home, you may be able to let some of that fear go.While multiple-offer situations haven’t disappeared entirely, they’re not nearly as common as they used to be. In fact, a recent survey shows agents reported only 1 in 5 homes (20%) nationally received multiple offers in June 2025.That’s down from nearly 1 in 3 (31%) just a year ago – and dramatically lower than in June 2023 (39%) (see graph below):This trend means you should face less competition when you buy. That gives you more time to make decisions and the...

From Frenzy to Breathing Room: Buyers Finally Have Time Again

Written by Sarasota Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on August 21, 2025. Posted in Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage Sarasota, Sarasota Mortgage.

If you tried to buy a home a few years ago, you probably still remember the frenzy. Homes were listed one day and gone the next. Sometimes it only took hours. You had to drop everything to go and see the house, and if you hesitated even slightly, someone else swooped in and bought it – sometimes even sight unseen.That kind of intensity pushed a lot of buyers to the sidelines. It was stressful, chaotic, and for many, really discouraging.But here’s what you need to know: those days are behind us.Today’s market is moving slower, in the best possible way. And that’s creating more opportunity...

Condos Could Be a Win for Today’s Buyers

Written by Sarasota Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on August 20, 2025. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, Downsize, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Home Prices, Inventory, Mortgage Sarasota, Sarasota Mortgage.

Not every homebuyer wants the biggest house on the block. Some want something simpler, more affordable, and easier to maintain, especially in a market where every dollar counts. That’s where condos come in.For first-time buyers, they can be a smart way to get into homeownership without stretching your budget. For downsizers, they offer less space to maintain with the flexibility to stay in a great location.And right now, condos are one of the most buyer-friendly parts of the market.Condo Inventory Is Up, And That Means More ChoiceAccording to the National Association of Realtors (NAR),...

Is It Better To Buy Now or Wait for Lower Mortgage Rates? Here’s the Tradeoff

Written by Sarasota Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on August 14, 2025. Posted in For Buyers, Mortgage Rates, Mortgage Sarasota, Sarasota Mortgage.

Mortgage rates are still a hot topic – and for good reason. After the most recent jobs report came out weaker than expected, the bond market reacted almost instantly. And, as a result, in early August mortgage rates dropped to their lowest point so far this year (6.55%).While that may not sound like a big deal, pretty much every buyer has been waiting for rates to fall. And even a seemingly small drop like this reignites the hope we’re finally going to see rates trending down. But what’s realistic to expect?According to the latest forecasts, rates aren’t expected to fall dramatically...

Are These Myths About Buying a Newly Built Home Holding You Back?

Written by Sarasota Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on August 13, 2025. Posted in Affordability, Agent Value, For Buyers, Mortgage Sarasota, New Construction, Sarasota Mortgage.

If you’ve been skipping over newly built homes in your search, you might be doing so based on outdated assumptions. Let’s clear up a few of the most common myths, so you don’t miss out on a solid opportunity.Myth 1: New Homes Are More ExpensiveIt’s easy to assume a new build will cost more than an existing home, but that’s not necessarily true, especially right now.Data from Census and the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows the median price of a newly built home today is actually lower than a home that’s been lived in already (an existing home):So, why’s this happening? As Heather...

A Second Home Might Be the Missing Piece in Your Retirement Plan

Written by Sarasota Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on August 6, 2025. Posted in For Buyers, Mortgage Sarasota, Sarasota Mortgage.

Are you wondering if you’re on track to retire someday?According to Intuit, 69% of people say today’s financial environment makes it tough to plan for the future, and 68% aren’t sure they’ll ever be able to retire. That’s why many people are exploring new ways to build stability and long-term income.And that’s where real estate comes in.Why Real Estate? Here’s What It Can Do for YouIf you’re able to make the numbers work, buying a second home can be a powerful tool for your future retirement. It could help you:Build wealth over time: As home prices rise through the years, your second home...

3 Advantages of Buying a Newly Built Home Today

Written by Sarasota Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on August 5, 2025. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, For Buyers, Infographics, Mortgage Rates, Mortgage Sarasota, New Construction, Sarasota Mortgage.

Some HighlightsPrices, rates, and finding the right home are three of the biggest challenges for buyers today. You may find better luck with all 3 if you look at newly built homes.There are more available. Builders are more flexible on prices right now. And people who buy new homes tend to get lower rates in this market thanks to the incentives builders can offer.Connect with an agent if you want to see the new builds available in and around your area.

The Truth About Down Payments (It’s Not What You Think)

Written by Sarasota Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on August 4, 2025. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage Sarasota, Rent vs. Buy, Sarasota Mortgage.

Buying a home is exciting… until you start thinking about the down payment. That’s when the worry can set in.“I’ll never save enough.”“I need a small fortune just to get started.”“I guess I’ll just rent forever.”Sound familiar? You’re not alone. And you’re definitely not out of luck.Here’s the thing: a lot of what you’ve heard about down payments just isn’t true. And once you know the facts, you might realize you’re a lot closer to owning a home than you think.Let’s break it all down and bust some big down payment myths while we’re at it.Myth 1: “I need to come up with a big down...

Category: For Buyers