Category: Buying Tips

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Remote Work Could Be Your Affordability Answer

Written by Deerfield Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on September 8, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Agent Value, Buying Tips, Deerfield Beach Condo Mortgage, Deerfield Beach Mortgage, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers.

For most first-time buyers, the hardest part of buying a home is making the numbers work. You budget, you save, and the finish line still feels far away. But your salary is only half the equation. Where you live shapes what you can afford just as much. And if you can work remotely, you have an advantage a lot of buyers don’t. You’re not tied to living where the jobs are, so you can look where your money goes further.Where You Work Doesn’t Have To Dictate Where You LiveRemote job openings are on the rise. According to FlexJobs, remote job postings climbed 22% from the quarter...

Think New Homes Cost More? Not Right Now.

Written by Deerfield Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on September 3, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Agent Value, Buying Tips, Deerfield Beach Condo Mortgage, Deerfield Beach Mortgage, For Buyers, Home Prices, New Construction.

Most people think a newly built home costs more than an existing one. But right now, that’s actually backwards. Newly built homes are more affordable than existing ones in a lot of markets. And that’s because builders are cutting prices and stacking on incentives to try to keep their inventory moving.Here’s why that’s really important for any would-be homebuyer to know.Newly Built Homes Are the Better Deal Right NowAccording to the latest data from the Census and the National Association of Realtors (NAR), a newly built home now typically costs about $40,000 less than an existing one (see...

Thinking About Tapping into Your 401(k) To Buy a Home? Read This First.

Written by Deerfield Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on September 1, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, Deerfield Beach Condo Mortgage, Deerfield Beach Mortgage, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers.

Lately, headlines have floated an eye-catching idea about tapping into your 401(k) to cover a down payment on a home. Maybe you’ve caught the buzz and wondered whether that money could get you into a home faster, especially with affordability as tough as it is. Here’s what you need to remember. Pulling from your retirement savings is a big decision, so take time to weigh all your options first and be sure to talk with a financial expert before you do anything.Why Dipping into a 401(k) Can Be TemptingData from Empower shows many Americans have built up considerable retirement...

Sellers Are Cutting Prices To Meet Buyers Where They’re At

Written by Deerfield Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on August 28, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, Deerfield Beach Condo Mortgage, Deerfield Beach Mortgage, For Buyers, Home Prices.

You’re scrolling through listings on your phone and everything looks good until you see the price (or the estimated monthly payment). Then you close the app. Because even if you love the house, the numbers feel impossible. But here’s the thing.Nationally, there are more homes sitting on the market than there are people out there looking. And when sellers need buyers more than buyers need sellers, that shows up in the price.Lower asking prices. More price cuts. And homes priced for what buyers can actually afford – not what sellers hope someone might pay.And it may be enough to...

Who Has the Upper Hand in Today’s Housing Market?

Written by Deerfield Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on August 14, 2026. Posted in Buying Tips, Deerfield Beach Condo Mortgage, Deerfield Beach Mortgage, For Buyers, For Sellers, Selling Tips.

Ask around and almost every homebuyer out there wants to know if there’s a way to get a better deal. And just about every seller wants to know if they’ll still get top dollar.The interesting thing is… both can be right at the exact same time. It just depends on where you live.That’s because today’s housing market isn’t moving in one direction anymore. Some markets clearly favor buyers. Others still favor sellers. But most are sitting somewhere in the middle.And knowing which market you’re actually in can completely change the strategy you use to buy or...

The Case for Putting 20% Down on Your Next Home

Written by Deerfield Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on August 11, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, Deerfield Beach Condo Mortgage, Deerfield Beach Mortgage, Downsize, For Buyers, Move-Up.

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...

Thinking About Waiting for Lower Mortgage Rates? Read This First.

Written by Deerfield Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on August 7, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, Deerfield Beach Condo Mortgage, Deerfield Beach Mortgage, Economy, For Buyers, Forecasts, Mortgage Rates.

Imagine waiting a year to buy a home, only to find mortgage rates haven’t changed much. That may sound frustrating.But it’s a real possibility.A lot of people are putting their plans on hold because they believe much lower mortgage rates are right around the corner. But, based on today’s forecasts, that may not happen. And you should know that before you decide what to do.Let’s look at why experts don’t expect a dramatic drop in rates – and the options that could help you buy anyway. Because even if rates don’t fall, you can still move. Here’s how.1. Mortgage...

Buying a Home? Here’s What You Should Know About Home Insurance Costs.

Written by Deerfield Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on July 31, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, Deerfield Beach Condo Mortgage, Deerfield Beach Mortgage, For Buyers.

If buying a home is on your radar, you’ve probably been keeping an eye on mortgage rates and home prices. But don’t forget about homeowners insurance. Homeowners insurance has always been part of owning a home. But over the past few years, it’s become a larger expense for many homeowners – something that’s especially frustrating when affordability already feels tight.The good news? While premiums are still rising, the latest data shows those increases are beginning to slow. Here’s what buyers should know.Home Insurance Costs Have Gone UpYou’ve probably heard...

Home Price Growth Slowed Down. That May Be Changing.

Written by Deerfield Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on July 30, 2026. Posted in Buying Tips, Deerfield Beach Condo Mortgage, Deerfield Beach Mortgage, For Buyers, For Sellers, Home Prices, Selling Tips.

After more than a year of headlines talking about how home prices are going to crash, the latest data shows that price growth may be starting to pick back up again. And depending on whether you’re buying or selling, that shift means something different for you.The Numbers May Be Starting To TurnFor the past couple of years, home price growth has been moderating – cooling from around 7% in mid-2024, according to Redfin (see graph below). But look at the right side of that graph. The pace of that growth appears to have hit its low point and started to turn.While a couple months of data...

Priced Out? A Condo or Townhome Could Be Your Way In.

Written by Deerfield Beach Mortgage Syndicated User on July 23, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, Deerfield Beach Condo Mortgage, Deerfield Beach Mortgage, Downsize, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers.

Today’s home prices have a lot of buyers – especially first-time buyers – wondering if there’s even anything out there that’s in their budget. But owning a home may be more within reach than you think. Sometimes, it just means considering a different type of home.Condos and townhomes can be a great way to buy without stretching every last dollar. And right now, two things make them worth a serious look.There Are More Condos and Townhomes To Choose FromMaybe you feel like there’s just nothing out there for you, and you’ve exhausted all your options. But have you considered condos or...