Dreaming of a Bigger Home? Why Not Buy It This Year?

Written by Naples Mortgage Syndicated User on June 3, 2021. Posted in Naples Florida Mortgage, Naples Mortgage.

Are you clamoring for extra rooms or a more functional floorplan in your house? Maybe it’s time to make a move. If you’ll be able to work remotely for the long-term or your overall needs have simply changed, it’s a great time to sell your house and move up. Why? With mortgage rates in their favor and higher-priced home sales powering more moves across the country, sellers in today’s market are finding the space they need (and have always dreamed of) by purchasing a home in the upper end of the housing market. With so few homes available for sale and high demand from today’s homebuyers, sellers...

6 Reasons to Celebrate National Homeownership Month

Written by Naples Mortgage Syndicated User on June 1, 2021. Posted in Naples Florida Mortgage, Naples Mortgage.

Our homes are so much more than the houses we live in. For many, they’ve also become our workplaces, schools for our children, and safe harbors in which we’ve weathered the toughest moments of a global pandemic. Today, 65.6% of Americans call their homes their own, a rate that has risen to its highest point in 8 years. As National Homeownership Month kicks off this June, homeowners have every reason to celebrate. A survey by Gallup just ranked real estate as the best investment you can make for the eighth year in a row. However, unlike other investment options, the benefits of owning a home...

How Misunderstandings about Affordability Could Cost You

Written by Naples Mortgage Syndicated User on May 27, 2021. Posted in Naples Florida Mortgage, Naples Mortgage.

There’s a lot of discussion about affordability as home prices continue to appreciate rapidly. Even though the most recent index on affordability from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows homes are more affordable today than the historical average, some still have concerns about whether or not it’s truly affordable to buy a home right now. When addressing this topic, there are various measures of affordability to consider. However, very few of the indexes compare the affordability of owning a home to renting one. In a paper just published by the Urban Institute, Homeownership Is...

Buying a Home Is Still Affordable

Written by Naples Mortgage Syndicated User on May 26, 2021. Posted in Naples Florida Mortgage, Naples Mortgage.

The last year has put emphasis on the importance of one’s home. As a result, some renters are making the jump into homeownership while some homeowners are re-evaluating their current house and considering a move to one that better fits their current lifestyle. Understanding how housing affordability works and the main market factors that impact it may help those who are ready to buy a home narrow down the optimal window of time in which to make a purchase. There are three main factors that go into determining how affordable homes are for buyers: Mortgage Rates Mortgage Payments as a Percentage...

3 Things To Prioritize When Selling Your House

Written by Naples Mortgage Syndicated User on May 24, 2021. Posted in Naples Florida Mortgage, Naples Mortgage.

Today’s housing market is full of unprecedented opportunities. High buyer demand paired with record-low housing inventory is creating the ultimate sellers’ market, which means it’s a fantastic time to sell your house. However, that doesn’t mean sellers are guaranteed success no matter what. There are still some key things to know so you can avoid costly mistakes and win big when you make a move. 1. Price Your House Right When inventory is low, like it is in the current market, it’s common to think buyers will pay whatever we ask when setting a listing price. Believe it or not, that’s not always...

Should I Move or Refinance?

Written by Naples Mortgage Syndicated User on May 20, 2021. Posted in Naples Florida Mortgage, Naples Mortgage.

The level of equity homeowners have is at an all-time high. According to the U.S. Census, over 38% of owner-occupied homes are owned free and clear, meaning they don’t have a mortgage. Those with a mortgage are seeing their equity skyrocket too. Every time real estate values increase, homeowners get a dollar-for-dollar gain in their home equity. According to the first-quarter 2021 U.S. Home Equity Report from ATTOM Data Solutions: “17.8 million residential properties in the United States were considered equity-rich, meaning that the combined estimated amount of loans secured by those properties...

Americans See Real Estate as a Better Investment Than Stocks or Gold

Written by Naples Mortgage Syndicated User on May 18, 2021. Posted in Naples Florida Mortgage, Naples Mortgage.

Last month, in a post on the Liberty Street Economics blog, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York noted that Americans believe buying a home is definitely or probably a better investment than buying stocks. Last week, a Gallup Poll reaffirmed those findings. In an article on the current real estate market, Gallup reports: “Gallup usually finds that Americans regard real estate as the best long-term investment among several options — seeing it as superior to stocks, gold, savings accounts and bonds. This year, 41% choose real estate as the best investment, up from 35% a year ago, with...

Don’t Forget to Budget for Closing Costs

Written by Naples Mortgage Syndicated User on May 17, 2021. Posted in Naples Florida Mortgage, Naples Mortgage.

When buying a home, it’s important to have a budget and make sure you plan ahead for certain homebuying expenses. Saving for a down payment is the main cost that comes to mind for many, but budgeting for the closing costs required to get a mortgage is just as important. What Are Closing Costs? According to Trulia: “When you close on a home, a number of fees are due. They typically range from 2% to 5% of the total cost of the home, and can include title insurance, origination fees, underwriting fees, document preparation fees, and more.” For example, for someone buying a $300,000 home, they...

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