What Buyers Need To Know About Homeowners Association Fees

Written by Panama City Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on May 21, 2025. Posted in Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage Panama City, Panama City Mortgage.

When buying a home, you’re probably thinking about mortgage rates, home prices, your down payment, and maybe even your closing costs. But you may not be thinking about homeowners association (HOA) fees. While you won’t necessarily have these, you should know it’s a possibility, depending on where you decide to live. A homeowners association is basically an organization that oversees a housing community (including shared spaces) and sets and enforces rules for things like upkeep. Some buyers love the perks that come with an HOA, others may see the fees as an extra expense. The key is...

Housing Market Forecasts for the Second Half of 2025

Written by Panama City Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on May 17, 2025. Posted in Buying Tips, For Buyers, Forecasts, Infographics, Mortgage Panama City, Mortgage Rates, Panama City Mortgage.

Some Highlights Are you wondering what to expect if you buy or sell a home in the second half of the year? Here’s what the expert forecasts tell you. Mortgage rates are expected to come down slightly. There will be more homes available for sale. And as inventory rises, home price growth will moderate. Want to know what this could mean for your plans? Connect with a local agent and talk through it together.

Don’t Let Student Loans Hold You Back from Homeownership

Written by Panama City Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on May 15, 2025. Posted in Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage Panama City, Panama City Mortgage.

Did you know? According to a recent study, 72% of people with student loans think their debt will delay their ability to buy a home. Maybe you’re one of them and you’re wondering: Do you have to wait until you’ve paid off those loans before you can buy your first home? Or is it possible you could still qualify for a home loan even with that debt? Having questions like these is normal, especially when you’re thinking about making such a big purchase. But you should know, you may be putting your homeownership goals on the backburner unnecessarily. Can You Qualify for a Home Loan if...

Why Buyers Are More Likely To Get Concessions Right Now

Written by Panama City Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on May 14, 2025. Posted in Buying Tips, For Buyers, Mortgage Panama City, Panama City Mortgage.

Especially in areas where inventory is rising, both homebuilders and sellers are sweetening the deal for buyers with things like paid closing costs, mortgage rate buy-downs, and more. In the industry, it’s called a concession or an incentive. What Are Concessions and Incentives? When a seller or builder gives you something extra to help with your purchase, that’s called either a concession or an incentive. A concession is something a seller gives up or agrees to in order to reach a compromise and close a deal. An incentive, on the other hand, is a benefit a builder or seller advertises...

Why You’ll Want a Home Inspection

Written by Panama City Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on May 10, 2025. Posted in Buying Tips, For Buyers, Infographics, Mortgage Panama City, Panama City Mortgage.

Some Highlights Once your offer is accepted, an inspector will assess the condition of the house, including things like the roof, foundation, plumbing, and more. That information is incredibly important and paves the way for you to re-negotiate with the seller, as needed. So, you don’t want to skip this step. An inspection is your chance to avoid costly headaches and get peace of mind. Connect with an agent to talk about other ways to make your offer stand out.

The 20% Down Payment Myth, Debunked

Written by Panama City Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on May 6, 2025. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage Panama City, Panama City Mortgage.

Saving up to buy a home can feel a little intimidating, especially right now. And for many first-time buyers, the idea that you have to put 20% down can feel like a major roadblock. But that’s actually a common misconception. Here’s the truth. Do You Really Have To Put 20% Down When You Buy a Home? Unless your specific loan type or lender requires it, odds are you won’t have to put 20% down. There are loan options out there designed to help first-time buyers like you get in the door with a much smaller down payment. For example, FHA loans offer down payments as low as 3.5%, while VA and...

What an Economic Slowdown Could Mean for the Housing Market

Written by Panama City Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on May 2, 2025. Posted in Economy, For Buyers, Home Prices, Mortgage Panama City, Mortgage Rates, Panama City Mortgage.

Talk about the economy is all over the news, and the odds of a recession are rising this year. That’s leaving a lot of people wondering what it means for the value of their home – and their buying power. Let’s take a look at some historical data to show what’s happened in the housing market during each recession, going all the way back to the 1980s. The facts may surprise you. A Recession Doesn’t Mean Home Prices Will Fall Many 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 the market saw...

A Tale of Two Housing Markets

Written by Panama City Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on May 1, 2025. Posted in For Buyers, For Sellers, Inventory, Mortgage Panama City, Panama City Mortgage.

For a long time, the housing market was all sunshine for sellers. Homes were flying off the shelves, and buyers had to compete like crazy. But lately, things are starting to shift. Some areas are still super competitive for buyers, while others are seeing more homes sit on the market, giving buyers a bit more breathing room. In other words, it’s a tale of two markets, and knowing which one you’re in makes a huge difference when you move. What Is a Buyer’s Market vs. a Seller’s Market? In a buyer’s market, there are a lot of homes for sale, and not as many people buying. With fewer buyers...

Paused Your Moving Plans? Here’s Why It’s Time To Hit Play Again

Written by Panama City Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on April 29, 2025. Posted in For Buyers, Inventory, Mortgage Panama City, Panama City Mortgage.

It’s not really a surprise that 70% of buyers paused their home search last year. Maybe you were one of them. And if so, no judgment. Conditions just weren’t great. Inventory was too low, prices were too high, and mortgage rates were bouncing all over. That made it really hard to find a home you loved – and could afford. And why sell if you’re not sure where you’re going to go? But here’s the thing: the market’s shifting. And it might be time to hit play again. The Inventory Sweet Spot More homeowners are jumping back into their search to make a move this year. Builders are finishing more...

You Finally Have More Options for Your Move

Written by Panama City Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on April 26, 2025. Posted in For Buyers, Infographics, Inventory, Mortgage Panama City, Panama City Mortgage.

Some Highlights If you put your home search on hold because you couldn’t find anything you liked in your budget, it’s time to try again. ? There’s a much wider selection of homes for sale, with more fresh listings hitting the market each month. With more options come more possibilities. Connect with an agent if you want to see what’s available in your area.?

Category: For Buyers