Category: Buying Tips

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

Written by Pensacola Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on August 15, 2026. Posted in Buying Tips, For Buyers, For Sellers, Mortgage Pensacola FL, Pensacola Mortgage, 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 Pensacola Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on August 15, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, Downsize, For Buyers, Mortgage Pensacola FL, Move-Up, Pensacola 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...

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

Written by Pensacola Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on July 30, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, For Buyers, Mortgage Pensacola FL, Pensacola Mortgage.

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 Pensacola Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on July 30, 2026. Posted in Buying Tips, For Buyers, For Sellers, Home Prices, Mortgage Pensacola FL, Pensacola Mortgage, 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 Pensacola Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on July 26, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, Downsize, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage Pensacola FL, Pensacola Mortgage.

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...

More Homes, Better Prices: A Buyer’s Summer

Written by Pensacola Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on July 26, 2026. Posted in Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Home Prices, Inventory, Mortgage Pensacola FL, Pensacola Mortgage.

If you’ve thought about buying a home in the past few years, you may have run into two frustrations: asking prices that kept climbing and too few homes to choose from.In many places, both sticking points are letting up this summer, with lower asking prices and more homes for sale. Let’s look at the trends, and what they mean for your search.Sellers Are Pricing To Attract BuyersAccording to Realtor.com, the national median asking price was $430,000 in June, nearly $11,000 under what it was the year before (see graph below):That’s the eighth month in a row that the typical asking price has...

Down Payments Are Smaller Than They’ve Been Since 2021

Written by Pensacola Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on July 2, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage Pensacola FL, Pensacola Mortgage.

Saving for a down payment can feel like the hardest part of buying a home. And with affordability as tight as it’s been lately, it’s fair to wonder how anyone manages it right now. Here’s something you may not have seen coming. Some people are getting their foot in the door with a smaller down payment.According to Realtor.com, the typical buyer put down about $23,400 in early 2026 – that’s around $5,000 below what was typical the year before (a 19% drop year over year). That’s the lowest down payments have been since 2021 (see graph below):So why are buyers putting less money down,...

The 1 Factor That Explains Everything Happening with Home Prices Right Now

Written by Pensacola Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on June 30, 2026. Posted in Buying Tips, For Buyers, For Sellers, Home Prices, Inventory, Mortgage Pensacola FL, Pensacola Mortgage, Selling Tips.

You’ve probably heard that home prices are cooling off. And that’s true – nationally. But zoom in on individual markets across the country, and the picture looks completely different depending on where you are.Some areas are still seeing solid price growth. Others have gone flat. A few have actually dipped slightly negative. So, what’s causing all of that variation? It All Comes Down to InventoryHere’s the simple version:When there are more homes for sale, buyers have options.More options, means less competition.Less competition means sellers can’t push prices...

That House That’s Been Sitting Could Be Your Best Shot at a Deal

Written by Pensacola Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on June 28, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage Pensacola FL, Pensacola Mortgage.

Open up a home search and you’ll see them. Listings that have been on the market for two months. Three. Some longer.Most buyers scroll right past them, assuming something’s wrong with the house. But that instinct could be costing you, since the longer a home sits, the more motivated the seller usually gets.Where Some Buyers Are Finding Better DealsIf affordability has been your #1 hurdle to buying, here’s a surprisingly simple strategy that could help you finally get your foot in the door. Start with the homes that have been sitting the longest. That’s often where the best deals...

Could Co-Buying Be the Answer for Some First-Time Buyers?

Written by Pensacola Mortgage Mortgage Syndicated User on May 10, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage Pensacola FL, Pensacola Mortgage.

For a lot of would-be first-time buyers, affordability is the thing that’s standing in the way. But some buyers are getting creative and finding a way to still make the numbers work – and that’s through co-buying. The Dream Is Still Alive. The Math Just Isn’t Working for Everyone.Young people haven’t given up on the dream of owning a home – not even close. According to FirstHome IQ, homeownership still ranks among the top life goals for the next generation.The problem? 73% of Gen Z and millennial buyers cite affordability as the reason for not making homeownership a priority. And it...