Category: Affordability

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

Written by Condotel Financing Florida Syndicated User on August 27, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, Condotel Financing Florida, Condotel Mortgage Financing, Florida Condotel, For Buyers, Home Prices, Mortgage.

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...

Here’s Why Mortgage Rates Are What They Are Right Now

Written by Condotel Financing Florida Syndicated User on August 13, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Condotel Financing Florida, Condotel Mortgage Financing, Economy, Florida Condotel, For Buyers, For Sellers, Mortgage, Mortgage Rates.

If you’re waiting for mortgage rates to fall a lot before you buy, you may be waiting a while. But before you get discouraged, there’s a number working behind the scenes that’s actually good for you right now. It’s called the spread, and once you understand it, you may see today’s rates in a whole new light.The Pattern That’s Held for 50+ YearsFor starters, mortgage rates don’t move on their own. They tend to follow the 10-year treasury yield, a number tied to how investors feel about the economy.It’s not an exact science, since plenty of other factors can move...

The Case for Putting 20% Down on Your Next Home

Written by Condotel Financing Florida Syndicated User on August 13, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, Condotel Financing Florida, Condotel Mortgage Financing, Downsize, Florida Condotel, For Buyers, Mortgage, 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...

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

Written by Condotel Financing Florida Syndicated User on July 31, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, Condotel Financing Florida, Condotel Mortgage Financing, Florida Condotel, For Buyers, 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...

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

Written by Condotel Financing Florida Syndicated User on July 29, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, Condotel Financing Florida, Condotel Mortgage Financing, Downsize, First-Time Buyers, Florida Condotel, For Buyers, 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...

Newly Built Home Prices Hit a 5-Year Low

Written by Condotel Financing Florida Syndicated User on May 22, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, Condotel Financing Florida, Condotel Mortgage Financing, First-Time Buyers, Florida Condotel, For Buyers, Mortgage, New Construction.

If you’ve always assumed a newly built home is just not in your budget, you should know the math just got a little friendlier.The median sale price of a newly built home is now at its lowest level since 2021, according to the latest data from the Census. And on top of that, builders are still rolling out incentives to bring buyers through the door.Here’s what’s happening, and what it means if you’re shopping right now.Prices on Newly Built Homes Have Come DownAfter a steep climb during the pandemic years, prices have eased a bit. The median sale price of newly built homes...

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

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

Think You Have To Put 20% Down? Most First-Time Homebuyers Don’t.

Written by Condotel Financing Florida Syndicated User on April 28, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, Condotel Financing Florida, Condotel Mortgage Financing, First-Time Buyers, Florida Condotel, For Buyers, Mortgage.

According to Google Trends, online searches for down payment information recently hit an all-time high. And that’s a clear sign more buyers are trying to figure out what they really need to save before making a move (see graph below):If you’re wondering the same thing, you can always turn to the internet for answers. But a lot of the time, it’s better to ask a local expert. Because here’s what a pro would tell you.The 20% Down Payment MythThe idea that you need 20% down to buy a home is one of the biggest misconceptions around the homebuying process. And the data debunks the myth.While...

The 10 Best Markets for First-Time Buyers This Spring

Written by Condotel Financing Florida Syndicated User on April 21, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Condotel Financing Florida, Condotel Mortgage Financing, First-Time Buyers, Florida Condotel, Inventory, Mortgage.

For a while, buying your first home hasn’t just felt hard. It may have felt out of reach.Not because you weren’t ready.Not because you weren’t trying.But because every time you ran the numbers, they didn’t work.That’s why so many first-time buyers stepped back.But after years of sitting on the outside looking in, this Spring could give buyers like you an opening again – especially in some markets.Metros Where Buyers May Have an Easier Time Breaking into the Market Zillow just released a list of the top 50 metros for first-time buyers this Spring. And here’s a quick snapshot of the top 10...

Wondering If You Should Still Buy a Home Right Now? Here’s What To Keep in Mind.

Written by Condotel Financing Florida Syndicated User on April 14, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Condotel Financing Florida, Condotel Mortgage Financing, First-Time Buyers, Florida Condotel, For Buyers, Mortgage, Mortgage Rates.

With economic headlines, global events, and near constant talk about affordability, you may be wondering if this is the right time to move. But here’s what you need to remember.While recent events do have some impact on the housing market, they don’t take buying off the table. You just have to use a different strategy.Mortgage Rates Have Been Up Slightly – Here’s WhyAfter trending down for most of 2025, mortgage rates have been higher again for over roughly a month now. And experts say it’s a result of what’s happening overseas and in the broader economy. As Mark Fleming, Chief...