Category: Buying Tips

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Remote Work Could Be Your Affordability Answer

Written by Condotel Financing Florida Syndicated User on September 12, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Agent Value, Buying Tips, Condotel Financing Florida, Condotel Mortgage Financing, First-Time Buyers, Florida Condotel, For Buyers, Mortgage.

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...

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...

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

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

Home Price Growth Slowed Down. That May Be Changing.

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

4 Ways To Give Your Offer an Edge This Spring

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

Looking to buy a home this season? Here’s what you should know. Buyers have more leverage today than they’ve had in years. There are more homes to choose from and, in many areas, sellers are more open to negotiation. But that doesn’t mean competition is gone completely. These days, it varies a lot depending on where you’re hoping to move. If you’re buying in a popular neighborhood, or in a market where there aren’t many homes for sale, you may still find yourself competing with another buyer.And that’s especially true in the Spring. Here’s how to stay one step ahead of any...