What You Should Know About Getting a Mortgage Today

Written by Ocala Mortgage Syndicated User on July 8, 2025. Posted in First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage Ocala, Ocala Mortgage.

If you’ve been putting off buying a home because you thought getting approved would be too hard, know this: qualifying for a mortgage is starting to get a bit more achievable, but lending standards are still strong.Lenders are making it slightly easier for well-qualified buyers to access financing, which is opening more doors for people ready to make a move.So, if strict requirements were holding you back, this shift could be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for, without repeating the risky lending practices that led to the housing crash back in 2008.Lenders Are Opening More DoorsBanks...

Why Big Investors Aren’t a Challenge for Today’s Homebuyer

Written by Ocala Mortgage Syndicated User on July 3, 2025. Posted in First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage Ocala, Ocala Mortgage.

Remember the chatter in the headlines about all the homes big institutional investors were buying? If you were thinking about buying a home yourself, you may have wondered how you’d ever be able to compete with that. Here’s the thing. That’s not the challenge so many people think it is – especially right now.Let’s break down what’s really going on and why the recent shift in the approach investors are taking could tip the scales in your favor.Large Investors Are Pulling BackThe truth is institutional investors never represented as big a share of the housing market as people think. And...

Multi-Generational Homebuying Hit a Record High – Here’s Why

Written by Ocala Mortgage Syndicated User on July 1, 2025. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage Ocala, Ocala Mortgage.

Multi-generational living is on the rise. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 17% of homebuyers purchase a home to share with parents, adult children, or extended family. That’s the highest share ever recorded by NAR (see graph below):And what’s behind the increase? Affordability. NAR explains:“In 2024, a notable 36% of homebuyers cited “cost savings” as the primary reason for purchasing a multigenerational home—a significant increase from just 15% in 2015.”In the past, caregiving was the leading motivator – especially for those looking to support aging parents. And...

Why Homeownership Is Going To Be Worth It

Written by Ocala Mortgage Syndicated User on June 24, 2025. Posted in First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage Ocala, Ocala Mortgage, Rent vs. Buy.

Life can feel a bit unpredictable these days. What’s happening with inflation? The economy? The housing market? But in the middle of all that uncertainty, there’s one thing a lot of people still crave – a place to call their own.Because when everything else feels up in the air, home can be the thing that grounds you. As the experts at 1000WATT put it:“Homeownership isn’t primarily financial anymore. . . Across all demographics, emotional and lifestyle factors consistently outrank wealth-building as motivators.”Here’s what owning a home can mean for you, especially right now.Freedom To Make...

The Five-Year Rule for Home Price Perspective

Written by Ocala Mortgage Syndicated User on June 11, 2025. Posted in First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Home Prices, Mortgage Ocala, Ocala Mortgage.

Headlines are saying home prices are starting to dip in some markets. And if you’re beginning to second guess your plans based on what you’re hearing in the media, here’s what you need to know.It’s true that a few metros are seeing slight price drops. But don’t let that overshadow this simple truth. Home values almost always go up over time (see graph below):While everyone remembers what happened around the housing crash of 2008, that was the exception – not the rule. It hadn’t happened before, and hasn’t since. There were many market dynamics that were drastically different...

Buying Your First Home? FHA Loans Can Help

Written by Ocala Mortgage Syndicated User on June 10, 2025. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage Ocala, Mortgage Rates, Ocala Mortgage.

If you’re a first-time homebuyer, you might feel like the odds are stacked against you in today’s market. But there are resources and programs out there that can help – if you know where to look. And one thing that can make homeownership easier to achieve? An FHA home loan.They’re designed to help you overcome some of the biggest financial hurdles in the homebuying process – and that’s why so many first-timers are using them to make their purchase.Whether you’re dreaming of ditching rent, planting roots, or just wanting a place that’s truly yours, an FHA home loan could be the path that...

Understanding Today’s Mortgage Rates: Is 3% Coming Back?

Written by Ocala Mortgage Syndicated User on June 5, 2025. Posted in Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage Ocala, Mortgage Rates, Ocala Mortgage.

A lot of buyers are pressing pause on their plans these days, holding out hope that mortgage rates will come down – maybe even back to the historic-low 3% from a few years ago. But here’s the thing: those rates were never meant to last. They were a short-term response to a very specific moment in time. And as the market finds its footing again, it’s time to reset expectations.Back in 2020 and 2021, 3% mortgage rates gave buyers a serious boost: more affordability, more buying power, and more opportunity. But those rates were a result of emergency economic policies during the height of a...

Newly Built Homes May Be Less Expensive Than You Think

Written by Ocala Mortgage Syndicated User on June 3, 2025. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Home Prices, Mortgage Ocala, New Construction, Ocala Mortgage.

Do you think a brand-new home means a bigger price tag? Think again.Right now, something unique is happening in the housing market. According to the Census and the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the median price of newly built homes is actually lower than the median price for existing homes (ones that have already been lived in):You read that right. That brand new, never-been-lived-in house may cost less than the one built 20 years ago in a neighborhood just down the street. So, if you wrote off a new build because you assumed they’d be financially out of reach, here’s what you...

Is It Better To Rent or Buy a Home?

Written by Ocala Mortgage Syndicated User on May 30, 2025. Posted in First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage Ocala, Ocala Mortgage, Rent vs. Buy.

You’ve probably asked yourself lately: Is it even worth trying to buy a home right now?With high home prices and stubborn mortgage rates, renting can seem like the safer choice right now. Or maybe your only choice. That’s a very real feeling. And perhaps buying today isn’t your best move; it’s not for everyone right away. You should only buy a home when you’re ready and able to do it, and if the timing is right for you.But here’s the thing you need to know about renting.While it may feel like a safer bet today – and in some areas might even be less expensive month-to-month than owning – it...

Many Veterans Don’t Know about This VA Home Loan Benefit

Written by Ocala Mortgage Syndicated User on May 28, 2025. Posted in First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage Ocala, Ocala Mortgage.

For 80 years, Veterans Affairs (VA) home loans have helped countless Veterans buy a home. But even though a lot of Veterans have access to this powerful program, the majority don’t know about one of its core benefits.According to a report from Veterans United only 3 in 10 Veterans are aware they may be able to buy a home with no down payment with a VA loan (see visual below):That means 7 out of every 10 Veterans could be missing out on a key homebuying advantage.That’s why it’s so important for Veterans, and anyone who cares about a Veteran, to be aware of this program. As Veterans...

Category: First-Time Buyers