Category: Affordability

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Myth vs. Reality: Does the Fed Control Mortgage Rates?

Written by St. Johns FL Mortgage Syndicated User on October 10, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Agent Value, Buying Tips, Economy, For Buyers, For Sellers, Mortgage Rates, Selling Tips, St. Johns FL Condo Financing, St. Johns FL Mortgage, St. Johns FL Mortgage Rates.

You’ve probably heard the Federal Reserve (the Fed) is raising rates again. And if you’re planning to buy or sell a house, you may be wondering what that means for you.With all the headlines, it’s easy to think the Fed sets mortgage rates. That’s actually a common myth. But the Fed’s decisions can still have an impact on them.So, where does that leave you? The next few months could get a little bumpy. But the Fed is playing the long game. And with the right plan, you can still make a move that works. Let’s break it down.Why the Fed Is Raising RatesIt all comes back to...

Two Moves That Can Get You Into Your First Home Sooner

Written by St. Johns FL Mortgage Syndicated User on October 10, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Rent vs. Buy, St. Johns FL Condo Financing, St. Johns FL Mortgage, St. Johns FL Mortgage Rates.

For a lot of first-time buyers, owning a home can feel perpetually a few years out of reach. Saving for a down payment takes time, and each year you spend renting can make owning feel further off.But buying your first home doesn’t have to happen to feel like a far away goal. Two choices you control can bring your first home years closer, even with affordability as tight as it is right now.How Long Buying Really TakesFirst, one quick definition. “Breaking even” is the point where owning has cost you about the same as renting would have over the same period. And after that...

3 Things You Can Actually Control About Your Mortgage Rate Right Now

Written by St. Johns FL Mortgage Syndicated User on September 24, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, For Buyers, Mortgage Rates, New Construction, St. Johns FL Condo Financing, St. Johns FL Mortgage, St. Johns FL Mortgage Rates.

If you’re trying to buy a home, affordability is probably what keeps you up at night. And as you watch mortgage rates tick up again lately, it’s fair to wonder if you should just hit pause and wait for them to go down. For now, though, they’re headed the other way. Mortgage News Daily data shows how rates have risen this year (see graph below):And if you’re wondering why? There are actually a number of reasons. Mortgage rates are impacted by the situation overseas, economic data, inflation numbers, oil prices, and even decisions from the Federal Reserve (who recently decided to hike...

Thinking About Tapping into Your 401(k) To Buy a Home? Read This First.

Written by St. Johns FL Mortgage Syndicated User on September 1, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, St. Johns FL Condo Financing, St. Johns FL Mortgage, St. Johns FL Mortgage Rates.

Lately, headlines have floated an eye-catching idea about tapping into your 401(k) to cover a down payment on a home. Maybe you’ve caught the buzz and wondered whether that money could get you into a home faster, especially with affordability as tough as it is. Here’s what you need to remember. Pulling from your retirement savings is a big decision, so take time to weigh all your options first and be sure to talk with a financial expert before you do anything.Why Dipping into a 401(k) Can Be TemptingData from Empower shows many Americans have built up considerable retirement...

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

Written by St. Johns FL Mortgage Syndicated User on September 1, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, For Buyers, Home Prices, St. Johns FL Condo Financing, St. Johns FL Mortgage, St. Johns FL Mortgage Rates.

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 St. Johns FL Mortgage Syndicated User on August 17, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Economy, For Buyers, For Sellers, Mortgage Rates, St. Johns FL Condo Financing, St. Johns FL Mortgage, St. Johns FL 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 St. Johns FL Mortgage Syndicated User on August 17, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, Downsize, For Buyers, Move-Up, St. Johns FL Condo Financing, St. Johns FL Mortgage, St. Johns FL Mortgage Rates.

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...

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

Written by St. Johns FL Mortgage Syndicated User on April 28, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, St. Johns FL Condo Financing, St. Johns FL Mortgage, St. Johns FL Mortgage Rates.

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 St. Johns FL Mortgage Syndicated User on April 21, 2026. Posted in Affordability, First-Time Buyers, Inventory, St. Johns FL Condo Financing, St. Johns FL Mortgage, St. Johns FL Mortgage Rates.

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 St. Johns FL Mortgage Syndicated User on April 14, 2026. Posted in Affordability, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage Rates, St. Johns FL Condo Financing, St. Johns FL Mortgage, St. Johns FL 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...