Category: Affordability

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Thinking About Waiting for Lower Mortgage Rates? Read This First.

Written by Cedar Key Mortgage Syndicated User on August 9, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, Cedar Key Mortgage, Economy, For Buyers, Forecasts, Mortgage Cedar Key, Mortgage Rates.

Imagine waiting a year to buy a home, only to find mortgage rates haven’t changed much. That may sound frustrating.But it’s a real possibility.A lot of people are putting their plans on hold because they believe much lower mortgage rates are right around the corner. But, based on today’s forecasts, that may not happen. And you should know that before you decide what to do.Let’s look at why experts don’t expect a dramatic drop in rates – and the options that could help you buy anyway. Because even if rates don’t fall, you can still move. Here’s how.1. Mortgage...

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

Written by Cedar Key Mortgage Syndicated User on August 9, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, Cedar Key Mortgage, For Buyers, Mortgage Cedar Key.

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 Cedar Key Mortgage Syndicated User on August 9, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, Cedar Key Mortgage, Downsize, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage Cedar Key.

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...

What To Expect from the Housing Market in the Second Half of 2026

Written by Cedar Key Mortgage Syndicated User on July 20, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Cedar Key Mortgage, For Buyers, For Sellers, Forecasts, Home Prices, Mortgage Cedar Key, Mortgage Rates.

If the first half of this year has left you feeling stuck, you’re not the only one. Mortgage rates stayed higher than people wanted. Affordability remained tight. And uncertainty overseas added another layer of pressure nobody saw coming.That’s why so many people are asking the same question: Will the second half of the year be any better for the housing market?While nobody has a crystal ball, there are a few encouraging signs things could start moving in a better direction. Here’s what to watch.Mortgage Rates Could Be Near a Turning Point One of the biggest reasons...

Down Payments Are Smaller Than They’ve Been Since 2021

Written by Cedar Key Mortgage Syndicated User on July 20, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, Cedar Key Mortgage, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage Cedar Key.

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,...

Lower Asking Prices Are a Win for Today’s Buyers

Written by Cedar Key Mortgage Syndicated User on June 25, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, Cedar Key Mortgage, For Buyers, Home Prices, Mortgage Cedar Key.

If affordability has been the biggest thing standing between you and a home, there’s a little good news. Asking prices have started to come down.The typical seller listed their house for a median of $429,500 in May. That’s 2.4% lower than a year ago, according to Realtor.com. On its own, that won’t transform what you can afford, but in today’s market every little bit helps and it signals a broader shift taking place.Buyers Are Finally Catching a BreakCheck out this data from Realtor.com and you can see this is the first May in years where buyers have caught any sort of break...

Could Moving a Bit Further Out Change Everything About Your Budget?

Written by Cedar Key Mortgage Syndicated User on June 25, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Agent Value, Buying Tips, Cedar Key Mortgage, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage Cedar Key.

Whether you’re dreaming about buying your first home or wondering if it’s time to move on from the one you’re in, affordability is probably weighing on your mind. Home prices are still high in many markets, and even though things have improved a bit over the past year, making the numbers work can still feel like a stretch.But the people finding ways to move right now usually have one thing in common. They didn’t wait for affordability to come to them. They went looking for it.According to PODS, 61% of people across all generations say affordability is the biggest factor...

What Rising Inflation Means for Your Move

Written by Cedar Key Mortgage Syndicated User on June 25, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Cedar Key Mortgage, Economy, For Buyers, Mortgage Cedar Key, Mortgage Rates.

Data shows inflation is moving in the wrong direction. But before the headlines send anyone into a panic, here’s what’s actually going on, why it matters for the housing market, and what it means if you’re thinking about buying or selling.Inflation Went Up – Here’s What That Actually MeansThe government tracks inflation in a variety of ways. One is something called PCE – the Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index. It measures how much more (or less) people are paying for goods and services compared to a year ago. And just based on your own expenses, you can probably...

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

Written by Cedar Key Mortgage Syndicated User on April 27, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, Cedar Key Mortgage, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Mortgage Cedar Key.

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 Cedar Key Mortgage Syndicated User on April 20, 2026. Posted in Affordability, Cedar Key Mortgage, First-Time Buyers, Inventory, Mortgage Cedar Key.

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...