Quick answer: Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) are growing in popularity because fixed mortgage rates have climbed. According to ICE Mortgage Technology’s October 2026 Mortgage Monitor, ARMs made up nearly 11% of first-lien mortgage rate locks in the week ending September 18, the highest share in almost four years. Among home purchase borrowers, nearly 9% chose an… Continue reading Higher Rates Mean More Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARMs)
Category: Home Buying
Common Red Flags Of Real Estate Fraud
Quick answer: The most common red flags of real estate fraud are a sudden change in wire instructions, unexpected urgency around money, requests that do not fit the normal flow of a transaction, and messages or calls that seem unusually convincing. Because artificial intelligence (AI) can now imitate emails, voices and even faces, the safest… Continue reading Common Red Flags Of Real Estate Fraud
The Silver Tsunami And Nearly 14 Millions Homes
Quick answer: The “Silver Tsunami” is the expected wave of homes that aging Americans will release to the market over the next decade. A Realtor.com research report projects roughly 13.9 million homes will be relinquished, a 33.7% increase over the previous decade. The relief will not be even, though. Family homes (3 to 4 bedrooms)… Continue reading The Silver Tsunami And Nearly 14 Millions Homes
The Pros And Cons Of Buying A Home In The Fall
Is fall a good time to buy a home? For many buyers, yes. Fall typically brings less buyer competition, more negotiating room with sellers, and a better chance to spot problems with a property. The trade-offs are a smaller pool of new listings, a higher chance that older listings have issues, possible year-end closing delays,… Continue reading The Pros And Cons Of Buying A Home In The Fall
The Top 5 Reasons To Consider A 55 And Over Community
Quick answer: The top five reasons to consider a 55 and over community are lower-maintenance living, access to amenities, a built-in social network, a quieter and more age-appropriate environment, and predictable housing costs. For many South Florida buyers, these communities offer a simpler, more active way to live. A 55 and over community, also called… Continue reading The Top 5 Reasons To Consider A 55 And Over Community
5 Tips to Get Rid of Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)
Quick answer: You can get rid of PMI by (1) waiting for automatic cancellation at 78% loan-to-value, (2) requesting cancellation at 80%, (3) paying down your principal faster, (4) getting a new appraisal if your home has gained value, or (5) refinancing into a loan that doesn’t require PMI. Most homeowners with a conventional loan… Continue reading 5 Tips to Get Rid of Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)
The Impact of Amendment 3 on Florida Home Prices
Quick Answer If Amendment 3 passes with the 60% of the vote it needs, Florida home prices would most likely see a modest upward push, roughly 1% to 5% in the affected segments over one to three years. The push would be strongest for owner-occupied single-family homes, and local government budget responses and interest rates… Continue reading The Impact of Amendment 3 on Florida Home Prices
What Can You Buy in Highland Beach, FL for $800K–$1 Million?
If you have a budget of $800,000 to $1 million for a home in Highland Beach, Florida, what can you expect to find? Here’s the latest real estate market activity for Highland Beach properties with sales prices between $800,000 and $1,000,000 that closed in the last 3 months, as of October 2, 2026. Some observations… Continue reading What Can You Buy in Highland Beach, FL for $800K–$1 Million?
VantageScore 4.0: How Rent Payments Can Help Credit Scores
Quick answer: VantageScore 4.0 is a credit scoring model built by the three major credit bureaus. It looks at how your credit behavior changes over time, and it can factor in rent payment history when that history appears in your credit file. As of September 2026, all Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac approved lenders may… Continue reading VantageScore 4.0: How Rent Payments Can Help Credit Scores
The Best Week To Buy A Home
Quick answer: According to Realtor.com’s 2026 Best Time to Buy Report, the national “Best Week” to buy a home is September 27–October 3, 2026. But if you’re shopping in Florida, your ideal window comes later: October 25–31 for Jacksonville and Orlando, and November 29–December 5 for Tampa and Miami — the latest Best Week windows… Continue reading The Best Week To Buy A Home