Keith Bailey Realtor Florida Real Estate Blog

  Why a Destin Florida Vacation Home Is the Ultimate Summer Upgrade Summer is officially here and that means it’s the perfect time to start planning where you want to vacation and unwind this season. If you’re excited about getting away and having some fun in the sun, it might make sense to consider if  owning  your own vacation home is right for you. An  Ameriprise Financial  survey sheds light on why people buy a second, or vacation, home ( see below ):  Vacation destination or a place to get away from the stresses of everyday life (81%)  – Having a second home to use as a vacation spot can be a special place where you go to relax and take a break from your daily routines and stressors. It also means you won’t have  to worry  about finding somewhere to stay when you go there. Better weather (49%)  – Buying in a place where there may be nicer weather can be a great escape, especially if it’s cold or rainy where you usually live. It lets...

  What To Expect if You Buy or Sell a Home This June June is a busy month in the  housing market  because a lot of people  buy  and  sell  this time of year. So, if you’ve got a move on your mind and you’re looking to make it happen this month, here’s a snapshot of what you need to know to make sure you’re ready. If You’re Buying This June A lot of  homebuyers  with children like to move after one school year ends and before the next one begins. That’s one reason why late spring into summer is a popular time for homes to change hands. And whether that’s a  motivator  for you or not, it’s important to realize more  buyers  are going to be looking right now – and that means you’ll want to be ready for a bit more competition. But there is a silver lining to a move this time of year. This is also when more sellers will list – so you should find you have  more options . As an article from  Bankrate says: “ Late spring...

  How VA Loans Can Help You Buy a Home For over 80 years, Veterans Affairs (VA) home loans have helped millions of veterans buy their own  homes . If you or someone you know has served in the military, it's important to learn about this program and its benefits. Here are some key things to know about VA loans before  buying a home . Top Benefits of VA Home Loans VA home loans make it easier for veterans to buy a home, and they're a great perk for those who qualify.  According  to the  Department of Veteran Affairs,  some benefits include: Options for No Down Payment:  Qualified borrowers can often purchase a home with no down payment. That’s a huge weight lifted when you’re trying to save for a home.  The Associated Press   says : “. . . about 90% of VA loans are used to purchase a home with no money down.” Don’t Require Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI):  Many other loans with down payments under 20% require PMI. VA loans do not, wh...

  The Perks of Buying over Renting Thinking about buying a home? While today’s  mortgage rates  might seem a bit intimidating, here are two solid reasons why, if you’re ready and able, it could still be a smart move to get  your own place . 1. Home Values Typically Go Up Over Time There’s been some confusion over the past year or so about which way  home prices  are headed. Make no mistake, nationally they’re still going up. In fact, over the long-term,  home prices  almost always go up ( see graph below ): Using  data  from the  Federal Reserve  (the Fed), you can see the overall trend is home prices have climbed steadily for the past 60 years. There was an exception during the 2008 housing crash when prices didn’t follow the normal pattern, but generally, home values kept rising. This is a big reason why  buying a home  can be better than  renting . As prices go up and you pay down your mortgage, you build...

  Why Overpricing Your House Can Cost You If you’re trying to  sell your house , you may be looking at this spring season as the  sweet spot  – and you’re not wrong. We’re still in a  seller’s market  because there are so few  homes for sale  right now. And historically, this is the  time of year  when more buyers move, and competition ticks up. That makes this an exciting time to put up that for sale sign. But while conditions are great for sellers like you, you’ll still want to be strategic when it comes time to set your asking price. That’s because pricing your house too high may actually cost you in the long run. The Downside of Overpricing Your House The asking price for your house sends a message to potential buyers. From the moment they see your listing, the price and the photos are what’s going to make the biggest first impression. And, if it’s priced too high, you may turn people away. As an article from  U.S. News Rea...

  Homeowners Today Have Options To Avoid Foreclosure Even with the latest data coming in, the experts agree there’s no chance of a large-scale  foreclosure crisis  like the one we saw back in 2008. While headlines may be calling attention to a slight uptick in foreclosure filings recently, the  bigger picture  is that we’re still well below the number we’d see in a more normal year for the housing market. As a report from  BlackKnight   explains : “The prospect of any kind of near-term surge in foreclosure activity remains low, with start volumes still nearly 40% below pre-pandemic levels.” That’s good news. It means the number of homeowners at risk is very low compared to the norm. But, there’s a small percentage who may be coming face to face with foreclosure as a possibility. That’s because some homeowners may have an unexpected hardship in their life, which unfortunately can happen in any market. For those homeowners, there are still options that c...