Take a moment to imagine where you want to be in a few years. You might be thinking about your job, money, wanting more stability, or goals you want to reach soon. Is homeownership a part of that vision? If it is, you should know owning a home has a whole lot of financial benefits.

One of the many reasons to buy a home is that it’s a great way to build wealth and gain financial stability. That’s because the value of most homes increases over time, which in turn grows your net worth. Here’s how home values are rising right now. According to Zillow:

“The total value of the U.S. housing market – the sum of Zillow’s estimated value for every U.S. home – is now slightly less than $52 trillion, which is $1.1 trillion higher than the previous peak…

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When it comes to selling your house, you’re probably trying to juggle the current market conditions and your own needs as you plan your move.

One thing that may be working in your favor is how few homes there are for sale right now. Here’s what you need to know about the current inventory situation and what it means for you.

The Supply of Homes for Sale Is Far Below the Norm

When you’re selling something, it helps if what you’re selling is in demand, but is also in low supply. Why? That makes it even more desirable since there’s not enough to go around. That’s exactly what’s happening in the housing market today. There are more buyers looking to buy than there are homes for sale.

To tell the story of just how low inventory is, here’s…

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White sands and crisp breezes - It’s time to embrace the changing of the seasons! Check out some of the top local news stories and see what events are coming up on the Emerald Coast as we head into October!

Front Porches Become Stages at Annual Watersound Origins Event – Oct 8

https://30a.com/watersound-origins-porchfest/

15th Annual Baytowne Wharf Beer Fest Oct 6 & 7

https://sowal.com/story/15th-annual-baytowne-wharf-beer-fest-oct-6-7

Alys Beach Crafted Oct 25-28 In Alys Beach

https://sowal.com/story/alys-beach-crafted-oct-25-28-in-alys-beach

Headliners Announced for 30A Songwriters Festival — Jan 12-15, 2024

https://30a.com/2024-30a-songwriters-festival/

The Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation (DCWAF) is hosting…

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White sands and crisp breezes - It’s time to embrace the changing of the seasons! Check out some of the top local news stories and see what events are coming up on the Emerald Coast as we head into October!

Texas angler on Destin Inshore Guides pulls in 1st fish of 75th Rodeo

https://www.thedestinlog.com/story/news/local/2023/10/01/destin-inshore-guides-brings-in-first-fish-of-75th-destin-fishing-rodeo/71026186007/

Don't miss out on the Destin Seafood Festival - Oct. 6-8

https://www.destinfwb.com/event/destin-seafood-festival/5028/

Inaugural Salt Water Music Fest Oct 12-14

https://sowal.com/story/inaugural-salt-water-music-fest-oct-12-14

15th Annual Baytowne Wharf Beer Fest Oct 6 & 7

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If you’re hoping to buy a home this year, you’re probably paying close attention to mortgage rates. Since mortgage rates impact what you can afford when you take out a home loan – and affordability is a challenge today – it’s a good time to look at the big picture of where mortgage rates have been historically compared to where they are now. Beyond that, it’s important to understand their relationship with inflation for insights into where mortgage rates might go in the near future.

Giving Context to the Sticker Shock

Freddie Mac has been tracking the 30-year fixed mortgage rate since April of 1971. Every week, they release the results of their Primary Mortgage Market Survey, which averages mortgage application data from lenders across the…

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If you’re thinking of making a move, one of the biggest questions you have right now is probably: what’s happening with home prices? Despite what you may be hearing in the news, nationally, home prices aren’t falling. It’s just that price growth is beginning to normalize. Here’s the context you need to really understand that trend.

In the housing market, there are predictable ebbs and flows that happen each year. It’s called seasonality. Spring is the peak homebuying season when the market is most active. That activity is typically still strong in the summer but begins to wane as the cooler months approach. Home prices follow along with seasonality because prices appreciate most when something is in high demand.

That’s why there’s a…

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The way Americans work has changed in recent years, and remote work is at the forefront of this shift. Experts say it’ll continue to be popular for years to come and project that 36.2 million Americans will be working remotely by 2025. To give you some perspective, that's a 417% increase compared to the pre-pandemic years when there were just 7 million remote workers.

If you’re in the market to buy a home and you work remotely either full or part-time, this trend is a game-changer. It can help you overcome some of today’s affordability and housing inventory challenges.

How Remote Work Helps with Affordability

Remote or hybrid work allows you to change how you approach your home search. Since you’re no longer commuting every day, you may…

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Summer may be coming to a close on the coast, but the fun continues beyond the season’s end! Check out some of the top local news stories and see what events are coming up on the Emerald Coast as we head into September!

Longleaf Restoration Project at Grayton Beach State Park Sep 16

https://sowal.com/story/longleaf-restoration-project-at-grayton-beach-state-park-sep-16

After two years of construction, the Duplin Winery is open for business in Panama City Beach!

https://pcbeach.lifemediagrp.com/duplin-winery-is-the-newest-pcb-attraction/

Okaloosa and Walton Counties send help following Hurricane Idalia aftermath

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