Should You Still Expect a Bidding War?

Written by St. Augustine Mortgage Syndicated User on August 25, 2025. Posted in First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, St. Augustine, St. Augustine Mortgage.

If you’re still worried about having to deal with a bidding war when you buy a home, you may be able to let some of that fear go.While multiple-offer situations haven’t disappeared entirely, they’re not nearly as common as they used to be. In fact, a recent survey shows agents reported only 1 in 5 homes (20%) nationally received multiple offers in June 2025.That’s down from nearly 1 in 3 (31%) just a year ago – and dramatically lower than in June 2023 (39%) (see graph below):This trend means you should face less competition when you buy. That gives you more time to make decisions and the...

Happy 460th Birthday St Augustine!

Written by St. Augustine Mortgage Syndicated User on August 22, 2025. Posted in Attractions & Sightseeing, Community, Family Friendly, History & Heritage, Kid Friendly, Special Events, St. Augustine, St. Augustine Mortgage, Things to Do.

St Augustine Celebrates It’s 460th Birthday St Augustine was Founded September 8, 1565 How It All Started Pedro Menendez de Aviles was sent by King Phillip II with a fleet of ships from Spain to Florida to establish a colony and protect it from the French. Father Francisco Lopez de Mendoza Grajales was a chaplain who accompanied Menendez. He celebrated the First Mass on the present-day grounds of the Mission of Nobre de Dios and National Shrine of Our Lady of Le Leche. This marked the founding of St Augustine and the first parish in the continental United States on September 8, 1565....

Fire Department Employment

Written by St. Augustine Mortgage Syndicated User on August 22, 2025. Posted in St. Augustine, St. Augustine Mortgage.

Explore career opportunities with the City of St. Augustine Fire Department! Find job listings, learn about the hiring process, and discover how to apply for open positions. We’re an Equal Opportunity Employer dedicated to building a talented and diverse team.

From Frenzy to Breathing Room: Buyers Finally Have Time Again

Written by St. Augustine Mortgage Syndicated User on August 21, 2025. Posted in Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, St. Augustine, St. Augustine Mortgage.

If you tried to buy a home a few years ago, you probably still remember the frenzy. Homes were listed one day and gone the next. Sometimes it only took hours. You had to drop everything to go and see the house, and if you hesitated even slightly, someone else swooped in and bought it – sometimes even sight unseen.That kind of intensity pushed a lot of buyers to the sidelines. It was stressful, chaotic, and for many, really discouraging.But here’s what you need to know: those days are behind us.Today’s market is moving slower, in the best possible way. And that’s creating more opportunity...

Condos Could Be a Win for Today’s Buyers

Written by St. Augustine Mortgage Syndicated User on August 20, 2025. Posted in Affordability, Buying Tips, Downsize, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers, Home Prices, Inventory, St. Augustine, St. Augustine Mortgage.

Not every homebuyer wants the biggest house on the block. Some want something simpler, more affordable, and easier to maintain, especially in a market where every dollar counts. That’s where condos come in.For first-time buyers, they can be a smart way to get into homeownership without stretching your budget. For downsizers, they offer less space to maintain with the flexibility to stay in a great location.And right now, condos are one of the most buyer-friendly parts of the market.Condo Inventory Is Up, And That Means More ChoiceAccording to the National Association of Realtors (NAR),...

Strategic Planning

Written by St. Augustine Mortgage Syndicated User on August 20, 2025. Posted in St. Augustine, St. Augustine Mortgage.

Explore the City of St. Augustine’s strategic planning process, which integrates vision, mission, and core values to drive budget and performance. Access current and historical strategic plans, budget books, and capital improvement plans.

More Contracts Are Falling Through. Here’s How To Get Ahead.

Written by St. Augustine Mortgage Syndicated User on August 18, 2025. Posted in For Sellers, Selling Tips, St. Augustine, St. Augustine Mortgage.

When you sell a house, the last thing you want is for the deal to fall apart right before closing. But according to the latest data from Redfin, that’s happening a bit more often lately. The good news is, it’s completely avoidable if you lean on an agent for insight into why that is and how to avoid it happening to you.This June, 15% of pending home sales fell through. That means those buyers backed out of their contracts. That’s not too much higher than the norm of roughly 12% from 2017-2019, but it’s still an increase. And it’s one you don’t want to have to deal with. The key to avoiding...

Is It Better To Buy Now or Wait for Lower Mortgage Rates? Here’s the Tradeoff

Written by St. Augustine Mortgage Syndicated User on August 14, 2025. Posted in For Buyers, Mortgage Rates, St. Augustine, St. Augustine Mortgage.

Mortgage rates are still a hot topic – and for good reason. After the most recent jobs report came out weaker than expected, the bond market reacted almost instantly. And, as a result, in early August mortgage rates dropped to their lowest point so far this year (6.55%).While that may not sound like a big deal, pretty much every buyer has been waiting for rates to fall. And even a seemingly small drop like this reignites the hope we’re finally going to see rates trending down. But what’s realistic to expect?According to the latest forecasts, rates aren’t expected to fall dramatically...

Are These Myths About Buying a Newly Built Home Holding You Back?

Written by St. Augustine Mortgage Syndicated User on August 13, 2025. Posted in Affordability, Agent Value, For Buyers, New Construction, St. Augustine, St. Augustine Mortgage.

If you’ve been skipping over newly built homes in your search, you might be doing so based on outdated assumptions. Let’s clear up a few of the most common myths, so you don’t miss out on a solid opportunity.Myth 1: New Homes Are More ExpensiveIt’s easy to assume a new build will cost more than an existing home, but that’s not necessarily true, especially right now.Data from Census and the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows the median price of a newly built home today is actually lower than a home that’s been lived in already (an existing home):So, why’s this happening? As Heather...

What You Need To Know About Concessions

Written by St. Augustine Mortgage Syndicated User on August 12, 2025. Posted in For Sellers, Infographics, Selling Tips, St. Augustine, St. Augustine Mortgage.

Some HighlightsNow that there are more homes for sale, buyers have more options. And sellers need to be more flexible to close the deal.That’s why almost half of homeowners are making some type of concession. This can include covering closing costs, paying for repairs, or dropping the price.Not sure which concessions to offer? Connect with a local agent so you know what’s working for sellers in your market.

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