Home buying

Published January 28, 2026 | By Robert Sullivan, Realtor® – Coldwell Banker Realty This post is based on public data from HousingWire and Bright MLS to highlight growing buyer preferences for move‑in‑ready homes. All opinions and local insights are Robert Sullivan’s. 🌟 A Clear Trend Buyers across the country — especially those searching for turnkey homes in Orlando — are choosing move‑in‑ready properties even when they cost more. A new survey shows that convenience now outweighs price as the top priority for many buyers in 2026. After years of rising material and labor costs, it’s easy to see to […]

Published January 16, 2026 | By Robert Sullivan, Mortgage & Real Estate Advisor – Orlando, FL. This article summarizes publicly available market reports for educational purposes. Original data and reporting belong to Realtor.com and other credited sources. 🌟 A Market Shift Homeowners Have Been Waiting For For the past two years, homeowners hesitated to move to protect historically low rates — the so‑called lock‑in effect. Now, with many mortgage holders ready to swap their old loans for new ones, market momentum is returning. Realtor.com’s January 2026 report confirms that the share of mortgages above 6% has now exceeded those below 4%,  showing Americans are once again listing, relocating, and moving up. 📈 Why Homeowners Are Moving Again Lifestyle Needs Outweigh Rate Fear: Families needing more space or downsizing for convenience are prioritizing life goals. Equity Power: Homeowners leveraging record equity can absorb higher rates while trading up. Flexible Products: 2‑1 buy‑downs and assumable loans create payment relief options. Builder Incentives: Homebuilders in Florida are offering rate locks and closing credits to move inventory. 🏠 The Orlando Market Snapshot Florida Realtors data show that the state entered 2026 on steady footing: Listings: Up 11% year‑over‑year Median Home Price: $407,000 (flat month‑over‑month) Average Days on Market: 41 ( –3 days since December) Neighborhoods like Lake Nona and Winter Garden are seeing increased buyer activity, while Davenport and Apopka are becoming hotspots for first-time buyers. Read more in the Florida Realtors January 2026 Report. […]

This article originally appeared on blog.coldwellbanker.com. Published on December 29th, 2025. RE Market Pulse – Week of December 29, 2025 Mortgage rates dipped to 6.18%, purchase demand has grown for 19 weeks straight, and new bipartisan legislation is moving to tackle the supply crisis. Jason Waugh December 29, 2025 Each week, I analyze the evolving […]

Welcome to Homeownership — Now What? Owning a home in Central Florida is one of life’s most exciting milestones — but after closing day, real success comes from knowing how to protect your investment. Here are four critical homeowner tips every new Florida buyer should know. 1. Know Where Your Utility Shut‑Off Valves Are Emergencies […]