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Home Buying Mortgages Real Estate

Mortgage Rate Update

Despite a lot of noise, Mortgage interest rates have largely remained flat over the past 30 days. As of this week, the average U.S. rate for a 30‑year fixed mortgage is 6.11%, compared with 6.09% a month ago. While most forecasts earlier this year anticipated a gradual decline continuing through 2026, the likelihood of that decline is now probably no more likely than a likelihood of a small increase.

Relative to the long‑term average of 7.7%, today’s rates still offer meaningful savings, roughly $105 less per month for every $100,000 borrowed. Rates are also lower than they were a year ago. Over the past 12 months, the average monthly payment on a $100,000 30‑year fixed mortgage has dropped by about $35. For a borrower taking out the 2026 maximum conventional loan of $832,750, today’s payment would be approximately $290 lower than it would have been in March 2025.

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Home Buying Home Selling Real Estate

Sarasota County Single-Family Home Market Update

Sarasota County’s single‑family home market in January 2026 showed mixed activity: closed sales were essentially flat, rising 0.6% to 523 transactions, while new pending sales jumped 16% to 803, suggesting renewed buyer interest coming prior to the end of our busy season. At the same time, new listings fell sharply 20% to 1,166 and active inventory declined 14% to 3,444, indicating fewer homes coming to market and tighter available supply. The share of cash sales eased to 45.5% from 49.4% a year earlier, pointing to a modest reduction in all‑cash purchases.

Pricing dynamics diverged from activity: the median sale price slipped 7.5% year over year to $490,000, a notable softening that contrasts with the uptick in pending transactions. Taken together, the data paint a market with constrained supply and fewer new listings, some renewed buyer momentum as shown by pending sales, but downward pressure on prices, conditions that could give buyers more negotiating room even as demand shows signs of recovery. The infographic below from Florida Realtors contains more.

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Home Buying Home Selling Real Estate

Manatee County Single-Family Home Market Update

Manatee County’s single‑family home market softened in January 2026, with several key indicators pointing to reduced activity compared to the previous year. Closed sales fell 11% to 444 transactions, and new listings dropped 9.2%, suggesting fewer homeowners are bringing properties to market. Active inventory also edged down 2.2%, indicating that supply remains relatively tight despite slower sales. Cash purchases made up 32.4% of all closings, slightly lower than last year’s 33.9%, showing a modest shift away from cash‑heavy buying.

Despite the cooling in sales volume, pricing remained essentially stable. The median sale price in January was $480,495, a slight 0.1% increase year over year, signaling that demand is still strong enough to support current price levels. One standout metric was new pending sales, which rose 17%, hinting at a potential rebound in buyer activity prior to the end of our busy season. Overall, the market reflects a mix of constrained supply, steady pricing, and early signs of renewed buyer engagement. The infographic below from Florida Realtors contains more.

Categories
Home Buying Mortgages Real Estate

Financing News

Home buyers are increasingly searching for ways to reduce their borrowing costs as existing‑home prices continue to climb, reaching a record national median of $396,800 in January. With affordability stretched (especially for first‑time buyers) many are turning to alternative lending structures that can offer initial rate relief.

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Home Buying New Construction Real Estate

Thinking About Building?

Florida Realtors has put together the infographic below with questions you should consider asking your home builder before making the decision.