RE Ciaran Farrell

🔑 The 2026 Mortgage Rate Outlook: What Fannie Mae is Predicting.

For buyers hoping for a steep drop in rates: Don't wait on the sidelines! Fannie Mae's latest forecast projects the 30-year fixed rate will gradually ease, averaging about 6.2% in early 2026 and potentially dipping toward 5.9% by the end of the year. While a full return to 3% rates is unlikely, even this modest decline improves affordability. The takeaway? Waiting for a 'perfect' market means missing out on the home you love now. Let's set up a rate-savvy strategy!

Home sales projections fall in revised 2026 forecast Fannie Mae’s Economic and Strategic Research Group now expects home sales to rise 7.3% in 2026 — a downward revision from earlier forecasts published this fall.

🏗️ Manatee County Development Update: A New Community Blooms!

The massive master-planned community of SeaFlower in southwest Bradenton is officially "blooming." Construction is underway for this 4,000-home community, which will include apartments, a hotel, and 350,000 sq. ft. of retail/office space. This level of investment and growth near Cortez Road underscores the long-term vitality of the Manatee County real estate market!

Massive master-planned community starts blooming near Bradenton | Business Observer Patience and deep pockets are in play as a shrewd development group makes progress on the 1,175-acre SeaFlower, the biggest master-planned community in west Bradenton in a generation.