I recently read an article by a mortgage consultant advising home sellers against putting all the equity they gained from the sale into their next home. He emphatically suggested they stay more liquid, and make their money work harder in another investment vehicle.  As I recall, the word DIVERSIFY came up frequently…as did the phrase, FINANCIAL ADVISOR. His bottom line: “Borrow the biggest mortgage you can reasonably afford and put your other money to work elsewhere. Or, if you’re not selling, harvest your equity in with an Equity Repositioning Refinance…and put that money to work.”

PLEASE! I have 20-odd years of mortgage experience. But I would NEVER tell a client that. Having worked both sides of the market (Realtor® & mortgage broker), I know all too well what happens to amateur investors and people with too little equity in their homes. We all do. They’re dropping like flies out there right now.

The reality is, that man had a not-so-hidden agenda. He wanted all the refi money he could “reasonably” make. And the buyers who listened probably aren’t feeling too secure right about now. A heavy mortgage in this market is a killer. You wind up paying for the house several times over in interest. Your biggest asset can be easily lost if you get hit with a job loss or a heavy medical expense. And the stock market is a crapshoot if you don’t know what you’re doing.

My bottom line: be careful who you listen to. All too frequently mortgage “consultants” are interested in selling not consulting. And “financial advisors” are frequently securities pushers with a fat commission in sight.

It’s not just because it’s a glorious sunspot for boating, fishing, golfing or hitting the beach. It’s because it now offers a remarkable combination —a laid-back place to live, and a booming place to invest in Florida properties!

From Boca to Stuart and beyond, you’ll be seeing home prices start to rebound dramatically. The reason is simple. Northern Palm Beach County is beginning to enjoy the benefits of a growing biotechnology cluster focused on Scripps Florida… right here in Jupiter!

That’s right folks, if you own a Jupiter home, you’re at the very heart of what’s happening. There’s a significant amount of job-creation activity already. And the biotech corridor is going to continue to grow and create a real foundation of high-wage jobs north into St. Lucie County that is bound to enhance the long-term value of residential properties in Jupiter and Palm Beach Gardens.

So, if you need more incentive than this buyer’s market to invest… you have it. But you better get moving. The market is shifting all the time and you want to be in on the low end rather than upside down on a loan because you waited too long.