Mindy Winslow - Realtor

09/02/2026

09/02/2026

☕🔑 COFFEE, KEYS & MARKET NEWS WITH MINDY 🏡
☕ Grab your coffee — I’ll bring the real estate news! 🏡

Happy Wednesday, Florida! 🌴☀️

We have a BIG local update this morning.

📍 MARION COUNTY MOVES TOWARD A 12-MONTH DATA CENTER PAUSE

After a packed public hearing this week, the Marion County Planning & Zoning Commission unanimously recommended a temporary moratorium of up to 12 months on new data-center, crypto-mining and related development applications.

Why?

County staff wants time to study things like:

💧 Groundwater use
⚡ Electric-grid demand
🚰 Wastewater capacity
🌳 Land-use compatibility
🌊 Springs & hydrogeology
🏡 Long-term growth impacts

And one important point:

There is currently NO pending data-center application in Marion County.

The recommendation now heads to another public hearing on September 15, with a county workshop scheduled for September 21.

For anyone concerned about water, growth and protecting Marion County’s rural character, this is definitely one to watch.

🏘️ MORE GROWTH ALONG SR 200

A new 667-home Del Webb retirement community has been approved just south of the Marion County line in Citrus County.

Even though it’s outside Marion County, development along SR 200 can still affect:

🚗 Traffic
🏥 Healthcare demand
🛒 Shopping
🏡 Housing demand
📈 Regional growth

And here in Silver Springs, a separate 385-site RV resort near the Ocklawaha River is moving through county review.

Growth is definitely still part of our local story.

💰 MORTGAGE WATCH

Daily mortgage pricing moved higher AGAIN Tuesday.

A widely followed DAILY 30-year fixed indicator ended around 6.89%, while FHA was around 6.41%.

Freddie Mac’s latest WEEKLY average is lower at 6.66%.

That’s why I always separate daily rates from weekly averages.

Buyers getting quotes THIS WEEK may be seeing numbers higher than the weekly headline.

⭐ BUYER TIP — SHOP THE PAYMENT, NOT JUST THE PRICE

Here’s something buyers sometimes miss:

A cheaper house can actually cost MORE every month.

Why?

🏡 HOA fees
🛡️ Homeowners insurance
💵 Property taxes
🌊 Flood insurance
🏘️ CDD fees
📋 Special assessments

An extra $100 per month in those costs can wipe out roughly $18,000 in purchase-price savings.

So when we compare houses, I don’t just want to know:

“Which one costs less?”

I want to know:

“Which one gives you the better TOTAL monthly payment?”

That’s a much smarter way to buy.

🦸 HOMETOWN HEROES UPDATE

Florida Housing still publishes its 2026 Hometown Heroes program, offering qualifying buyers in eligible occupations potentially $10,000 to $35,000 toward down payment and closing costs.

But earlier statewide funding was fully committed, and I have not found a new general funding release this morning.

So have a participating Florida Housing lender verify that funds can actually be reserved BEFORE counting on them.

🛡️ CITIZENS INSURANCE ALERT — DEADLINE TOMORROW

If you received a Citizens takeout notice for the September round, your choice deadline is TOMORROW, September 3.

Please don’t ignore the packet.

Compare:

💰 Premium
🌪️ Hurricane deductible
🏠 Roof coverage
💧 Water coverage
📄 Exclusions
🔨 Replacement-cost provisions

The cheapest premium is not automatically the best policy.

🏠 THINKING ABOUT SELLING? — WEDNESDAY’S TIP

Today I want you to LOOK UP. 👀

Check:

🌀 Dusty ceiling fans
💨 Dirty A/C vents
🕸️ Cobwebs
🚿 Bathroom exhaust fans
🏠 Return-air grilles
💡 Light fixtures
💧 Ceiling stains

In Florida, buyers are already thinking about the A/C, humidity and maintenance.

A dirty vent may be harmless…

But buyers may look at it and think:

“What else hasn’t been maintained?”

Clean the vents, change the filter, wipe the fan blades and investigate any old ceiling stains before listing.

BUYERS NOTICE THE LITTLE THINGS — EVEN THE ONES OVER THEIR HEADS! 🏡❤️

💜 MINDY’S WEDNESDAY TAKEAWAY

BUYERS — compare TOTAL monthly housing cost, not just purchase price.

SELLERS — small maintenance details can change the way buyers feel about the entire house.

HOMEOWNERS — Citizens’ September choice deadline is TOMORROW.

MARION COUNTY — the data-center discussion has moved into a serious new phase with a recommended 12-month moratorium.

🏡 Thinking about buying, selling or moving to Florida?

I’d love to help you make sense of the market, compare your options and put together a strategy that fits YOUR goals.

💜 Mindy Winslow, REALTOR®
🏡 Gailey Enterprises Real Estate



📖 WEDNESDAY’S ENCOURAGEMENT

“My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.” — Psalm 5:3 (KJV) 🙏

09/02/2026

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09/01/2026

☕🔑 COFFEE, KEYS & MARKET NEWS WITH MINDY 🏡
☕ Grab your coffee — I’ll bring the real estate news! 🏡

Happy Tuesday & Happy September, Florida! 🌴☀️

We’re starting September with something buyers and sellers definitely need to watch…

📈 MORTGAGE RATES JUMPED YESTERDAY

A widely followed DAILY mortgage-rate indicator climbed to about 6.87% Monday, its highest level of 2026.

That’s different from Freddie Mac’s latest WEEKLY average of 6.66%.

Why the sudden move?

Bond yields jumped following renewed concerns about inflation and what the Federal Reserve may do next.

And remember — the Fed does NOT directly set mortgage rates. Mortgage rates often move BEFORE a Fed meeting because financial markets are trying to predict what’s coming.

📅 THE NEXT FED MEETING IS SEPTEMBER 15–16

That makes September an especially interesting month for anyone thinking about buying, selling or refinancing.

We’ll also get important economic reports before that meeting that could move mortgage rates in either direction.

⭐ MORTGAGE OPPORTUNITY WATCH

Higher rates don’t necessarily mean STOP shopping.

They mean we need to shop SMARTER.

If you find the right house, ask your lender and Realtor to run the numbers on:

💰 Seller-paid closing costs
📉 Permanent or temporary rate buydowns
🏡 FHA versus conventional financing
🇺🇸 VA financing if eligible
🌳 USDA 0% down on eligible rural properties
💵 Florida down-payment assistance programs

Sometimes negotiating $10,000 toward the RIGHT financing strategy can help a buyer more than simply taking $10,000 off the price.

Every situation is different — RUN THE NUMBERS!

🏡 FLORIDA SELLERS — HERE’S SOMETHING IMPORTANT

Nearly 44% of Florida listings are currently showing price reductions, according to recent housing-market data.

That does NOT mean Florida real estate is crashing.

But it DOES tell us something important:

BUYERS ARE PRICE-SENSITIVE.

The days of throwing a house on the market at an optimistic price and assuming buyers will fight over it are gone in many price ranges.

Condition + presentation + price = everything right now.

📍 BIG MARION COUNTY NEWS TODAY — DATA CENTERS & WATER

This is one I’ll be watching closely.

Marion County commissioners have scheduled a DATA CENTER WORKSHOP TODAY following significant public concern about potential data-center development.

Why does that matter to homeowners?

💧 WATER usage
⚡ Electricity demand
🌳 Land use
🚗 Infrastructure
🏘️ Nearby property owners
📈 Future growth

Water and responsible growth are incredibly important issues for Marion County.

What gets approved today can affect what our community looks like 10 or 20 years from now, so these discussions deserve attention.

🏠 THINKING OF SELLING? — TUESDAY’S TIP

Today, walk across the street and LOOK BACK AT YOUR HOUSE. 👀

Seriously!

Sellers usually see their home from the driveway.

BUYERS see the whole picture.

From across the street, look for:

🌿 Overgrown shrubs hiding windows
🌳 Tree limbs touching the roof
🏠 Mildew or discoloration
🗑️ Visible garbage cans
🚗 Too many vehicles in the driveway
🌱 Bare spots in the lawn
📫 A tired mailbox
🪴 An empty-looking entrance
🧹 Clutter beside the house

Then take a picture with your phone.

Pictures have an amazing way of showing us things our eyes have learned to ignore.

You don’t need expensive landscaping.

Trim it. Clean it. Edge it. Pressure wash it. Add a little color near the entrance.

YOUR FIRST LISTING PHOTO STARTS AT THE CURB. 🏡❤️

💜 MINDY’S TUESDAY TAKEAWAY

🔑 BUYERS — rates moved higher, but financing and negotiation strategy matter just as much as the headline rate.

🏡 SELLERS — Florida buyers are showing us they WILL pass over homes they believe are overpriced.

💧 MARION COUNTY HOMEOWNERS — today’s data-center discussion is worth watching, particularly when it comes to water, infrastructure and responsible growth.

📉 EVERYONE — September could be an interesting month for interest rates, with the next Fed meeting coming September 15–16.

🏡 Thinking about buying or selling?

Let’s look at YOUR numbers and YOUR situation instead of making a decision based on scary headlines.

Sometimes there’s an opportunity hiding inside a changing market. 🔑❤️

💜 Mindy Winslow, REALTOR®
🏡 Gailey Enterprises Real Estate



📖 TUESDAY’S ENCOURAGEMENT

“Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.” — Proverbs 16:3 (KJV) 🙏

We don’t have to know exactly what tomorrow will bring before we move forward today.

Make a good plan, do today’s work well, give the outcome to God — and keep moving forward. 💜☕🏡

08/31/2026

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08/30/2026

08/30/2026

☕🔑 COFFEE, KEYS & MARKET NEWS WITH MINDY 🏡
☕ Grab your coffee — I’ll bring the real estate news!

Happy Sunday, Florida! 🌴☀️

Here’s something important about today’s housing market:

🏡 WE DON’T NECESSARILY NEED 5% MORTGAGE RATES FOR BUYERS TO COME BACK!

Florida has now seen 11 straight months of year-over-year increases in closed home sales, with pending sales improving too.

And there’s another piece people overlook:

INCOMES ARE RISING.

If home prices and mortgage rates stay relatively stable while incomes gradually rise, affordability can slowly improve even without some giant mortgage-rate collapse.

That means buyers and sellers are beginning to MOVE again instead of waiting forever for the “perfect” market.

💰 MORTGAGE WATCH

There isn’t a new Sunday mortgage market, so Friday’s close is the newest DAILY information available.

A widely followed daily 30-year fixed indicator finished Friday around 6.81%, up noticeably from Thursday.

Freddie Mac’s separate WEEKLY average is 6.66%.

Two different measurements — and neither is a guaranteed rate for an individual buyer.

⭐ BUYER OPPORTUNITY — COMPARE FHA!

Here’s something interesting from Friday:

The daily conventional indicator was around 6.81%, while the FHA indicator was closer to 6.37%.

That does NOT mean FHA is automatically the better mortgage.

FHA has mortgage insurance, and every buyer’s situation is different.

But it absolutely means I would ask the lender:

“Show me conventional AND FHA side-by-side.”

Compare:

🏡 Monthly payment
💰 Cash to close
🛡️ Mortgage insurance
📊 Interest rate
🔑 Total loan cost

VA buyers should compare VA too, and eligible rural buyers should ask about USDA.

Sometimes the opportunity isn’t waiting for the perfect rate.

It’s finding the right LOAN.

🦸 HOMETOWN HEROES UPDATE

Florida Housing continues to publish its 2026 Hometown Heroes program, offering qualifying buyers in eligible occupations potentially $10,000 to $35,000 toward down payment and closing costs.

But previous program funding was fully committed, and I have NOT found a new statewide funding release this morning.

So my advice is simple:

Have a participating Florida Housing lender check whether funds can actually be reserved before counting on the money.

Not a Hometown Hero?

Ask about other Florida Housing options such as FL Assist, which can provide eligible buyers up to $10,000 when paired with a qualifying Florida Housing mortgage.

🛡️ FLORIDA HOMEOWNER NEWS — A SMALL INSURANCE SAVINGS IS COMING

Beginning October 1, Florida’s 1% F**A emergency insurance assessment is scheduled to disappear.

That’s the fee added after several insurance companies failed.

It won’t suddenly make homeowners insurance inexpensive 😁…

But every bit helps!

On a $5,000 annual premium, that’s roughly $50 a year that disappears.

📍 OCALA & MARION COUNTY PROPERTY WATCH

September is going to be an important month for local homeowners.

The City of Ocala and Marion County both have upcoming public hearings involving their budgets and property-tax millage rates.

Those meetings matter because what we pay as property owners isn’t determined ONLY in Tallahassee.

Local budgets and tax rates matter too.

I’ll keep following them and share anything homeowners should know.

🏠 THINKING ABOUT SELLING? — SUNDAY’S TIP

Today I want you to do something really simple:

OPEN EVERY WINDOW AND SLIDING GLASS DOOR IN YOUR HOUSE. 😁

Check for:

🪟 Windows that stick
🚪 Sliders that barely slide
🦟 Torn screens
🔒 Broken locks
🧽 Dirty tracks
💧 Mildew around frames
🌫️ Fogged glass
🏊 Pool doors that are hard to operate

Here in Florida, sliders and screens take a beating from humidity, pollen, sand and everyday use.

And buyers LOVE opening the sliders to look at a pool, lanai or backyard.

If opening yours requires two hands, a shoulder and a prayer… 😂

They’re going to notice!

Clean the tracks, repair inexpensive screens and make everything work smoothly.

MAKE EVERYTHING A BUYER TOUCH FEEL LIKE IT HAS BEEN CARED FOR. 🏡❤️

💜 MINDY’S SUNDAY TAKEAWAY

BUYERS — compare the LOAN, not just the interest rate.

SELLERS — buyers are moving again, but VALUE still matters.

HOMEOWNERS — a small Florida insurance fee disappears October 1.

OCALA & MARION COUNTY — September brings local budget and property-tax decisions worth watching.

🏡 Thinking about buying, selling or moving to Florida?

I’d love to help you understand today’s market, explore your financing options and put together a strategy that makes sense for YOU.

💜 Mindy Winslow, REALTOR®
🏡 Gailey Enterprises Real Estate



📖 SUNDAY’S ENCOURAGEMENT

“Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust.” — Psalm 143:8 (KJV) 🙏

A new morning is a reminder that we don’t have to carry yesterday into today.

Start this day with gratitude, ask God for direction, and trust Him with the road you can’t see yet. 💜☕🏡

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08/28/2026

☕ COFFEE, KEYS & MARKET NEWS WITH MINDY 🏡
☕ Grab your coffee — I’ll bring the real estate news!

Good morning, Florida! 🌴☀️
Here’s your quick real estate update for Monday, August 10th!

🏡 MORTGAGE MINUTE
The latest Freddie Mac national average for a 30-year fixed mortgage is 6.69%, with the 15-year averaging 6.01%.

Remember — those are national averages, not necessarily the rate YOU will receive. Credit score, loan type, down payment and lender programs can all make a difference.

💰 BUYER OPPORTUNITY WATCH
Don’t assume you need 20% down to buy a home!

Depending on eligibility, buyers may have options including:

🔑 Conventional loans with as little as 3% down
🔑 FHA financing with as little as 3.5% down
🔑 USDA loans with 0% down on eligible properties
🔑 VA loans with 0% down for eligible veterans/service members
🔑 Florida and local down-payment assistance programs

Sometimes the biggest obstacle to buying isn’t the monthly payment — it’s coming up with the cash to close. There may be programs that can help.

🌴 FLORIDA PROPERTY TAX WATCH
Property-tax relief continues to be a BIG conversation in Florida, with proposals aimed at reducing the burden on homesteaded homeowners.

This is something Florida homeowners AND future buyers should be watching closely because changes to property taxes could affect the overall cost of owning a home.

🏠 FLORIDA HOMETOWN HEROES UPDATE
Florida’s Hometown Heroes program can provide qualifying buyers with up to 5% of the first mortgage amount, with assistance ranging from $10,000 up to $35,000 for down payment and closing costs.

⚠️ Funding is limited and program availability can change, so eligibility and current funding should always be verified before counting on the assistance.

💜 MINDY’S MONDAY TAKEAWAY:
If you’ve been sitting on the sidelines waiting for the “perfect” housing market, it may be worth finding out what YOUR numbers actually look like.

You might be closer to homeownership than you think. 🏡🔑

Thinking about buying or selling in Central Florida? I’d love to help you figure out your next step.

Mindy Winslow, REALTOR® 🏡💜

📖 Monday Morning Encouragement

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”
— Proverbs 16:3

Start the week with a plan, do the work, and trust God with the outcome. ❤️🙏

Have a wonderful Monday!