Answers by Ginger Gendron

A trusted Mortgage Broker is essential , get pre-approved for both and compare: Monthly payment, amount of cash to close and long term costs should all be taken in account. Have a list of questions to ask the Broker and don't be afraid to do your own homework. With the right team, homeownership is within your reach. Good Luck Ginger Gendron

The 3 key words in Real Estate are location, location, location. Everything about the house can be changed, the location cannot. Talk to your Mortgage Broker, there are programs to help with the repairs. Rehab loans will enable some of the costs to be included in the Mortgage Amount. Try not to get discouraged, your new home is out there! Good Luck, Ginger Gendron

Curb appeal is key. Once your home hits the market, buyers will be driving by and deciding if they should make an appt to go inside or not. If the house is in good shape, power washing, trimming bushes, adding mulch and pops of color with plantings will enhance the overall look. The outside of the home is viewed as a reflection of what the inside may appear to be. Outdoors should be clean, neat and inviting. Think about what make you talk about a home, that's what you want

These types of postcards come in the mail quite often. It is not necessarily a scam, but if you feel it is too good to be true, it probably is. Keep in mind, these are investors looking for a good deal. They offer cash, and can close quickly, t however, do not give you the true value of your home. I would suggest having a local realtor come give you a no cost, no obligation market analysis to get a good picture of the true value of your property. There are also Home Equity Loans that are available, these can help with major renovations.

Congratulations on winning the bid. Was there language in the offer that discussed what would happen if the appraisal did not reach value? Often times with these bidding wars, the buyer's agent will include language which would cover if something like this were to take place. One of the most common "Property to appraise at, or above, purchase price" This sets the expectation that the value will be there. If however, that language was not included, no worries. There are a couple ways to go, one would be to split the difference. You could also ask for a second appraisal, or hold firm on the appraised amount. Your Broker should be able to negotiate what is best for the deal to move forward, Best of Luck Ginger Gendron

I always suggest to my buyers to drive around the neighborhood at different times and days of the week. A Friday night might look different than a Sunday afternoon. Observe what is in the driveways and backyards, are the properties well maintained? A call to the police department inquiring how often cruisers are sent to the neighborhood is also an idea. We can't pick our neighbors, even if we could, there is no guarantee those neighbors will stay for the long haul. Remember someone's noisy or difficult is someone's opinion, might not be yours.

Typically response is 24 hours. If seller does not respond in that time frame, deal could still go through if all parties agree. Hope this answers your question.

There is no magic number. I have had clients buy the first home they saw, When you walk through that door, and the rush of excitement runs through your veins, you feel excited & nervous, and can picture yourself living there - then, you found your home! The offer is only the first step to purchase, if it feels right, put that offer in. No one wants to miss an opportunity. I truly believe you will know when the "right" one for you when it comes along.

I do agree with Mike. There are circumstances where the shed is included, and depending on the agreement with the inspector, it would be inspected. However, the seller may opt to leave the shed as a gift. When there is any doubt, have your Attorney look over the contract.

Hi Gloria, Do you happen to know what your credit score is? I find that when clients talk to a Mortgage Broker, they can help get you on the right path! Increasing your credit score is always a great idea, but you might be surprised what you can already qualify for. Rates are great, call her Broker and check it out. Good Luck - you got this!

Get yourself pre approved. Know your numbers. You can be qualified for X amount, but, if you are not comfortable with the monthly payments, go lower. Buying a house is an exciting time, however you do not want to be house poor.