Answers by Maria Ashby

Find a local Realtor you and your mother agree to work with and have that agent work up a market analysis. This will include comparable sold and active on market properties so that you can see what similar properties have sold for and are on market for at present. You can pay for an appraisal as well but it may not be necessary, since your local Realtor should have current market data. If the property is super unique and comparable properties are hard to find or non existent then the appraisal my be the way to go.

Ask a trusted Realtor for their recommendations for local mortgage lenders. Local lenders who are members of the Local Board or Realtors as affiliate members are working hard to earn and keep the business of the local Realtors and their clients. Other local lenders who your Realtor trusts to do an excellent job for their clients are the best. Then shop a few lenders, closing costs, interest rate etc.. to find the right one for you. Do your shopping around in the same month so that when they check your credit it’s only a small bump in your credit.