Gale Culver

Each state has specific first time buyer programs that they offer, some are region or county specific in availability. Connecting with a local lender is a great first step. You can also connect with a local real estate agent, who will have a group of preferred lenders and will be able to guide you to the best option for a lender knowledgable in first time buyer programs.

I always advise my clients to treat the appraisal like any other showing. You want your home to show it's very best to the appraiser. Though the appraiser isn't there looking at your overall cleanliness, they are there to evaluate the home, location, condition and upgrades. A clean home always shows best.

Depending on how your contract, loan and settlement statement read, your earnest money could be applied to your down payment, your closing costs or be refunded at closing.

Each state has specific rules regarding what constitutes a bedroom. A standard requirement is that it have ingress and egress, more commonly known as a window and a bedroom door. Some states also require a closet to consider it a bedroom.

As a Realtor, I take a an active role in locating homes that fit the specific needs of my clients. That includes searching through the available listings and narrowing down search results to what the buyer is looking for. Anyone you deem important to your decision making should be part of your process, that being said you should continue to take your daughter along and ensure the home is a good fit for you both. I would recommend communicating what you are needing from your realtor to her and ask if she is able to meet those needs. If she is not you might want to interview other agents to find someone who is better suited to you. Best of luck with your home search!

A strategic open house will absolutely get eyes on your property. Most homes however do not sell through open houses. It does not mean that having an open house is a wast of time. The agent does need to be prepared and generate some excitement about it before it happens or it very well could be a waste of time. The results will be a reflection of the effort put in.

Based on current interest rates you would likely have a higher interest rate if you were to refinance. You could essentially start your 30 year loan over which could lower your payments, but you would likely end up paying significantly more in interest by going that route.

Buying a home is a personal and sometimes very long process. You need to not only feel confident in the person you are working with but also comfortable. If you are comfortable having a professional conversation either by phone or email about how this is affecting the experience for you then I would recommend starting there. If you do not, that's ok too. You could ask him to refer you to another agent in his office or simply tell him you don't think that you're a good fit for working together. Just make sure that you keep it polite and do not shame him for it. The experience should be a fun and exciting one for you and this doesn't sound like it is, so you should make the necessary adjustment.

County records should have information in the past title of who the original builder was. If the home was previously listed in the MLS that information may also be discoverable in the old listing depending on your area.

It depends on the terms of you contract. You should meet with your agent or broker to discuss your options and potentially seek legal council. Typically you would need agreement for mutual cancellation to terminate a purchase contract unless there is a clause in your contract that allows you to cancel unilaterally.

I always recommend a home inspection to my buyers, even on new construction. It is your opportunity to have a third party give you a true assessment of the condition of the property before you finalize your purchase.

To maximize your net proceeds when selling, especially in this market, you will want to ensure that your home is in the most desirable condition prior to going on the market. You also don't want to price too high as that will deter people from looking at your home. If you have small maintenance items that have been lingering, take care of them before you list. Staging goes a long way too. Your home should feel like a builders model hoe, clean lines, minimal decor and decorated so every buyer sees themselves living there.

Appraisal prices range based on property size, location and type. A typical residential appraisal runs about $450-$800 here in AZ.

If the owner has agreed to accept back up offers you can always move into a backup position on the house should the current offer fall through. You can absolutely make an offer on a pending house, but that doesn't mean that your offer will move the current offer out of its accepted place.