When a Buyer reads my Active Rain blog and calls to tell me they would like to purchase a HOME in the Manchester NH area sI get excited. When they then ask me Is there anyone who can FIX their credit without taking their money, then I know we have a 1st time Buyer who has received some BAD advice. 

The FIRST THING to do is to educate and inform the BUYER how credit works and how the banks will use it whether to approve or reject one's mortgage application.

Everyone needs to know there is no SHORT CUT to fixing credit, no MAGIC formula and no SECRET you can pay anyone to learn.

To improve your credit score you simply have to pay your bills on time. You should then make sure all your balances are under 1/2 of your credit limits. Do not open or close any accounts. Get your FREE credit report at www.Annualcreditreport.com and check to see if everything on their is yours and is correct.

You can easily dispute online any incorrect items. So save your money for any credit fix as you can follow these easy tips and do it yourself for free.

The secret to getting your dream home is by hiring a Buyer broker who will provide guidance through each step of the buying process. The key is identifying homes when they come on the market, see them quickly and make a good offer the first time. Know that All agents are not created equal. You have a choice and making a good choice equals a good home buying experience.

Please review my Tips and Advice in helping you to get your Dream Home

1. CHOOSING THE RIGHT BUYER BROKER: As a home Buyer in this market you need every advantage you can to get find, buy and close on your DREAM HOME. It starts with choosing the right agent.

a. Using a Full time agent whose sole job is in Real Estate.

b. Using a Full service agent who will guide you through each step of the BUYING process. Discount brokers often equal discount services.

c. Using a Local agent who knows your neighborhood and is readily available when you need them is a must. Out of town agents can leave you high and dry in your time of need.

d. Using a well experienced Buyer Agent can give you the advantages you need when Buying your home. Not all agents are created equal. Choose only the best..

2. GET PRE-QUALIFIED: Before even looking at a home you should get pre-approved for a loan. Few Sellers will look at your offer without it. Meet with a local and trusted mortgage broker, they can prequailify you at no cost, they will look at your credit plus your financials and let you know if there are any mortgages that you may qualify for. You should then tell them you are looking at bank owned homes so they can provide you with a list of what condition the property needs to be in for you to be able to get a mortgage.

3. STARTING YOUR HOME SEARCH: After you have found a full time local agent to work with, you got pre-qualified and now you have the price range you should be looking in. You should by now have decided what town/city you are interested in and what neighborhoods you like or do not like. 

a. Prepare a list of the towns/cities you like.
b. Prepare a list of any specific neighborhoods you want to move to.
c. Furnish your agent with a list of what condition you would like the house such as in new, good, average condition or can need work etc.
d. Furnish your agent any must have features such as a garage.

Once you get a list of the homes that meet your criteria, my suggestion is to drive by them before you go inside. Narrow down the list to go inside only the homes that meet your needs. 

My best tip is to act quickly when needed, area's such as Manchester are experiencing a decrease in listings and an increase of sales. Homes coming on the market are often out under contract very quickly.

4. MAKING AN OFFER: Now that you have found your dream Home, you are ready to make an offer. In a market such as ours with a decrease of homes on the market and an increase of sales, you want to make the best offer possible.

a. WHAT PRICE TO OFFER: You need to assess what the home is worth in todays market and subtract for any needed repairs. Never make an offer using a specific percentage off an asking price as the price may already be well below market value, at market value or priced way too high.