Cheryl Nightingale - Monarch Realty Group, LLC

If you've seen the Tom Hanks classic movie, "The Money Pit," you know that while it's funny happening to someone else, when your fixer-upper home becomes a money pit, it's more like a horror movie. If you're looking for a new property and considering an underpriced fixer-upper, you could end up with a nightmare full of endless home repairs. Here are some ways to make sure your Bourne home-buying reality doesn't become the stuff of movies and cost you more money than you bargained for. Start With A Solid Foundation One of the most important components of a home, it should stand on a solid foundation: a steel-reinforced, concrete perimeter foundation wall, and footing. The foundation should be straight and square—if you notice leaning or bulging in places, the structure could be compromised. In the basement, check for large cracks or gaps in the foundation walls.  Large, V-shaped cracks could be a sign that the home needs extensive foundation...

Real estate investing is gaining popularity in Bourne, and if you've been giving it some thought, this guide will give you an overview. The goal of any real estate investor is  typically  to make money. This means purchasing an investment property at a good price so you can rent it out and maybe eventually sell it for a profit.  Real estate investing is an  ever changing  game. To get and stay ahead and make consistent money, you'll need to do your homework. Here are 10 things to know: 1) Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage When you get a mortgage pre-approval first, there are some benefits you can take advantage of, financial benefits being a big one. Once you're pre-approved, most lenders will lock in an interest rate for you, so if rates go up while you're conducting your property search, you'll enjoy your lower, locked-in rate. When it comes to demonstrating your seriousness to a potential seller, having a pre-approved mortgage could get you prefer...