From the Desk of Don Draughn, Professional Mortgage ConsultantWebsite:  http://ahfmortgage.elliemae.net/ddraughn Over the last year, the mortgage industry has gone through a tremendous amount of turmoil.  Some banks cut back drastically on the loan programs they offered.  Others added some more stable loan products to replace the ones they discontinued.  Still other banks just went out of business all together.  For some people, it is hard to know if purchasing their first home is even possible.  Hopefully, the next few paragraphs will be useful to help the First Time Home Buyer wade through all the mire and muck of mortgage lending and give them the opportunity to realize the American Dream of home ownership.What should the First Time Home Buyer be prepared for when applying for a mort... 02/15/2008

According to media reports, the groundhog saw his shadow this morning and so we are in for six more weeks of winter. Impossible! It's so grey and gloomy out that my GPS system can't find a satellite signal and they're saying a groundhog found his shadow. It must be a conspiracy to slow down the local real estate market.Enjoy the perma-gray! It didn't slow down these ice fisherman on Conesus Lake. 02/02/2008

One of the most misunderstood concepts of purchasing a home is the contingency for a home inspection. Homes don't pass or fail inspection. Instead, inspectors simply document the conditions found at a home and then a buyer must decide if they can tolerate the findings of the inspection.In most cases, purchase contracts are written so that a buyer cannot cancel a contract based on the findings of an inspector. Instead, the buyer must first give the seller an opportunity to correct the defect and if they refuse, then the buyer may then cancel the contract. Everybody has a different tolerance level for repairs. I've seen buyers freak-out at a dripping faucet and others that are not swayed by a roof needing replacement. Having an inspector that does a thorough inspection and can communicate... 12/31/2007

Shhhhhh! Don't tell my husband, but I'm admitting to the whole world that I don't know it all. And for this reason, I'm expanding my blog to be a team blog. The law firm of Kruk and Campbell of Lima, NY have agreed to join my blog and share their wisdom about the legal aspects of real estate. Keep in mind, they will not be providing legal advice in this forum, but simply explaining and answering many of the common questions that come up in uncomplicated real estate transactions.Kruk and Campbell is the firm that represented me in my last three real estate transactions. So I trust them. And they are often the first name that comes to mind when a client gives me a blank stare when I ask them who they want to represent them at the closing table. I'm looking forward to hearing what they hav... 12/04/2007

One of the things I like most about my job is the diversity. Just yesterday, I was in a very urban setting and today it was out in the country. Today, it was Mendon, last week Perry and the week before Macedon. I do love the local countryside. I've been too busy the past few weeks to take many new photos but I've pulled out a few of my favorite shots of old barns and pastures. 10/09/2007

Time and time again, I say the thing I like most about real estate is that no two days are never alike. Today was no exception.This morning I had a final walk through with some of my favorite clients, Beth and Richard. They will be closing Monday morning on a darling little waterfront cottage on Conesus Lake. Just as we were concluding our walk through, some nosy neighbors stopped by to introduce themselves. Now, these were not typical nosy neighbors. They were a small herd of cows and one goat! Fortunately, they were very friendly and simply tasted a neighbors hosta plant and wandered on up the road.Congratulations Richard and Beth! I hope the rest of the neighborhood is so friendly! 06/23/2007