Steven Scott, Associate Broker at Portside Real Estate Group

Do you really need 20% down to achieve homeownership?

Many homeowners give up before they've even gotten started because they think they don't have enough for a down payment.

Over 40% of home buyers believe that they have to have at least 20% as a down payment.

The good news - you don't!

There are many loan options available that are far less than 20%. For example a VA loan requires 0% down payment and an FHA loan requires 3.5% down payment (taking into consideration your credit score). That seems much more attainable.

If crunching these numbers seem achieveable, I'd love to help you navigate more of the home buying process!

You’re considering buying a new home! You have a list of your wants and needs in your new house, but what about Fido’s wants and needs?

As a dog owner, I know the only thing that really matters is that the pups are happy 😂

Here’s a few things to consider when searching for Fido’s next home…

-Neighborhoods with sidewalks

-Communities with good vets/nearby emergency vet and nearby reputable dog daycare

-Nearby community dog parks or access to hiking trails

-HOAs breed and/or weight restrictions

-Homes with fenced-in yards

-Houses with durable flooring

When we go house hunting together, we'll make sure your next home is perfect for both you AND your dog.

Happy National Dog Day from my coworkers, Orion and Teddy!

The Hydroponic Vertical Farm in Westbrook is officially under construction.

Vertical farm is on the rise in Westbrook The new development, consisting of a parking garage, apartments and a six-story urban hydroponic farm, is under construction downtown.

What’s going on in the Maine housing market?

Although there are frequent news reports that much of the country’s market has begun to shift from a sellers market to a buyers market - overall in Maine it’s still a seller’s market.

There is hopeful news for buyers though! Statistically we’re beginning to see a leveling in some areas with higher days on the market and price reductions.

Whether you know exactly what you're looking for or a little unsure, I'm here to help guide you to find your next home.

Looking forward to a weekend of showings with my buyers! Before my clients head out to showings, we always review the seller's disclosure.

A “seller disclosure” is a document the seller must gives the potential buyers that informs all of their knowledge of the condition of the property. Parts of the disclosure is commonly found on sites like Zillow, but the full disclosure is shared on the MLS.

If the home has any issues that the seller knows of – they have to share that information with the purchaser on the seller disclosure.

Water in the basement after a rain storm? Appliances not included in the sale? Age of the big stuff like roof, water heater if known.

Have questions about disclosures as a buyer or a seller? ➡️ Send a message

Congrats to Portside for being named the best Real Estate Agency in Portland! Proud to work with such a great group.

Congrats to my sellers! Their lake house is officially under contract.

Imagine waking up every morning to these lake views! Stop by the open house today from 11am-3pm to check it out.

📍91 Channel Lane Sanford, Maine

Listing details:
https://www.flexmls.com/share/7FZlA/91-Channel-Lane,-Sanford,-ME-04073

Dreaming of living that lake life? Make those dreams a reality!

Open house Sunday 7/24 11am - 3pm.

Are you ready to enjoy sunsets from your new dock on Bauneg Beg Lake? Look no further than this fully furnished, year-round home. This home is completely remodeled with the perfect blend of rustic and modern design.

You’ll love entertaining at this home! There is plenty of parking, an open concept floor plan, and hot tub. Enjoy direct walkout access to a level beach and 474 ft of water frontage 💦

Enjoy swimming, kayaking, fishing, boating and all that lake living has to offer! Ideally located down the road from Sanford Country Club, within 2 miles of local shops and restaurants, in close proximity to the southern Maine beaches, 45 minutes to both Portland and Portsmouth, and only 90 minutes to Boston!

We’ll see you at the open house this Sunday from 11am - 3pm.

For complete details, tap link in bio to view MLS listing.

True or False?

You have to pay a fee for a pre-approval.

FALSE.

To get pre approved all you have to do is gather your financial documents and submit them to a lender at no cost or commitment to you.

Not sure how to get pre- approved? Send me a message, I'd be happy to review this important first step of the home buying process with you.

How accurate is a Zestimate?🧐

The Zestimate is not an appraisal and it should only be used as a starting point. We encourage buyers, sellers and homeowners to supplement the estimate with other reasearch such as, requesting a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) from a real estate agent.

Curious what your home is actually worth? Give me a call and we can run a CMA on your home (207)229-7180.

June is National Home Ownership month 🏠

Helping you find a home is more than just a job to me, it's something I genuinely enjoy. Whether you're a first-time buyer, downsizing or relocating, I'm here to help!

If you're looking to buy (or sell) a home, but dont know where to begin, I offer free consultations where we can review all your questions to help you navigate the ins and outs of your real estate journey.

Send an email to [email protected] to set up a consultation.

The sellers just accepted your offer, contingent upon the home inspection! Before you continue the transaction process, you'll want to know what you're getting into - the home looked great when you walked through it, but it’s very easy for issues like infrastructure to be hidden when you’re just touring a property.

This is why it's important to have a home inspection by a trusted inspector. A good home inspector will point out every detail of the home which will help you to make an informed decision on whether or not you would like to continue buying the house.

Here are a few questions you should ask an inspector before hiring them …

-What are your qualifications & experience?
-What's included in the inspection? What isn't covered in the inspection?
-How much does a home inspection cost?
-Can I go to the inspection with you?

If you need help finding an inspector, send me a message and I can connect you with some.

This weekend we honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Sending you warm wishes of remembrance this Memorial Day 🇺🇸

Modern day farming is breaking ground in Westbrook 🌾 Vertical Harvest is building an indoor farm in Westbrook to grow produce year round. They plan to produce 2 million pounds of food yearly using hydoponic technology, no fertilizers or pesticides. They have committed to distribute a majority of these products locally in stores such as Hannaford. Along with the farm, they are increasing housing in the area by developing a 60 unit apartment building on site.

Maine’s first large urban indoor farm project breaks ground in Westbrook Vertical Harvest will grow produce year round

Calling all homeowners in Maine …

Now that we’ve reached the unofficial start to summer, it’s time to get started on your home maintenance checklist:

-Check & repair outdoor lighting.
-Scrub down your grill and check the propane tank.
-Look for leaks under sinks.
-Test smoke alarms & carbon monoxide detectors.
-Check air vents for blockages.
-Clean the garbage disposal.
-Vacuum lint from the dryer vent.
-Fertilize the yard.

I know maintenance is probably your least favorite part of being a homeowner. However, if you’re consistent about maintaining your home, it’ll save you from having a headache down the road and help prevent a mishap.

Who else is spending time this week doing house projects?

This years Great American Main Street Award goes to Biddeford.

Heart of Biddeford wins Great American Main Street Award "This is a huge honor ... we accept this award on behalf of thousands of volunteers, our municipal, cultural and service partners, and the business community,” said Delilah Poupore, executive director at Heart of Biddeford.

One of the most important factors to consider when buying a home is location. Luckily, here in Maine we have some pretty great communities to choose from. I'd like to highlight a city that has really stood out the past few years and recently won the Great American Main Street Award - Biddeford.

Swipe through to learn more about Biddeford, actvities for your family and some restaurant recommendations.

If you're not quite sure where you should look for a home or how to narrow it down, a real estate agent is a great resource to help you navigate towns and neighborhoods.

As a lifelong Mainer, I'd love to help you pin point YOUR ideal location!

What’s your favorite thing about Biddeford?

The spring housing market is officially underway and we are starting to see an increase in listings come on. Do you have dreams of buying a home? Relocating? Upgrading or downsizing?

If any of these thoughts have crossed your mind, I am here for you. Whether you have questions about being a first time home buyer, market updates or selling your home, let's chat!

📧 [email protected]

Imagine having someone on your team who can support you through one of the biggest transactions of your lifetime. And they're FREE! When you are buying a home, having a buyer’s agent costs you nothing.

My commission comes from the person selling the house you buy, not from you. Plus, here’s a few of the other benefits you get when you hire a buyer’s agent …

-Someone to negotiate on your behalf.

-A network of connections throughout the industry to help you find a great home.

-Someone who knows what to look for when viewing a house.

-A coordinator for home showings.

-Someone to write up the contract once we find you a home.

If you’re looking at buying a home, I’m happy to help.

How does each Maine county compare in housing price? This article shows the trend from the last quarter of 2021.

These are the most expensive and cheapest places to live in Maine (BDN) -- With all of Maine seeing a spike in housing prices, we have used data from the U. S. Census and the National Association of Realtors to answer a persistent question from readers: What are the most and least expensive places to buy a home? Also read: Out-of-staters are flocking to this south...

If you've searched online for a house you've probably come across a multitude of real estate status updates. In this market status changes are happening frequently. If you're trying to keep up, familiarizing yourself with these terms can help you be the most prepared.

If you're a serious buyer looking for the most up to date information on a listing, your Realtor can add you to the MLS. You'll know the exact status of each property as soon as it changes.

Don't have a Realtor? Reach out and I'm happy to help.

Is your rent going up during this next leasing period? I've received some phone calls from potential buyers who say they need to buy a house because they can't keep paying their rent. In some cases it's increasing by 10% from just last year. Fortunately if this is your situation you have a few options.
You can either…

1️⃣ Renew for another year and pay an extra couple hundred dollars per month.
2️⃣ Move and find a new place to rent that may be cheaper.
3️⃣ Buy a house.

The good news is that we are starting to see a positive shift in the number of properties coming on the market here in Maine - which helps frustrated buyers have a glimpse of hope. If buying a house sounds like the route you would like to pursue or have question about what that would look like, my inbox is always open.

Anyone else following the housing market as closely as they follow their favorite sports team during playoffs?

My clients that are looking to buy definitely are. Here are the April 2022 real estate market updates for York and Cumberland Counties.

If you're considering selling your home, statistically speaking now is a great time to list.

Closed in Biddeford! No better feeling than closing on your first home, congrats Adam.

Congrats to Cam, who recently sold his first home while also purchasing this new one here in Maine! In this market, it may seem overwhelming to buy and sell at the same time, but with the right planning it doesn't have to be an impossible process.

What does low inventory mean for a seller? 🏠

1- Potential for higher prices. There are way more buyers searching for houses than sellers. This means that homeowners are frequently getting multiple offers. High demand and low inventory means that you’ll more than likely be able to get more money for your home.

2 - Better terms. When the housing market is this competitive, it often forces buyers to work on your terms. This can be helpful when it comes to negotiating things like repairs and the closing date.

If you’ve been on the fence about whether or not to sell, I'd be happy to sit down to go over the details with no pressure. At the end of the day, I want what’s best for my clients – even if that means opting not to sell.

📱207-229-7180

Buyers are you ready?

We're seeing an increase in homes for sale as the spring market vamps up here in Maine. Being prepared is the best way to dominate the Maine housing market. This means having a real estate agent and your pre approval letter ready to go.

Need some guidance with the process? I’m here to help.

*Statistics sourced from Maine Real Estate Information System

How many homes have two kitchens this nice? Congrats to my sellers for closing this property yesterday above asking price!