You finally did it, after all that praying; budgeting and penny pinching you finally have the opportunity to buy your very first house. Off you go looking for your dream home, but do not make the mistake of passing up what many real estate agents call a “fixer-upper” – you know a neglected house on an otherwise nice street, or an older home with lots of charm, but an impossibly ancient kitchen, because you feel cash is tight, and you may worry about whether you can afford the expense of renovation after you have closed your loan.