The lender who actually answers - and gets it closed. From city houses above the station to two-families near Broadway, Brian Marchand makes the mortgage the easy part.
“Rensselaer is the shortest commute to downtown Albany of anywhere you can still buy cheap. The train station is right there and nobody prices that in.”
Brian MarchandSr. Loan Consultant · NMLS #481563
Program guidelines on this page last verified . Guidelines, limits and program terms change — verified figures are current as of that date, not a commitment to lend.
Buying or refinancing in Rensselaer shouldn't mean giving up when a file gets complicated. Brian Marchand has helped buyers all over Rensselaer County, from first-time buyers in the city to investors financing small multi-family.
Entry prices here make FHA, 3%-down conventional and SONYMA assistance genuinely realistic - and often worth comparing side by side.
Been told “no” somewhere else? That’s exactly where Brian goes to work. Second opinions welcome.
A five-minute commute to Albany, a city district, and older housing where program choice decides the closing.
You are a bridge - and the Amtrak station - from downtown Albany, at prices well below the city across the river. For anyone commuting into Albany or taking the train to New York, the location is undervalued.
Small two- and three-family houses are common, and on an owner-occupied purchase a portion of market rent can typically help you qualify. Condition matters on pre-1940 stock - FHA and VA carry minimum property standards.
A small Hudson River city directly across from Albany - the Amtrak station, riverfront redevelopment, and some of the shortest commutes in the region.
Neighborhoods & areas: Broadway · Third Street · Riverfront · Forbes Avenue · East Greenbush line
Population is a U.S. Census figure for Rensselaer. USDA eligibility is set by address and the maps change. For general reference only.
The school districts, the programs that can shrink your out-of-pocket, and the details worth handling before you make an offer.
Rensselaer City School District covers the city, with edges toward East Greenbush.
Brian works with 3% & 5%-down conventional, FHA (3.5% down), zero-down VA, plus SONYMA down payment assistance and renovation financing, and SONYMA first-time-buyer loans with down-payment assistance. First-time buyer? He’ll line up every credit you’re eligible for.
A small city directly across the Hudson from Albany, with older housing and two-family supply.
Rensselaer is compact and largely pre-war through mid-century — frame single-families on small lots and a real supply of two-families — with some newer construction near the riverfront. Public water and sewer throughout.
Three different answers when an appraisal lists repairs. As-is works when the items are cosmetic. A repair escrow holds funds at closing for a narrow set of minor items and comes with a re-inspection. A renovation loan finances real work into the mortgage. Choosing among them after the appraisal is late — the program should be picked before it is ordered.
Existing leases transfer with the property, so you inherit the terms, the rents and the tenants. At closing, security deposits get credited to you and the leases get assigned, and lenders often want estoppel certificates confirming what each tenant actually pays. Review the leases during attorney review — a below-market lease with two years left is a real cost.
Flood insurance is a permanent condition of the loan in a mapped zone, not a one-time requirement. If the policy lapses, the servicer buys a force-placed policy on your behalf — typically at well above market cost — and adds it to your payment. On a river-adjacent purchase, keeping that renewal calendared matters.
Brian and his team were awesome and really helped me with a pretty complicated process. Can’t recommend them enough!
Brian explained everything well, was very thorough, and always answered my questions quickly. I would recommend him to everyone.
I highly recommend Brian. He consistently provides a five-star mortgage experience for my clients - quick response and deep knowledge.
Verified reviews from Google, Zillow, Facebook & Experience.com · See all 169 reviews →
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Brian Marchand · Sr. Loan Consultant, New American Funding · NMLS #481563
Works on mortgages for buyers and homeowners in Rensselaer and the Capital Region. Licensed in New York State. New American Funding, NMLS #6606 · 18 Computer Dr E, Suite 103, Albany, NY 12205.