Deciding to Buy

Buying A Home In The South Bay

The home buying process can be intimidating, even if you’ve bought a home before, but especially if this is your first home purchase. My website is a great place to start because it is always up to date and is hyper-focused on our local real estate market. You can search for homes confidently because this website is updated every 15 minutes, directly from the same source that Realtors use, the California Regional Multiple Listing Service.  If you are new to the South Bay and need help getting started, just contact me, I can recommend the best neighborhoods in your price range. I have been helping families buy and sell their homes for decades, I am here to help.

Viewing Homes

When you are ready, you’ll want to view the homes that interest you in person. With a few mouse clicks or a phone call you can schedule an appointment to view any home that looks promising. Based on your search criteria, I can also be able recommend other homes that you might like.

Mortgage Pre-Approval

An essential first step in the home buying process is talking with an experienced lending professional. I can recommend several experienced lenders who will be able to determine how much you can borrow based on your income level, current debts, occupation, and credit history. They will answer all your questions about loan options and get you prequalified. With a preapproval letter in hand, you will be able to search for homes with confidence and be ready to submit an offer once you have found the right home.

Negotiating Your Offer

You’ve found the perfect home! Now what? Prior to writing an offer on that home, I can provide an analysis of similar homes that have recently sold in the same neighborhood. Based on these “comps” we can formulate a strategy to submit a successful bid. It isn’t always the highest price that gets accepted by a seller.  I know how to make your offer more competitive. The reputation I have earned over many years as a capable, honest and cooperative agent will also influence sellers and their agents to want to work with us.

Opening Escrow

Once your offer has been accepted we’ll “open escrow”. An escrow officer will manage the paperwork involved in buying a home. They are the neutral third party that handles the many details involved in a transaction. Recording the deed, managing the payoff of existing loans on and coordinating with the title company to record the deed are just a few of their responsibilities. They will also help you sign the loan documents for your new loan and manage your deposit and down payment.

Home Inspections

During the escrow period you’ll have a limited period of time to inspect the property to determine its condition. I can recommend several qualified inspectors who will help you go over the house from top to bottom. 

By working with an experienced home inspector, you'll get an in-depth report on everything from the foundation to the roof. If the inspection reveals any cause for concern, you'll have four options:

•    Accept the house in its current condition.
•    Ask the seller to take care of specific repairs.
•    Receive a credit from the seller for the estimated cost of the repairs.
•    Cancel the transaction and look for another home.

Home Warranties

The home inspection will give you assurance that there are no hidden defects that will surprise you once you move in. But it is still possible that something will go wrong with your new home. A home warranty is a type of insurance policy that will protect you against many repair issues experienced by homeowners. The policy is in force in the first year of your home ownership. Frequently we can negotiate that the seller include this policy in the purchase price of the home.