The Foothills and Beyond
The road to homeownership in L.A. isn’t for the faint of heart, but with the right team, it is absolutely possible. My job is to minimize the stress while guiding you and advocating for you, every step of the way.
Step 1
Crunch the numbers to determine your ideal all-in monthly payment, gather important financial documents if financing is needed, get pre-approved for a mortgage with a reputable lender, and hire an experienced real estate agent (me!) to help with your home search.
Step 2
This is the fun part – the house hunt! Each property you tour will help you figure out which features are more important than others. Once you find a home that you love, I will help you with reviewing comparable sales data and gathering the important intel to structure your offer competitively.
Step 3
Once your offer is accepted, this is the time for inspections, negotiations if a credit from the seller or a price reduction is needed, and the processing of your loan and escrow paperwork. I oversee this process and you are always fully in the loop. If all goes well, escrow closes, you’re officially a homeowner and I get to hand you the keys!
The concerns I hear most, and what I’ve actually seen play out with my clients.
More than half of buyers in the US put down less than 20%. There are many loan programs, some as low as 3% down, and getting pre-approved costs nothing. Reach out and I can connect you with an amazing lender to go over your options!
The key is an agent who builds a relationship with the seller’s side to learn what matters to them, and an offer structured to be just as attractive as cash. My clients have won without being the highest price, and without paying cash.
Homes are often listed below their estimated value to draw interest. What it comes down to is finding a home with enough going for it that when you sell, you’ll have the equity to get into the next one.
If yours isn’t the winning offer, ask to be the backup. You can keep searching while you wait. You’d be surprised at how many times I’ve gotten the call that the first escrow was cancelled and my clients got the house that they so wanted.
Not even new construction. Hire reliable inspectors (I know some great ones), let’s review the reports thoroughly, and most issues can be resolved, sometimes with a significant credit from the seller or a price reduction.
For most first-time buyers, that first house is home for less than seven years. Figure out what you can afford, factor in the resale potential, and plan to hold for a few years. Life happens, and this first home may be the stepping stone to your next one.
A short conversation about where you are, what matters and what would make sense next. No obligation.