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Tips for Buyers

What you need to know

Step 1 - Understanding the local market

First, you must under what's going on in the local market so you can get the best deal. We analyze the local market every week and report on the trends, statistics and future outlook in our Market Update.

Step 2 - Avoid Common Mistakes

Even experienced investors make mistakes. Don't let that happen to you. Get the Free Report The 10 Biggest Mistakes Most Home Buyers Make When Purchasing a Home.

Step 3 - Get Pre-Approved

There's no sense in wasting your valuable time looking at homes until you understand all of the costs involved. A professional lender can help you sort through the maze of mortgage loan options so you know 1) exactly how much home you can qualify to buy and 2) what your total closing costs and monthly payments will be. Complete our Pre Approval Form Form and we'll have one of our preferred mortgage lenders get you this valuable information in 48 hours or less. No pressure, just service.

Step 4 - Create a Budget/Cash Flow Analysis

"Budget" means - how much can you afford without causing unnecessary financial stress in your life?" It DOES NOT mean "how much does the lender say you can afford." People who get those two definitions confused either wind up in foreclosure or buried in a monthly payment they can't afford. Download our Budget Spreadsheet to determine your true cost of homeownership based on your unique situation.
  • Monthly Mortgage Payment
  • Property Taxes
  • Association Dues
  • Homeowner's Insurance
  • Income Tax Savings!
  • Home Appreciation Estimates!
  • Rent vs. Own Calculations

Step 5 - Location, Location, Location

After you have established your price range based on your budget, the next most important decision is deciding where to live.

Remember, you can always change the house (upgrades, room additions, landscaping, etc.), but you can't change the location!

Our knowledge of Orange County and the Inland Empire will be invaluable to you, not just in terms of real estate, but also schools, neighborhoods, the local economy and more. Receive our Neighborhood Report on the cities you are most interested in living.

Tip: It's easy to fall in love with a big beautiful home that is $150,000 less than its counterpart in Orange County. Remember that your commute matters. Not only in terms of your monthly auto expenses, but more importantly your biggest asset - time. A 45 minute one-way commute to work, will waste nearly 400 hours in a year! We'll help you compare the difference to make the best decision for you.

Step 6 - Find The Best Property

How do you sort through the thousands of homes currently on the market to select the ONE house that's right for you?

You could use Realtor.com (or some other site) to search for homes. The downside is that you are constantly looking at the same listings and there is no way to see only the new or recently changed listings.

The Best Online MLS Search Tool

Better yet, use our Property Alert Service instead. Within 24 hours of receiving your search criteria, we'll design and create a personal website to organize your search. Here are some of the features of this cutting edge technology.
OC Experts MLS
  • Direct from the MLS
  • Updated immediately
  • Organized by Favorites, Possibilities and Rejects
  • No need to look at the same listings over and over
  • Daily notifications of new or changed listings
  • Ability to write notes about properties

Step 7 - Get The Best Deal

How much should we pay?

After touring many homes, you will probably find one or more that you are interesting in placing an offer on. What is the true market value of the homes that you are interested in.

Is it priced too high? Is it a bargain that you should jump on? We help home buyers make decisions like this every day, and we'll make sure that YOU get the best value for your money.

If fact, if you've already find a property that you like, complete our Should I Buy This Home Form and we'll send you a one page summary of the other homes that have sold and are on the market in that area. No pressure - just exceptional service with no expectation of return.

Negotiating with sellers can be stressful. We can help you negotiate, so that the final agreement includes your best possible terms and conditions. We didn't create the 3 inch stack of paperwork that seems to come with every transaction, but we do understand it and we'll be there to help you navigate through potential minefields and protect your financial interests.