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Buyer's Guide

A Step-by-Step First Time Buyer's Guide

Buying a home is one of the most exciting milestones of your life. To prepare yourself for this moment, you need to know what to expect during the process. This step-by-step first time buyer’s guide created by your agent will help reduce the stress of buying a home and help you enjoy the journey as much as possible.

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Step 1: Research

Do you already know where you want to buy? If you want a condo, townhome, or single-family home? Which features do you like and dislike? What’s available on the market now? If you answered no to any of these questions, now is the time to start researching. In addition to looking for homes that interest you, also take note of any changes in asking prices. This could give you valuable insight into housing trends in specific neighborhoods and help you when the time comes to make an offer.

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Step 2: Decide on Your Budget

Notice I said to decide on your budget—not determine how much the mortgage company will give you. In many cases, a mortgage company will pre-approve you for more than you’re comfortable spending, which is why you need to determine the monthly payment you feel comfortable with before talking to a lender. This likely includes doing a full household budget and taking into consideration what changes other than a mortgage payment will occur once you move into your new home. If you’ve lived in an apartment or with roommates, you may overlook new expenses like garbage, water, or HOA fees that could easily blow your budget.

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Step 3: Get Prequalified

Just because you think you can afford a certain payment every month doesn’t mean the mortgage company will agree. Just as they may approve you for too large of an amount, they may also approve you for a lesser amount or deny you a mortgage altogether. Lack of time at a job, insufficient credit, past bankruptcies, or other financial issues can cause major problems when trying to secure a mortgage. Before you get your heart set on a home, talk to a mortgage professional to find out what amount you can qualify for. This will also be an advantage when you make an offer on a home, as some sellers won’t entertain offers from those who aren’t already prequalified for a loan.

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Step 4: Choose a Real Estate Agent

Can you shop for, look at, and ultimately make an offer on a home without a real estate agent? Technically, yes, but why would you when it costs you nothing for an agent like me to take much of the stress off your shoulders? Not only will I help identify properties you might be interested in, arrange showings, and ultimately handle the offer process, but I also have a knowledge of the market that you don’t possess. Finding the perfect home can be a daunting task, and this is where my expertise and wealth of knowledge come into play. Let me show you around some homes that meet your dream home criteria so you can find the one that's right for you.

Passion & Expertise

My goal is to provide you with the most personalized service possible, meticulously designed to help you navigate the process of buying your dream home. I am dedicated to understanding your unique needs and preferences, ensuring that every step of the journey is tailored to achieve your ultimate home-buying aspirations.

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Step 5: Find the Right Home

This should be the most enjoyable step of the entire process (other than moving in!). I will arrange showings of homes you’re interested in that are within your price range. Take notes about what you like and don’t like, and make sure to pay attention to details. Turn light switches on and off, open and close doors, and run the faucets in various rooms. Don’t limit your inspection to the home itself. Make sure to take time to explore the neighborhood and keep an eye on traffic at certain times of the day, the parking situation, and how close it is to necessities like schools and grocery stores.

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Step 6: Make an Offer

Once you have selected the perfect home, work with your agent to craft a fair offer based on the value of comparable homes on the market. Depending on what the home is listed at and whether the current environment is a buyer’s or seller’s market, your offer may be below, at, or even above the asking price. I will be able to help you negotiate if you receive a counteroffer and reach an agreement. At this point, the house will go into escrow.

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Step 7: Have the Home Inspected

In most cases, your offer will be contingent on having the home inspected to ensure there is no major structural damage or large repairs needed. I can help you arrange this, and you can schedule it within days of making an offer. If there are no major issues, the process goes to step eight. If there is, you can renegotiate your offer based on what needs to be fixed, or you can withdraw it.

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Step 8: Select Your Loan

Now is the time to go back to the mortgage lender who pre-approved or pre-qualified you and choose your mortgage. You will be presented with various options based on your unique financial situation, including fixed-rate, variable-rate, 15-year, 30-year, or special programs such as VA loans or FHA loans. Work with your mortgage lender to select the option you feel the most comfortable with.

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Step 9: Get a Home Appraisal

Your lender will have your new home appraised so they have their independent value of it. The appraisal is to ensure that all parties involved are paying a fair price for the house.

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Step 10: Finish Paperwork

No one looks forward to all the paperwork involved in buying a home, but it’s a necessary part of the process. Fortunately, everything will be arranged by your lender and title company and, when you’re finished, you’ll know you are the legal owner of your new home.

Congratulations!

After signing the final paperwork to complete the purchase, you are now the owner of a new house. It may take a few days for your loan to be funded once the paperwork has been returned to the lender, but once that check is delivered to the seller, you’ll be all set to move into the home of your dreams. 

Read What My Clients Have to Say

Testimonials

"You can’t ask for an overall nice guy with such passion! Highly recommend!"
"You can’t ask for an overall nice guy with such passion! Highly recommend!"
Hanky M.
"Perry was recommended to us by good friends who bought their first house with his help. When it was our turn, we sat down with Perry - four months later we held the key to our new beautiful home in our hands. If you are looking for a real estate agent who asks the right questions, takes your concerns seriously, and delivers results, I highly recommend Perry."
"Perry was recommended to us by good friends who bought their first house with his help. When it was our turn, we sat down with Perry - four months later we held the key to our new beautiful home in our hands. If you are looking for a real estate agent who asks the right questions, takes your concerns seriously, and delivers results, I highly recommend Perry."
Markus W.
"I've known Perry for over a decade now. He is trustworthy, hardworking, and reliable. He listens and understands your needs to help you find what you want. He is also a father, so he understands your housing needs from a family man's perspective. If you're looking for someone knowledgable about the Bay area market, I highly recommend Perry as your realtor!"
"I've known Perry for over a decade now. He is trustworthy, hardworking, and reliable. He listens and understands your needs to help you find what you want. He is also a father, so he understands your housing needs from a family man's perspective. If you're looking for someone knowledgable about the Bay area market, I highly recommend Perry as your realtor!"
Jenny C.
"I knew I wanted to work with Perry when I started considering buying property. I made an appointment to discuss the process, and he patiently outlined the next steps shortly and answered any one-off questions I brought up about how to get started. Perry is professional, personable, and extremely knowledgeable. I appreciated that he set me up with realistic expectations from the get-go, so I knew up front what property purchasing and ownership would look like. If you're searching for a realtor with a deep understanding of the real estate market who will be diligent and thoughtful of your time, trust me, Perry is the one you want to meet!"
"I knew I wanted to work with Perry when I started considering buying property. I made an appointment to discuss the process, and he patiently outlined the next steps shortly and answered any one-off questions I brought up about how to get started. Perry is professional, personable, and extremely knowledgeable. I appreciated that he set me up with realistic expectations from the get-go, so I knew up front what property purchasing and ownership would look like. If you're searching for a realtor with a deep understanding of the real estate market who will be diligent and thoughtful of your time, trust me, Perry is the one you want to meet!"
Megan L.
"Working with Perry as my real estate agent was an absolute pleasure. This guy knows how to deliver top-notch service that goes above and beyond! He's on top of things when it comes to responsiveness. He's lightning-fast in replying to my emails, calls, and texts, which keeps the whole process running smoothly. Perry took the time to explain every single step of the home-buying journey to me, making sure I understood it all. Whether it was breaking down complicated contracts or giving me the lowdown on market trends and available properties, his knowledge and expertise were seriously impressive. He made sure I felt confident and in the know throughout the entire process. Perry consistently followed up with me, going the extra mile to ensure I felt comfortable and informed with every decision. This guy's insights and recommendations, based on his vast experience, were absolute game-changers. I felt like I had a real pro in my corner, making the whole experience stress-free and downright enjoyable. If you're in search of a real estate agent who's responsive, detail-oriented, and awesome, Perry is your go-to guy. Trust me, he'll exceed your expectations and make your home-buying journey an unforgettable one."
"Working with Perry as my real estate agent was an absolute pleasure. This guy knows how to deliver top-notch service that goes above and beyond! He's on top of things when it comes to responsiveness. He's lightning-fast in replying to my emails, calls, and texts, which keeps the whole process running smoothly. Perry took the time to explain every single step of the home-buying journey to me, making sure I understood it all. Whether it was breaking down complicated contracts or giving me the lowdown on market trends and available properties, his knowledge and expertise were seriously impressive. He made sure I felt confident and in the know throughout the entire process. Perry consistently followed up with me, going the extra mile to ensure I felt comfortable and informed with every decision. This guy's insights and recommendations, based on his vast experience, were absolute game-changers. I felt like I had a real pro in my corner, making the whole experience stress-free and downright enjoyable. If you're in search of a real estate agent who's responsive, detail-oriented, and awesome, Perry is your go-to guy. Trust me, he'll exceed your expectations and make your home-buying journey an unforgettable one."
Albert K.
"Perry is your go-to realtor/friend when it comes to finding/selling your next home. He is honest, open-minded, patient, and knowledgeable in his field of expertise. He also has further experience in other aspects of real estate if you have questions and need info/referrals. We were lucky to find Perry through a family friend introduction and after diligently searching with us for 9 months (during this competitive/volatile market) we landed the ideal home for us. Perry has been there since the beginning and even after closing on our home, he continues to be there as a resource and friend to us. Thank you so much, Perry."
"Perry is your go-to realtor/friend when it comes to finding/selling your next home. He is honest, open-minded, patient, and knowledgeable in his field of expertise. He also has further experience in other aspects of real estate if you have questions and need info/referrals. We were lucky to find Perry through a family friend introduction and after diligently searching with us for 9 months (during this competitive/volatile market) we landed the ideal home for us. Perry has been there since the beginning and even after closing on our home, he continues to be there as a resource and friend to us. Thank you so much, Perry."
Ting W.
"Perry has always been a treat to do business with. He's hardworking, knowledgeable, genuine, and knows how to make learning about real estate fun; especially because he's very passionate about the excellent service he provides to his clients. Anytime I have questions about the market, he always gets back to me promptly; even when he's busy being a dad and husband. A few years ago, my mom did a Lao food pop-up in San Francisco and Perry took the time out of his busy schedule to not only stop by to say "hi," but also support the event and spread the word. This is the amazing person Perry is, so if you're looking for someone who will be honest and willing to go above and beyond for you. Look no further."
"Perry has always been a treat to do business with. He's hardworking, knowledgeable, genuine, and knows how to make learning about real estate fun; especially because he's very passionate about the excellent service he provides to his clients. Anytime I have questions about the market, he always gets back to me promptly; even when he's busy being a dad and husband. A few years ago, my mom did a Lao food pop-up in San Francisco and Perry took the time out of his busy schedule to not only stop by to say "hi," but also support the event and spread the word. This is the amazing person Perry is, so if you're looking for someone who will be honest and willing to go above and beyond for you. Look no further."
Tony P.
"Perry is one of the most knowledgeable agents I've worked with in my 20 years in this industry. His expertise is superior, and whether a buyer or a seller, he is incredible at explaining every step. Perry, thank you for raising the bar for those in this industry and for all that you do!"
"Perry is one of the most knowledgeable agents I've worked with in my 20 years in this industry. His expertise is superior, and whether a buyer or a seller, he is incredible at explaining every step. Perry, thank you for raising the bar for those in this industry and for all that you do!"
Michael B.
"We partnered with Perry for a home search this year. His knowledge of the market, the buying process, and the network of vendors was exemplary. Perry worked with us through every step during our exhaustive search. He read about every home we toured and logged them. He never stops working. Every house tour was cultivated based on our specific needs. We could not have chosen a better agent to help us with our home purchase."
"We partnered with Perry for a home search this year. His knowledge of the market, the buying process, and the network of vendors was exemplary. Perry worked with us through every step during our exhaustive search. He read about every home we toured and logged them. He never stops working. Every house tour was cultivated based on our specific needs. We could not have chosen a better agent to help us with our home purchase."
Jeanne H.
"New homeowners and investors alike, Perry is the person for the job. His comfort and knowledge around real estate, including renovation projects and financing options is really helpful. Not only is he experienced and knowledgeable but he's backed by a diverse team specifically built for the SF Bay Area to get your deals through. We're extremely grateful to have a resource like Perry within our investment network!"
"New homeowners and investors alike, Perry is the person for the job. His comfort and knowledge around real estate, including renovation projects and financing options is really helpful. Not only is he experienced and knowledgeable but he's backed by a diverse team specifically built for the SF Bay Area to get your deals through. We're extremely grateful to have a resource like Perry within our investment network!"
Telly T.

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