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Recently From Our Blog
What’s Ahead for Home Prices in 2023 Photo
What’s Ahead for Home Prices in 2023
By Renee Adelmann, Bay Area Modern 3/20/2023
Balancing Your Wants and Needs as a Homebuyer This Spring Photo
Balancing Your Wants and Needs as a Homebuyer This Spring
By Renee Adelmann, Bay Area Modern 3/15/2023
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Are You A First-Time Homebuyer?

First-Time Homebuyer Video Resources
First-Time Home Buyer Advice
You can’t know everything there is to know about buying a home, especially when you’re a first-time homebuyer.
How much down payment do I need for a house?
Many first-time homebuyers believe they have to put 20 percent down on a home. But that’s far from true.
Why do people say you need 20% down?
Average down payments are well under 20 percent. So why do so many people say 20 percent down is the minimum.
How to choose a mortgage lender as a first time home buyer
One of the biggest mistakes first-time homebuyers make is not shopping around for a mortgage.
What credit score do you need to buy a house for the first time?
Most loan programs require a credit score of 620 or higher to buy a house for the first time. That includes conventional loans, most VA loans, and USDA loans (which require 640+).
What qualifies you as a first-time buyer?
If you’re buying your first-ever home, you’re a “first-time homebuyer” by default.
Do I need a home inspection?
Some loan types, like the FHA and VA mortgage programs, require a home inspection to make sure the home meets requirements for safety and affordability.
What are points? How do I know if I should buy them or not?
A point is simply 1 percent of the loan amount. If you choose to “buy your rate down,” or pay “discount points,” you will get a lower interest rate.
What is Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)?
Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) is an insurance policy that makes homeownership possible for homebuyers who don’t want to make a 20 percent down payment.

If you have questions or are ready to begin the first-time home buying process, just complete the form below, and a member of our team will be in touch shortly!

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Buyer Resources
First Time Buyers

Are you a first-time homebuyer? Did you know that if you haven’t owned a property in the last three years that you are considered a first-time homebuyer?

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Making an Offer

Before the offer to purchase is created, you must be at least pre-qualified or, better yet, pre-approved by a lender, unless you are paying cash.

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Offer Accepted: Now What?

Once your offer is accepted by the seller it starts the offer accepted period. You will be asked for a down payment, typically 1% of the purchase price, on the home you are purchasing which will be held with an attorney or settlement company and applied to the final purchase of your property.

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Personalized Home Search

Complete the form below and we'll create you a custom property search. Anytime when we find properties that match your specific criteria we’ll send you an email.

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Thinking about Buying?

Are you thinking about buying? The video resources below cover many of the common questions that most people have during the home buying journey.

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What Are Closing Costs?

You've found your dream home, the seller has accepted your offer, your loan has been approved and you're eager to move into your new home.

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Ready to Chat?
Click Here to Schedule a Call

Seller Resources
Buyer Resources
Blog Resources

What’s Ahead for Home Prices in 2023

Over the past year, home prices have been a widely debated topic. Some have said we’ll see a massive drop in prices and that this could be a repeat of 2008 – which hasn’t happened. Others have forecasted a real estate market ...

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Balancing Your Wants and Needs as a Homebuyer This Spring

March 15, 2023 For Buyers First Time Home Buyers Move-Up Buyers Buying Myths Though there are more homes for sale now than there were at this time last year, there’s still an undersupply with fewer houses available than in more ...

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4 Tips for Making Your Best Offer on a Home

Are you planning to buy a home this spring? Though things are more balanced than they were at the height of the pandemic, it’s still a sellers’ market. So, when you find the home you want to buy, remember these four tips to make your ...

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2 Things Sellers Need To Know This Spring

A lot has changed over the past year, and you might be wondering what’s in store for the spring housing market. If you’re planning to sell your house this season, here’s what real estate experts are saying you should keep in ...

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Could a Multigenerational Home Be the Right Fit for You?

During the pandemic, many of us reexamined the meaning of home for ourselves and our loved ones. Today, that can be seen in the recent rise in multigenerational households. According to Jessica Lautz, Deputy Chief Economist and Vice President of ...

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