Buying A Home

Buying a home is an exciting and complex adventure. It can also be a very time-consuming and costly one if you’re not familiar with all aspects of the process, and don’t have all the best information and resources at hand. One of our specialties is representing the best interests of Orange County area buyers throughout the home buying process. Our comprehensive, high-quality services can save you time and money, as well as make the experience more enjoyable and less stressful.

If you’re like most people, buying a home is the biggest investment you will ever make. So whether you’re buying a starter home, your dream home or an investment property, why not take advantage of my experience as a local market expert for Orange County to make the most informed decisions you can, every step of the way!

See below to learn more about buying.

LEARN MORE ABOUT BUYING

4 Easy Steps to Getting a Mortgage Loan

Aug 14, 2014

  Whether you’re buying your first house or moving up to a bigger and better one, chances are you’re going to need a mortgage. That’s why securing a mortgage and getting your finances in order is the first step for any buyer. Where exactly do you start? Well when I started writing this piece I went straight to the source – real estate financial advisor and expert Renee Wiginton. Renee works with a First Team affiliate company helping buyers find the perfect mortgage loan to fit their needs. So what’s the first step for any buyer to getting a mortgage? Same as mine – start talking with the person who knows it all! 1. Consult with a real estate financial advisor The first person you want to speak with is an experienced real estate financial advisor (some call themselves loan officers).  A financial advisor will counsel buyers on tailoring the perfect loan to fit their specific lifestyle and situation. The reason you need to start with a real estate financial expert is because only they have access to the underwriting systems you need to officially and accurately determine once and for all what type of mortgage you will qualify for. Make it easier: The best way to find a trustworthy financial advisor is to get a referral from a real estate agent. If you’re a first-time buyer you will have a lot of questions and a buyer’s agent is the perfect person to answer all of them and connect you with all the help you need throughout the buying process (financial professionals, tax specialists, service contractors, etc.) 2. Get Pre-Approved For... read more

9 Ways To Improve Your Credit Score

Aug 11, 2014

Potential home buyers will find that their credit score starts to get a lot of attention as they start looking to buy a home. Lenders use this number as a way to figure out what loans and interest rates home buyers will qualify for. While the best way to have good credit is to maintain it from the beginning of your credit history, that is not always possible. Mistakes, unexpected financial burdens, and other surprises can bring your credit score down. Luckily there are ways to improve your score if it is less than satisfactory. Because credit scores are based on credit history, dramatically improving your credit takes time. That said, there are ways to see immediate results. If your credit score is low and your want to improve it both sooner and later, follow these 9 tips to improve your credit score. 1. Improve your credit utilization ratio. Credit utilization ratio is the percentage you are using of your available credit and has a major impact on your credit score. When you using a high percentage of your available credit you become a high risk for lenders. Improve your credit score by either paying off the card with the highest credit utilization ratio or by calling your credit card company and asking for an increase in your credit limit. If you have two cards, one with a limit of $4,000 and balance of $1,200 and the second with a limit of $1,200 and a balance of $800, it will improve your credit most to pay the second card or to have the limit increased. This will show up... read more