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

5 Common Mortgages for Home Buyers

Jul 3, 2014

Financing your home purchase is the most important part of buying a home. The mortgage you decide on will influence your financial life for many years to come. Before looking into your mortgaging options, assess your finances. How much can you put down as a deposit? How much can you afford to pay monthly? Take into consideration job stability, taxes, insurance, and utilities. Work with your agent to make sure you are taking a realistic approach toward your finances. Once you know your budget, it’s time to decide on a mortgage that works with you. Below are 6 common mortgage plans for home buyers. 1. Fixed Rate Mortgage This mortgage is the most popular among home buyers because of its predictability. You have the option of 10-, 15-, 20-, or 30-year fixed rate mortgages, and sometimes even longer, with 30 years being the most common time frame. A fixed rate mortgage is ideal for home buyers with unchanging incomes. This mortgage can become frustrating when interest drop lower than the fixed rate but can feel very gratifying when they spike higher than the fixed rate. 2. Federal Housing Administration Loan Commonly known as an FHA loan, this mortgage option is ideal for first time home buyers because it only requires a 3.5% down payment. The loan is insured through mortgage insurance by the government and is therefore the application is more forgiving of past credit mistakes than other mortgage options. Most people will qualify for this loan. The only downside of the loan is that it is not very attractive to sellers because of the low down payment. 3.... read more

Should You Buy Into A Homeowners Association? What You Need To Know About HOAs

Jun 27, 2014

According to Zillow, roughly 20-30% of all home buyers purchase properties within homeowners associations. That means if you’re looking to buy, you need to know the facts and decide whether or not owning a property in an HOA community is worth the price. What is a homeowners association? An HOA is an organization in a residential community that creates and enforces rules for all properties in the development. HOAs can be associated with condominiums, town houses or could be a single-family home community or private neighborhood. HOAs are very common among Irvine homes for sale and other communities in South Orange County. HOA rules can govern everything from parking restrictions and storage usage to architectural and design guidelines. HOA fees on average range from $200 – $400 a month. What do HOA dues pay for? The homeowners association collects monthly or annual dues which pay for community areas and amenities like parks, sport courts, swimming pools and street signs. Keep in mind that every homeowners association is different. Some are voluntary but most are mandatory and some are picky about what the members do with their properties while others are more laid back. Pros and Cons of HOAs Pros: The homeowners association pays for common areas like swimming pools, sport courts, parks and clubhouses. That means you get to enjoy a pool without having to clean it and keep an eye on chlorine levels and enjoy a semi private playground or garden without the hassle of maintenance. Some HOAs offer services like lawn maintenance to keep the neighborhood looking good 24/7. You don’t have to hire someone yourself and your... read more