8 Steps to Buying A Home in California: What You Need to Know

It can be an exciting milestone to buy a house in California, but the process can take some time. Several factors, like your financial situation, market conditions, and the local economy, can affect how long it takes to find a home and how much it costs. Keep these things in mind as you go through the process to make it as smooth as possible.

Home buying can be a complex process, but by being well-informed about California’s current real estate trends and the home buying process itself, you can make it go as smoothly as possible. Stay up to date on the latest news and trends in the real estate industry, and be prepared to act quickly when you find the perfect home.

Step One: Your Down Payment

A down payment is money you spend upfront to buy a home. The rest of the purchase price is paid by your mortgage lender.

In California, mortgage lenders typically want you to contribute 20% of the purchase price as a down payment. For a $769,405 home, that would be $153,881.

That being said, there are a number of ways to reduce the amount of money you need to put down on the house.

Government-backed loans, like VA and FHA loans, allow you to contribute 0% and 3.5% of your home’s purchase price respectively. Even conventional loans allow for down payments as low as 3-5%.

Making a down payment of less than 20% does have some risks involved. First, because you’re borrowing more money, your monthly payment will be higher and you’ll pay more in interest over the life of your loan.

And about mortgage insurance, here are two types of mortgage insurance that you may have to purchase: private mortgage insurance (PMI) and mortgage insurance premium (MIP). PMI is required for conventional loans until your loan balance reaches 80% of the purchase price, whereas MIP is required for FHA loans for the life of your loan.

Mortgage insurance rates vary based on your down payment and credit score. Typically, your mortgage insurance payment is added to your mortgage payment each month. However, VA loans don’t charge mortgage insurance. Instead, you’ll pay a VA loan funding fee at closing, which can range from 1.4% to 3.6% of the purchase price.

Step Two: Find the RIGHT Agent

The home buying process can be overwhelming, but with the help of a real estate agent, it can be a lot easier. Your agent will help you find and show you properties, make offers, negotiate contracts, and navigate the closing process. They can also recommend other service providers like title companies and inspectors to help you buy your home in California.

Choosing an agent is important, so take the time to research and interview multiple agents who have experience in the neighborhoods you’re interested in.

Step Three: Preapproval

Mortgage preapproval means a lender has already checked your credit and other financial information and has said you’re likely to be approved for a mortgage up to a certain amount.

Preapproval is important to buyers because it shows sellers that you are serious about buying and have the financial resources to do so. Most sellers in California will require preapproval before showing you their home.

You don’t have to decide on one lender right now. In fact, you should compare interest rates and preapproval amounts from several lenders to make sure you’re getting the absolute best terms when you buy your California home.

Step Four: Location

If you’re looking to buy a home in a certain area in California, don’t worry if the typical home value doesn’t perfectly match your budget. Home prices vary dramatically from city to city and even from neighborhood to neighborhood!

Also, look at past home value trends. This will give you an idea of how much your home’s value could go up over the next few years.

Step Five: The Hunt

Looking for homes in California can be a lot of fun, but it’s important to stay organized so you can find the perfect home for you. Make a list of everything you want in a home and prioritize them. At the top of the list should be the items that are most important to you. This will help you stay focused on what’s important as you look at different homes.

Your agent can help you understand if your wants are realistic for your budget and favorite neighborhoods or if you need to rethink what you’re looking for. But remember, it’s okay to be flexible! You may find that your “must-haves” can be relaxed a bit if it means getting into your dream home.

Step Six: The Offer

Homes in California tend to sell fast, so you’ll need to be prepared to make an offer quickly if you find a house you love. Your real estate agent can help you write a compelling offer that gives you the best chance of convincing the homeowner to sell to you.

Currently, homes stay on the market for an average of 45 days before going under contract. However, this number can vary depending on the market. In busier months, homes tend to get snatched up more quickly than others.

Historically, homes in California have sold fastest in June, where the average property is only on the market for 39 days. If your home search falls around this time, be prepared to move quickly and potentially make offers on several homes before yours is accepted.

Step Seven: Appraisals & Inspections

Inspections and appraisals are an opportunity for you to get a better understanding of the home’s condition and value before officially purchasing it. If something unexpected pops up, you may have an opportunity to renegotiate the terms of your contract with the seller.

Having your California home inspected by a licensed inspector gives you peace of mind about the condition of the property before you commit thousands of dollars to purchase it.

A home inspection is an important part of the home-buying process. It can reveal problems with the roof, foundation, electrical system, HVAC system, and plumbing that you may not have known about otherwise. If the home has a septic system, you should also pay for a septic inspection to make sure it doesn’t have any problems that wouldn’t be covered in a typical home inspection.

An appraisal is an estimate of a property’s market value. If you’re using a mortgage to buy your new home, your lender will order an appraisal to make sure the home is worth the money that it’s loaning you.

Step 8: Closing

After you sign all the necessary documents and pay the closing costs, you’ll officially own your home in California. The closing process is simple – you’ll just need to meet with the title company and review all the important paperwork. Make sure to ask your agent any questions you have before signing anything, as it’s important to understand what you’re agreeing to.

Closing costs can vary depending on the buyer, but typically they break down into four main categories: prepaid costs, title and escrow fees, lender fees, and other closing costs. It’s important to be aware of these costs and what’s included in them so there are no surprises at the closing table. By knowing what to expect, you can budget accordingly.

Buyers in California typically pay 3–5% of the purchase price in closing costs.