For Buyers

Buying a home is an exciting time in one's life. Making the smart move of choosing a REALTOR® is your first step to ensuring that your new home and community meets your needs. My services and experience range from financial aid to helping you find the home that best suits you and your family. For your convenience, I also provide listings by email. I pride myself on repeat business and hope you'll come to understand why.

How I Can Help
Before you start looking
Closing Costs As Your Agent, I Will:

Assure that you see all the properties in the area that meet your criteria.
Represent your interests and coordinate with other parties involved in the process.
Oversee the escrow & closing process from beginning to finish.
Explain all contracts, forms and agreements.
Negotiate on your behalf.
Advise you on critical isssues throughout the process
Guidance in getting wanted/needed inspections performed.
Guide you through the entire home buying process, from finding homes to look at, to getting the best financing.
Make sure you don't pay too much for your new home and help you avoid costly mistakes.
Answer all of your questions about the local market area, including schools, neighborhoods, the local economy, and more.
I am a Real Estate Broker. This is the highest licensing status available in the industry. Additionally I am a CRS (Certified Residential Specialist). Only 4% of all REALTORS in the U.S. hold the CRS credential. It is your assurance of training, expertise and commitement.
In addition to the above items I subscribe and pay for the best search for homes site that I know of. It will give you the most up to date information available. It allows you to search other areas to price compare & to have the latest published information available on properties that you drive by or see advertised. "Clean Offer" is available to my clients by invitation. Only about 1 in 8 homes will be advertised or have a open house at any given moment. Between MLS and other searches I have at my fingertips...as well as knowlege of properties that are available, but not "actively on the market". I've got your bases covered. I see houses every day...even those that are planning to sell. I can even run a "radius search" for you to be sure you know about every property within an area that you want to locate in.....close to schools, recreation, child care, friends and relatives to name a few.
Check me out "Better Business Bureau" www.GoldenGateBBB.org

Before You Start Looking For Your New Home:

Check your credit rating. Straighten out any errors before its a problem. Don't wait until you are in escrow and under a time limit to get your loan. You will want to have a pre approval letter from your lender available for the Sellers to see and determine that you are a strong buyer. This improves your chances of getting the very best price & terms.
Determine a comfortable monthly budget for your new home purchase, factoring in your down payment and closing costs, monthly payment, hmeowners insurance, property insurance, property taxes (special assessments.) Are you familiar with Mello Roos areas, flood zones, etc? I am and will advise you accordingly. Costly surprises are not happy surprises. Let's avoid those. There is a mortgage calculator in my web site. It will give you the "once over lightly" estimates. Only your loan broker or agent can give you the nitty gritty details that you will live with.
Talk with your tax advisor to determine what portion of your payments, taxes, etc. will be "tax deductable" and how that will change your purchasing power. Generally speaking all interest and taxes are tax deductable. If you are an investor buyer then many of your improvements, upgrades, repairs, replacements, homeowner dues, management fees, depreciation are also deductible.
Find a loan broker / agent that meets your needs and get pre-qualified (preferably pre-approved). Loan brokers work with many different lenders that represent a broad range of loan programs to choose from. Loan agents generally work with the company that employs them offering the programs that that particular lender offers. Below I have offered a couple of suggestions regarding loan brokers who I have worked with before. They have done good jobs for my clients in the past. It's o.k. to use my name if you contact one of them. Realtors do not receive any compensation for suggesting loan brokers, or inspectors, or anyone else. I get paid only when I help you find and buy a property.
Choose an EXPERIENCED FULL TIME REALTOR® that you trust and who understands your needs.
Determine what neighborhood best matches your needs. I can do a radius search for you which will show us all the properties withing 1/4 or 1/2 or 1 or 2 or 5 miles from your target area.I also have "clean offer" available to my clients by invitation. Clean offer is the best search method available.
Identify important features you need your new home to have. I suggest the 3 list process. List # 1 is the most important and includes your "gotta haves"... such as your minimal number of bedrooms & baths (+ larger if available). List # 2 is the "I really want, but can manage without" things ... like I would like to be within walking distance of the library .... or I would like to have a family room that is large enough for a pool table ... and List # 3 is the "Bonus List" ... This list represnts the "I have always wanted a Mt. Tam view" and would consider that a bonus. But please don't eliminate any houses that don't have it. This list will keep you on track during the search process. As we look around you will be able to refine your lists and I will learn to "see throught your eyes".

Our simple mortgage calculator calculates your monthly payment based on your input.

PreQualify By Clicking Here

Loan Brokers I have worked with

Chris Weber http://firstsecurityloan.com/officers-detail.aspx?LONum=31

and

Andy Shine, Loan Broker - 415-898-5002

and

Linda Mazzuchi 415-302-4111

Linda_mazzuchi@countrywide.com

Closing Costs to Expect: Generally speaking 2 to 3% of the sales price. This is a broad range and is a "guesstimate" based on the "average situation". The reason I can't give you reliable numbers at this point is the lender fees are a big part of this overall number and there are many varieties of loans, fees, etc. Additionally you will have escrow & title insurance charges (set by the purchase price/loan amount)Your estimated closing statement can be provided upon request when I know your price range and loan type.

Lender fees (more or less) include charges for loan processing, underwriting, loan package preparation points, private mortage insurance (when applicable) on certain loans, and appraisal and possibly other items. Ask your lender for estimates. Remember most are factored into the 2 to 3% noted above.

Third-party fees (more or less) include charges for interest, insurance, escrow charges & title search, inspections such as termites, contractors, engineers, survey (more of them? or fewer?), homeowner dues & transfer fees. This is an approximate based on the "average sale".

These are all things that I have overseen for many many buyers. My intention here is to give you an overview of possibilities....to take some of the stress away. I will take the time to listen to your needs and wants. I will stay in close touch and make appointments with you that fit into your life. I am commited to finding you the very best property. No stone will be unturned. Now then, lets get started.

415-328-6413