STARTS WITH ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS

Looking for a new home is an exciting process. To help you get started it’s important to determine your needs — things your new San Francisco Bay Area home must have — and attributes you’d love but aren’t necessarily requirements.

I’ve found that an initial 30-minute conversation with my clients helps narrow our search and make the home buying process easier. Here are a few questions to ponder:

• Location – are there specific neighborhoods that are convenient to work and other lifestyle activities?
• School Districts – will you send your child(ren) to public or private school?
• Square Footage – how much space does your family need? Do you need extra space for an office, guests or multigenerational family members?
• Architectural Design – do you love ultra modern, victorian charm or something in between? Are you looking for a single-family home, townhouse or condominium?
• Price Range – have you crunched the numbers? What are you comfortable spending on your new home?

GETTING FAMILIAR WITH THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA

If you’re new to the SF Bay Area and Silicon Valley, an area tour is a wonderful way to get introduced to our vibrant community. As a relocation expert, I’ve helped many families get settled into their new home. Here are a few resources to help you get familiar with the Bay Area:

• Learn about Silicon Valley, The Peninsula and the East Bay, as well as information about the cities located in each area.
• View homes for sale on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS)
• Research local schools by neighborhoods

YOUR CUSTOMIZED HOME SEARCH

Once we have determined what you need in your new home, I will use several professional tools to find properties that best match your search parameters. Before we tour specific homes together, I’ll prepare information on neighborhoods, schools and other highlights that are customized to your home search.

Many of my clients like to actively review listings. I offer a secure client section on my website where you can view properties that are active in the MLS. All you need to do is create a username and password. You can then can login whenever you wish, view properties, request an appointment to view your favorites. As new homes come onto the market, you’ll also receive alerts via email.

YOUR COMPETITIVE EDGE

The San Francisco Bay Area is a premier real estate market. As a homebuyer, you’ll need to have a competitive advantage. One of your first goals should be to get pre-approved by a local lending source. Sellers want to know that if they sell to you the transaction will occur without surprises and delays. The best way to show them you’re serious is to get pre-approved, ideally from a lending professional who is local and knows the Bay Area marketplace.

Your second competitive advantage is having me on your home-buying team. I’ve negotiated hundreds of real estate transactions. My job as your Realtor is to protect your interests. You’ll benefit from my specialized knowledge of the area, experience with property disclosures and keen negotiation skills. Relationships are critical in real estate; I have the connections to help through each step of the buying process.

Ready to get started? Let’s begin with a 30-minute consultation so I can learn what you want in your new home.