Buyer's Guide

A Step-by-Step First Time Buyer's Guide

Buying a home is one of the most exciting milestones of your life. To prepare yourself for this moment, you need to know what to expect during the process. This step-by-step first time buyer’s guide created by your agent will help reduce the stress of buying a home and help you enjoy the journey as much as possible.

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Step 1: Research

Do you already know where you want to buy? If you want a condo, townhome, or single-family home? Which features do you like and dislike? What’s available on the market now? If you answered no to any of these questions, now is the time to start researching. In addition to looking for homes that interest you, also take note of any changes in asking prices. This could give you valuable insight into housing trends in specific neighborhoods and help you when the time comes to make an offer.

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Step 2: Decide on Your Budget

Notice I said to decide on your budget—not determine how much the mortgage company will give you. In many cases, a mortgage company will pre-approve you for more than you’re comfortable spending, which is why you need to determine the monthly payment you feel comfortable with before talking to a lender. This likely includes doing a full household budget and taking into consideration what changes other than a mortgage payment will occur once you move into your new home. If you’ve lived in an apartment or with roommates, you may overlook new expenses like garbage, water, or HOA fees that could easily blow your budget.

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Step 3: Get Prequalified

Just because you think you can afford a certain payment every month doesn’t mean the mortgage company will agree. Just as they may approve you for too large of an amount, they may also approve you for a lesser amount or deny you a mortgage altogether. Lack of time at a job, insufficient credit, past bankruptcies, or other financial issues can cause major problems when trying to secure a mortgage. Before you get your heart set on a home, talk to a mortgage professional to find out what amount you can qualify for. This will also be an advantage when you make an offer on a home, as some sellers won’t entertain offers from those who aren’t already prequalified for a loan.

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Step 4: Choose a Real Estate Agent

Can you shop for, look at, and ultimately make an offer on a home without a real estate agent? Technically yes, but why would you when it costs you nothing for an agent like me to take much of the stress off your shoulders? Not only will I help identify properties you might be interested in, arrange showings, and ultimately handle the offer process, but I also have a knowledge of the market that you don’t possess. Finding the perfect home can be a daunting task, this is where my expertise and wealth of knowledge come into play. Let me show you around some homes that meet your dream home criteria so you can find the one that's right for you.

My goal is to provide you with the most personalized service that is designed to help you buy your dream home

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Step 5: Find the Right Home

This should be the most enjoyable step of the entire process (other than moving in!). I will arrange showings of homes you’re interested in that are within your price range. Take notes about what you like and don’t like, and make sure to pay attention to details. Turn light switches on and off, open and close doors, and run the faucets in various rooms. Don’t limit your inspection to the home itself. Make sure to take time to explore the neighborhood and keep an eye on traffic at certain times of the day, the parking situation, and how close it is to necessities like schools and grocery stores.

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Step 6: Make an Offer

Once you have selected the perfect home, work with your agent to craft a fair offer based on the value of comparable homes on the market. Depending on what the home is listed at and whether the current environment is a buyer’s or seller’s market, your offer may be below, at, or even above the asking price. I will be able to help you negotiate if you receive a counteroffer and reach an agreement. At this point, the house will go into escrow.

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Step 7: Have the Home Inspected

In most cases, your offer will be contingent on having the home inspected to ensure there is no major structural damage or large repairs needed. I can help you arrange this, and you can schedule it within days of making an offer. If there are no major issues, the process goes to step eight. If there is, you can renegotiate your offer based on what needs to be fixed, or you can withdraw it.

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Step 8: Select Your Loan

Now is the time to go back to the mortgage lender who pre-approved or pre-qualified you and choose your mortgage. You will be presented with various options based on your unique financial situation, including fixed-rate, variable-rate, 15-year, 30-year, or special programs such as VA loans or FHA loans. Work with your mortgage lender to select the option you feel the most comfortable with.

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Step 9: Get a Home Appraisal

Your lender will have your new home appraised so they have their independent value of it. The appraisal is to ensure that all parties involved are paying a fair price for the house.

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Step 10: Finish Paperwork

No one looks forward to all the paperwork involved in buying a home, but it’s a necessary part of the process. Fortunately, everything will be arranged by your lender and title company and, when you’re finished, you’ll know you are the legal owner of your new home.

Congratulations!

After signing the final paperwork to complete the purchase, you are now the owner of a new house. It may take a few days for your loan to be funded once the paperwork has been returned to the lender, but once that check is delivered to the seller, you’ll be all set to move into the home of your dreams. 

Testimonials

Bobby M.

Bobby M.

Best service, and highest quality experience of my life. Thank you for helping me and my wife find our dream house.
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Sherry M.

Sherry M.

Christine was excellent in listening to our needs, finding alternative properties to consider, and then getting everything lined up for us.
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Megan D.

Megan D.

Christine Hameline is a pleasure to work with. Her professionalism puts you at ease during the buying process and is with you every step of the way! There did not go a day that she was not in contact with me, answering phone ca...
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Asha A.

Asha A.

Christine is super amazing! She made searching for a new home stressless! She always answers my emails and phone calls, and she is super easy to contact. Her team is always on top of it! If you are looking for a home, trying to...
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Tony L.

Tony L.

Working with Christine Hameline was such a great experience. She is the most dedicated agent and will make sure you end up in your dream home. Whether it's in Malibu or in Mount Washington, Christine will find you the perfect h...
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Seller

Seller

Christine acted as my buyer's agent for a condo that I purchased in Santa Monica and I was extremely pleased with the results. She took on the project with enthusiasm and got excellent results. She acted professionally at all t...
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Charlie C.

Charlie C.

My husband and I had the best experience with one of their realtors, Christine Hameline. She treated us not only professionally, but with kindness, humor, and overall sweetness. She made us feel like we were purchasing a multim...
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Tyler P.

Tyler P.

Christine is the best! If you’re searching for an agent, look no further. Finding your dream home is hard enough don’t make the mistake of not having the most qualified representation. When Christine is on your team you can hav...
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Michele P.

Michele P.

Christine went above and beyond her job duties during the course of our home-buying process. As first-time home buyers, we were completely in over heads, but Christine was there every step of the way to guide us down the correc...
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John K.

John K.

Christine Hameline recently helped my wife and I buy our first home and we simply love her. We were very wary of our prospects at the start and, with Christine's help, we ended up buying a house that is beyond anything we ever ...
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Reynan Ledesma | Manager of Real Estate at City of Los Angeles

Reynan Ledesma | Manager of Real Estate at City of Los Angeles

Christine has a great attitude and has the ability to manage many transactions while being detail-oriented. She is a great team player, intelligent, and would be an asset to any organization.
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Craig Luna | Los Angeles Department of Water and Power

Craig Luna | Los Angeles Department of Water and Power

Christine is a very diligent and oriented worker who can manage and present large amounts of information in an organized and understandable manner.
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Seller's Guide

About Christine

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Hameline's success is attributed to repeat and referral business, which is a testament to her ability to understand her client's needs and always put them first. She has grown her real estate business based on good relationships, focus, and hard work.

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Contact Details

CHRISTINE HAMELINE | CA DRE# 01900361

Phone

(310) 456-4709

Email

[email protected]

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