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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, and 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.

Passion & Expertise

My goal is to provide you with the most personalized service possible, meticulously designed to help you navigate the process of buying your dream home. I am dedicated to understanding your unique needs and preferences, ensuring that every step of the journey is tailored to achieve your ultimate home-buying aspirations.

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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. 

Success Stories

"Josh's knowledge of the real estate market is truly impressive. He always has the latest and greatest listings, and works really hard to always stay on top of the market. He is very easy to work with, and takes the time to understand his clients wants and needs. It's always a pleasure working with Josh and I highly recommend him to anyone looking for a top notch realtor and a shrewd negotiator!"
"Josh's knowledge of the real estate market is truly impressive. He always has the latest and greatest listings, and works really hard to always stay on top of the market. He is very easy to work with, and takes the time to understand his clients wants and needs. It's always a pleasure working with Josh and I highly recommend him to anyone looking for a top notch realtor and a shrewd negotiator!"
Karima G.
"Josh is my Realtor of Dreams Come True. I really love how responsive he is, even when we had 10,000 questions that we could have Googled. Josh is really smart and knows the market and the business backwards and forwards. I am impressed by how much he continues to learn and educate others. But my favorite thing about Josh is his positive attitude and cheerful personality. He’s just really lovely to be around and at every setback (offers get passed for all cash, backed out of escrow because a historic home needed 500,000 in renovations or a worldwide pandemic hits) Josh was always encouraging and upbeat. That is really, really valuable when house-hunting in California can be so soul crushing. You will love working with Josh. He is also really kind and hilarious. (Pic below of us celebrating our house closing!)"
"Josh is my Realtor of Dreams Come True. I really love how responsive he is, even when we had 10,000 questions that we could have Googled. Josh is really smart and knows the market and the business backwards and forwards. I am impressed by how much he continues to learn and educate others. But my favorite thing about Josh is his positive attitude and cheerful personality. He’s just really lovely to be around and at every setback (offers get passed for all cash, backed out of escrow because a historic home needed 500,000 in renovations or a worldwide pandemic hits) Josh was always encouraging and upbeat. That is really, really valuable when house-hunting in California can be so soul crushing. You will love working with Josh. He is also really kind and hilarious. (Pic below of us celebrating our house closing!)"
Nick K.
"I used Josh Schroeder to find my vacation home in Laguna Beach and Josh did a fantastic job in finding us an ideal home that meets my wife and our family's criteria. In addition to being a professional agent, Josh went above and beyond by helping us out with different reliable vendors for the home inspections, termite treatment and so on. I highly recommend Josh to anyone who is looking for your lodging in Laguna Beach."
"I used Josh Schroeder to find my vacation home in Laguna Beach and Josh did a fantastic job in finding us an ideal home that meets my wife and our family's criteria. In addition to being a professional agent, Josh went above and beyond by helping us out with different reliable vendors for the home inspections, termite treatment and so on. I highly recommend Josh to anyone who is looking for your lodging in Laguna Beach."
John N.
"Josh was our realtor for a Sept 2022 home purchase. From the relationships he built with us as individuals and a family, to those he had in his network, to the connections he made to ensure our lender and the sellers were in sync during escrow, and finally his wide network of service providers to help with home improvement, Josh is one of a kind. You’ll do yourself a huge favor by selecting him as your realtor!"
"Josh was our realtor for a Sept 2022 home purchase. From the relationships he built with us as individuals and a family, to those he had in his network, to the connections he made to ensure our lender and the sellers were in sync during escrow, and finally his wide network of service providers to help with home improvement, Josh is one of a kind. You’ll do yourself a huge favor by selecting him as your realtor!"
Dana L.
"I strongly recommend Josh Schroeder to anyone who is looking to buy or sell a home in Orange County. Josh was my agent when I sold my condominium in Aliso Viejo, and I am very happy with the results. Josh is knowledgeable about the area, knowledgeable about real estate in general, and is a great communicator. I was so thankful for his advice and guidance. I was particularly happy about his access to vendors (painters, etc.) who were available and reasonably priced. And, as many others have noted, Josh is just plain really pleasant and calming to be around. I feel very fortunate to have found such an excellent agent."
"I strongly recommend Josh Schroeder to anyone who is looking to buy or sell a home in Orange County. Josh was my agent when I sold my condominium in Aliso Viejo, and I am very happy with the results. Josh is knowledgeable about the area, knowledgeable about real estate in general, and is a great communicator. I was so thankful for his advice and guidance. I was particularly happy about his access to vendors (painters, etc.) who were available and reasonably priced. And, as many others have noted, Josh is just plain really pleasant and calming to be around. I feel very fortunate to have found such an excellent agent."
Gregg J.
"Buying a home is an adventure, and never a linear path, but Josh was a fantastic advisor, communicator, and support throughout the entire process. He was responsive, acted with the utmost integrity, followed through, kept me in the loop, answered questions, and was an advocate and representative whenever necessary. I had a tight timeline of needing to find and secure a new home and he did everything in his power to meet, and beat, that timeline (including preparing a virtual tour for me since the home went on the market while I was out of town). I would wholeheartedly recommend him to any buyer or seller!"
"Buying a home is an adventure, and never a linear path, but Josh was a fantastic advisor, communicator, and support throughout the entire process. He was responsive, acted with the utmost integrity, followed through, kept me in the loop, answered questions, and was an advocate and representative whenever necessary. I had a tight timeline of needing to find and secure a new home and he did everything in his power to meet, and beat, that timeline (including preparing a virtual tour for me since the home went on the market while I was out of town). I would wholeheartedly recommend him to any buyer or seller!"
Jessica S.
"Josh did an incredible job helping me buy my first home! He is diligent, easy going, and knowledgeable about his craft. Throughout the entire process he kept me up to task and date on everything that needed to get done to facilitate the deal. Josh is willing to go the extra mile to add value to his clients and ensure that they feel informed and well taken care of!"
"Josh did an incredible job helping me buy my first home! He is diligent, easy going, and knowledgeable about his craft. Throughout the entire process he kept me up to task and date on everything that needed to get done to facilitate the deal. Josh is willing to go the extra mile to add value to his clients and ensure that they feel informed and well taken care of!"
Logan B.
"After my 100-year-old mother died, we were left with a decision to make regarding our family home for 50 plus years. Josh Schroeder met with us during this very difficult time, and gently guided us along. He went above and beyond to help us understand the process of selling a home like this, and all it would entail. It quickly became apparent how well he knew the market. He was always available for us, at one time pulling over to side of the freeway as he was headed out of town, to answer our texts. He has an innate ability to communicate with all members of the family, as my daughters still lived in the house when we began our process. He’s a “connecter” by nature, and we are thrilled to say that we sold our family home to another lovely family and never needed to go on the market! We couldn’t have done this without Josh Schroeder’s knowledge, networking ability, hard work ethic and strong communication skills. I would highly recommend him to anyone in search of a realtor! I know my family will continue to use him for any future needs that arise."
"After my 100-year-old mother died, we were left with a decision to make regarding our family home for 50 plus years. Josh Schroeder met with us during this very difficult time, and gently guided us along. He went above and beyond to help us understand the process of selling a home like this, and all it would entail. It quickly became apparent how well he knew the market. He was always available for us, at one time pulling over to side of the freeway as he was headed out of town, to answer our texts. He has an innate ability to communicate with all members of the family, as my daughters still lived in the house when we began our process. He’s a “connecter” by nature, and we are thrilled to say that we sold our family home to another lovely family and never needed to go on the market! We couldn’t have done this without Josh Schroeder’s knowledge, networking ability, hard work ethic and strong communication skills. I would highly recommend him to anyone in search of a realtor! I know my family will continue to use him for any future needs that arise."
Dana H.
"I recently referred a client to Josh Schroeder for selling properties in the beautiful areas of Temple Hills and Laguna Beach. Josh Schroeder’s expertise in these exclusive coastal communities, combined with his extensive global connections, sets him apart as a premier real estate professional. Leveraging his global network, he skillfully navigated negotiations, adapted to the recent NAR changes, and successfully secured multiple competitive offers on the properties. Josh Schroeder’s deep understanding of the luxury real estate landscape, paired with his international reach, ensured a seamless and successful experience for my client. If you’re looking for a top-tier agent in Temple Hills or Laguna Beach with global connections, I highly recommend Josh Schroeder!"
"I recently referred a client to Josh Schroeder for selling properties in the beautiful areas of Temple Hills and Laguna Beach. Josh Schroeder’s expertise in these exclusive coastal communities, combined with his extensive global connections, sets him apart as a premier real estate professional. Leveraging his global network, he skillfully navigated negotiations, adapted to the recent NAR changes, and successfully secured multiple competitive offers on the properties. Josh Schroeder’s deep understanding of the luxury real estate landscape, paired with his international reach, ensured a seamless and successful experience for my client. If you’re looking for a top-tier agent in Temple Hills or Laguna Beach with global connections, I highly recommend Josh Schroeder!"
Chris H.
"I had the pleasure of working with Josh to sell my home and purchase another in Laguna Beach, and I can confidently say he exceeded every expectation. From start to finish, he made the entire process seamless, stress-free, and even enjoyable. Josh is an exceptional negotiator who truly looks out for his clients’ best interests. He secured the best possible deal on both my sale and purchase, ensuring I got top value on my old home and a fantastic price on my new one. His market knowledge, strategic approach, and unwavering dedication made all the difference. Beyond his expertise, Josh is incredibly responsive, professional, and genuinely cares about his clients. He took the time to understand my needs, provided insightful guidance, and handled every detail with precision. I never had to worry about a thing he had it all under control. Josh is the one. I can’t recommend him highly enough! He is very trustworthy and truly goes the extra mile."
"I had the pleasure of working with Josh to sell my home and purchase another in Laguna Beach, and I can confidently say he exceeded every expectation. From start to finish, he made the entire process seamless, stress-free, and even enjoyable. Josh is an exceptional negotiator who truly looks out for his clients’ best interests. He secured the best possible deal on both my sale and purchase, ensuring I got top value on my old home and a fantastic price on my new one. His market knowledge, strategic approach, and unwavering dedication made all the difference. Beyond his expertise, Josh is incredibly responsive, professional, and genuinely cares about his clients. He took the time to understand my needs, provided insightful guidance, and handled every detail with precision. I never had to worry about a thing he had it all under control. Josh is the one. I can’t recommend him highly enough! He is very trustworthy and truly goes the extra mile."
Melika B.

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