Buying Your First Home? You’re Not Alone!

Buying your first home is exciting—but it can also feel overwhelming. From choosing the right Realtor® and gathering loan documents to reviewing home inspections and negotiating repairs, there’s a lot to navigate. Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or just haven’t purchased in a while, this guide shares real, experience-based tips from my client Paloma, who just bought her second home using a VA loan.

Her mission? To share golden nuggets of wisdom with first-time buyers like you—so you can avoid unnecessary stress and feel confident throughout the process.

👉 Download Our Free First-Time Buyer Toolkit for a printable, step-by-step checklist that keeps you organized and informed.

Tip #1: Choose the Right Realtor®—Don’t Settle

Your Realtor® will make or break your experience. Paloma’s first piece of advice? Don’t feel pressured to use the first agent you meet—or even a family friend—just because you feel obligated.

✅ Shop around.
✅ Interview multiple agents.
✅ Ask about their experience helping first-time buyers.

Look for an agent who offers educational support, resources like homebuyer checklists, and clear communication. Paloma shared that with me, she never had to chase down answers. I kept her updated before she even had questions—and that’s exactly what you deserve too.

Tip #2: Get Your Paperwork Ready Early

This isn’t like buying a car off the lot. Purchasing a home involves large financial commitments and strict loan underwriting.

Before even touring properties:

✔️ Gather your paycheck stubs, bank statements, and tax returns.
✔️ Avoid job-hopping or making big financial changes.
✔️ Get pre-approved for a loan to understand your budget.

✅ Pro Tip: I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation where we can discuss your loan readiness and next steps.

Tip #3: Stay Ahead of Escrow Deadlines

Paloma highlighted how important it was to have a Realtor® who kept her two steps ahead. Missing deadlines during escrow can cost you thousands of dollars or even jeopardize your entire purchase.

Here’s why timeline management matters:

🚩 Delayed inspections = Limited time to negotiate repairs
🚩 Contingency missteps = The moment you lift your protections aka remove your contingencies (loan, appraisal, inspection), your deposit becomes non-refundable if you cancel
🚩 Late responses = Contract cancellation risk

Your earnest money deposit is protected until you’ve officially removed your contingencies (like loan, appraisal, and inspections). But once those are lifted, if you back out for any reason, your deposit could be forfeited.

✅ This is where having an experienced Realtor® makes all the difference. I’ll help you stay on top of every milestone so you can make smart, informed decisions before any risk to your deposit happens.

Tip #4: Understand Your Home Inspection Without Panic

Home inspections are meant to protect you—not scare you away. Paloma admitted that seeing the inspection report for the first time was overwhelming.

Common first-time buyer fears:

• Long lists of “deficiencies”

• Cosmetic issues that sound worse than they are

• Worrying that everything is a deal-breaker

My solution? I provide you access to professional repair quotes using tools like Repair Pricer, which takes your inspection report and delivers estimated contractor pricing for each repair item. This way, you have real dollar amounts to help guide your decisions.

If you prefer, you’re also welcome to contact a trusted handyman or contractor of your choice to get your own quotes for any items you’re concerned about.

This approach helps my clients feel informed, empowered, and prepared when it’s time to negotiate repairs or request seller credits.

Tip #5: Be Smart About Repair Negotiations

Here’s the negotiation strategy I use with my buyers:

✅ Focus on health, safety, and major system issues (like roof leaks or plumbing problems).
✅ Understand that asking for “everything” may cause the seller to reject your requests altogether.
✅ If needed, negotiate for a repair credit toward your closing costs so you can handle the repairs after closing.

Paloma mentioned that she appreciated how I involved her in every step of the negotiation, asking what mattered most to her before submitting requests to the seller.

Tip #6: Emotional Prep—This Is a Journey!

Buying a home comes with a mix of excitement, nerves, and big decisions. Having an agent who offers education, emotional support, and frequent communication can make all the difference.

Paloma said that even though we became friends along the way, she’d work with me again even if we hadn’t connected personally—because of the level of care, professionalism, and advocacy she received.

✅ Final Thoughts

Whether you’re 30 days from buying or just starting to explore your options, I’m here to help you feel confident, informed, and prepared.

• 🧰 Download Our Free First-Time Buyer Toolkit
  Your printable checklist + a free consultation opportunity.

• 🎥 Watch More Homebuying Tips on YouTube
  Real advice, negotiation strategies, and homebuyer education.

• 📞 Schedule a Free 15-Minute Consultation
  Let’s build a custom game plan for your homebuying journey.

If you have questions or want personalized advice, I’m always here to help.

xo, Michelle

I help SoCal first-time home buyers and sellers save time, money, and avoid stress.

first-time homebuyer tips
choosing a Realtor
home inspection advice
negotiating repairs
California real estate