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Let us help you make your home ownership goals a reality! Get ready for low mortgage rates and a seamless home loan experience.
You can call 877-495-1600 to get started.
Our expert real estate team is happy to walk you through the home financing process from start to finish— always keeping your best interest in mind.
Start by listing each room you'd like your home to have. Then, write out the features you want for each room as well as the property as a whole. Deal breakers and must-haves make it easy to filter out homes that just won't work, while nice-to-haves can help you decide between final contenders.
It's not as simple as saving up for a down payment. In addition to the listing price, it's important to assess the hidden costs of buying a home. These costs can add up quickly, so it's crucial to budget for: closing costs, home inspection fees, property taxes, homeowners insurance, maintenance, and moving expenses. Most mortgage lenders also require cash reserves that can be used to help pay for housing expenses if your income stops for any reason.
One of the easiest ways to determine your budget is to have a Loan Officer walk you through the numbers. They can answer any questions you may have and work with you to create a plan based on your goals, income, expenses, and debts. If you’d like a personal consultation with a Cal Coast Loan Officer, you can call 877-495-1600 or send an email to RealEstateLoanOfficer@onceuponalove.net.
It’s a good idea to get a mortgage Pre-Approval Letter before jumping into home hunting. This goes hand-in-hand with determining your budget as a pre-approval will let you know the exact, maximum loan amount a lender can offer you. It will also signify to a seller that you should be taken seriously. In a competitive market most sellers won’t even consider an offer if the buyer hasn’t been pre-approved.
Generally, pre-approvals are good for 90 days because that’s how long it takes for the credit report to expire. If you have a pre-approval that’s going to expire don’t worry, because it’s usually easy to extend. Be aware that your approval amount can be affected by the following factors:
You'll want to think about your future plans. Is the neighborhood likely to increase in value over time? What will your commute look like? Websites like Zillow can help you scope out potential neighborhoods. You can get insights on schools, crime rates, public transit, walkability and, of course, home prices. Feel free to try Cal Coast’s Home Rewards search engine to compare homes in Southern California.
Buying a home usually involves a ton of negotiation— and the details can get tricky. A realtor can help you get the best possible terms and avoid costly deadlines. When you’re faced with a 10-page purchase agreement written in legal talk you’ll be glad to have a seasoned professional on your side. But be careful! As with any industry there are plenty of subpar real estate agents.
Many agents (even some of the good ones!) require you to sign a contract that locks you into working with them and only them. Before signing anything check the agent’s online reviews and pay close attention to whether they seem to care about getting you into the right home, or just any home.
You can get connected with a local agent via Cal Coast’s Home Rewards program. Click the link directly below and select ENROLL NOW. Once you’ve found a home you like, you'll create an account (takes 30 seconds) and be paired with a trusted agent.
Get paired with a local real estate agentNavigating the real estate world can be scary and there’s a lot of misleading information out there. Oftentimes, new home buyers are told they need to be 100% committed to a purchase before submitting an initial offer. While this may benefit the seller it’s likely not the best advice for first-time homebuyers. In a competitive housing market, you should be prepared to submit multiple offers before getting chosen by a seller to proceed with the sale process.
This is when things get serious. Once a seller accepts your initial offer, you’ll need to pay an earnest money deposit— also known as a “good faith deposit”— to move forward. Usually, you’ll only have a few days to deposit the earnest funds which are typically 1-3% of the total home price. If you choose not to pay the earnest money deposit, you can walk away from the deal without losing any money. If the sale does go through that deposit will go towards your down payment.
Before closing the deal on a new home, you should absolutely get a professional home inspection from a highly rated and reputable company. But home inspections can be expensive, and you might save time and money with a little bit of investigative work. Also, there’s factors you should consider that a home inspection will not cover. Here’s a few things to check for:
Listing agents want to give their clients the best chance of selling their home for the highest price, which can lead to issues getting swept under the rug. It’s your job to bring concerning factors to light so you can make an informed decision. You don’t want any surprises as a new homeowner.
While this option isn’t for everyone, these homes often have highly motivated sellers and can be less expensive than other properties on the market. The catch? Hunting down these opportunities may take some extra work. Also, be prepared for a longer than usual sale process.
1. Rebate is awarded by Home Rewards Group, Inc. to buyers and sellers who select and use a real estate agent in the Home Rewards network. Rebate is 20% for purchase only of a residential property. Payment is credited to your benefit at the close of transaction. Using California Coast Credit Union for a mortgage loan is not a requirement to earn the rebate. Purchase price must be greater than $150,000. All rebates are subject to limitations, lender guidelines, state laws and other requirements. Certain properties may not be eligible for rebates. Please consult a qualified tax professional for advice on tax implications from receiving a rebate. Home Rewards Group, Inc. is not affiliated with California Coast Credit Union. Subject to change without notice.
Have a question about your account, applying for a loan or perhaps you're ready to talk refinancing? Whatever your question or need, our Member Service Center is always happily available to walk you through every step of the process with your best interest at heart.
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ABA/Routing No: 322281578
NMLS ID# 407951