Local Hood Goods donates a % of all of its sales back into the community today, to build a better tomorrow!
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.
Notice we 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.
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.
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 agents like us to take much of the stress off your shoulders? Not only will we help identify properties you might be interested in, arrange showings, and ultimately handle the offer process, but we also have knowledge of the market that you don’t possess. Finding the perfect home can be a daunting task, this is where our expertise and wealth of knowledge come into play. Let us show you around some homes that meet your dream home criteria so you can find the one that's right for you.
This should be the most enjoyable step of the entire process (other than moving in!). We 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.
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. We 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.
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. We 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.
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.
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.
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.
Local Hood Goods donates a % of all of its sales back into the community today, to build a better tomorrow!
Kevin wasn't our first choice. We had to "kiss a few frogs" and I found Kevin by simply looking at reviews and his history, entrepreneurial with his real estate, etc. He brought the price up and with confidence and tenacity. He...
Kevin Piechota was extremely easy to work with throughout the whole process of buying my place at 5252 Balboa Arms. From our initial meeting to the end of closing, he communicated all parts of the buying steps clearly. He had g...
Kevin did an excellent job helping me sell my house. He and his entire staff were very professional and worked very hard to get me the top price for my house and processed a mountain of paperwork/documentation to complete the t...
Kevin did an excellent job helping me sell my house in Clairemont, San Diego, CA. He is the best Realtor in Clairemont and the best Real Estate Agent in San Diego. Thank you, Kevin Piechota
I recently worked with Kevin on a loan for one of his investment properties. As someone who works in the lending industry, I can confidently say that Kevin is one of the best real estate agents I have ever worked with. Kevin's ...
Kevin Piechota was truly exceptional throughout my entire home-selling experience. This was my second time working with him, the first time was as a home buyer. Kevin was referred to me by good friends who have also used him mu...
Kevin was great to work with. Answered his phone and responded in a timely manner. Very professional. I hope we get to work on a transaction again together in the future.
Working with Kevin on the Buy side of our recent closing together was an absolute pleasure. Kevin was quick to respond and kept all parties in the loop at all times. As an Escrow Officer, it is imperative to be in the know at a...
Kevin is a top-notch Realtor. I have had the opportunity to work with Kevin from an escrow perspective which gives me unique, behind-the-scenes insight into his process and service and I am highly impressed every time. He has a...
Kevin is the best agent in North Park! My wife and I recently purchased our dream home as first-time home-buyers, and Kevin made the whole process so smooth and seamless. He was extremely responsive and helpful from the moment ...
My husband and I met Kevin while checking out a home in North Park that he had bought and completely renovated and sold into a beautiful home in the neighborhood, bringing everyone's property values up. We were very impressed w...
Kevin was a godsend for my family and me. We needed a home quickly and got into Escrow with one house. However, when the owners failed on multiple occasions to close on time, Kevin supported our decision to cancel that Escrow a...
Kevin Piechota was instrumental in the sale of our property. He is a great salesman and was always immediately available with responses to our endless list of questions. He has continued to be a great resource for us during our...
Kevin was amazing to work with! He and I worked together on a few ADU projects and we actually restored a historic home in North Park, San Diego together. When it came time to purchase my own home, Kevin was the obvious choice....
Kevin was responsive and informative. He quickly gave us net costs and a template for our family to be aware of before moving forward. He was personable and listened to our family's needs. Even though his services were not requ...
If you're looking for a home in San Diego, do yourself a favor and make Kevin Piechota your real estate agent. He is by far, the best real estate agent in San Diego so hire him like, yesterday! My husband and I had been saving ...
Kevin was outstanding! He was able to give the paperwork needed for a family discussion on a home selling by family members. He was attentive in our many discussions and gave us accurate advice in moving on with selling discuss...
Kevin is a great communicator who is not afraid to pick up the phone, talk to the other agent, and resolve any issues that may come up. That’s how smooth transactions are conducted. I look forward to doing another deal with Kev...
Kevin Piechota has to be one of if not the best real estate agent in San Diego! He helped me through the whole process very smoothly and I couldn't have been happier at the end of my purchase at Balboa Arms. I'd recommend him t...
Relocating from the East Coast, we were looking for a realtor who could understand our NY sensibilities. After meeting with a few realtors that just didn't fit the bill, we stumbled across Kevin online and we're so lucky to hav...