1. Do not make Lowball offers, they are a waste of time: The days when you could scoop up a house for 20 percent less than the list price are long gone. Homes are selling at or over asking price nowadays, so make that first offer at your highest and best price. Appraisals are coming at or higher value, do not expect the appraisal to come in at a lower value to then go back to the seller to start the negotiation process all over again.

2. How to win a bidding war: To do that come with a slightly higher offer with fewer contingencies and be flexible with when you can move in. In some transactions the sellers may be left trying to find new home for themselves. Be willing to negotiate a leaseback if the seller needs more time to vacate. You do how ever need to move in your property within 30 days of closing your owner occupied financing loan. 

3. Have a pre-approval letter in hand from a local direct lender: Having a pre-approval letter to submit with your offer can make or break your offer. More and more buyers today are not getting themselves pre-approved when making offers and the sellers are not taking that buyer seriously and that offer is not even being considered. Not every buyer is from the same mold, some may need down payment assistance to purchase and may need to work on their credit before purchasing a home. That is why it is crucial to start your home buying process with a mortgage lender before shopping for a home. You may not be in the position to purchase and you will end up wasting your time and money looking for a home you can not purchase.

Lets start with the first step on purchasing a home in California by calling me directing at 909-503-5600 or email me at nathan@nathanrufty.com with your name and number to begin the process of purchasing a home. If you are not in the position to purchase right away lets put you in that position by drawing a road map towards homeownership.