Imagine waking up in the morning, sunlight streaming through your window. You draw the curtains to see your neighborhood laid out before you, the shadow of the Transverse Ranges framing the scenery. And then at night, you go to bed with the lights twinkling, both in the night sky and in the San Fernando Valley.
Ready to live the good life? The San Fernando Valley is a prime location if you’re looking for a home to buy in Los Angeles luxury real estate. Continue reading to learn all the things to know when buying a house in the San Fernando Valley.
Choosing to buy a home
Before you shop for a home in the San Fernando Valley, it’s important to ask: is buying a home the next step you want to take?
These guide questions will help you carefully consider your motivations behind buying a house:
- Have you outgrown your current home?
- Are you upgrading or downsizing?
- What are your plans for the next five to ten years?
- Are you financially ready?
If you see yourself possibly moving somewhere else in the next year or so, or you need to boost your finances, it might be better to hold off buying a house and rent for the meantime.
Making the right preparations
Firm on your decision to buy a house? It’s time to move on and make the necessary preparations. Here are a couple of things you need to do before you start looking at housing options:
- Financing: How’s your credit report and rating? Do you have any outstanding debts you need to settle? You need to get your finances in order to be able to secure your preferred mortgage plan.
- Get pre-approved for a mortgage: Sellers like buyers who are already more than halfway done with your mortgage application. If you want to impress sellers even more, consider going one step further and get pre-underwritten for a loan.
- Make a list of your needs and wants: As early as now, determine what kind of house you want to buy. This will help you focus your home search.
Finding the right real estate agent
Your real estate agent if your partner in your search for the perfect home in the San Fernando Valley, so it’s important you find the right match.
Specialization in the San Fernando Valley’s real estate market isn’t the only criteria your real estate agent needs to meet. Ask your prospective agents about their experiences in the industry, their preferred communication style, and what they can offer you.
Want to read more about how to find a real estate agent? Click here.
Searching for the perfect home
With your mortgage application ongoing and the right real estate by your side, it’s finally time to look at homes for sale.
Housing options in the San Fernando Valley are wide-ranging, so if you did your homework and listed down your must-haves (such as good schools, a garden, and the number of bedrooms), you can effectively narrow down your options.
Communicate what you want and need in a house with your real estate agent so they can find options that fit your preferences. And when you finally find the one, go ahead and make an offer.
Fulfilling your obligations as a home buyer
If the seller accepts your offer without a hitch, it’s time to start the main part of the home buying process. If you have yet to have a home inspector to take a look at the property, now is the time to do it. This will help you determine if the house is as the seller states it is.
Another thing for you to do is to finalize your mortgage application process. Not much work is needed if you are already pre-approved or pre-underwritten for a loan.
As you wait for the closing day, it’s also wise to prepare for the move. Notify your utilities, bank, and workplace about your impending change of address. Start sorting and packing your stuff, and find a moving company to help you transfer your belongings.
Closing the deal
On closing date, you’ll meet with your seller, along with your respective agents and the escrow officer to finalize the details of the sale. Paperwork will be reviewed, and you can also do a final walkthrough of the property to see if everything is fine and dandy.
If everything and everyone is satisfied with what was done during the days leading up to the closing date, it’s time to close the deal. Your seller will hand over the title and keys to the home. Congratulations! It’s time to move into your new home in the San Fernando Valley.
What does it take to buy a house in Los Angeles?
Want to buy a house in Los Angeles? Be ready with more than just your money. The cash or the loan you’ll use to pay for the purchase is just the first of many things you’ll need to seal the deal. Being one of the most desirable places to live in the United States, Southern California is a competitive and demanding environment for real estate buyers. To succeed with your LA home buying goals, you should come prepared with a well-thought out strategy, relevant research and market information, and the right mindset for a long and potentially challenging experience.
Read about all the keys to a successful home purchase in Los Angeles in this helpful guide.
Buying a contemporary home? Here are some things to keep in mind.
Are you in the market for a contemporary home? Choosing a style that reflects the architectural trends of today offers plenty of benefits to new home owners.
One of the best things about contemporary homes is its strong emphasis on individuality, which is very ideal if you’re looking for a home that reflects your own individual style. There are also several defining characteristics that round out this particular architectural style, including the use of recycled materials, geometric shapes, large windows, open floor plans, and plenty of natural light. In this article, we’ll take a deeper look at contemporary style homes while giving you some helpful tips to keep in mind during the home buying process.
Top reasons why you should buy a luxury home in Los Angeles
Known for being one of the most popular places to live, Los Angeles is a world-class city with plenty to offer. From excellent entertainment options to stunning beaches, this thriving city has something for everyone. Among the things discerning buyers can expect to find in LA is a wide range of luxury homes available for sale. Luxury properties in the city’s upscale neighborhoods are typically in high demand. They offer excellent features and amenities, are in prime locations and have high investment potential.
In this article, we’ll discuss the Los Angeles luxury real estate market and why you should invest in it. Read on to learn more.
The buyer’s guide to home flipping
Flipping a home can be a solid real estate investment. The process has three main steps: buy a home, renovate or remodel the property, and then sell it. It’s ideal for those who want a short-term project with high-end returns.
It’s important to keep in mind that this project is not as easy as it seems. The process involves working with real estate professionals like contractors and agents to make it successful.
When done properly, home flipping can be a lucrative investment opportunity. If you’re not sure how to go about buying a home to flip, don’t worry! We’ve created this handy guide to help you out. In this article, you’ll learn neat tips and tricks to find the perfect property for flipping. It also has plenty of advice on how to plan and budget your project.
Expected Cost of Homes in the San Fernando Valley
The San Fernando Valley is one of the top locations in California to buy a home. It has plenty of amenities, and provides an exceptional standard of living. It is therefore no surprise to see it as a highly requested location to move to. Find out more about the average prices to gauge your affordability. Finding out the expected costs and recent trends will allow you to make a smart purchasing decision that suits your long-term requirements.