Buy
Buy your San Diego or Bay Area home at the right price
Start with a 20-minute consult. We'll cover what you want, what it costs in today's market, and how your financing shapes your options.
- 130+ sales closed
- 5.0 on Yelp · 6 reviews
- 100% recommend · 12 Facebook reviews
Step by step
How does buying with Stephen work?
From the first call to the keys, with every price checked against recent sales before you write an offer.
Consult
Your must-haves, areas, budget and timeline, in 20 minutes.
Pre-approval
A lender's pre-approval, so you know your real budget and sellers take your offer seriously.
Buyer agreement
California requires a signed buyer agreement by the time you make an offer, and MLS rules require one before touring. It runs no longer than three months, and what your agent is paid is negotiable.
Search and tours
Homes that fit your list, toured with an eye on condition, price and resale.
Offer
A price checked against recent sales, and terms that make your offer competitive without giving away your protections.
Escrow to keys
Inspections, appraisal and loan approval tracked to each deadline, through closing.
Financing
Which loan fits your purchase?
Your loan shapes which homes you can buy and how strong your offer looks. Stephen works through it with you and your lender up front.
Conventional
The most common home loan, for buyers with solid credit and steady income.
FHA
A lower down payment and more flexible credit requirements, with mortgage insurance.
VA
For eligible veterans and service members, often with no down payment.
First-time buyer help
California's housing finance agency, CalHFA, offers down payment assistance to eligible first-time buyers.
Buying a condo with FHA or VA?
Those loans can only be used on a condo that meets FHA or VA approval requirements. Stephen checks a condo's status before you fall for a unit.
Stephen served in the Navy and is glad to help fellow veterans and military families put their VA home loan benefit to work.
Foreclosures
Can you buy a foreclosure home to live in?
Often, yes. Under California Civil Code section 2924m, when a one-to-four unit home sells at a trustee sale, tenants living there and buyers who will live in it as their home can still make a qualifying bid after the auction: a bid or a notice of intent to bid within 15 days, and a final bid within 45 days.
Stephen previews San Diego County's trustee sales every week, so he can tell you which homes may qualify and what each step requires. The rules are detailed and do change, so every property gets checked against the current law before you bid.
Reviews
Rated by past clients
FAQ
Questions buyers ask
Do I need to sign an agreement with a buyer's agent?
Yes. California law requires a signed buyer agreement no later than when you make an offer, and MLS rules require one before an agent tours homes with you. It can't run longer than three months. The DRE explains the rules.
Who pays the buyer's agent?
It's negotiable and written into your buyer agreement. A seller may offer to pay some or all of it, but isn't required to.
I'm a first-time buyer. Where do I start?
With a 20-minute consult and a lender's pre-approval. Stephen can also point you to CalHFA and other first-time buyer programs you may qualify for.
Can I use an FHA or VA loan on a condo?
Only if the condo meets FHA or VA approval requirements. Stephen checks a condo's status before you fall for a unit.
Can I buy a foreclosure to live in?
Often, yes. California gives tenants and people who will live in a one-to-four unit home a chance to bid after a trustee sale. See how it works.
Do you help buyers outside San Diego?
Yes. Stephen represents buyers in San Diego County, the Bay Area, Los Angeles County and Imperial County. See areas served.
Start with a 20-minute buyer consult
Tell Stephen what you're looking for. He'll be in touch within one business day to set a time.