Buying your first home can feel like a big puzzle, but it is really ten clear steps. Here they are in order, so you always know what comes next.
1. Get your money picture clear
Look at your income, savings, monthly debts and credit. The affordability calculator shows a comfortable range and a stretch range in about a minute.
2. Talk to a lender and get pre-approved
A pre-approval letter shows sellers you are serious and tells you exactly what you can borrow. Rudy can introduce you to lenders who explain things clearly.
3. Choose your must-haves
Location, size, layout, commute, outdoor space, HOA or no HOA. Splitting your list into must-haves and nice-to-haves keeps the search focused and fun.
4. Sign a buyer agreement with your agent
California buyers sign a written agreement with their agent before touring homes. It spells out how the agent is paid, and the terms are negotiable. See how it works.
5. Tour homes and watch the market
Look at the market report for your ZIP so you know how quickly homes are moving and how much room there is to negotiate.
6. Write your offer
Price is only one part. Terms, timing and contingencies matter too. Read how to write an offer that wins.
7. Open escrow and do your inspections
Once your offer is accepted, a neutral escrow company holds your deposit and paperwork while you inspect the home and review the disclosures. See the day-by-day timeline.
8. Finalize your loan and insurance
Your lender orders an appraisal and finishes underwriting. Line up your homeowners insurance early so it is ready for closing.
9. Do a final walk-through
A day or two before closing you confirm the home is in the agreed condition.
10. Sign, fund and get the keys
You sign the closing documents, your funds are delivered to escrow, the deed is recorded, and the home is yours.
Talk to a lender. Rates, loan programs and approvals come from lenders, not from websites or real estate agents. Talk to your own mortgage broker, or use our preferred lender, Rodrigo Ballon with CrossCountry Mortgage, at 858-735-0255. You are always free to choose any lender you like, and you can verify any lender’s license at nmlsconsumeraccess.org.
General information only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Programs and rules change, so confirm details with your lender, escrow officer and tax professional.
More in Buyer Guides
- From Accepted Offer to Keys: Your Day-by-Day Timeline — What happens in the roughly 30 days after your offer is accepted, and what to do each week.
- Working With a Buyer's Agent: The Written Agreement and How It Works — What the buyer representation agreement covers, how agents are paid, and what to expect from a great one.
- Loan Types and 2026 Limits: Conventional, FHA, VA and Jumbo — A simple tour of your loan options, with this year's official San Diego County and Orange County limits.
- Down Payment Help: Programs Worth Checking — Where buyers look for down payment and closing cost help in California and San Diego County.
- Property Taxes, Mello-Roos and HOA Dues: Know Your Monthly Number — How California property tax works, what special assessments and HOA dues are, and how to budget them.
- Homeowners Insurance: Get Your Quote Early and Keep It Simple — What a home policy covers, how to shop quotes, and why lining it up early makes closing smooth.
- Inspections and Disclosures: Your Information Advantage — The reports and forms that tell you everything about a home, and how to use them with confidence.
- Writing an Offer That Wins (and Still Protects You) — How to build an offer that stands out through price, terms and timing, with your interests protected.
- Closing Costs Explained — Every line on your closing statement, in plain English, with realistic ranges.
General information only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Programs, rules and limits change, so confirm details with your lender, escrow officer, attorney or tax professional.