Guru’s Guide to Buying Your First Orange County Home

 If you’re aiming to buy your first south Orange County home, chances are good you’ve got your radar on Laguna Beach real estate, Dana Point real estate, Laguna Niguel real estate, Newport Beach real estate, or other prime local communities. Congratulations -- you’re going to absolutely love where you live!

And this Laguna Beach realtor is determined to help you arrive with a big, shiny smile on your face. Here from Hillary Caston’s vault of eternal wisdom is my Guru’s Guide to Buying your first Orange County home. Follow these simple steps, and I guarantee your road to the Big Orange will be a whole lot sweeter.

1. Don’t Be Credit Clueless. Incredibly, many homebuyers are more likely to know the answers to Einstein’s field equations than know their credit scores. Newsflash -- ignorance in this situation is not bliss. In this era of more intensive lender scrutiny, cluelessness could cost you a mortgage, and ultimately, your Orange County home. Solution? Know what your credit report says about you. Occasionally, your profile could be marred by little black marks that don’t belong there. Or dings that easily can be washed away with a little effort. It’s a real good idea to check your credit score a minimum of 3-6 before your mortgage application. This buys you plenty of time to tackle unforeseen stumbling blocks. 720 score and over puts you at the top!
2. Stuff the Piggy Bank. If you’re eyeing Laguna Beach homes for sale, Dana Point homes for sale, or any other properties in prime OC communities, you’re headed into $350,000 and above territory. With many banks demanding as much as 20% down, we’re talking a hefty chunk of change for your down payment. So make a home-buying budget and start saving those pennies. This means you’ll probably have to curtail some of those spending sprees. But so what if you enjoy fewer salon splurges, or find yourself eating at home more often? You soon could be eating those same meals in an elegant Newport Beach home with an ocean view. No tips required.
3. Envision the Possibilities. Put your mind’s eye to work and picture your ideal Orange County home. A mental snapshot of your dream house helps you target your perfect match. Power up your efforts by scouring magazines, zipping through online home searches, and exploring desirable neighborhoods.

You’ll also get major mileage out of tools like Pinterest.com. This site makes it a snap to ‘pin’ website images and videos to an online ‘storage board’ for later reference. Be sure to share all gathered information with your agent.

I’m sure you’ll discover this guide is a valuable first step to house-hunting happiness. But to make it all the way to your dream destination, you’ll definitely want some powerhouse real estate professionals in you corner. A proven team such as The Coastal Property Experts has the tools, resources, and experience to breeze you through the South Orange County real estate market with refreshing ease.

Contact the Coastal Property Experts today to schedule your private consultation with Orange County’s foremost guides to South Orange County real estate. You’ll be living your dream before you know it!