If you’ve been following me on Instagram, you may already know that my husband and I are in the process of buying a new home and selling our condo. Though we love our existing place, we definitely feel that it’s time for a change. The main reason I think is that our priorities are very different now and so are our needs. We work from home, so we feel that it’s important to have a space in our home we can dedicate to work only, we also got into cooking and so a bigger kitchen became a must and finally, as much as we love the ease of living in a condo, a house offers an advantage of a backyard, and having that outdoor space we could enjoy as a family is definitely something we’re missing right now.
Though navigating the Real Estate Market is never easy, we were particularly nervous given the current situation and limitations associated with it. But we got very lucky with our agent and brokerage – Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties because they have been absolutely phenomenal through the entire process.
First, they really helped us with the sale of our condo. We absolutely loved their PINNACLE Concierge program which is designed to get your home sale-ready with no cash out of pocket until it’s sold. We found it particularly helpful because we were able to communicate with our project coordinator virtually and still get full benefits of the program. Another reason? It was honestly really helpful to get a professional opinion about the market, what buyers are looking for, what changes should be made and finally staging tips and tricks!
At the same time, we have also been working with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties to help us find our new home. From our agent Alison, who’s been instrumental in helping us narrow down our search, understanding what our needs are and working with us through these challenging times, I think one of the things we enjoyed about working with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties the most is the fact that it always felt very personal. I think both Edward and I felt right away that they were truly invested in helping us find a home that would be right for us. From price, to location, to size of the home, when we first came to California Properties we truly didn’t know very much about the Real Estate Market in California and having them by our side to help us navigate through this process was truly a pleasure.
Another very important area where we felt California Properties really helped Edward and I was obviously the financial aspect. Furthermore, we worked with a lender in order to receive a pre-approval to use when buying a home. Though a pre-approval was not required before an agent started showing us homes, it helped set realistic expectations for both my husband and I and our agent as far as what our budget was, which was really helpful. We worked with our bank in order to get a pre-approval, and when it came back, we compared it with Prosperity Home Mortgage, a mortgage lending partner that works directly with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties clients. Prosperity Home Mortgage offers a vast menu of home financing products and the convenience of a one-stop source, which is why they are often able to help clients find a better rate or special offers (for example, they may be able to find a loan that doesn’t require as large of a down payment).
To learn more about 5 Things You Should Know before buying a home CLICK HERE!
Though the search for our home continues, I am really excited to keep you guys posted on our journey! I know our forever-home is out there waiting for us and both Edward and I can’t wait until we find it!
This blog post was in partnership with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties.