Homes for Sale in San Diego County

Whether you’re a first time buyer, buying up, or downsizing, buying a home in San Diego CA can seem a little stressful at times. Here are a few tips to help keep you on the right track to getting the right house with minimal stress.

Always research before you look, like you’re most likely doing right now. Decide what features you most want to have in your San Diego home, what neighborhoods you prefer, and how much you’d be willing to spend each month for housing.

Get your finances in order. Review your credit report and be sure you have enough money to cover your down payment and closing costs. Then, talk to a lender and get pre-qualified for a mortgage. This will save you the heartache later of falling in love with a house you can’t afford or are not prepared to make an offer on.

Be realistic. It’s OK to be picky, but don’t be unrealistic with your expectations. There’s no such thing as a perfect home. Use your list of priorities as a guide to evaluate each property.

Don’t ask too many people for opinions. It will drive you crazy. Select one or two people to turn to if you feel you need a second opinion, but be ready to make the final decision on your own.

Decide your moving timeline. When is your lease up? Are you allowed to sublet? How tight is the rental market in your area? All of these factors will help you determine when you should move.

Think long term. Are you looking for a starter house with plans to move up in a few years, or do you hope to stay in this home for a longer period? This decision may dictate what type of San Diego home you’ll buy as well as the type of mortgage terms that will best suit you.

Insist on a home inspection from a qualified professional. If possible, get a warranty from the seller to cover defects for one year.

Get help from a REALTOR®. Hire a San Diego real estate professional who specializes in buyer representation. Unlike the listing agent, whose first duty is to the seller, a buyer’s representative is working only for you. As a buyer’s representative, I do not charge my home buyers any fees or commissions for my services.

At this point, only active members of the military ( including those serving in the intelligence and foreign services) are eligible for the $6,500 federal tax credits for first-time and repeat homebuyers.

These military members who were on active duty and out of the United States for 90 days during any part of 2009 get an additional year to buy their homes, extending the tax credit for them to May 1, 2011.