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Buying a home in California for the first time can be overwhelming for many first-time buyers. Very few homebuyers know where and how to begin the search to find a suitable one. You, as a first buyer, must know certain facts before buying a house in CA.

1. Budgeting-Budgeting for a CA home is the first most important step. There is no point wasting time and energy in house hunting before you know what you can afford. Therefore, the first step is to assess your finances.

2. Get pre-qualified for loan-Banks, mortgage lenders finance loans and mortgage brokers process them. Fill-up an application with all documents, and see how much you will get as loan and what is the processing cost. Compare and bargain between different mortgage brokers.
3. Consult your lender, if you have a bad credit-Your lender is able to advise you, whether your credit history will prevent you from qualifying for a loan or not and what are the alternatives.

4. Different mortgage types-With so many options available for CA mortgage loan types, it is important to determine if you are a risk taker or prefer more stability in financial dealings.

5. Down payment-It varies with the type of loan you are taking. Many down payment programs exist in CA. Consult your lender for assistance.

6. Closing costs-It varies from transaction to transaction, from area to area. These are the charges for services related to the closing of your real estate transaction. These include escrow fees, property tax, homeowners insurance, loan originating fees, title policy insurance etc. You can get a loan for financing the closing costs.

7. Mortgage interest rate-As you start shopping for a home loan, CA mortgage interest rates will become an important factor in your new home’s affordability. If rates are high, it is wise to take an adjustable rate of interest, since subsequent rate drops will reduce your monthly payments. If rate of interest is low, take a fixed rate to protect yourself against the possibility of rising.

8. Special programs for low/moderate income homebuyers-These loans are available through private lenders, as well as local and state housing agencies in CA.

9. Government loans-Apart from conventional loans, this includes Federal Housing Administration (FHA) fixed and adjustable rate mortgage loans and Veterans Administration (VA) fixed rate mortgage loan.

10. Points-A point is a loan origination fee or commission. Some lenders charge lower interest rate with high points. Compare between various lenders while shopping home.

Before you make your mind to buy a house in CA, go with these points in detail to avoid inconveniences later.
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When you are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars for a home, you need to make sure that what you are getting is well worth it.

No home is absolutely perfect. You can always expect to have to spend something on your new home. The average is $6,000 within the first six months, according to industry experts. In a time when you should be looking at paint samples and new furniture, why would you want to spend your time on repairing what you just bought?

A professional home inspection is key to truly understanding the home you are purchasing. You want to turn to a reliable inspector that is a member of an association that establishes strict requirements for membership, such as the American Society of Home Inspectors and the National Association of Home Inspectors.

The inspector should provide you with a list of what the inspection will result in. For example, some inspectors will not inspect for termites or termite damage, indoor air quality or the potential of mold to cause illness. The inspector should remind you that the inspection report is not a guarantee. The inspector is not liable for any repairs as a result of his or her performance.

But even though you hire an inspector, you are still responsible for doing a little investigating yourself. For example, even if your lender doesn’t require it, hire a termite inspector. But have the inspector look for all pests. Termites aren’t the only pests that cause damage. So do carpenter bees, rats, squirrels and scorpions.

You may have received a disclosure form with the signed contract for purchase. Many states require that the seller fill out this disclosure. But don’t let yourself rely only on this report. Many issues are forgotten about or not considered major by the owner. Yes, the basement got wet twice in the last ten years, but they could forget about it or not consider it a problem.

Disclosure issues usually arise because buyers expect the disclosure to hold more power than it really does. Make sure that your inspector has a copy of the disclosure and will look at any issues brought up by the seller.

When it comes to buying a home, you need to know everything you can about the home, neighborhood, market conditions and mortgage options. Your knowledge will give you an added negotiating tool when dealing with agents, lenders and sellers. Make sure that you have a full understanding of each step.
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