Coastside Life Rotating Header Image

Michael Rain

Tips For Buying In Pacifica

If you are looking to buy a home in Pacifica, then you have found the perfect real estate team! 

 As San Mateo Coastal Realtors for many years, we’ve come to know each of these towns very well and feel that they each have unique characteristics that would draw home buyers to them.  

Love the outdoors?  Pacifica may be just the place for you!  There are many hiking trails that wind through forested canyons and along the coast where you can enjoy ocean views.  Pacifica has a rich history and well-loved community spirit that welcomes newcomers in with open arms.  So, how do you know if a Pacifica home is right for you?  Here are four great ways to determine your next move!

1.  Location, Location, Location- You’ve heard it many times, but the location of your home plays a large role in your quality of life.  Is the Pacifica home you’re hoping to buy close enough to your work place or, if not, are you willing to deal with the commute?  Another good factor to look at is the school system.  Even if you don’t have children, a good school system can come into play when reselling your home.  Luckily, Pacifica is home to many great schools!

2.  Home Features- Come up with a list of important features you are looking for in your Pacifica home.  Of course the number of bedrooms and bathrooms is almost always first on the list, but take into consideration storage space, room for pets, a growing family or need for guest space, and the amount of potential projects versus the home being in move-in condition.

3.  Ask Questions- It’s exciting to take tours through beautiful Pacifica homes, but make sure you are aware of the pros and cons.  Feel free to ask your Pacifica Realtor any questions openly.   A few good questions would be:  How much are property taxes?  Which appliances are included and how old are they?  Have there been any major repairs to the home and, if so, when were they completed?

4.  Scrutinize- Look at the home from an objective perspective.  It may be easy to get swept away by the stunning Pacifica views or a few key features, but don’t be afraid to do a thorough inspection of the home.  Look in closets and cabinets, take note of the window casings,  examine walls and ceilings to note any damage, etc…  You’ll feel better making an offer on a home that you feel meets your standards.

We hope these home buying tips are helpful to you.   We would love to help you in your home search as our goal is to make the home buying process as stress free as possible!  Contact us today to learn more about our team and our ability to help you find your dream home on the beautiful San Mateo Coast!

**

Last Food Truck Event at San Mateo Event Center for the Season!

 Make plans on October 7th from 5pm-9pm at San Mateo County Event Center for the last food truck event for the season!

General Parking is $10.00 (cash only) at 1346 Saratoga Drive, San Mateo, CA 99403. First 250 cars get FREE PARKING!

Go green and save some green! Ride your bike or take public transit! You can walk or ride in off Delaware Street at the West Entrance. 

San Mateo residents won’t get a chance to attend these events until next season so come out this Friday and come hungry!

/kh

Sanity Saving Loan Process Tips for the San Mateo Coastal Area!

With the right real estate professional, you can save your sanity through the loan process.

You may have experienced some level of stress in buying your San Mateo Coastal home due to the very rigorous rules and regulations. Or you may be looking into the San Mateo Coastal real estate market and are uneasy about applying for a loan because you don’t quite know where to start! New regulations on loans are sometimes confusing and the process can easily become frustrating, but there’s hope!  Andy Block a Loan and Personal Finance Advisor has come up with 7 Tips to Save Your Sanity during the loan approval process. We’ve listed them for you below!

1. Be expedient and thorough- When initiating a loan, and throughout the loan process, it is imperative to provide complete documentation to your Mortgage Advisor as quickly as possible. For instance, if all pages of the bank statement are requested, it really means all pages. While you and I might not think it’s necessary to include the reconciliation page of the statement, the lenders do. And, when they receive only five of the six pages of said bank statement, the loan process can become inefficient and stalled.

2. Keep detailed financial records- If it is necessary to transfer funds from one account to another or to sell stock for a down payment, keep a detailed paper trail of all transactions, deposits and liquidations. Lenders will request it.

3. Spill the details- Be sure to notify your Mortgage Advisor of any changes to the purchase transaction. Unidentified last minute changes, such as escrow holdbacks, seller credits or termite work can wreak havoc with closing dates.

4. Keep your day job- Lenders always contact your employer just before the loan funds. If you have left that company (quit, moved to a new company or retired), the lender will stop the loan from funding and recording.

5. Know the facts- If you are in the process of divorcing, most lenders will not approve or fund a mortgage loan until the final decree (settlement terms) is recorded.

6. Safeguard your social security number- Talk to your Mortgage Advisor before making any significant credit or purchase decisions. Lenders rely on using credit scores to assist in mortgage credit decisions. Incurring new debt during the loan process increases your debt-to-income ratio and could reduce the amount you can borrow. Each credit inquiry – whether you ultimately make a purchase or not lowers your credit score. The same holds true for pre-approved credit card offers that you receive in the mail; responding to them will result in a credit check.

7. Be available- Be sure to leave a contact phone number with your Mortgage Advisor if you are traveling for business or on vacation. Until all the loan approval conditions are met, you may be required to provide additional documentation or information.

We understand that buying a home is a huge investment! The paper work, hoops to jump through and getting everything you need in order can be a lot to handle. Using these seven tips will help cut down on the stress and will help streamline the process. If you are looking to buy a home on the San Mateo Coast, we can help! We’ve had years of experience and would love to help you find the home of your dreams! There are many great homes in the San Mateo Coastal Area from which to choose. Contact us and we’ll be happy to answer your questions and give you a tour of the homes in the area!

/kh