Step 1: Talk money before touring homes
Everything downstream depends on a real budget, which means a real pre-approval, not an online estimate. Jackie reviews income, credit, and savings, then issues a verified pre-approval letter. In competitive OC and LA markets, listing agents read the difference between a rubber-stamp pre-qual and a documented approval, and so do sellers weighing your offer against three others. See how your credit shapes your rate before you start; small fixes early are worth thousands later.
Step 2: Choose the loan before the house
Your loan type changes which homes make sense. FHA has condo-approval rules; jumbo kicks in above $1,249,125 in Orange and LA County in 2026; VA changes your offer strategy at zero down; and self-employed buyers should know whether they are shopping with bank statement strength before falling in love with a price point. Compare the menu on first-time buyer loans.
Step 3: Hunt with a strategy
Inventory moves fast here and neighborhoods price street by street. A good agent matters; if you need one, Jackie keeps a short list of recommended professionals who earn the referral every year. Know what each property type requires down, since a condo, a duplex, and a house play by different rules.
Step 4: Offer, escrow, and the quiet sprint
Once an offer is accepted, escrow opens (typically 21 to 30 days locally) and the clock starts: appraisal, inspections, disclosures, underwriting. This is where a broker earns their keep, keeping the file moving daily so contingencies release on time and your deposit is never at risk from lender delay. Do not open new credit, change jobs, or move large money without a call first; small missteps here cause most closing drama.
Step 5: Clear to close, then keys
Final loan approval, a closing disclosure to review, a notary appointment, and funding. Recording usually follows within a day, and the home is yours. Then the relationship keeps paying: when rates move or equity grows, refinancing conversations are free for life.