From pre-approval to keys

A lender verifies income, assets, credit, and debt to issue a written pre-approval. In LA's market this is non-negotiable — sellers won't review your offer without one.

• Pull all three credit bureaus first
• Lock a rate quote, not just a guess
• Get a Proof-of-Funds letter for your down payment

Neighborhood, school district, commute, lot, year built, condition, and HOA. We translate lifestyle into a short, sharp criteria list and tune Home Scout™ alerts.

• Pick 3 must-haves and 5 nice-to-haves
• Drive the neighborhood at 7am, 5pm, and 10pm
• Pull crime, school, and noise overlays

We tour homes in batches of 3–5, take structured notes, and compare against your criteria the same evening so you don't lose the day-of clarity.

• Photograph mechanicals & roof
• Ask the listing agent about offer deadlines
• Note any neighbor & power-line concerns

Price is one of seven negotiable terms. Contingency length, escrow period, deposit, leaseback, repair credits, and rate-buydown contributions often beat raw price.

• Match the seller's preferred escrow company
• Shorten loan & appraisal contingencies if you can
• Include a personal letter only if the listing agent allows

General, sewer-lateral, chimney, pool/spa, foundation, and (in LA) seismic. We read every disclosure twice and renegotiate from inspection findings.

• Always do a sewer scope
• Pull permit history at the city
• Order a roof certification if older than 15 years

Loan funds, deed records, keys transfer. We coordinate with lender, escrow, and movers so closing day is paperwork-free for you.

• Final walkthrough 24 hours before close
• Wire instructions ONLY by phone — wire fraud is real
• Schedule utility transfer for funding day