Quick Guide to Buying a House in San Francisco
Anyone living in San Francisco will tell you that the weather is a perfect, steady temperature all year long – not too hot, not too cold. It is truly a place people choose to live due to the booming tech industries that provide well-paying jobs, restaurants with authentic food from around the world, access to the best vacation weather from Tahoe’s snow fall to San Diego’s beaches and Napa’s wineries. If have already decided to buy house in San Francisco, California then you may want to look for the most affordable property that meets your basic needs as well as suits your lifestyle. San Francisco is a city that has a place for everyone and anyone from fancy CEOs to hipsters and those of every generation. In starting your search for a home that fits your unique needs as well as lifestyle, you might be overwhelmed, let me give you some peace of mind with these quick tips to buy home in San Francisco.
Check your Credit
If you have an excellent credit score, it will help you qualify and obtain a better mortgage loan which may save you money in the long run. You may consider paying down debt such as credit card debt to help improve your credit score. You should also consider calling your credit card companies to find out what day they report to the credit agencies so that you can make your payments before that date. The date they report is usually not the same date that your credit card bill is due.
Find the Right Home
If you want to find the right home, it is essential to create a list of features that you are looking at in a home. It is helpful to your real estate agent if you already have a list of features you want in a first home. This should include things such as the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, neighborhoods or nearby activities you want access to, parking spaces, laundry, pets, amenities, age of home, remodeled home or home with room for you to do some DIY work, as well as if you’re looking for a home with an in-law unit or an ADU unit for you to earn passive income. Additionally, you may also want to let your real estate agent know if you have preferences over the types of nearby schools in the area and the safety ratings of the area.
Look for the Right Lender and Real Estate Agent
If you want to search for the right real estate agent and lender, look no further! Our team lead is born and raised in San Francisco with 10 years of experience in real estate. She has put together a team of expert lenders who are proactive and knowledgeable with a license to work in 48 states including California.
Some criteria you should look for and want in a realtor and lender are:
· How long has the realtor or lender been in the area you want to buy in?
· How many years of industry experience does the realtor or lender have?
· How proactive are the realtor or lender in working for and with you?
· Do the realtor or lender have any reviews online?
If you’re still uncertain, you should consider talking or meeting with a handful of lenders and real estate agents in San Francisco and to make sure you pick the right one for you!
About Our Founder, Crystle
As the CEO of a San Francisco founded, global tech startup, Crystle understands from experience what it takes to succeed. Her real estate experience spans from successfully managing multiple properties over the last decade including residential, commercial, and mixed-use, as well as her time spent actively investing in flipping properties, tax liens, tax deeds, and other property types. Crystle shares her firsthand experience and knowledge with clients through the process of buying or selling your property.
You might ask yourself, “What does a tech startup have to do with real estate?”
Good question! Everything about Crystle exudes intention. Her ultimate goal is to grow her tech company so that she can utilize its philanthropic arm to fund micro-housing for the homeless in partnership with key, long standing and successful social services organizations in San Francisco. Real Estate gives her the ability to network and learn about developing land to purchase in the future to develop the micro housing. Her time serving on boards for these non profits gives her the knowledge of what these organizations really need to be able to get more people off the streets for good.
The same cornerstones that drive success in her tech company are the same cornerstones that make her the best real estate agent to work with: honesty, transparency, integrity, and a relationship- focused mindset toward life.
Crystle was born and raised in San Francisco’s Inner Richmond district and continues to choose to establish her future life in San Francisco as well. She is a woman of her word. She not only financially supports several not-for-profits, but also regularly serves in her community helping the homeless, youth, and those in poverty.
In her spare time, she is an active and current member of the Board of Directors of Lutheran Social Services of Northern California and the APA Heritage Foundation Committee of San Francisco. She has previously and faithfully served on the Board of Directors for Zion Lutheran Church and School of San Francisco, the Board of Directors for Designing a Difference, the Board of Directors for APAPA San Francisco, a member of the Friends of Smuin Ballet, and as a Co-Chair for the Princess Project.