The Disclosure Package is the most important document to read and understand prior to submitting an offer. I give all of my clients a personalized guide on how to read through disclosures, and I also read through each package and send thorough notes to my clients prior to writing any offer.

There are many sources for properties that may not yet be available to the public. Through me and Compass, you will have access to every "Coming Soon" property on or off the MLS, properties I've heard of through word of mouth, and Private Exclusive properties, which are only available to Compass Agents and their clients.

A contingency is clause that buyers include in a contract when making an offer on a home that allows them to back out of buying the house if the terms of the clause aren't met. The three big contingencies include Loan, Appraisal, and Investigation. Without a contingency in place, buyers risk losing their earnest money deposit if they decide not to purchase the home after making an offer. Removing these contingencies effectively shifts the risk from the seller onto the buyer. In competitive, multiple bid situations in the Bay Area, often times buyers remove all contingencies to compete with other offers.

Escrow is a neutral third party that mediates a real estate deal, holding money and property "in escrow" until the two sides agree that all the conditions are met for a sale to close. Your escrow officer will handle your contract deposit, all pro-rations including property taxes and HOA fees, and the signing of bank and closing documents when the time comes. In San Francisco and Marin, Title and Escrow fees are paid for by the buver.

Usually this is the first step before looking at homes. Having the right lender on your team can make or break your deal. In this competitive Bay Area Market, using a local, reputable lender that your agent knows and trusts will help to make your offer look stronger. The first thing the listing agent will look at after the price is who the lender is. It needs to be someone who has a reputation of closing deals on time without any issues, including appraisal issues. I have several excellent lenders I can recommend.

In the Bay Area, drawing up a purchase agreement (contract) and sending it to the listing agent is how we submit an offer. Before submitting an offer, I will walk you through the contract line-by-line to make sure you understand all clauses, sections, and contingencies.

There is a special place in my heart for first time home buyers, and I take my role as advisor very seriously in these situations. There are things you don't know that you don't know, and I will always have your back and look out for you. I am extremely patient, and will always be on your timeline.

It's common to be in this situation, and we will go over your options. Sometimes there are ways to buy before selling, if you are working with the right lender.

I have a trusted list of vendors who I work with regularly, and can recommend the person that fits your criteria, budget, and timeline.

I started as an agent in NYC in 2009, right at the beginning of the Great Recession. I always say that at that time in the business, anything that could go wrong, did go wrong. It was a great way for me to cut my teeth. I transitioned my business to San Francisco and Marin in 2016 and quickly worked my way up to the top 5% of Agents in San Francisco and top 1.5% of Agents Nationwide.

A TIC is a type of ownership where you own a percentage of the entire building, with the right to occupy your unit. TIC properties usually have a market value about 10% lower than condos, so if you're struggling to break into the Bay Area market, TIC ownership might be a great option for you. TICs require a specific lender that specializes in this type of ownership (there are currently about 8 lenders that loan on this type of building), and the rates can be a little bit higher than conventional condo and single family home loan rates. However, the ownership and re-sale is, for all intents and purposes, the same as owning a condo.

My general rule is to anticipate paying 1% or less of your purchase price in closing costs. So if you purchase a home for $1M, set aside $10,000 for out-of-pocket closing costs. Closing Costs are made up of bank fees,

Title & Escrow Fees, pro-rated property tax, and Homeowner's Insurance.

Property taxes in San Francisco and Marin are re-calculated with every re-sale or major remodel, and they will run you about 1.2% of your purchase price. This amount is split into two payments and made twice per year, once in April and once in December. Property taxes increase marginally every year with inflation. See more in my blog post about property taxes here.