Marin First-Time Home Buyer Guide
Over the past 30 years we have worked with hundreds of first time home buyers and our advice and guidance has garnered a 98% retention rate on all first-time clients. Many of these steps below are very similar to our “Home Buying Process” section but they are even more important for first time buyers. Please contact us for more individual specific information:
Obtain Pre-Qualification: Meet with a mortgage broker and find out how much you can afford to pay for a home.
Obtain Pre-Approval: While knowing how much you can afford is the first step, sellers will be much more receptive to potential buyers who have been pre-approved. You'll also avoid being disappointed when going after homes that are out of your price range. With Pre-Approval, the buyer actually applies for a mortgage and receives a commitment in writing from a lender. This way, assuming the home you're interested in is at or under the amount you are pre-qualified for, the seller knows immediately that you are a serious buyer for that property. Costs for pre-approval are generally nominal and lenders will usually permit you to pay them when you close your loan.
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Affordable Marin Homes
| All Listings | Under $400,000 | $400,000 - $600,000 |
| $600,000 - $800,000 |
Sited On A Large Corner Lot, Strikingly Updated...
- Price:
- $700,000
- City:
- Novato
- Beds:
- 3
- Baths:
- 2
- Type:
- Residential
- MLS® #:
- 21308902
Sited On A Large Corner Lot, Strikingly Updated Home Backs To Marin Country Club Golf Course. 20...
Executive Style Home! Cathedral Ceilings & Hard...
- Price:
- $699,800
- City:
- Novato
- Beds:
- 4
- Baths:
- 5
- Type:
- Residential
- MLS® #:
- 21302260
Executive Style Home! Cathedral Ceilings & Hardwood Flring In Living Rm. Wood Shutters .kit Boast...
Must See To Believe: Fantastic Remodled/updated...
- Price:
- $699,000
- City:
- Novato
- Beds:
- 4
- Baths:
- 3
- Type:
- Residential
- MLS® #:
- 21311194
Must See To Believe: Fantastic Remodled/updated Home With Inviting Entrance. 4 Bed., 3 Full Baths...
Time To Build: 1.3 Acres,zoned Residential Mult...
- Price:
- $699,000
- City:
- San Rafael
- Beds:
- 2
- Baths:
- 1
- Type:
- Residential
- MLS® #:
- 21009007
Time To Build: 1.3 Acres,zoned Residential Multi-family/sfr, Up To 9 Units.rare Property And Zoni...
Beautiful Single Level House On A Flat Lot, Loc...
- Price:
- $699,000
- City:
- Novato
- Beds:
- 4
- Baths:
- 2
- Type:
- Residential
- MLS® #:
- 21310147
Beautiful Single Level House On A Flat Lot, Located On Top Of The Ridge. There Are Vaulted Ceilin...
Delightful Single Family Home In Homestead Vall...
- Price:
- $699,000
- City:
- Mill Valley
- Beds:
- 2
- Baths:
- 2
- Type:
- Residential
- MLS® #:
- 21223516
Delightful Single Family Home In Homestead Valley, With Two Bedroom And Two Baths On A Flat, Sunn...
Rare Find Of 1.3 Acres . Horse Stable,work Shop...
- Price:
- $699,000
- City:
- Novato
- Beds:
- 2
- Baths:
- 2
- Type:
- Residential
- MLS® #:
- 21310225
Rare Find Of 1.3 Acres . Horse Stable,work Shop. Main House 2 Bed 2 Ba. Second Unit 1 Bed One Bat...
Rare Find In Delightful Northbridge With Its Ch...
- Price:
- $699,000
- City:
- San Rafael
- Beds:
- 5
- Baths:
- 3
- Type:
- Residential
- MLS® #:
- 21310206
Rare Find In Delightful Northbridge With Its Charming Tree Lined Streets. Spacious 5 Bd/3ba With ...
Original Atrium Eichler Needing Considerable Te...
- Price:
- $699,000
- City:
- San Rafael
- Beds:
- 4
- Baths:
- 2
- Type:
- Residential
- MLS® #:
- 21310059
Original Atrium Eichler Needing Considerable Tender Loving Care In A Prime Neighborhood Surrounde...
Fabulous Baypoint Lagoons Detached Home In A De...
- Price:
- $699,000
- City:
- San Rafael
- Beds:
- 3
- Baths:
- 3
- Type:
- Residential
- MLS® #:
- 21309615
Fabulous Baypoint Lagoons Detached Home In A Desirable Culdesac. Beautifully Updated With Bamboo ...
Single Story Living At Its Best! Pristine Hm Fe...
- Price:
- $699,000
- City:
- Novato
- Beds:
- 4
- Baths:
- 2
- Type:
- Residential
- MLS® #:
- 21309423
Single Story Living At Its Best! Pristine Hm Features A Spacious Living Room W/fireplace, Formal ...
Large, Well-located San Marin Home. 4 Bedrooms,...
- Price:
- $699,000
- City:
- Novato
- Beds:
- 4
- Baths:
- 3
- Type:
- Residential
- MLS® #:
- 21308636
Large, Well-located San Marin Home. 4 Bedrooms, 2.5 Baths. Kitchen With Open Eating Area And Adjo...
Once In A Lifetime Opportunity. 2.2 Acres At Fr...
- Price:
- $699,000
- City:
- San Geronimo
- Type:
- Lots/Land
- MLS® #:
- 21308997
Once In A Lifetime Opportunity. 2.2 Acres At French Ranch Surrounded On All Sides By Open Space. ...
Fabulous Lot In A Great Area Of Sausalito, Righ...
- Price:
- $699,000
- City:
- Sausalito
- Type:
- Multi-Unit 2-4
- MLS® #:
- 21308285
Fabulous Lot In A Great Area Of Sausalito, Right Above The Caledonia Shopping District. The View...
Stunning,floating Home. Possible Income Opportu...
- Price:
- $699,000
- City:
- Sausalito
- Beds:
- 3
- Baths:
- 2
- Type:
- Mobile/Floating
- MLS® #:
- 21307570
Stunning,floating Home. Possible Income Opportunity. Two Levels Of Splendor Offering Unsurpassed ...
Great Opportunity In Nicasio! Fix And Keep The ...
- Price:
- $699,000
- City:
- Nicasio
- Beds:
- 2
- Baths:
- 1
- Type:
- Residential
- MLS® #:
- 21306990
Great Opportunity In Nicasio! Fix And Keep The Current Cottage Or Build A Custom Home On This Two...
Create List of Needs & Wants: Make 2 lists. The first should include items you must have (i.e., the number of bedrooms you need for the size of your family, a one-story house if accessibility is a factor, etc.). The second list is your wishes, things you would like to have (pool, den, etc.) but that are not absolutely necessary. Realistically for first-time buyers, you probably will not get everything on your wish list, but it will keep you on track for what you are looking for.
Get Representation by a Professional: Consider hiring your own real estate agent, one who is working for you, the buyer, not the seller.
Stay Focused and Organized: Buying your first home is one of the biggest decisions you will ever make and the process will be much less stressful if you stay focused and organized. In a convenient location, keep items some of the following items handy to help you jot down notes or ideas:
- One or more detailed maps with your areas of interest highlighted
- Saved searches and listings online and a physical file of the properties that your agent has shown to you, along with ads you have cut out from the newspaper
- A digital camera or camcorder to help refresh your memory on individual properties, especially if you are attending a series of showings
- Town or city guides to cross-reference properties with community details. Look at a potential property as if you are the seller. Would a prospective buyer find it attractive based on school district, crime rate, proximity to positive (shopping, parks, freeway access) and negative (abandoned properties, garbage dump, source of noise) features of the area?
Be Objective: Instead of thinking with your heart when you find a home, think with your head. Does this home really meet your needs? There are many houses on the market, so don't make a hurried decision that you may regret later.
Be Thorough: A few extra dollars well spent now may save you big expenses in the long run. Don't forget such essentials as:
- Including inspection & mortgage contingencies in your written offer
- Having the property inspected by a professional inspector(s)
- Requesting a second walk-through to take place within 24 hours of closing.
- You want to check to see that no changes have been made that were not agreed on (i.e., a nice chandelier that you assumed came with the sale having been replaced by a cheap ceiling light)
Please contact us for custom tailored advice and recommendations.
Data last updated: May 23rd, 2013 at 5:15am PDT and updating occurs daily
The information being provided by Bay Area Real Estate Information Services® is for consumers' personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing.