SOLD! $480,000 - 2109 Vineyard Ave., Los Angeles - SOLD!

Adorable 2-bedroom 1-bath mid city home. Completely rehabbed with new kitchen and bathroom, flooring and more. And YES you can still find affordable houses in Los Angeles when you work with the right Realtor! Call Gerry 323-528-9989

SOLD! 1750 Camino Palmero #338 Hollywood - SOLD!

1-Bedroom Condo Near Runyon Canyon

SOLD this Spacious Runyon Canyon 1 Bedroom condo. Super convenient access to Hollywood, West Hollywood and Hollywood Bowl. Wonderful building with great amenities - swimming pool, spa, gym, and recreation center! - Representing Buyer

One Must-Do Before You Buy A Home

The number one thing first-time home buyers ask me is: What's the first thing I need to do to start the process of buying my first home?

That's a great question. Unfortunately, I'd say only about half of the buyers I meet ask me that. Most first-time home buyers simply jump in and start looking at properties. In this fast-paced, instant messaging and immediate gratification world where we live, buying a home should not be handled like a fast food meal.

Before you search Redfin or Zillow, before you hop inside your car on a Sunday afternoon to hit the open house circuit, before you do anything in search of your American dream, there is one major step in the home buying process you MUST first make. It is the one thing that will guide you down the realistic path to home ownership. It is the one step that will help you avoid heartache and constant disappointment.

You must get pre-approved for a home loan.

It's that simple. And the best part? It's easy, and it's free. But most important: Getting pre-approved for a mortgage is the most monumental step you will take in the home-buying process.

You may find out that you qualify for a home purchase of up to $850,000 when you thought you'd likely only qualify for $600,000. But maybe you only want to spend $500,000. That's fine. At least you know what you qualify for, and you can begin your extremely well-informed and realistic search. An opportunity may present itself during your search where you decide to invest higher in a property that produces income to help you pay your mortgage.

Imagine if you thought you qualified for $600,000, only to learn you can only purchase up to $450,000? You can avoid the disappointment of that scenario before you set one foot into your first open house.

Everyone gets caught up in the excitement of setting out to buy their first home, but that can set you up for unrealistic dreams and big letdowns. Avoid the foreseeable. Call your lender today, or ask me for a home lender referral.

SOLD! Beautifully Updated California Bungalow

Gorgeous updated California bungalow located in Los Angeles. Found this one for my first time home buyer who couldn't be happier with the house and the price. Imagine a 2 bedroom 1 bathroom house with a bonus guest house for $420,000 and in move-in condition! Yes, folks, you can afford a single family home in Los Angeles for under $500K. I can make it happen. Call me 323-528-9989

Those Sneaky Little (or BIG) Closing Costs

For all of you new buyers out there, don't forget one very important detail you don't hear much about when budgeting for your new purchase. In addition to the amount of money you will be putting down toward your new home purchase, you will also need to set aside some dough for closing costs.

Closing costs are basically service fees (mortgage costs, escrow charges), taxes and various other legal charges that buyers and sellers both pay to complete the transaction. It's not an exact science, but buyers can expect to pay anywhere from 1-2% of the purchase price toward closing costs.

So if you purchase a home for $700,000, you are likely to pay approximately $7,000 or higher, depending on the fees charged by your lender. There are additional fees like pre-paid property taxes and homeowner's insurance that you might also have to pay, depending on your loan and lender requirements.

The good news is that buyers traditionally DO NOT pay their Realtor's commission. That is paid by the seller through their agent. One very good reason to not embark on this journey alone! It is even possible to have the seller pay your closing costs. Ask me how.

Speak to a Realtor like me when you're getting ready to start home shopping. Call anytime 323-528-9989.

SOLD! - Gorgeous 3 Bedroom 2 Bath Mid-Century Pool Home in Palm Springs

Updated Mid-Century pool home in Ruth Hardy Park/Movie Colony East in Palm Springs. Check out this gorgeous 3 bedroom 2 bathroom home with desertscape and drought-resistant landscaping.

CALL ME IF YOU HAVE INTEREST BUYING A HOME LIKE THIS IN PALM SPRINGS OR LOS ANGELES! 323-528-9989

SOLD! 4 Bedroom 2 Bath Home in Chino Hills

I helped my buyers get this home for $540,000. It was originally listed for $550,000. Totally remodeled 4 bedroom 2 bathroom single family home with a large yard and swimming pool. All you buyers out there looking, please give me a call. I will make it happen for you. 323-528-9989 Gerry