How to Buy a House in California: A Homebuyer’s Guide

It’s recommended that you find a real estate agent if you’re looking to buy a home in California. They will help you find the best house based on your needs and budget. Plus, they will walk you through the entire process of buying a home.

A trustworthy real estate professional is important if you want to find the cheapest places to buy a house in California.

Here’s what you should look for in a reputable agent:

• Referrals from your friends, colleagues and family
• A license and experience
• References from previous clients
• Knowledge of the area
• Good communication

The cost of living in California varies depending on your location. For example, you may need to spend around 60% more for necessities if you live in San Francisco vs. Bakersfield.

Ideally, you’d want to live in a place with a lower cost of living compared to your income. As you go over your preferred locations, identify the cost of these items in that area:

• Food
• Transportation
• Utilities
• Education
• Healthcare
• Entertainment

MoneyGeek’s cost of living calculator can help you learn about the ideal income for various California cities.

California is one of the most expensive places to live in the United States. Fortunately, you can still find affordable neighborhoods that have reasonable costs of living.

Generally, it’s more affordable to live in suburbs or rural areas compared to cities. However, going that route could mean having limited access to hospitals, schools, job opportunities and other social amenities.

California’s most affordable places to live include Clearlake, Fresno and Bakersfield.

Keep in mind that finding a location with an affordable cost of living is as important as finding low house prices.

Your mortgage interest rate is affected by the type of loan you chose, your preferred lender and your profile. Generally, having a high credit score gives you access to low-interest loans. Otherwise, if you have a low credit score, it’ll be both difficult and expensive for you to get a loan.

Here are California’s average interest rates for different types of 30-year mortgages:

• Conventional home loans: 6.31%
• VA loans: 5.18%
• USDA loans: 3.25%
• FHA loans: 5.38%

Remember that factors like loan terms and amounts also affect your interest rates.

It’s crucial that you calculate your potential mortgage payments before you buy a home. This ensures that you can afford to pay for the loan and won’t default on your mortgage.

MoneyGeek’s mortgage calculator can help you understand your loan’s different components. By inputting relevant details about your loan, we can estimate your principal, interest, insurance, tax and other expenses.

Meanwhile, MoneyGeek also offers an FHA vs. conventional loan calculator. This tool is helpful if you’ve qualified for both loans since it breaks down potential costs that may come with each loan. With it, you’ll have a clearer understanding of the better loan product for your needs and profile.

Since mortgage loans are repaid for an extended period, it’s important that you take the time and review your options. Doing this small step can result in big savings over time.

Your credit and financial profile significantly affect the loans you can get. They also impact the terms and rates that lenders will offer you.

Mortgage companies will study your creditworthiness based on these factors:

• Credit score: Having a good credit score means you’re more likely to repay your loan on time. You’ll be considered a low-risk borrower, so you’ll have lower interest rates.
• Income: Lenders will assess your income to know if you have the means to repay your loan. Some companies even have income and debt-to-income ratio requirements. Generally, having a higher disposable income means you can settle your obligations.
• Down payment: Lenders may require down payments for their loans. Mortgages with high down payments tend to have lower interest rates and monthly payments.

One of the biggest costs you need to prepare for if you’re buying a home is the down payment.

Your down payment amount will vary depending on the type of loan you get. Conventional loans typically require a 20% down payment, but you can access low or zero-down-payment loans from the VA, USDA and other government programs.

Keep in mind that your profile still determines whether you can qualify for a 0% down payment. For example, VA home loans are only available to veterans and active military members. Meanwhile, you can only get a USDA home loan if you’re buying a house in a rural area.

Additionally, your down payment will also impact the terms of your loan. A high down payment amount usually results in lower interest rates and monthly payments.

You’ll be required to get private mortgage insurance (PMI) if your home loan has less than a 20% down payment. This protects the loan company in case you fail to make payments and default on your mortgage.

Here is how PMI comes into play depending on your loan type:

• Conventional loans: If your down payment is less than 20% of the home’s price, your lender will likely require you to get PMI.
• FHA loans: You don’t need to get PMI even though you’re getting a low-down-payment home loan from FHA. However, you may be required to pay a mortgage insurance premium (MIP) upfront.
• VA loans: VA home loans don’t usually require PMIs.
• USDA loans: You may have to get a guarantee fee for your USDA home loan, but you don’t need to get PMI.

If you’re a first-time homeowner or you haven’t owned a house in the past three years, you may qualify for a down payment assistance program in California. These programs are helpful for first-time buyers since they remove a big financial hurdle for a house purchase.

Check if you’re eligible for these down payment assistance programs in California:

• California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA): This state agency offers financing and assistance programs to low-income Californians, helping with down payments, closing costs and foreclosure prevention.
• CalVet Home Loans: CalVet home loans feature below-market interest rates and lack down payment requirements. Veterans looking to buy a house in California may qualify for this loan.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Development (HUD) offers various resources for first-time homebuyers in California who are looking for financial assistance.

Before approaching a lender, it’s a good idea to gather all the documents you’ll need to apply for the loan. Typically, lending companies will ask for your personal and financial documents. They will use this to verify your identity, income and credit history, which will give them an idea of your creditworthiness.

Most people will be required to submit these documents:

• Driver's license
• Social Security card
• Most recent pay stubs
• Three years of tax returns with W-2s
• Bank statements
• Credit cards and a list of debts

However, depending on your profile, you may need to submit additional documents.

It’s a good idea to plan for your pre-approval. Getting pre-approved for a mortgage usually takes 10 days, although the timeframe may vary depending on your profile or preferred lender.

Most pre-approvals are only valid for 30–90 days. As such, you should only apply for pre-approval if you’re ready to buy your house. If your pre-approval letter expires, you will need to secure another pre-approval.

Keep these timelines in mind to avoid wasting your time, effort and money.

A pre-approval letter is a document from a loan company stating their willingness to lend you a certain amount of money. Although it’s not a guaranteed offer, it’s a reliable indicator for sellers that you’ll be able to get financing for a home purchase.

You can get as many pre-approval letters as you want. However, since loan companies conduct hard credit checks before they issue pre-approvals, it may not be a good idea to apply for multiple pre-approval letters.

Note that pre-approvals are only valid for 30–90 days. You’ll need to start the process over if your pre-approval expires.

It’s recommended that you find a licensed home inspector to help you complete your house inspection. They will provide you with an accurate and reliable report about the condition of the house, which ensures you know everything you should prior to finalizing your purchase.

To ensure that the house is safe and won’t require repairs, it’s crucial that you look at these parts:

• Roof
• Foundation
• Heating and cooling systems
• Electrical system
• Plumbing system
• Windows
• Doors
• Grounds
• Attic and basement
• Major appliances
• Chimney

Additionally, if there’s anything else that pops out at you as needing to be inspected, ask your inspector to evaluate your concerns.

Home inspection in California is not regulated, and home inspectors are not required to get a license. Nonetheless, The California Contractors State License Board regulates home inspectors in the state.

Most lenders will require a home inspection before they agree to finance your home purchase. This process is important to ensure that your potential house is safe, comfortable and free from structural or mechanical issues.

You can ask for the assistance of your real estate agent to find a reliable home inspector.

The loan company typically conducts a home appraisal to determine the market value of your potential house. During this process, the lender identifies if the property is worth the price that you’ll be paying for it.

In the event that you default on your mortgage, the bank will take possession of the house. As such, they have to do due diligence with the property to ensure you don’t overpay.

In California, only third-party home appraisers are allowed to conduct a property appraisal. But the loan company may help in scheduling and arranging the appraisal.

When evaluating the value of the house, appraisers study houses that have been sold in the area recently. They’ll also study the home’s overall condition, size, location, appearance, amenities, bedrooms, bathrooms and other features.

The bank will make an offer and discuss the terms of the loan with you. If you accept them, you’ll have to sign the following documents:

• Final loan application: You’ll be asked to sign a loan application form to confirm that all the details you’ve provided are correct.
• Mortgage note: This document is the legal basis of your mortgage. It lists the mortgage amount, interest, payment schedule and other relevant details.
• Property deed: All the technical details about the property, including its owners, are listed in its deed.
• Closing disclosure: The terms of your loan are listed in the closing disclosure. Lenders are compelled to provide you with this document at least three business days before closing the mortgage.

Carefully review the details that are found in the documents you’ll sign, and don’t hesitate to ask the bank representative if something is unclear to you.

Closing costs in California vary depending on your location, lender and other factors. Here are some of the closing costs that you may need to pay as a buyer:

• Origination fee: Some banks charge an origination fee with their loans. The amount varies depending on the lender, but it’s usually a small percentage of your loan.
• Escrow: You might be required to deposit two months’ worth of property tax and insurance payments into an escrow account.
• Title search fee: This pays the title company to search public property records to ensure the ownership and integrity of the property.
• Lender fees: Your lender may charge you for the property appraisal and other costs.
• Third-party fees: There are numerous third-party costs that you’ll need to pay, including inspection fees, attorney fees, homeowners association fees and more.

For most people, buying a house is a major life milestone. Although the process can be overwhelming, it helps to follow a step-by-step process to ensure you’ll have a successful homeownership journey.

First, you must find the best place to buy a house in California. You’ll then have to calculate possible mortgage payments and prepare the down payment. Afterward, you’ll need to secure a pre-approval from a bank so you can shop around for houses. Next, do a home inspection and have the property assessed before finally closing the mortgage with the bank.

After the transaction has closed, check the documents you’ve received and note when the first payment is due. We recommend that you set up automatic payments or reminders so you won’t miss a due date.