Your first San Francisco purchase, one calm step at a time.

1. Start with your real budget

Not the maximum a lender will approve. Your real budget includes reserves and the cost of any work a property needs. We figure out the number you can carry comfortably, then shop a little below it so you have room to compete. More on that in what first-time buyers miss.

2. Get fully pre-underwritten

A strong, current preapproval, ideally a fully underwritten file, is what lets you write a competitive offer with confidence. If you are considering a TIC, you need a preapproval from an actual TIC lender, which is a different product from a standard condo loan.

3. Learn to read a disclosure package

San Francisco disclosure packages are thick for a reason: inspections, reports, permit history, and seller statements all live in there. We read them together and I flag what matters. Start with how to read San Francisco disclosures.

4. Understand condition and long-term cost

A home that shows beautifully can still be expensive to own. We look at foundations, roofs, drainage, and the honest cost of owning a place over a decade, in how condition affects long-term value.

5. Consider a TIC as your way in

In a high-price, low-inventory market, a TIC is often how a first-time buyer gets into a neighborhood they otherwise could not afford, usually at roughly ten to fifteen percent below a comparable condo. It is a real option, with real tradeoffs you should understand first. The condo vs. TIC guide walks through all of it, and the HOA dues guide explains the monthly costs behind either choice.

6. Write an offer that wins cleanly

Price is only one lever. Terms and relationship often decide it. See how to get your offer accepted, then we build yours together.