Ask a Realtor: I've never bought a house before, where should I start?

Q: I've never bought a house before, where should I start?

A: The best place to start is getting educated about the process. Like all important life decisions, it’s always best to communicate with someone who is experienced and who can help paint the broad strokes of the big picture for you.

There is a ton of information available online and there are so many components involved in real estate that it can be overwhelming. Speaking to someone with expertise early on will save you a lot of energy - all it takes is a one hour consultation.

Here are the steps we recommend to purchasing your first home:

1. Find a location
2. Define basic parameters of what you’re looking for
3. See what you qualify in terms of a loan (a Realtor can help you with that!)

Ask a Realtor: What's the best time of year to sell my house?

Q: What's the best time of year to sell my house?

A: It used to be that there was a selling season based around Spring time, when the flowers were blooming and the weather was nice. But in the past 15 years or so, in the Los Angeles real estate market it has not been particular to seasons in terms of one being better than the other, with one exception: avoid selling in the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons.

With the mild climate of Los Angeles, the best time to sell is from February through September. But the more important thing to focus on in terms of timing is how it relates to your circumstances.

On the other side of things, the best time to buy is December and January.

Whether buying or selling, timing is important when it comes to planning ahead. If you have an ideal timeto move, I recommend starting the process at least 2-3 months in advance. There are learning curves and there may be some necessary preparations to make for the home, so it’s always good to have a conversation with a Realtor months in advance.

Contact me if you’d like to discuss the specifics of your property and your circumstances, and let’s go from there!

Stay tuned for next week’s Ask Darren on tips on buying a home for the first time.