Buying Guide
From developing your budget to signing your name on the dotted line, learn more about the home buying process.
Buying a home can be one of the most exciting experiences of your life. This can be true whether you’ve purchased several homes or you’re preparing to buy for the first time. With the right support system and the help of a trusted RE/MAX® professional, you can make the most informed decisions.
Our guide breaks down the steps of buying a home so you can start the process feeling confident and prepared. From developing your budget to signing your name on the dotted line, you’ll find helpful tips right here. Plus, we are here to help every step of the way.
Define Your Goals
Before you start looking, consider why you want to buy a home. Are you tired of renting? Do you want to buy an investment property? Figuring out why you want to purchase a home will help you make important decisions down the road. Considering what you want and need out of your home will help you narrow down your home search as well. What neighborhood do you want to live in? How many bedrooms do you need? Knowing your preferences can help with filtering out homes that don’t fit your criteria.
Pick a RE/MAX Agent
Buying a home is one of the biggest investments you may ever make. Whether you’re buying your first home, relocating or just moving down the street — you want a trusted professional by your side. Working with a qualified RE/MAX agent can make this process easier, helping guide you through the home search, purchase agreements, inspections, closing matters and more. Having an agent who has your best interests at heart can ease some of your stress and can help make it go as smoothly as possible.
Determine Your Financial Standing
Knowing your budget up front helps you focus your search and can save you both time and stress. Talking to a mortgage professional can help you to determine your buying power. They can help you to find out how much you can afford, how much you should put towards a down payment, and can walk you through loan options and other costs or fees associated with purchasing a home. Consider asking your agent for a referral; they understand your needs and can help find a professional for your situation.
Make an Offer
Once you find a home you’re interested in, your agent can help negotiate a fair offer based on comparable homes in the area. If your offer is accepted, you’ll make a down payment and be officially under contract. During the due-diligence period between signing the purchase agreement and closing on your home, your agent can help you understand the conditions, provisions, and obligations of your contract. They can also help guide you through the appraisal and inspection processes.
Close on Your Home
This is the final step of your home buying journey. Closing is the official transfer of ownership from the seller to the buyer. At closing, you will sign your mortgage paperwork to solidify your purchase. From there, you officially become a homeowner and will be handed the keys to your new home so you can begin making memories.
The Tools to Help You Find Your Home
Once you’ve defined your home search goals, discussed them with your RE/MAX agent, and have spoken with a mortgage professional to see what your buying power is — you’re ready to find your dream home! In addition to our local knowledge on the current market, we offer online tools that can help make your initial search as easy as possible.
Find a Home Using Our Interactive Map Search
We know that location plays an important role in the home buying process. Use the map search available on our website to view homes located in or near the area you love.
Get to Know the Neighborhood
Feel confident and informed about your neighborhood choice! On any listing page, you can learn more about the communities you are interested in, including a breakdown of the local population, school ratings and more.
Create an Account on Our Website
Sign up for an account on our website to save searches, favorite homes you love, receive real time property alerts, and more!
Testimonials
"
I have had the pleasure of working with Anita Cox to find the right home for my mother. My experience while working with Anita was nothing short of "exceptional". She was very professional, extremely knowledgeable about the Rossmoor community, shared and invaluable insights that made our buying experience as stress free as possible. Anita was instrumental in ensuring that my mother's purchase of a condo went smoothly from start to finish. Every step of the way, she was proactive in her efforts to provide answers for us so that we were well informed and able to make intelligent decisions. She communicated with us expeditiously at all times on through closing.
We all so lucky to have had Anita assist us and we will, without question, use her in the future should the need arise. We highly recommend that you seriously consider her when truly in need of unparalleled professional real estate services.
"
- M.B
"
Anita Cox is the best realtor I have ever had, hands down! She is responsive to the needs of her clients, extremely knowledgeable, honest, ethical, hard working, reliable, intelligent, sensitive, and a pleasure to work with. She is an advocate for her clients, and is quick to notice the small things that give them an edge over the competition. Her work for me was consistently thorough and accurate, and I always felt that she was by my side, ready and eager to assist me.
It’s been almost five months since we closed escrow on my purchase at Rossmoor, and I continue to benefit from Anita’s expertise and knowledge of local contacts. She knows just about every contractor, mover, storage facility, handyman, and service provider in the area, and shares her knowledge freely with her clients. Whether or not I ever move again, I will consider Anita my realtor; she has earned my highest recommendation!
"
- -
"
Younger than most realtors, lives in Rossmoor herself. A VERY good listener, which allows her to quickly develop a sense of what's fits for a client. She communicates well. Honest.
"
- -
"
Anita didn't just sell us a home, she guided us through the complexity of the extensive paperwork and steps required in California when buying a property in probate and in a very rule-bound, very large condominium community. She answered emails, texts, phone calls quickly, especially important since we were moving from the east coast and could not be there. And then she even recommended contractors whom we interviewed and after choosing she kept us abreast of the pace of renovations and even picked up our mail until our move was complete! Amazing woman!
"
- -
"
Anita displayed the four most important things I value in a Realtor:
Integrity, Knowledge, Honesty, and Availability. As a Mom of two young children my time is limited so access is a ‘must have’. I found her always to take my call, and able to meet me and my Mother on short notice. Anita worked hard to meet my property needs and earned my respect. In a very short time she found a home that fit my Mother’s needs, guided me through structuring a strong offer and now my Mother has a wonderful new home close to her grandchildren. Our family say thank you to her.
"
- S.F.
"
Anita was a breath of fresh air when it came to navigating Rossmoor. She listened to exactly what I was looking for and was able to deliver the most amazing condo for my parents. I would recommend Anita for any real estate transaction as I believe she has your best interests at heart and will do her best to get the deal done at the right price. Thank you Anita.
"
- CT
"
My wife and I asked Anita’s assistance when we started searching for a new home. She spent hours taking us to different properties and discussing the merits of each one. Her knowledge of the real estate market proved to be expert. She works by the highest standards of honesty and integrity. She ensured we knew exactly what was going on. I would use her services again, and have recommended her to friends and colleagues seeking a knowledgeable, professional realtor and a community real estate expert.
"
- P.G.
"
Anita is a well-informed Realtor that represents her clients well, understands how to create a win-win situation, is very knowledgeable about the market and the region. She is thorough, organized, completely hands on, and always gives 150%. Any buyer or seller that has the opportunity to work with Anita is very lucky indeed. She works hard to insure the best deal for her client. She is a true professional.
"
- J.B.
Last updated: September 14, 2026 8:22 PM UTC Property Information © 2026 
All measurements and all calculations of area are approximate. Information provided by Seller/Other sources, not verified by Broker. All interested persons should independently verify accuracy of information. Provided properties may or may not be listed by the office/agent presenting the information. Data maintained by MetroList© may not reflect all real estate activity in the market.
All real estate content on this site is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968, as amended, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, family status or national origin or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.
MetroList CA data last updated: September 14, 2026 8:01 PM UTC 
Bay East ©2026. CCAR ©2026. bridgeMLS ©2026. Information Deemed Reliable But Not Guaranteed. This information is being provided by the Bay East MLS, or CCAR MLS, or bridgeMLS. The listings presented here may or may not be listed by the Broker/Agent operating this website. This information is intended for the personal use of consumers and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Data last updated at September
This information, including square footage, while not guaranteed, has been acquired from sources believed to be reliable. Listings on this page identified as belonging to another listing firm are based upon data obtained from the SFAR MLS, which data is copyrighted by the San Francisco Association of REALTORS©, but is not warranted.
