As a top residential real estate agent here in San Francisco, my goal is to ensure that my clients ultimately make a truly informed decision about their home purchases, whether they are just dipping their toes into the real estate market or are experienced buyers.  

There is a lot of information out there that can be challenging to grasp and is not specific to the unique San Francisco and Bay Area markets. Understanding the complexities and specific aspects of our market early in the process is of key importance.

I’ve developed this guide after working with hundreds of buyers (with a variety of budgets, objectives, and circumstances), and after writing hundreds of offers, to help you understand the buying process for residential real estate in San Francisco. My expertise also covers other parts of the Bay Area. This document is intended only as a general primer. Your particular experience will be specific to you, your wants and needs, your financing, and each individual property.

​​​​​​​This guide answers the most frequently asked questions that most people have about the home buying process. In addition, I’ve explained the terminology that will be helpful to know when speaking to any real estate professional if you’re thinking of buying a home. If you are looking for an answer that’s not included in the guide, feel free to contact me and I would be happy to answer it for you. Happy house hunting!

My home buying guide includes essential and helpful info including discussions about the following:

• ​​​​​Financing: identifying a lender and importance of pre-approval (versus pre-qualification)
• Making an all-cash offer or competing with all-cash offers
• Tips to help refine and strategize your home search
• Understanding disclosures
• Elements of an offer and how to best prepare your offer
• Strategies for success (getting your offer accepted, including in competitive multiple-offer scenarios)
• Essential elements of the escrow process
• And more!

About Kate Tomassi, JD