Buying a home in the Bay Area
Your offer and the loan behind it, written by one person, so the deal that gets accepted is the deal that closes.
An offer is only as strong as the loan behind it
Most buyers lose a house and are told it came down to price. Sometimes that is true. Often the seller took a different offer because theirs looked more likely to actually close, and the thing that decides that is the loan.
I'm Chaitali (CeCe) Cherian of KeysWithCeCe, a REALTOR® with eXp Realty and a licensed loan officer. I can hold both roles on the same purchase, which means the offer I write for you and the financing behind it are built to match. When I act in both roles, I tell you in writing, and you are always free to use a different lender. Every loan is subject to underwriting approval. NMLS #2590353.
The market usually isn't the reason you can't buy. Not knowing your options is. That is true whether this is your first home or your third.
Book a free financing session
What actually decides a Bay Area offer
Price is one lever. A seller is comparing several things at once, and a few of them cost you nothing:
- How real the financing looks. A pre-approval is not one standard thing. I can tell you what a seller's agent will see in yours, and what to fix before we write.
- Your deposit. In most of the Bay Area the earnest money deposit runs around 3% of the price. On the Tracy outskirts about 2% is common. It goes to the escrow company, and it is due within three business days of signing the contract.
- Contingencies. My buyers keep the standard inspection, appraisal, and loan contingencies in the California purchase agreement. I will tell you plainly what each one protects and what waiving it would really cost you, and I will not push you to give one up to win a house.
- Timing. A seller who needs to stay a few weeks after closing will take a rent-back over extra money more often than people expect.
- Seller credits. What a seller can pay toward your costs changes the cash you need on closing day. That belongs in the offer on purpose, not as an afterthought.
Before I show you homes, you sign a buyer representation agreement with me. It covers either an area or a single property for one day, and it spells out what I do for you and how I am paid. You read it first and I answer every question.
How I work with buyers
Every buyer I work with starts the same way, with the money, before any showings. We go through what decides your budget, what you can put down, what a seller is allowed to pay toward your costs, and a monthly payment you would feel good about rather than only one you qualify for.
Then the search runs on a real number. If a home is a bad idea for you, I say so, with the reasons. If the numbers work, I write the offer around them.
Before real estate I spent 20 years in software engineering, project management, and program management. A purchase is a project with dates that depend on each other, so I run it that way. You always know the next step, and nobody rushes you.
Every step, in order, is on how buying a home works with me.
Find the page that matches your situation
Buying looks different depending on where you are starting from. Pick the one that sounds like you:
- Buying your first home. You have never done this and the money side was never explained to you.
- Buying a condo or townhome. You are buying a unit and a share of an association, and the association can end your loan.
- Selling and buying at the same time. You own already, you have outgrown it, and the timing is the hard part.
- Buying an investment property. You are buying a number, not a home.
Where I help buyers
I work with buyers across the Bay Area, including Oakland, Fremont, Hayward, San Leandro, Castro Valley, Dublin, Pleasanton, Newark, San Jose, and Tracy, and also in San Ramon, Alamo, Union City, Morgan Hill, and San Francisco.
The same budget behaves differently from one town to the next, and so do the deposits and the pace of the market. I will show you what your number does in two or three places and let you weigh the commute against the house.
I work with clients in English, Hindi, and Bengali. If your town is not on that list, ask me. I will tell you plainly whether I am the right fit.
Your next step on buying a home in the Bay Area
- Book a free financing session, about 30 minutes on Zoom.
- Get the free financing guide and read the money side first.
- Send me a message or call (510) 610-0124. I'll reply personally.
This page is general education about my process. It is not a commitment to lend, an offer of credit, or legal, tax, or financial advice. Loan programs change and are subject to funding availability and borrower qualification. NMLS #2590353.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the earnest money deposit in the Bay Area?
Around 3% of the purchase price in most of the Bay Area, and about 2% is common on the Tracy outskirts. It goes to the escrow company, and it is due within three business days of signing the contract.
Do I have to sign something before you show me homes?
Yes. You sign a buyer representation agreement with me first. It covers either an area or a single property for one day, and it states what I do for you and how I am paid. You read it before you sign and I answer every question.
Should I waive my contingencies to win a house?
I will tell you exactly what each contingency protects and what giving it up would cost you if something goes wrong. Some buyers choose to, with their eyes open. I will never push you into it to win a deal.
Do I have to use you as my loan officer?
No. You are always free to use a different lender. When I act as both your agent and your loan officer, I disclose it in writing. NMLS #2590353.
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Ready to make your move with KeysWithCeCe?