First-time home buyers in the Bay Area: start with the money
Learn the financing first from a REALTOR® who is also your loan officer, then search with a real budget.
Buying your first home in the Bay Area
Maybe you've been looking for a while. Rent went up again. A big bank gave you a pre-approval number once and never explained it. Every listing you like seems to be gone before you can make a move. If you're a first-time home buyer in the Bay Area and it feels like everyone else has this figured out, you're not behind. Most first-time buyers were never shown how the money side works.
I tell every buyer the same thing: the market usually isn't the reason you can't buy. Not knowing your options is.
I'm Chaitali (CeCe) Cherian of KeysWithCeCe. I'm a REALTOR® with eXp Realty and a licensed loan officer. I help first-time buyers learn the financing before they look at a single house, so the search starts with a real budget and a plan instead of a guess.
Get the free financing guide
Why I start with the financing, not the listings
Many first-time buyers think they need 20% down. Plenty of loan programs ask for less, and some buyers qualify for help with the down payment, subject to underwriting approval. What fits you depends on your income, your credit, and the home.
The number a bank says you can borrow is also not the same as the number you should spend every month. A pre-approval nobody explained can be off in either direction. So before any showings, we go through:
- What actually decides your budget
- What you can put down, and what it costs you to put down less
- Whether down payment assistance could fit your situation
- How a seller credit works, and what it can do to the cash you bring to closing
- A monthly payment you would feel good about, not only one you qualify for
I put the basics in a free guide, Before You Look at a Single House. It walks through the money side in plain language and ends with seven things to do before you tour a home. Get the free financing guide and read it at your own pace.
Your agent and your loan officer, in one place
Most first-time buyers end up with an agent on one side and a lender on the other, and they become the messenger between the two. When something changes, like an appraisal, a credit, or a closing date, the news can fall into the gap.
Because I hold both licenses, I can be your agent and your loan officer on the same purchase. I see the offer and the loan together, so I can build the offer around what your financing needs. 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.
Before real estate, I spent 20 years in software engineering, project management, and program management. I run your first purchase like a project: a clear plan, a timeline, and a backup plan for the parts that can go sideways. You always know the next step, and nobody rushes you.
What buying your first home with me looks like
- A free financing session. About 30 minutes on Zoom. We look at your income, savings, credit, and goals, and I tell you what I'd do in your place. Book a free financing session.
- Your real numbers. A price range and a monthly payment you understand, with the down payment and closing costs spelled out.
- Our agreement. Before I show you homes, you sign a buyer representation agreement with me. It spells out what I do for you and how I'm paid, set by agreement between the two of us. You'll read it first, and I'll answer every question.
- A focused search. We look at homes that fit your budget and your must-haves, including the monthly cost with HOA dues for a condo or townhome. If a home isn't a good idea for you, I'll say so, kindly and with the reasons.
- An offer built on purpose. I write your offer around your numbers, including any credit from the seller toward your costs.
- Escrow to keys. My buyers keep the standard inspection, appraisal, and loan contingencies in the California purchase agreement. I track every date until you get your keys.
Want every step in detail? Read how buying a home works with me. Looking at condos? My post on 5 HOA red flags East Bay condo buyers miss covers what to check before you fall for a unit.
Where I help first-time buyers
I work with first-time buyers across the Bay Area, including Oakland, Fremont, Hayward, San Leandro, Castro Valley, Dublin, Pleasanton, Newark, San Jose, and Tracy. I also help buyers in San Ramon, Alamo, Union City, Morgan Hill, and San Francisco.
A budget that buys a condo in one city may buy a single-family home in another, with a longer commute. I'll show you both sides of that trade with real numbers, and you decide what matters more.
I work with clients in English, Hindi, and Bengali. A first-time buyer who bought a condo in Newark wrote on Zillow: “As a first-time homebuyer, I really appreciated that she took the time to explain each step.” You can read my reviews on my Zillow profile.
Your next step as a first-time home buyer in the Bay Area
You don't need to have it all figured out to start. Pick the step that feels right:
- Get the free financing guide and learn the money side first.
- Book a free financing session, about 30 minutes on Zoom.
- 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 and assistance programs change and are subject to funding availability and borrower qualification. NMLS #2590353.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need 20% down to buy my first home in the Bay Area?
Not always. Many loan programs allow a smaller down payment, and some buyers qualify for down payment assistance. What fits you depends on your income, credit, and the home, subject to underwriting approval. That's the first thing we go over together.
What happens in the free financing session?
We spend about 30 minutes on Zoom looking at your income, savings, credit, and goals. I explain what decides your budget and which options might fit, and I tell you what I'd do in your place. It's free and there's no obligation.
What's in the free guide?
Before You Look at a Single House explains what decides your budget, what you can put down and what it costs to put down less, how down payment assistance and seller credits work, a test for whether a payment is safe for you, and seven things to do before you tour a home.
Do I have to use you as my lender?
No. You are always free to use a different lender. When I act as both your agent and your loan officer, I disclose it to you in writing. NMLS #2590353.
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Ready to make your move with KeysWithCeCe?